By Jit Majumdar
- of 8 forms; of 8 aspects
- an epithet of Śiva referring to his having 8 forms with 8 different names of manifesting, which represent 8 different phenomena, namely: Sarva (earth), Bhava (water), Rudra (fire), Ugra (air) Bhīma (ether), Paśupati (the sacrificer), Īśāna (the sun) and Mahādeva (the moon) (T. Śāstra); the pañcabhūta (five elements), the sun, the moon, and the yajamāna (sacrificer).