Shloka 5
Śivāṣṭamūrti-varṇanam
Description of Shiva’s Eight Forms
धत्ते चराचरं विश्वं रूपं विश्वंभरात्मकम् । शंकरस्य महेशस्य शास्त्रस्यैवेति निश्चयः
dhatte carācaraṃ viśvaṃ rūpaṃ viśvaṃbharātmakam | śaṃkarasya maheśasya śāstrasyaiveti niścayaḥ
Si Śaṅkara, ang Maheśa, ang siyang sumasandig sa buong sansinukob—ang gumagalaw at ang di-gumagalaw—sa pag-aangkin ng anyong tagapagtaguyod ng lahat. Ito ang tiyak na pasya ng banal na aral hinggil kay Śaṅkara.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It affirms Maheśa (Śiva) as the ultimate support of all existence—mobile and immobile—guiding the devotee to see the world as sustained by Pati (the Lord), which strengthens surrender (śaraṇāgati) and devotion.
The verse highlights Śiva’s sustaining, manifest aspect (saguṇa). In Linga worship, the devotee venerates the formless-with-form symbol that represents the Lord who both transcends the cosmos and upholds it as its inner support.
A simple practice is dhyāna while chanting the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), contemplating Śiva as the inner sustainer of all beings; this can be paired with traditional Śaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance.