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The Eight (Ashta) forms of the Lord:

The Vedasspeak of the Ashta Murthys (forms) of Lord Shiva. Sarva, Bhava,Rudra, Ugra, Bheema, Pasupathi, Mahadeva, Eashana are the eight Murthysof Shiva. Puranas explain the Adhistanas for these eight forms, which areSarva for earth, Bhava for water, Rudra for fire, Ugra for wind, Bheema forspace, Pasupathi for yajamana, Mahadeva for moon and Eashana for Sun.Shiva is also called Pasupathi i.e. Lord Shiva with his enormous grace on theJeeva means pasu, cuts the Pasa or the string and makes it move free to

join him with devotion. Inthis way, his name Pasupathi is more meaningful.Each of the following Kshethras (places) in India & Nepal connected to theLords eight forms, so that the devotee can know clearly how the ancientpuranas took care tolocatethese places both geographically andspiritually.Shiva, Brahma puranas are the main sources.

The following forms or forces of natureare worshipped in their primalformonly without any special idols representing them.

1. Sarva:- BhoomiLinga, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. It is in ShivaKanchi Kshetra, where the Lord is in the form of Kshiti Linga in theEkamra tree(Aamra (Mango in Sanskrit) tree, which yield only one fruitper year). Parvathi worshipped this form first. There is no Abishekadone with water at this shrine, jasmine oil is used instead. The Devisname here is Kamakshi. All the desires of the devotees are fulfilledwith her gracious eyes.

2. Bhava:- JalaLinga, ThiruvanaiKoil, (Jambukeswaram), Tamil Nadu.This temple is located on the outskirts of Trichy, where LordJambukeswara is seated andshowers all his blessings to hisdevotees. This Kshetra is called Jambukeswara Kshetra, also knownas Jala Linga. The devotees can see from the outside of Garbha Gruhathe water bubbles coming out from Panipetham. There is a Jambu tree,which is very old and very big. The legends say Lord Shiva wanted tostay here along with the Jambu tree. So the devotees treat this tree assacred as the Lord.

3. Rudra:-Agnior Thejo (Divine Light) Linga, Tiruvannamalai, Tamilnadu Arunachaleswara. In Tiruvannamalai, Lord Shiva is seated in the formof Thejolinga. The whole mountain appears to be a Linga. As a result ofParvathis great penance, a sharp spark of fire came from Arunachalaand took shape as Arunalinga.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvanaikoilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarvahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhoomihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kancheepuramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvannamalaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiruvanaikoilhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhavahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakshihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kancheepuramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhoomihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarvahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas

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4. Ugra: - VayuLinga, Sri Kalahasti, Andhra Pradesh. The SriKalahasteeswara temple is situated on the banks of Swarna MukhiRiver in Sri Kalahasti. Spiritually elevated souls only can see that there

is a strong wind blowing around the Linga. Bhakta Kannappastory isconnected to this temple. Even animals got salvation by worshippingthis Lord. Three animals Cobweb (Sree), Kala (snake), and Hasthi(elephant) prayed to God with utmost faith and devotion and attainedMoksha. One can see the symbols there on the Shiva Linga eventoday

5. Bheema: -AkaashaLinga, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. This Kshetra ison the banks of Cauvery. We dont see any Murthy in the temple

Garbha Gruha. The puranas speak of this Kshetra very highly. No onecan see the Lords Murthy, except the highest spiritual souls. There isa space in the Garbha Gruha and many Abharanas are decorated andthe devotees assume the Lord is seated there. A very beautifulNataraja murthy is in outer Garbha Gruha for worship and for thesatisfaction of the devotees.

6. Pasupathi: - Yajamana (Lord) Linga, Kathmandu, Nepal. In Nepal,Pasupathinadha Kshetra is famous and the Lord here is in human form.The devotee can see the deity up to his waist only. The Murthy isdecorated with Gold Kavacha always. Nobody can enter into theGarbha Gruha except the Archaka (not even the King of Nepal). Manydevotees from all over the globe pray to this Lord with highest devotionand get their wishes fulfilled.

7. Mahadeva: - ChandraLinga, West Bengal. Chandra natha Linga issituated in West Bengal 34 miles away from Chatagav City. Manysacred thirthas surround this Kshetra. Devipurana lauded this Kshethragreatly.

8. Eashana: - SuryaLinga, KonarkTemple, Orissa. This Kshetra is inOrissa state near PuriJagannath Kshetra. Konark is now in ruins andthe temple is in fragments and now, devotees cant see any God orGoddess here. The legend says that Sri Krishnas son Samba sufferedonce from leprosy and was cured by worshipping the Suryaand the

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalahastihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suryahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krishnahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orissahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konarkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suryahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eashana&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahadevahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathmanduhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yajamana&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shree_Pashupatinathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chidambaramhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannappahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalahastihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vayuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugra

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Linga here and since then this Kshetra became a remedy center for alldiseases. Even in these days the worship is going on with same faithand devotion