Ashtamoorti Tatvamu by Chaganti in Vizag - Jan 2015

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In the Vedas Lord Rudra, who subsequently transformed into the benevolent Lord Shiva, has multiple attributes and numerous titles, among which eight are significant to the conceptualization in the Shaivites tradition. Rudra's identification with Shiva was put in writing for the first time in Shvetashvatara Upanishad and later in Yajurveda linked Taittariya Samhita, S.4.5.1, in the Shata Rudriya Section). The Vajasneya samhita (S. 3.63) also co-equals Shiva with Rudra by citing tam Shiva namasi, meaning I bow to you, Shiva. The Shathapatha Brahmana notes that Shiva is also called referred to as Bhava, Mahadeva, Sarva, Pashupati, Ugra and Ishana. These are typically the forms of water, fire, sacrifice, sun, moon, ether, earth and air. Ancient Sanskrit linguist and grammarian Pāṇini in his Astadhyayi (S.1.49, S.3.53, S.4.100, S.5.3.99) also notes that Rudra is called variously as Mrida, Bhava, Sarva, Grisha, Mahadeva and Tryambaka. Rishi Patanjali, propounder of Yoga system, in Mahabashya also provides for various icons of Shiva. In the Puranic era, Rudra completely merged with Shiva and joined the Trimurti and represented the destroyer of evil.
Individual Vedas refer to Rudra, alternatively Shiva with eight different names having different qualities. Such eight attributes create the Shiva aspect of Ashtamurti meaning Eightfold attributes in the manifestation of Lord Shiva.