The word is “Ashta Murti” means being having Eight Forms and is a synonym for Siva. These Eight Forms are, Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, the Sun and the Moon and Soul or Jiva or Pasu. As Shiva can be conceived both transcendentally and immanently, the latter is identified with Shakthi, his innermost nature.
Shiva has eight aspects (ashta murti) which are depicted in Agamas, Vedas, Puranas, as well as in Samhithas and similar texts. It is through these eight names that the whole cosmos, including the animate and the inanimate, is organized. As God is the only substance that neither of these terms comprise, when God is referred to by His Body, then the relationship of God to the world is clearly brought out, namely that of Body and Soul, and hence the name Viswanthariyami. He is called Viswakarana or Viswayonihi because He created the whole universe from Himself. Similarly, we often identify ourselves with our bodies, so God often appears as Earth, Water, Fire, Air, the Sun, the Moon, and our Soul.
Eight manifestations of Shiva representing God’s various aspects, each of which manifests in a visible form. As a result, fire became the form of Rudra, water became Sarva, plants became Pashupathi, air became Ugra, lightning became Ashani, clouds became Bhava, the moon became Mahadeva, and the sun became Ishana.
Puranas also contain the eight facets of Shiva. However, the order has been slightly altered, and they are now arranged as follows. 1. Rudra, 2. Bhava, 3. Sarva, 4. Ishana, 5. Pashupathi, 6. Bhima, 7. Ugra and 8. Mahadeva and his eight bodies the sun, water, the earth, fire, air, ether, the initiated brahmana (dikshita brahmana), i.e the sacrificer (yajamana) and the moon.
The tantrika rituals includes the ashta murti pooja of siva in the eight forms. Sarva (earth), Bhava (water), Rudra(fire), Ugra (air), Bhima(ether), Pashupathi (Yajamana), Ishana (sun), Mahadeva (moon). Instead of yajamana, Kshetranja or atman as one of the forms of Shiva, is also mentioned in Shivapurana.
It is believed that the eight manifestations of Shiva are worshipped only in their primal form without any special idols or representations of them. Thus contemplating on the AshtaMurti forms one reaches to the conclusion that ‘Sarvam Shivamayam Jagat’ or ‘Entire Universe is Shiva. For eg. Contemplating on a rain drop coming from sky and with respect to Shatapatha Brahamana description:
That rain drop is water which itself is AshtaMurti form of Sharva. Fire element ie. Heat (Rudra) present in that drop is making liquid form of water to exist. Water drop is occupying some space to exist (Ashani). Water is made of two air molecules (Ugra). Water molecules contains many electromagnetic forces (Ashani =Vidyuta). There is also solidity in water molecules eg. Like in nucleus (Pashupati). Our mind (Mahadeva) is observing that. That water drop when strikes seeds grow plants (Pashupati). From it comes food (Ishana).
Previously also that water came from sea (Sarva). It was heated (Rudra) by Sun (Ishana). It became vapour (Ugra), it went to sky (Bhima). Lightning (Ashani) came there. Rainfall (Parjanya = Bhava) occurred there and it fell towards earth (Pashupati). Time is continuously flowing while this event is happening and can be represented through Sun (Ishana) and Moon (Mahadeva).
Thus, one can observe Ashta Murti forms of Shiva even in minute things by contemplating this concept.
