Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 7
यो भूस्वरूपेण बिभर्ति विश्वं पायात्स भूमेर्गिरिशोऽष्टमूर्तिः । योऽपां स्वरूपेण नृणां करोति संजीनं सोऽवतु मां जलेभ्यः
yo bhūsvarūpeṇa bibharti viśvaṃ pāyātsa bhūmergiriśo'ṣṭamūrtiḥ | yo'pāṃ svarūpeṇa nṛṇāṃ karoti saṃjīnaṃ so'vatu māṃ jalebhyaḥ
ഭൂമിസ്വരൂപമായി വിശ്വത്തെ ധരിക്കുന്ന അഷ്ടമൂർത്തിയായ ഗിരീശൻ ഭൂമിതത്ത്വത്താൽ എന്നെ രക്ഷിക്കട്ടെ. ജലസ്വരൂപമായി ജീവികൾക്ക് സഞ്ജീവനം നൽകുന്നവൻ ജലജന്യ ഭയങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് എന്നെ കാക്കട്ടെ।
Anonymous Purāṇic narrator (aṣṭamūrti-Śiva kavaca invocation)
Tirtha: Bhūmi-mūrti and Āpaḥ-mūrti aspects of Girīśa (Aṣṭamūrti)
Type: kshetra
Scene: Two-panel protective vision: (1) Śiva as Bhūmimūrti—earth-toned, bearing mountains and forests, steady and vast; (2) Śiva as Āpomūrti—water-toned, flowing with rivers and waves, bestowing life; devotee stands between, protected from land and water perils.
FAQs
Śiva is present as the very elements that sustain the world; remembering Him as Earth and Water grants stability and safety.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse uses elemental forms (earth and water) rather than a geographic shrine.
Elemental kavaca-invocation: calling upon Śiva as Bhū and Āpaḥ for protection, especially from water-related harm.