Ashtamurti, Aṣṭamūrti, Ashta-murti, Ashtan-murti, Ashtamurtti, Aṣṭamūrtti: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Ashtamurti means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Tamil. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit terms Aṣṭamūrti and Aṣṭamūrtti can be transliterated into English as Astamurti or Ashtamurti or Astamurtti or Ashtamurtti, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationAṣṭamūrti (अष्टमूर्ति) refers to the eight cosmic bodies of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 1.19.—“among the eight cosmic bodies of Śiva (aṣṭamūrti), the Earthen body (pārthiva) is the best. Since it is not worshipped by any one else O Brāhmaṇas! it yields great benefit. Just as Śiva is the oldest and the most excellent of all deities, so also his earthly phallic image is the most excellent of all. [...]”.
The Eight Cosmic Bodies (aṣṭamūrti) (consisting of the three worlds) are defined in chapter 1.21:—
- the Earth (kṣiti),
- the waters (apas/ap),
- the fire (anala),
- the wind (vāyu),
- the Ether (ākāśa),
- the sun (sūrya),
- the moon (soma) and
- the sacrificer (yajamāna).
The following eight manifestations of Śiva shall be worshipped with these cosmic bodies (aṣṭamūrti) respectively:
- Śarva,
- Bhava,
- Rudra,
- Ugra,
- Bhīma,
- Īśvara,
- Mahādeva and
- Paśupati.
Note: Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa (6.1.3.1-18) gives the following version of the eight forms of Śiva (aṣṭamūrti): “when the life-principle became manifest it had no name, so it cried. Prajāpati asked the reason and being informed that the child wanted a name, first gave him the name Rudra, then Śarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Aśani, Bhava, Mahādeva and Īśāna. This was the conception from which the Purāṇa writers developed the Aṣṭamūrti conception of Śiva. The fact is that the eight forms of Śiva symbolise the five gross material elements (ether, air, fire, water, and earth), two opposite principles of Prāṇa and Apāna (heat and cold represented by the sun and the moon) and the principle of mind (manas) which is the eighth”.
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaAṣṭamūrti (अष्टमूर्ति).—Earth, Water, Air, Fire, Ether, Hotā, Sun and Moon.
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical studyAṣṭamūrti (अष्टमूर्ति) represents the “eight forms of Śiva”, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Puranic Śaivaism is, to begin with, characterised by the doctrine of Gods five manifestations pañcabrahman or the so called faces pañcavaktra and that of his eight forms or embodiments aṣṭamūrti.—The conception of the eight forms (aṣṭamūrti) of Śiva is one of the well-known views of the Purāṇas, especially of the Śaiva Purāṇas like Liṅga, Skanda, Śiva, and Saura. The conception of Śiva’s aṣṭamūrti seems to be based on an interesting passage in the Kauṣitakī-brāhmaṇa (6.1ff).
The Saurapurāṇa describes the well-known concept of aṣṭamūrti—the five elements, the sun, the moon and the sacrificer (yajamāna) to each of which corresponds one of his traditional names Śarva, Bhava, Paśupati, Īśāna, Bhīma, Rudra, Mahādeva and Ugra. A separate hymn is addressed to these eight forms of Śiva in the Saurapurāṇa (2.43-50).
Note: A precise account with necessary details of these eight forms [viz., aṣṭamūrti] of Śiva is found in the Viṣṇupurāṇa 1.8 and the Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (P 52). Poets have also referred to this form and sometimes have described them attractively. A few stotras also refer to this form.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts: Volume 12 (1898) (shai)1) Aṣṭamūrti (अष्टमूर्ति) refers to one of the topics discussed in the Mahāmokṣa-Tantra, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 12 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (second series)” by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri.—The Mahāmokṣatantra manuscript, consisting of 3,024 ślokas (metrical verses), is deposit: Dhaka, Vikramapura Majhapada, Babu Rasavihari Raya. It deals with the salvation, cosmogony (i.e., the order of cosmic regions) and contains a bibliography of Tantric literature.— The catalogue includes the term—Aṣṭamūrti in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads—4 rthe paṭale,—śivasya kṣityādyaṣṭamūrttivṛttāntakathanam.
2) Aṣṭamūrtti (अष्टमूर्त्ति) also refers to one of the topics discussed in the Liṅgārcanatantra, which deals with the rules and advantages of worshiping the Liṅga. It contains roughly 1,000 ślokas.—The complete entry reads—[chapter 7: aṣṭamūrttyādipūjāvidhānaṃ].
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Source: Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts: Volume 12 (1898) (ay)Aṣṭamūrti (अष्टमूर्ति) or Aṣṭamūrtirasa refers to one of the topics discussed in the Rasakaumudī, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 1 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (first series)” by Rajendralal Mitra (1822–1891), who was one of the first English-writing historians dealing with Indian culture and heritage.—The Rasakaumudī by Mādhavakara represents a treatise on practice of medicine and therapeutics. It is a leading work on Hindu medicine, very largely studied in Bengal containing causes and symptoms of diseases. It contains 3,092 ślokas.—The catalogue includes the term—Aṣṭamūrti-rasa in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads: aṣṭamūrttirasaḥ .
