Arcavatara, Arca-avatara, Arcāvatāra: 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 (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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-berasArcāvatāra 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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusArcāvatāra (ಅರ್ಚಾವತಾರ):—[noun] the act of making an idol of a deity; conceptualisation of a deity in an idol.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Arca, Avatara.
Full-text: Ishvara, Darumaya, Darurupa, Daru, Jagannatha, Arcavasatha, Purana, Arcavasathanirupana.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Arcavatara, Arca-avatara, Arcā-avatāra, Arcāvatāra; (plurals include: Arcavataras, avataras, avatāras, Arcāvatāras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 3 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 5 - Philosophy of the Ahirbudhnya-saṃhitā < [Chapter XVI - The Pañcarātra]
Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study) (by R. Laxmi)
Introduction to the Vishishtadvaita School of Ramanuja < [Chapter 5 - Philosophical doctrines]
Reviews < [April - June 1974]
Ramanuja’s Interpretation of the Bhagavad-gita (by Abani Sonowal)
South-Indian Horizons (by Jean-Luc Chevillard)
Chapter 1 - Processions in the medieval South Indian temple < [Section 3 - Studies in History, Epigraphy and Archaeology]
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