Parivaradevata, Parivara-devata, Parivāradevata, Parivāradevatā: 5 definitions

Introduction
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In Hinduism
1. Shilpashastra
2. Pancaratra
India history
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Introduction:

Parivaradevata means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy

In a svayampradhāna temple of Subrahmaṇya there are required to be set up eight parivāra-devatas, namely,

Yakṣendra,
Rākṣasendra,
Piśāchendra,
Bhūtarāṭ,
Gandharva,
Kinnara,
Daityanāyaka and
Dānavādhipa.

The figures of these are to be placed on the eight cardinal points of the prākāra; Yakṣendra being on the east, Rākṣasendra on the south-east and so on. These Parivāra-devatās are to be sculptured as having two or four arms and they should be of dark complexion and terrific look. If they have four arms, two of the hands are to be held in the varada and the abhaya poses, while the remaining two should carry the khaḍga and the kheṭaka. But if they have only two arms, the hands should keep the khaḍga and the kheṭaka.

The Kumāra-tantra mentions a much larger number of parivāra-devatās; eight, twelve, sixteen or thirty-two devatas are prescribed in it. If eight devatas are to be set up, we are told that

on the east, facing the deity, should be the figure of an elephant;
on the south-east, Śāsta;
in the south, Brahmā;
on the south-west, the Sapta-mātṛkās;
on the west, Jyeṣṭhā;
on the north-west Durgā;
on the north, Kṣetrapa
and on the north-east, Sumitraka.

The names of the parivāra-devatas of the groups of twelve are:

the elephant,
Sūrya,
Śāsta,
Brahmā,
Yama,
Sapta-mātṛkās,
Varuṇa,
Agastya,
Durgā,
Bārada,
Śrīśa and
Sumitra.

The following are the names of the sixteen parivāra-devatās:—

the elephant,
Brahmā,
Agastya,
Nārada,
Sumitraka,
Śukra,
Bṛhaspati,
Durgā,
Ditī,
Aditī,
Dhandra,
Sūrya,
Śāsta,
Mahālakṣmī,
Bhāratī and
the Sapta-mātṛkās.

To make up the thirty-three parivāra-devatas, the following are added to the above mentioned sixteen deities, namely, the

Aṣṭa-dikpālakas,
Sudeha,
Sureśa,
Sukukha,
Bhṛṅgi,
Vāsuki,
Aṣṭavara
(vakra ?),
Bhṛṅgi
(Bhṛgu ?),
Dakṣa-Prajāpati,
Vīrabhadra,
Śukra,
Bhū,
Jyeṣṭha
and two others.

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (shilpa)

Parivāradevatā (परिवारदेवता) refers to the “subsidiary deities”, as discussed in chapter 10 (Kriyāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [parivārādidevatā-kalpana]: [...] In each of the five courtyards it is proper to install certain aspects of the Lord [parivāradevatā]. For examples, Garuḍa, Viṣvaksena, Śaṅkara, Kṣetrapāla, Ṣaṇmukha, etc., are in the first courtyard (94-99); Sūrya, Candra, Hayagrīva, and others will be located in the second courtyard (100-105); the twelve Ādityas, Manmatha, the Pitṛgaṇas, Gaṇeśa, etc., will be found in the third courtyard (106-1102); Upendra, the Gaṇadevatās, etc., will be placed in the fourth courtyard (110b-144a—no mention is made of the fifth courtyard).

Also see chapter 22 (parivāra-vidhi—“rules regarding the attendant deities”): Iconometry continues, this chapter being given over to rules for the attendant deities [parivāradevatā]: Hayagrīva (2b-8a), Garuḍa (8b-12a), Sūrya (12b-14), Soma (15), Kāma (16-18a), Gajānana (18b-20), Ṣaṇmukha (21-27a), Dhanada (27b-31a), Rudra (31b-33), Kṣetrapāla (34-35), Viṣvaksena (36-41), Brahmā (42), Vīrabhadra (43a), Vināyaka (43b-44a), Ajāmukha (44b-46), Āditya (47), Pitṛs (48) and Viśvedeva (49a). Also continuing the list are the following: Saptarṣis, Rudraparivāra, Viṣṇupārṣada, Upendra, the Aśvinīs, Indra and the other guardians of the cosmic directions (49-61а). Then the discussion turns to the vehicles of the gods, namely Brahmā’s Swan and Rudra’s Ox, etc. (61b-64).

