Shloka 46
Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna
Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship
क्षितिरापोनलो वायुराकाशः सूर्य्यसोमकौ । यजमान इति त्वष्टौ मूर्तयः परिकीर्तिताः
kṣitirāponalo vāyurākāśaḥ sūryyasomakau | yajamāna iti tvaṣṭau mūrtayaḥ parikīrtitāḥ
ਧਰਤੀ, ਜਲ, ਅੱਗ, ਵਾਯੂ, ਆਕਾਸ਼; ਸੂਰਜ ਅਤੇ ਸੋਮ; ਅਤੇ ਯਜਮਾਨ (ਉਪਾਸਕ)—ਇਹ ਅੱਠ ਮੂਰਤੀਆਂ ਕਹੀਆਂ ਗਈਆਂ ਹਨ।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: As part of the Kāśī/Viśveśvara teaching, the Aṣṭamūrti enumeration frames Śiva as the inner Lord of the pañcabhūtas, luminaries, and the yajamāna—linking temple worship to cosmic order.
Significance: Contemplation of Aṣṭamūrti during Kāśī worship expands devotion from a localized liṅga to Śiva’s immanence in all constituents of experience, supporting steadiness of jñāna-bhakti.
Role: creative
FAQs
It teaches Aṣṭamūrti: Shiva is present as the five elements, the Sun and Moon, and also as the yajamāna (the conscious worshipper). Seeing these as Shiva’s manifestations supports devotion and dissolves the sense of separation, aligning the soul (paśu) toward Pati (Shiva).
The Linga is a focal form for Saguna worship, while this verse expands the devotee’s vision: the same Shiva honored in the Linga pervades the cosmos as elements and luminaries, and is immanent in the worshipper’s sacrificial intent. Thus Linga-pūjā becomes a way to recognize Shiva everywhere.
During Shiva-pūjā, contemplate (bhāvanā) that the pañcabhūtas, Surya, Soma, and one’s own role as yajamāna are Shiva’s mūrtis; then offer water, lamp, and incense as offerings to these cosmic forms while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).