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[quote="Idiappam
What are the eights?[/quote]

If I remember right, I think this has roots in Sri Rudram which is part of the Yajur Veda. I read somewhere that it refers to the 8 major Leelaigal of Shiva quoted in Sri Rudram as:

Om Namaste Asthu Bhagavannu
Vishvershwaraya
(1) Mahadevaya (Manifested as The Lord who is the protector of the Devas)
(2) Thriyambakaya (Manifested as The Lord with Three Eyes)
(3) Thripuranthakaya (Manifested as Lord who destroyed the three cities)
(4) Thrikaagni Kalaya
Kalagni Rudraya (Manifests as The Lord who creates the Pralaya)
(5) Neelakantaya (Manifested as Lord who saved the cosmos from the poison when the Paarkadal was churned)
(6) Mrithunjayaya (Manifested as The Lord who defeated Death when he saved Markhandeya and the Hunter)
(7)Sarveshwaraya (Manifests as The Lord who saves the World)
(8) Sadashivaya (Manifested as The Lord who bring peace to the world)
Sriman Mahadevaya Namaha

Rgds, Aravind Sitaraman