In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstra

Dharāpāla (धरापाल) is a Sanskrit name referring to one of the eight manifestations of Krodha, who is a form of Bhairava. According to the Rudrayāmala, there are eight main forms of Bhairava who control the eight directions of this universe. Each form (e.g., Krodha) has a further eight sub-manifestations (e.g., Dharāpāla), thus resulting in a total of 64 Bhairavas.

When depicting Dharāpāla according to traditional iconographic rules (śilpaśāstra), one should depcit him (and other forms of Krodha) having a smoke color; he should carry khaḍga, kheṭaka, a long sword and paraśu. The word Śilpaśāstra refers to an ancient Hindu science of arts and crafts, dealing with subjects such as painting, sculpture and iconography.

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Dharāpāla (धरापाल).—A king of ancient times. He ruled over a country named Vidiśā. There is a holy place where the rivers Vetasī and Vetravatī meet. Dharāpāla constructed a temple at the confluence. There is a story also for his doing so.

Once a Śiva-pārṣada brought to Śiva a woman at a time when Pārvatī was away from the place. Śiva and the woman were enjoying each other when Pārvatī came to the place. Getting angry she cursed the Pārṣada and made him into a fox. The fox came to the place where the rivers Vetasī and Vetravatī meet and did penance there and attained Mokṣa. Dharāpāla saw the divine plane coming down to take the Pārṣada away and he, therefore, constructed a temple at the place where the plane landed. He then arranged scholars well versed in Vedas and śāstras to read Padma Purāṇa there. He himself read Padma Purāṇa and attained mokṣa. (Chapter 29, Padma Purāṇa).

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Tarapalam.

Ends with: Mendharapala, Pandharapala.

Full-text: Krodha.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Dharapala, Dharāpāla; (plurals include: Dharapalas, Dharāpālas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)

Chapter 28 - Merit Coming From Exposition of a Sacred Text < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]

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