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Shiva Gita (study and summary)

by K. V. Anantharaman | 2010 | 35,332 words

This page is entitled “ashta murtis (forms) of lord shiva� contained in the Shiva Gita (Study and English comments by K. V. Anantharaman). The Shiva Gita is a philosophical text from the Padma-purana in the form of a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Shri Rama. It deals with topics such as Advaita metaphysics and Bhakti and consists of 768 verses.

Appendix 8 - Aṣṭa ūپ (forms) of Lord Ś

Prelude: [see previous appendix]: [...] Word Ś enjoys the ṛt and ܰṣa He is called ĪśԲ. This ĪśԲ appears in its eight fold forms, technically called ṣṭūپ—these are earth, water, fire, air, ś, the soul, the sun and the moon. [...]

The Vedas speak of the Aṣṭa ūپ (forms) of Lord Ś. Ś, Bhava, Rudra, Ugra, ī. ʲśܱ貹پ, Ѳ𱹲, and ĪśԲ are the eight ūپ of Ś. ʳܰṇa explain the 󾱲Բ for these eight forms, which are Ś for earth, Bhava for water, Rudra for fire, Ugra for wind, ī for space, ʲśܱ貹پ for ⲹᲹԲ, Ѳ𱹲 for moon and ĪśԲ for Sun. Ś is also called ʲśܱ貹پ i.e. Lord Ś with his enormous grace on the ī means 貹ś, cuts the ś or the string and makes it move free to join him with devotion. In this way, his name ʲśܱ貹پ is more meaningful. Each of the following ṣeٰ (places) in India and Nepal are connected to the Lord’s eight forms, so that the devotee can know clearly how the ancient ܰṇa took care to locate these places both geographically and spiritually. Ś, Brahma ܰṇa are the main sources.

The following forms or forces of nature are worshipped in their primal form only without any special idols representing them.

1. Ś:

ū ṅg, Kancheepuram. Tamil Nadu. It is in Ś ñ ṣeٰ, where the Lord is in the form of ṣiپ ṅg in the tree (Ā-Mango in Sankrit), which yields only one fruit per year. ī worshipped this form first. There is no ṣe첹 done with water at this shrine, jasmine oil is used instead. The Devi’s name here is Kamakṣi. All the desires of the devotees are fulfilled with her gracious eyes.

2. Bhava:

Jala ṅg, Tiruvanaikoil, (ܰśm), Tamil Nadu. This temple is located on the outskirts of Trichy, where Lord ܰś is seated and showers all his blessings to his devotees. This ṣeٰ is called Jambhukeśvara ṣeٰ, also known ñԲ ŚܲԳٲ Jala ṅg. The devotees can see from the outside of Garbha ṛh the water bubbles coming out from sanctum sanctorum. There is a Jambu tree, which is very old and very big. The legends say Lord Ś wanted to stay here along with the Jambu tree. So the devotees treat this tree ñԲ ŚܲԳٲ sacred ñԲ ŚܲԳٲ the Lord.

3. Rudra:

Agni or Tejo (Divine Light) ṅg, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu�ṇācś. In Tiruvannamalai, Lord Ś is seated in the form of ձDZṅg. The whole mountain appears to be a ṅg. ñԲ ŚܲԳٲ a result of ī’s great penance, a sharp spark of fire came from ṇāc and took shape ñԲ ŚܲԳٲ ṇaṅg.

4. Ugra:

ṅg, Śrī Kalahasthi, Andhra Pradesh. The Śrī hasthīśvara temple is situated on the banks of Svama Mukhi River in Śrī hasthi. Spiritually elevated souls only can see that there is a strong wind blowing around the ṅg. Bhakta Kannappa story is connected to this temple. Even animals got salvation by worshipping this Lord. Three animals—Cobweb (Śī), (snake), Hasthi (elephant) prayed to God with utmost faith and devotion and attained Moksa. One can see these symbols there on the Ś ṅg even today

5. ī:

Ākāśa ṅg, Chidambaram. Tamil Nadu. This ṣeٰ also called Puṅdarīka or Vyāgrapura is on the banks of Cauvery. We don’t see any ūپ in the temple Garbha ṛh. The ܰṇa speak of this ṣeٰ very highly. No one can see the Lord’s ūپ, except the highest spiritual souls. There is a space in the Garbha ṛh and many Ā󲹰ṇa are decorated and the devotees assume the Lord is seated there. A very beautiful ṭaᲹ ūپ is in outer Garbha ṛh for worship and for the satisfaction of the devotees.

6. ʲś貹پ:

۲ᲹԲ (Lord) ṅg, Kathmandu. Nepal. In Nepal, ʲśܱ貹پnādha [ʲśܱ貹پnātha?] ṣeٰ is famous and the Lord here is in human form. The devotee can see the deity up to his waist only. The ūپ is decorated with Gold ś always. Nobody can enter into the Garbha ṛh except the Arcaka (not even the King of Nepal). Many devotees from all over the globe pray to this Lord with highest devotion and get their wishes fulfilled.

7. Ѳ𱹲:

Candra ṅg, West Bengal. Candra nātha ṅg is situated in West Bengal 34 miles away from Chatagav City. Many sacred īٳ󲹲 surround this ṣeٰ. ٱī ܰṇa lauded this ṣeٰ greatly.

8. ĪśԲ:

ūⲹ ṅg, Konark Temple, Orissa. This ṣeٰ is in Orissa state near Puri Jagannath ṣeٰ. Konark is now in ruins and the temple is in fragments and now, devotees can’t see any God or Goddess here. The legend says that Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s son suffered once from leprosy and was cured by worshipping the ūⲹ and the ṅg here and since then this ṣeٰ became a remedy centre for all diseases. Even in these days the worship is going on with same faith and devotion.

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