Aṣṭamūrti
The Supreme showers his blessings to one and all as Aṣṭamūrti, Eight forms. Śrī Kṛṣṇa higilights this in Bhagavad Gītā, jñāna vijñāna yoga, Seventh Chapter.
भूमिरापो अनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिर् एव च ।
अहंकार इति इयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिर् अष्टधा ॥ भ.गी.७.४
bhūmir āpo analo vāyuḥ
khaṁ mano buddhir eva ca .
ahamkāra iti iyaṁ me
bhinnā prakṛtir aṣṭadhā .. —bg.7.4
S. Radhakrishnan:- (4) Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind and understanding and self-sense—this is the eightfold division of My nature.
Tiruvaḷḷuvar emphasis that one should pray to the Supreme (Aṣṭamūrti). The Head of one who does not Salute the Supreme (Aṣṭamūrti) compares to non functioning Ear, Nose, Eyes, Mouth and the Body.
kōḷil poṟiyil kuṇamilavē eṇkuṇattāṉ
tāḷai vaṇaṅkāt talai —9
Appar Svāmikaḷ in his beautiful Tēvāram hymn praises the Supreme as Aṣṭamūrti
iru nilaṉ āy, tī āki, nīrum āki,
iyamāṉaṉāy, eṟiyum kāṟṟum āki,
aru nilaiya tiṅkaḷ āy, ñāyiṟu āki,
ākācam āy, aṭṭamūrtti āki,
peru nalamum kuṟṟamum peṇṇum āṇum
piṟar uruvum tam uruvum tāmē āki
nerunalai āy, iṉṟu āki, nāḷai āki,
nimirpuṉcaṭai aṭikaḷ niṉṟa āṟē! —6.94.1
இரு நிலன் ஆய், தீ ஆகி, நீரும் ஆகி,
இயமானனாய், எறியும் காற்றும் ஆகி,
அரு நிலைய திங்கள் ஆய், ஞாயிறு ஆகி,
ஆகாசம் ஆய், அட்டமூர்த்தி ஆகி,
பெரு நலமும் குற்றமும் பெண்ணும் ஆணும்
பிறர் உருவும் தம் உருவும் தாமே ஆகி
நெருநலை ஆய், இன்று ஆகி, நாளை ஆகி,
நிமிர்புன்சடை அடிகள் நின்ற ஆறே! —6.94.1
Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the same chapter highlights that the Supreme is, the taste in the waters, light in the Moon and the Sun; syllable Aum in all the Vedas; the sound in ether and manhood in men; the pure fragrance in earth and brightness in fire; the life in all existences and the austerity in ascetics; the eternal seed of all existences; the intelligence of the intelligent; the splendour of the splendid; the strength of the strong; devoid of desire and passion; and the desire which is not contrary to law. Chapter7 verses 8-11.
रसो अहं अप्सु कौन्तेय प्रभास्मि शशि-सूर्ययोः ।
प्रणवः सर्व-वेदेषु शब्दः खे पौरुषं नृषु ॥
पुण्य गन्धः पृतिव्यां च तेजश्चास्मि विभावसौ ।
जीवनं सर्व भूतेषु तपश्चास्मि तपस्विषु ॥
बीजं मां सर्वभूतानां विद्धि पार्थ सनातनम् ।
बुद्धिर्बुद्धिमतामस्मि तेजस्तेस्विनामहम् ॥
बलं बलवतां चाहं काम-राग-विवर्जितम् ।
धर्माविरुद्धो भूतेषु कामो अस्मि भरतर्षभ ॥
raso aham apsu kaunteya
prabhā asmi śaśi–sūryayoḥ .
praṇavaḥ sarva–vedeṣu
śabdaḥ khe pauruṣaṁ nṛṣu ..
puṇyo gandhaḥ pṛthivyāṁ ca
tejaś ca asmi vibhāvasau .
jīvanaṁ sarva–bhūteṣu
tapaś ca asmi tapasviṣu ..
bījaṁ māṁ sarva–bhūtānaṁ
viddhi pārtha sanātanam .
buddhir buddhi–matām asmi
tejas tejasvinām ahaṁ ..
balaṁ balavataṁ ca ahaṁ
kāma–rāga–vivarjitam .
dharma–aviruddho bhūteṣu
kāmoऽsmi bharatarṣabha ..
Kaivalyopaniṣad highlights this very concept in its beautiful verses.
एतस्माद् जायते प्राणो मनः सर्वेन्द्रियानि च,
खं वायुर् ज्योतिर् आपश्च पृथ्वी विश्वस्य धारिणि ।
यत्परं ब्रह्म सर्वात्मा विश्वस्यायतनं महत्
सूक्षमात् सुक्षमतरं नित्यं तत्त्वमेव त्वमेवतत् ।
etasmāj jāyate prāṇo manaḥ
sarvendriyāṇi ca,
khaṁ vāyur jyotir āpaśca
pṛthvī viśvasya dhāriṇī. —15
yatparaṁ brahma sarvātmā
viśvasyāyatanaṁ mahat,
sūkṣmāt sūkṣmataraṁ nityaṁ
tat tvam eva tvam eva tat. —16
S. Radhakrishnan:- (15-16) From him are born life, mind and all the senses; sky, air, light, water and earth which is the support of all existence. He is the supreme Brahman, the self of all, the chief foundation of tins world, subtler than the subtle, eternal. That thou art; Thou art That.
tat tvam eva tvam eva tat, That thou art; Thou art That. This is beautifully expressed by Appar Svākikaḷ piṟar uruvum tam uruvum tāmē āki — 6.94.1