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAṣṭamūrti (अष्टमूर्ति).—the 'eight-formed', an epithet of Śiva; the 8 forms being, the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether), the Sun and the Moon and the sacrificing priest; cf. Ś.1.1 -या सृष्टिः स्रष्टुराद्या वहति विधिहुतं या हविर्या च होत्री । ये द्वे कालं विधत्तः श्रुतिविषयगुणा या स्थिता व्याप्य विश्वम् । यामाहुः सर्वभूत- प्रकृतिरिति यया प्राणिनः प्राणवन्तः । प्रत्यक्षाभिः प्रपन्नस्तनुभिरवतु वस्ताभिरष्टाभिरीशः (yā sṛṣṭiḥ sraṣṭurādyā vahati vidhihutaṃ yā haviryā ca hotrī | ye dve kālaṃ vidhattaḥ śrutiviṣayaguṇā yā sthitā vyāpya viśvam | yāmāhuḥ sarvabhūta- prakṛtiriti yayā prāṇinaḥ prāṇavantaḥ | pratyakṣābhiḥ prapannastanubhiravatu vastābhiraṣṭābhirīśaḥ) ||; or briefly expressed, the names in Sanskrit (in the above order) are:-जलं वह्निस्तथा यष्टा सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ तथा । आकाशं वायुरवनी मूर्तयोऽष्टौ पिनाकिनः (jalaṃ vahnistathā yaṣṭā sūryācandramasau tathā | ākāśaṃ vāyuravanī mūrtayo'ṣṭau pinākinaḥ) ||. °धरः (dharaḥ) 'having 8 forms', Śiva.
Derivable forms: aṣṭamūrtiḥ (अष्टमूर्तिः).
Aṣṭamūrti is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms aṣṭan and mūrti (मूर्ति).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṣṭamūrtti (अष्टमूर्त्ति).—m.
(-rttiḥ) A name of Siva. E. aṣṭa eight, and mūrtti form: evident in the earth, water, &c.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṣṭamūrti (अष्टमूर्ति).—[-n], m. a name of Śiva, [Śiśupālavadha] 14, 18.
Aṣṭamūrti is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms aṣṭa and mūrti (मूर्ति).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṣṭamūrti (अष्टमूर्ति):—[=aṣṭa-mūrti] [from aṣṭa > aṣṭan] m. ‘eight-formed’, a Name of Śiva (as identified with the five elements, mind, egotism, and Prakṛti [matter]; or, according to the opening of the Śakuntalā, with the five elements, the sun and moon and the sacrificing priest), [Mahābhārata iii, 1939; Raghuvaṃśa etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṣṭamūrtti (अष्टमूर्त्ति):—[aṣṭa-mūrtti] (rttiḥ) 2. m. Name of Shiva.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAṣṭamūrti (ಅಷ್ಟಮೂರ್ತಿ):—[noun] Śiva, who has eight forms.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconAṣṭamūrtti (அஷ்டமூர்த்தி) [aṣṭa-mūrtti] noun < idem. +. Śiva; சிவபிரான். [sivapiran.]
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ashta, Murti.
Starts with: Ashtamurtidhara, Ashtamurtiparvan, Ashtamurtipuja, Ashtamurtipuja, Ashtamurtirasa, Ashtamurttyadi.
Full-text: Ashtamurttidhara, Ashtamurtidhara, Ashtamurttyadi, Ashtamurtipuja, Ashtamurtirasa, Yagamandapa, Navatala, Uttamanavatala, Murtyashtaka, Dayasindhu, Shivaloka, Kamada, Paramarishi, Shiva, Pancavaktra, Vrittacandrodaya.
Relevant text
Search found 24 books and stories containing Ashtamurti, Ashdamoorthi, Ashdamurthi, Ashta murtis, Ashta-murti, Ashta-murtti, Ashtamurtis, Ashtamurtti, Ashtan-murti, Aṣṭa-mūrti, Asta-murti, Aṣṭa-mūrtti, Asta-murtti, Aṣṭamūrti, Astamurti, Aṣṭamūrtti, Astamurtti, Aṣṭan-mūrti, Astan-murti; (plurals include: Ashtamurtis, Ashdamoorthis, Ashdamurthis, Ashta murtises, murtis, murttis, Ashtamurtises, Ashtamurttis, mūrtis, mūrttis, Aṣṭamūrtis, Astamurtis, Aṣṭamūrttis, Astamurttis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shiva Gita (study and summary) (by K. V. Anantharaman)
Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 10 - Magnificence of God Śiva: birth of Nīlalohita < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 164 < [Volume 3 (1874)]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
39. Aṣṭamūrti incarnation < [Chapter 5 - Rudra-Śiva in the Purāṇic Literature]
5. Epithets of Rudra-Śiva tracked in the Upaniṣadic literature < [Chapter 6b - Epithets (References)]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 14 - Manifestation of Śaṅkara < [Section 3b - Arunācala-khaṇḍa (Uttarārdha)]
Chapter 48 - The Description of Somanātha < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 25 - Description of Somavāra Vrata < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
31. Description of Shasta (rites and rituals) < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
8. Initial ceremonial steps for Shiva Puja (worship) < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
49. Notes for chapter 4 < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
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