1. This chapter corresponds to Bd. P. I.2.10 and a number of verses are common to them both. The topic of this chapter-the eightfold form-ashta mürti-of Shiva is popular in Purānas and classical literature.
The sages said:
1. The manifestation in this Kalpa of the noble-souled supreme Lord Rudra along with the spiritually aspirant sages has been mentioned by you. Now let us hear this in detail.
Suta narrated:
2. The origin of the primordial creation has been narrated by me briefly. Now I shall describe in detail the bodies and names of Lord Rudra.
3. The supreme Lord begot of his wives several sons in the eighth Kalpa that has passed. Now listen.
4. In the beginning of the Kalpa, while he was meditating about a son who should be his equal, there appeared in his lap a youth blue and red in colour. He held him who was blazing in brilliance and shouting terribly.
5. On seeing him crying suddenly Brahmă asked the child Nilalohita,1 “Why are you crying?”
1. The identification of Rudra and Agni is suggested by this epithet.
6. The boy said: “O grand-sire, at first give me a name”.2 “O Lord, you are named Rudra”. Though he was thus told, he cried again.
2. The legend of Rudra crying for a name and god Brahma assigning a name to him and the recurrence of this granting of names for eight times is an amplification of the same story in Satapatha Brāhmana (S Br. 6.3.1-18).
7. “Why do you cry?”. Brahmā asked him again as he cried. The boy said to Brahmā, “Give me a second name”.
8. “O Lord, you are Bhava by name.” On being told thus he cried again. Brahma asked Shankara, “Why do you cry?”
9. “Give me a third name”, he replied to him (Brahma). “O Lord! You are Shiva by name”, he was told. But he cried again.
10. “Why do you cry?” asked Brahma again as he cried. He told the self-born deity, “Give me a fourth name”.
11. On being told “O Lord, you are Pashupati (the lord of Pashus-individual souls)”, he cried again. As he cried again, Brahmă asked him, “Why do you cry?”
12. When told, “Give me a fifth name”, he replied, “O Lord, you are Isha by name.” On being told thus, he cried again.
13. “Why do you cry?” Brahmă asked him as he cried. He told the Lord, “Give me a sixth name”.
14. “O Lord, you are Bhima by name”. On being told thus he cried again. As he cried again Brahmā said, “Why do you cry?”
15. “Give me a seventh name”. On being told thus, he replied to him, “O Lord, you are Ugra by name”. On being told thus, he cried again.
16. “Why do you cry?” asked Brahma as he cried. “O Lord, give me an eighth name”. When he was told, “You are Mahādeva by name”, he stopped (crying).
17. After obtaining these names from Brahma, the Lord requested, “Assign bodies to these names”.
18-19. Then the following bodies for these names were created by Brahma. These were the sun, the earth, water, fire air, ether, the initiated Brahmana and the moon. These (eight) have their source in Brahmă. Rudra should be worshipped and honoured in these bodies. Thus (honoured and worshipped) Rudra does not injure.1
1. It appears that some verses are missing in this text as no mention is made of his first body. The missing verses might be corresponding to Bd. P. I.2.10.21-28.
20-21. Then Brahmå spoke to the lord Nilalohita again: “To your second name declared as Bhava by me, the body shall be the waters”. When this was said, the stable element of the nature of Rasa (the lymphatic constituent in his body) entered water. Hence water is known as Bhava.
22. The living beings are born of waters and purified by them (they are named Bhavas). Creation of beings is by means of production and purification.
23. So none shall pass urine or evacuate bowels in waters. None shall take bath in the nude or spit into water.
24. None shall indulge in sexual intercourse (in waters). None shall perform head bath. None shall look into water sportively while sailing by boat or standing still on the shore.
25. Since waters form the sacred body of Bhava, they shall nowhere be defiled. One shall avoid waters small (in quantity) or discoloured, insipid or foul smelling.
26. The ocean is the source of waters. Hence waters desire the ocean. On flowing into the ocean, waters became pure and nectarine.
27. Hence one shall not obstruct waters that desire to flow unto the ocean. Lord Bhava never injures a person who behaves with waters always thus.
28. Brahmā then spoke to the lord, “To your third name which was mentioned as Sharva, 2 let this earth. be the third body.”
2. There is a difference in the names-in v.9 it is ‘Shiva’ while here in v. 28 it is a Sharva’ as in Bd. P.
29. When this was uttered, the firm and stable portion of the body called the bone (system) entered the earth. Hence the earth is called Sharva.
30. Therefore no wise man should leave faeces or urine in the shade or on steps. He should not pass urine on his own shadow.
31. He should evacuate the bowels after covering his head and the ground with grass. He who behaves thus to the earth is not injured by Sharva.
