In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

Śayanamūrti (शयनमूर्ति) is the name of an image (mūrti) once common in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—Instructions for making Śayanamūrti images of Viṣṇu with his feet placed in the lap of Lakṣmī are given in verses 409-10.

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Shodhganga: Historical setting of the vaisnava divyaksetras in the southern pandya country

Sayanamūrti (सयनमूर्ति).—The reclining aspect of the Lord is simply called sayanamūrti. Canons would call him Śeṣaśāyī, Raṅgaśāyī and so on. The Viṣṇusahasranāma that recounts the 1000 epithets of the Lord gives a list of the names that pertain to the reclining Lord. These are: mahodahiśaya (recliner in the great ocean, epithet No. 519), avyaya (unchanging 13), akśara (undecaying 17), aprameya (immeasurable 47), acyuta (eternal 318), padmanābha (lotus-navelled 49) and so on.

Mythological descriptions of the reclining Lord are found first in the Harivaṃśa section of the Mahābhārata. Others to deal with the form are Viṣṇu-purāna, Devībhagavata and Bhāgavata-purāna. The Ālvārs do employ criptic epithets that visualize the Lord. They are Kaṭarkiṭantāṉ, Aravaṉaiyāṉ, Nākaṉaittuyilpavaṉ, Kaṭalaraṇaikkaṭavuḷ, Pāmpaṇaiyāṉ and so on.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Sayana, Murti.

Relevant text

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