Mukhalinga, Mukhaliṅga, Mukha-linga: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Mukhalinga 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.
In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstraMukhaliṅga (मुखलिङ्ग) is a Sanskrit word referring to one of the classes of mānuṣaliṅgas (liṅgas made by human hands), classified in the Śaivāgamas. All the mānuṣaliṅgas are made of three parts (brahmabhāga, or ‘lower part’, viṣṇubhāga, or ‘middle part’ and rudrabhāga, or ‘top-most part’). They are also carved with lines known as brahmasūtras. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.
Source: Google Books: Elements of Hindu iconographyThe mukhaliṅga (मुखलिङ्ग) is one of the varieties of mānuṣa-liṅgas and is distinguished from all other liṅgas in that it bears one or more human faces sculptured on it. Regarding the making of a mukhaliṅga all the Āgamas and Tantras have detailed descriptions. The substance of these is that a mukhaliṅga should be made on the pūjābhāga of the sarvasama-liṅga and that it might have one, two, three, four or five faces corresponding to the five aspects, Vāmadeva, Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, Sadyojāta and Īśāna, of Śiva.
1) If the central shrine has only one door-way in its front or the east side, there should be carved only one face and that on the front side of the liṅga facing the door-way;
2) if it has two door-ways one in front and the other at the back of the central shrine, that is, on the eastern and western sides, there should be two faces carved on the front and back of the liṅga;
3) there should be three faces on the liṅga, if there are three door-ways, that is, on all sides except the west;
4-5) if, lastly there are four doorways, there should be four faces or five; in the former case, the cases are turned in the four directions of the quarters; in the latter case, in addition to the four faces, there is to be one on the top of the liṅga and facing the east.
The Īśāna asepct of Śiva is represented by the face on the top of the (mukha-) liṅga; the Tatpuruṣa, by that facing the east, the Aghora, by that facing the south; the Sadyojāta, by that facing the west and the Vāmadeva, by that facing the north. In the case of the four faces carved on the four sides of the mukhaliṅga they should be attached to bodies which ought to be represented only as far as the chest (stana-sūtra). Each of these figures should have only one pair of arms and be fashioned in all other respects in conformity with the rules laid down for the making of images.
Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (shilpa)Mukhaliṅga (मुखलिङ्ग) or Mukhaliṅgamūrti refers to one of the eighteen forms (mūrti) of Śiva mentioned in the Kāraṇāgama (pratimālakṣaṇavidhi-paṭala): the fourth among the Siddhāntaśaivāgamas. The forms of Śiva (e.g., Mukha-liṅga) are established through a process known as Sādākhya, described as a five-fold process of creation.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Google Books: Consecration Rituals In South AsiaMukhaliṅga (मुखलिङ्ग) or Mukhaliṅgalakṣaṇa refers to one of the chapters of the Devyāmata: an Early Śaiva Pratiṣṭhātantra dating back to the 5th century CE dealing with topics related to temple construction, consecration rituals, and iconography.—The Devyāmata is written in the form of a dialogue between Śiva and the Goddess. It begins with the praśnapaṭala, ‘the chapter on questions’, in which Devī tells Śiva what topics she would like to learn about. The answers are provided in the following chapters [e.g., mukhaliṅga-lakṣaṇa], of which each is dedicated to one specific subject.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Mukha, Linga.
Starts with: Mukhalingalakshana, Mukhalingam, Mukhalingamurti.
Ends with: Caturmukhalinga, Chaturmukhalinga, Kalamukhalinga.
Full-text: Kalinganagara, Mukhalingam, Mukhalingamurti, Trikalinga, Kharavela, Aruvuruvam, Lepa.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Mukhalinga, Mukhaliṅga, Mukha-linga, Mukha-liṅga; (plurals include: Mukhalingas, Mukhaliṅgas, lingas, liṅgas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice) (by Geetika Kaw Kher)
Mukhalingas and esoteric meanings < [Chapter 6 - Siva-linga: an Iconological Study]
Sculptural Evidence < [Chapter 1 - The Historical Context]
Brief Review of Scholarship < [Introduction]
The Siva Linga: Conceptual, Iconographical and < [January – March, 1996]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 103 - Greatness of Ānartaka Tīrtha Kūpikā < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Vastu-shastra (5): Temple Architecture (by D. N. Shukla)
Temples of Orissa (1): Bhuvaneśvara < [Chapter 12 - History of Hindu Temples (Prāsādas and Vimānas)]
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