Shloka 16
Śivāṣṭamūrti-varṇanam
Description of Shiva’s Eight Forms
अष्टमूर्त्यात्मना विश्वमधिष्ठायास्थितं शिवम् । भजस्व सर्वभावेन रुद्रं परमकारणम्
aṣṭamūrtyātmanā viśvamadhiṣṭhāyāsthitaṃ śivam | bhajasva sarvabhāvena rudraṃ paramakāraṇam
అష్టమూర్తి-ఆత్మగా విశ్వాన్ని వ్యాపించి ధారించి అందులోనే స్థితుడైన శుభ రుద్రుడు—శివుడు—ఆ పరమకారణ రుద్రుని సంపూర్ణ భావంతో భజించు.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that Rudra is both immanent (upholding the cosmos as the eightfold manifestations) and transcendent (the supreme cause), so liberation is approached through wholehearted devotion and refuge in Shiva as Pati (the Lord).
By calling Shiva the cosmic supporter present in the universe, it supports Saguna upasana—worship of Shiva with form—commonly centered on the Shiva-Linga as the accessible symbol of the all-pervading and causative Lord.
Practice single-pointed bhakti: worship Shiva daily through Linga-archana (water, bilva leaves), japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and meditation on Shiva as Ashtamurti—the divine presence pervading all elements and life.