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

Parivāradevata (परिवारदेवत) refers to the “gods related in a family” whose images are found scattered within Hindu temples.—T. A. Gopinath Rao points out the specificities of each temple by saying that each temple is filled with numerous images of gods, goddesses, parivāra-devatas (gods related in a family), devas (attendants to the gods), śālagrāmās (cakra–an ammonite shell), bānaliṅgās (egg-shaped pebbles), yantras (mystic and magical diagrams engraved upon metallic plates), navagrahas (the nine planetary divinities), certain divine animals and birds, certain holy rivers, tanks, trees and sepulchers of saints.

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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

1) Parivāradevatā (परिवारदेवता) refers to a group of deities situated in the courtyard of temples, as discussed in the fifteenth chapter of the Kapiñjalasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra work consisting of 1550 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as worship in a temple, choosing an Ācārya, architecture, town-planning and iconography. Description of the chapter [arcanā-vidhi]:—[...] The location of the parivāradevatās in the various courtyards is given (38b-50). Snānāsana is to be offered to the Lord—and this is explained in detail (toothbrush, tongue-scraper, etc.) (51-55)—after which the Lord is adorned [alaṅkārāsana] and offered the honors of flowers, food, etc. Only when this is done is worship directed to parivāradevatās allowed. The liturgical routine closes with a fire-ritual, verses of praise addressed to the Lord, bali-offerings, and other nityotsava-activities. After all is done, and before darkness descends, the doors of the temple are to be closed and the Ācārya is to go home (56-64).

2) Parivāradevatā (परिवारदेवता) refers to the “Lord’s retinue” (placed in the temple-compound), as discussed in chapter 5 of the Indrarātra section of the Sanatkumārasaṃhitā: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).—Description of the chapter [parivāra-adhyāya]: Sanatkumāra notes that the members of the retinue of the Lord differ according to the posture in which He is to be found sitting or standing—and in each case he gives three alternative sets of retinue-members classed according to “good,” “better,” and “best”. Further, the placement of the parivāradevatās will be different according to whether one is referring to those in the immediate presence of the Lord or around the temple precincts. [...]

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

India history and geography

Source: Harmonia Journal: 8th Century Musical Instrument on Kalasan Temple’s Relief

Parivāradevatā (परिवारदेवता) refers to a “group of Gods” that are not positioned in garbhagṛha (the temple’s main room), yet the corridor instead (Liebert, 1976, p. 214). Parivāradevatā is divided into subs parivāra and main parivāra. The small parivāra have specific names, but their existence is not known specifically in the mythology of Indian Gods (Nugrahani, D.S, 2009, p. 9).

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Relevant text

Search found 10 books and stories containing Parivaradevata, Parivara-devata, Parivāra-devata, Parivāra-devatā, Parivara-devatas, Parivāradevata, Parivāradevatā, Parivaradevatas; (plurals include: Parivaradevatas, devatas, devatās, devatases, Parivāradevatas, Parivāradevatās, Parivaradevatases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Mahamandapa and Mukhamandapa < [Tanjavur/Thanjavur (Rajarajesvaram temple)]

Temples in Tirumangalam < [Chapter II - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]

Temples in Malur < [Chapter II - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]

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Siddhi Vinayaga shrine < [Chapter 4]

Images of Jeshta (Jyestha) < [Chapter 5]

Sub shrines < [Chapter 4]

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Ashta Parivara Devatas < [Chapter XIII - Prasada: Component Parts]

Temples in Erumbur (Urumur) < [Chapter II - Temples of Parantaka I’s Time]

Temples in Erumbur (28th year) < [Chapter X - Historical Survey]

+ 8 more chapters / show preview