Arcavatara, Arcāvatāra, Arca-avatara: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Arcavatara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Alternative spellings of this word include Archavatara.

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Arcāvatāra (अर्चावतार) refers to the “manifestation” of the deity in a Hindu temple.—Indian temple architecture, in the fullness of its development, establishes in spatial terms an intellectual and actual approach to the Supreme Principle of which the deity is symbolic. The statue is the manifestation (arcā-avatāra) of the deity through a concrete work of art (mūrti), and the building is its body and house. Images are given shape by sculpture and painting, whose inter-relationship expresses in line, proportion and colour the love (bhakti) to which gods and myths owe their existence as aspects of the Absolute.

Shilpashastra book cover
context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Arcavatara in Hinduism glossary
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras

Arcāvatāra refers to the “simple and easy method to attain the blessings from the Lord” as explained in the sthala-purāṇa associated with the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam (Śrī Raṅgam) which represents a sacred place for the worship of Viṣṇu.—According to the sthala-purāṇa: [...] Śrī Raṅganātha taught Brahmā the greatness of his arcāvatāra (the simple and easy method to attain the blessings from the Lord). Brahmā carried the sacred vimāna to his Satyaloka and established the sanctum with the help of Viśvakarma on the banks of Viraja river on the day of Rohini star in the Tula month. Brahmā observed the daily rituals. The same pujās were observed by King Ikṣvāku of the Surya dynasty. Brahmā was pleased with the king and gave the Śrī Raṅga vimāna with the enshrined Lord Śrī Raṅganātha and from then onwards, the lord had his sanctum on the banks of the river Sarayu.

Languages of India and abroad

Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Arcavatara in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Arcāvatāra (ಅರ್ಚಾವತಾರ):—[noun] the act of making an idol of a deity; conceptualisation of a deity in an idol.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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