By Swami Harshananda
Aṣta-murti literally means ‘The One with eight forms’.
This is one of the names of Śiva, the last deity of the Trinity. The eight forms are mentioned below :
- Pṛthvī - Earth
- Jala - Water
- Agni - Fire
- Vāyu - Air
- Ākāśa - Space
- Yajamāna - The sacrificer
- Candra - Moon
- Surya - Sun
Sometimes specific names are given to these forms, they are
- Pṛthvī - Sarva
- Jala - Bhava
- Agni - Rudra
- Vāyu - Ugra
- Ākāśa - Bhīma
- Yajamāna - Paśupati
- Candra - Mahādeva
- Surya - Īśāna
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore