karma yoga

[Anand Natarajan]

This verse is from Upadesa Saram of Sri Ramana Maharshi. In the commentary on it , I find the 8 fold form is mentioned as pancha bhutas + Sun + Moon + all living beings. So it seems to be similar to the shakthi rahasya that you mention.
The basic theme is  that it is Brahman alone that has become all and therfore the world and all it beings are nothing but Brahman and bearing this in mind we must act.

Sincerely,
                 Anand


On Wed, 5 Jan 2000 14:10:28    Ravisankar Mayavaram wrote:
>--- Anand Natarajan <anandn at MYWORLDMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>> "Jagata Ishadhi Yuktha sevanam
>>  Ashta Murthi Brith deva pujanam".
>> "Serve the world being attached to God
>> This world is His 8 fold form and thus you worship Him."
>>
>> -Sri Ramana Maharshi
>
>How do you define the term ashhTa muurtiH? The first thought that came
>to my mind was the name ashhTamuurtiH in shrii lalitaa sahasranaamam.
>The commentary I have gives few meanings for this term.  One of them is
>from giitaa VII:4. The eight-fold form here is the pa~ncha bhuuta-s,
>manas, buddhi and ahamkaara.
>
>In shakti rahasya, the first five is same, but the last three is moon
>(corresponding to mind), Sun (intellect) and jiivaatman (corresponding
>to ahaMkaara). Since a person is made of   5 elements, and manas,
>buddhi and ahaMkaara, and cosmos has a similar structure. This can be
>interpreted at both microcosmic (human) and macrocosmic levels.
>
>
>Please let us know the meaning with which it is used in the verse.
>
>\aside
>Like ashhTa muurtiH, another thing ashhTa-guNa (Tamil eNguNaththaan),
>this normally used to address Lord shiva. It is also found in
>thirukkuraL in first chapter (kOLil poRiyil ...) in reference to God.
>
>Ravi
>__________________________________________________



A FREE web-based e-mail service brought to you by the PC World Technology Network.
Get your FREE account today at http://www.myworldmail.com

--
bhava shankara deshikame sharaNam

Archives : http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l.html
Help     : Email to listmaster at lists.advaita-vedanta.org
Options  : To leave the list send a mail to
           listserv at lists.advaita-vedanta.org with
           SIGNOFF ADVAITA-L in the body.