Ashtamurti ( Skt. अष्टमूर्ति , aṣṭa-mūrti IAST , “ eight-faced ”, “ eight-manifested ”) is the form of Shiva and the philosophical concept in Shivaism . Includes:
| Bhava | Skt. भव , bhava IAST | Existing |
| Sharva | Skt. शर्व , śarva IAST | Shooter, Archer |
| Rudra | Skt. रुद्र , rudra IAST | Furious, Roaring, Crying |
| Pashupati | Skt. पशुपति , paçupati IAST | Lord of the beasts |
| Ugra | Skt. उग्र , ugra IAST | Horrific |
| Mahan | Skt. महन् , mahan IAST | Supreme (i.e., Mahadeva) |
| Bhima | Skt. भीम , bhīma IAST | Horrible |
| Ishan | Skt. ईशान , īśāna IAST | Lord, Lord |
Ashtamurti Concept
The concept of "Ashtamurti" has its roots in the texts of Shruti - the Rudra-sukta of the Yajur-Veda , the brahmanas ( Satapatha-brahmana 6, 3, 1; Kausitaki-brahmana 6, 1, 3) and Svetashvatara-upanishad - where Shiva is called such epithets, like Bhava (Jehovah), Mahadeva (Great God), Sharva (Archer, Shooter), Pashupati (Lord of beings), Ugra (Furious) and others [1] . Panini (S.1.49, S.3.53, S.4.100, S.5.3.99) also defines almost the same names in his “Eighth Book”, adding the names Triambaka (Three-eyed), Girisha (Highlander), Mrida (मृदा mRdA).
Later, Shaivian philosophy enshrined the concept of Ashtamurti in agamic literature and developed it - it is quite possible that the idea of eight shiva- lokapal directly follows from the concept of Ashtamurti. This concept (with some variations that directly depend on the author’s affiliation with one or another Shaiva-Darshan) was also reflected in the work of Shaiva poets: in Nandishlok [2] , Kalidas writes the following [3] to the Abhijnana-Shakuntala :
 | yā sṛṣṭiḥ sraṣṭur ādyā vahati vidhi-hutaṃ yā havir yā ca hotrī ye dve kālaṃ vidhattaḥ śruti-viṣaya-guṇā yā sthitā vyāpya viśvam. yām āhuḥ sarva-bīja-prakṛtir iti yayā prāṇinaḥ prāṇavantaḥ pratyakṣābhiḥ prapannas tanubhir avatu vas tābhir aṣṭābhir īśaḥ .. [4] |  |
| Eight bodies of the high lord: The first one created, Water, He makes the sacrifice, Flame, Priest, in his bodily form, The sun and moon, what time is sharing, The sound path that surrounds the Ether, And the Earth, where is the seed of all life, And the breath of those who breathe, Air. In these emerging eight, May the Lord be merciful. |
In classical Shaivite schools, a list of names from Shiva-Makhimna-stotra (these. 28) was fixed, which says the following:
| भवः शर्वो रुद्रः पशुपतिरथोग्रः सहमहांस्तथा भीमेशानाविति यदभिधानाष्टकमिदम्। अमुष्मिन्प्रत्येकं प्रविचरति देव श्रुतिरपि प्रियायास्मै धाम्ने प्रविहितनमस्योऽस्मि भवते ॥२८॥ [five] |
| bhavaḥ śarvō rudraḥ paśupatirathōgraḥ sahamahān tathā bhīmēśānāviti yadabhidhānāṣṭakamidam. amuṣmin pratyēkaṃ pravicarati dēva śrutirapi priyāyāsmaidhāmnē praṇihita-namasyō'smi bhavatē .. 28 .. [6] |
| Bhava, Sharva, Rudra, Pashupati, Ugra, Mahadeva, Bhima and Ishan - All eight are named in the Vedas, O Lord. Praise be to you, O beloved and radiant! [7] [8] |
The concept of Ashtamikti probably arose from the fact that the number eight is one of the most sacred numbers in Hinduism - along with the numbers five and one hundred eight . This concept is similar in type to the Panchabrahma Mantram , partially developing the latter.
In Puranic literature there is a mythological development of the concept within the framework of traditional folk religion: for example, in Linga-Purana (2.13.3-18) each of the forms of Shiva-Ashtamukhi is described together with his wife, son and nature of manifestation.
See also
- Panchamukha
Literature
- Alain Daniélou. The myths and gods of India: The Classic Work on Hindu Polytheism from the Princeton Bollingen Series . - 3rd ed. - New York: Inner Traditions, 1991 .-- 512 p. - ISBN 0-89-281354-7 .
- The presence of Śiva : Stella Kramrisch
- The Concept of Rudra-Shiva Through the Ages: Mahadev Chakravarti, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1986. ISBN 8120800532
- Vedic Mythology: Arthur Anthony Macdonell
- A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature: Dowson, John (1820–1881), London: Trübner, 1879 [Reprint, London: Routledge, 1979]
- Encyclopedia of Hinduism - Volumes on Shiva: Ed. by Dr. Nagendra Kr. Singh
Notes
- ↑ These epithets are already found in the Riga Veda - for example, II, 33, 10 and others.
- ↑ Introductory verse to the deity for blessing.
- ↑ Translation of C. Balmont
- ↑ Kalidasa: Abhijnanasakuntalam Archived on August 15, 2011.
- ↑ शिवमहिम्न स्तोत्र पुष्पदन्त in Devanagari .
- ↑ śivamahimnaḥ stōtram < in the IAST transliteration.
- ↑ Shiva-mahimna-stotra translated into Russian.
- ↑ The Russian translation says “All nine are named in the Vedas”, which contradicts the text of the stotra, which literally says “iti yadabhidhānāṣṭakamidam”: iti ( these are ) yād ( it is Shiva ) abhidhāna ( names ) astakam ( eight-membered ) idām ( is ) ".