SAIVA-SIDDHANTA

"
Know
98 ASHTAMUHURTAM.
"Prithivyo Bava, Apach Sarvah, Agne Rudrah, Vayur
Bhimah, Akasasya Mahadevah, Suryas Yograh, Chandrasya
"
Somah, Atmanah Pasupatih
Note here that the word Hotri meaning
the sacrificer or
the Yajaman (master) of the sacrifice, stands for atma, Jiva
or Pasu. Hence the Lord of the pasu is called Pasupati.
(Meda Pad)
We quote a few more passages from Mahabharata.
11 Thou art the eight Prakritis ;
Thou art again above the
eight Prakritis, everything that exists represents a portion of
Thy divine Self", page 99.
The
following passage explains why God should multiply
Himself, why He should manifest Himself into these eight
forms *". ; e., why God should bring about the evolution and
creation of this world ;
not of course, from any moral necessity
connected with the doctrine of samsara ;
not of course, from
His Will to exist and desire for enjoyment ;
not of course,
from a desire to see His own reflexion
; not, of course, from a
necessity to seek His own salvation; but that this evolution
is necessitated for the improvement and salvation of the
sin-covered soul.
O Kesava, that this all, consisting of animate and
inanimate existences, with heaven and other unseen entities,
which occurs in these worlds, and which has the All-pervading
Lord for its soul, has flowed from Mahesvara, and has been
created by Him for the enjoyment of Jiva" page 70.
The soul, in its Kevala condition, lies in utter and hopeless
oblivion, and helplessness. The Lord Wills (Ichcha sakti) that
these souls should reach salvation out of His pure Grace
(Arul Sakti) ;
and by means of His own Energy (Kriya sakti)
He agitates and puts motion and life into Prakriti (Maya sakti) ;
and Purusha (souls) and the w r hole of the manifested universe
is brought
forth from His womb. The souls in these material
bodies act, and gain experience and knowledge, and finally