Kankalamurti, Kaṅkālamūrti, Kankala-murti: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Kankalamurti 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.

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In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstra

Kaṅkālamūrti (कङ्कालमूर्ति) refers to an image (mūrti) of an aspect of Śiva. Kaṅkāla literally means “a skeleton”. The Pūrva-kāraṇāgama states that the figures of Śiva in the kaṅkāla-mūrti aspect should not have near them the figure of the Devi. The colour, according to the Kāraṇāgama, of the kaṅkāla-mūrti aspect of Śiva is to be white.

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.

Discover the meaning of kankalamurti in the context of Shilpashastra from relevant books on Exotic India

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Kankalamurti in Shaivism glossary
Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

1) Kaṅkālamūrti (कङ्कालमूर्ति) or simply Kaṅkāla refers to one of the twenty-three forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Pūrvakāmikāgama (pratimālakṣaṇavidhi-paṭala): first and foremost among the Mūlāgama. The forms of Śiva (e.g., Kaṅkāla-mūrti) are established through a process known as Sādākhya, described as a five-fold process of creation.

2) Kaṅkālamūrti is also listed among the twenty-eighth forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Vātulāgama: twenty-eighth among the Siddhāntaśaivāgama.

3) Kaṅkālamūrti is also listed among the eighteen forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Kāraṇāgama (pratimālakṣaṇavidhi-paṭala): the fourth among the Siddhāntaśaivāgamas.

4) Kaṅkālamūrti is also listed among the eighteen forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Śilparatna (twenty-second adhyāya): a technical treatise by Śrīkumāra on Śilpaśāstra.

Shaivism book cover
context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Discover the meaning of kankalamurti in the context of Shaivism from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Kankalamurti in Hinduism glossary
Source: Shodhganga: Historical setting of the vaisnava divyaksetras in the southern pandya country

Kaṅkālamūrti (कङ्कालमूर्ति).—The Lord who bears the kaṅkāladaṇḍa is known as kaṅkālamūrti. It is a sectarian form that exalts the greatness of Śiva beca use the kaṇkāladaṇḍa that he carries is supposed to be the remnant of the daśāvatāras of Viṣṇu. It is also supposed to be the mortal remains of Trivikrama. Others consider it a skeleton. It is also supposed to be a musical instrument called kaṅkāla.

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