32-34. Then Brahmă addressed Lord Nilalohita: ‘To your fourth name designated as Iśhāna by me, the wind shall be the fourth body. As soon as this was said, the wind (vital breath) which was stationed in him in five forms and is termed Prāņa entered Väyu. Hence Väyu is called Ishāna. So one should not censure or revile the wind, the Lord himself, as it blows violently.
35. Then Brahma spoke to Lord Dhūmralohita. To your fifth name Pashupati, let fire be the fifth body.
36. When this was said, Agni (Fire-god) entered the fiery element in the body. Hence Pashupati is called Agni.
37. The moon is called Soma. The group of medicinal herbs is its Ātman. Mahadeva does not kill a person who, during the full moon or the new moon day, worships the lord thus.
38. The sun protects people during the day and the moon at night. During one night (once in a month) the sun and the moon come together and that is the new moon day. One shall always be in communion with the lord on that day.
39. All this (universe) is pervaded by these bodies and names (of Rudra). The sun that moves about all alone is also called the moon*.
*Rudra’ in Bd. P. I.2.10.66 is a better reading.
40. It is due to the light of the sun that the people see with their eyes. Rudra, in the resplendent form of the sun, drinks water with his rays.
41. Food and waters are eaten and drunk. The body of Bhava) grows and flourishes by these.
42. It is his body called earth with which he sustains all people with a stable mind. It is the body called Shärvi which sustains the subjects.
43. As long as the gaseous body of Iśhāna is stationed in the bodies of living beings along with the functions of the vital breath, it is the vital breath of beings.
44. That which digests the food and beverages eaten and drunk, in the bellies of living beings, is called Pashupati’s power It is called the digestive power.
45. The pores within the bodies which are for facilitating the free movement of the wind, constitute the body called Bhima.
46. The propounders of the Vedas initiated in sacrifices have their bodies in the form of Ugra. Ugra is, therefore, known as Dīkşhita (initiated Yajamāna).
47. That which conceives and contemplates and exists equally among the people is the mental body. It is known as the moon abiding among beings.
48. The moon is born again and again emerging fresh every time. It is led1 in accordance with their desire by Devas and Pitris. It is known as the great lord of nectarine nature, full of water.
1. Bd.P.I.2.10.75 reads piyate’ ‘is drunk’, a better reading.
49. To the first body of the lord known as Rudra2 and symbolized by the sun, the wife is Suvarchala, and the son is Shanaiśhchara (Saturn).
2. Verses 49-60 give the names of the forms of Shiva, his abode or body allotted to him, designation of that body, name of his consort and the name of his son (s). The following tabular statement of the eight forms will clarify the above verses:
Name or Abode or Form Name of the Name(s)of the Form of Shiva or Body allotted Consort Son(s)
Heat or Prana (Saturn)
(Dhatri in (Venus)
Bd.P)
(Mars)
(Akasha)
7. Ugra Sacrificer Diksha Santana
(Dikshita)
8. Mahadeva The Moon Rohini Budha
(Mecury)
50. To the second body of the lord known as Bhava and symbolized by water, the wife is Uşha and Uśhanas (the planet Venus) the son.
51. To the third body of the lord known as Sharva and symbolized by the earth the wife is Vikeśhī and Angaraka (Mars) the son.
52. To the fourth body of the lord known as Ishäna and symbolized by the wind, the wife is Shiva and Manojava the son.
53. The body of Pashuptati which is remembered (proclaimed) as Fire by the twice-borns, has Svähä for his wife and Skanda as the son.
54. The ether (Akāśha) is called the body Bhima, his sixth name. Quarters are remembered as his wives and Heaven (Svarga) as the son.
55. To the seventh body of the Lord known as Ugra and symbolized by the sacrificer, the wife is Dikshā (initiation) and Santāna as the son.
56-57. The eighth body of the great Lord is known as the Moon. His wife is Rohiņi and Budha is remembered as the son. They should be saluted and bowed with respective names to each body.
58. By devotion to these bodies and the names of the Lord, viz. the Sun, the Waters, the Earth, Wind, Fire, Ether, Initiated Priest and the Moon, the devotee attains Sāyujya with the Lord himself.
59. Thus the secret glory of the terrible lord has been narrated to you. Welfare be unto us the bipeds. Welfare be unto our quadrupeds.
60. Thus the origin of the bodies of Lord Mahadeva along with their designations has been recounted. Now listen to progeny of Bhrugu.
It will be found that the abodes of the name of Nilalohita are the eight forms (ashta-mūrtis) of Shiva which are the five Mahābhūtas (gross elements), Pranas and the mind (represented by the moon). Our Text does not give the designation of these murtis as given in the Bd. P.