Shivamurti, Śivamūrti, Shiva-murti: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Shivamurti 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.

The Sanskrit term Śivamūrti can be transliterated into English as Sivamurti or Shivamurti, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstra

Śivamūrti (शिवमूर्ति) refers to “images of Śiva”.The term is used throughout Śilpaśāstra literature.

There are five main classes of Śivamūrtis:

  1. saṃhāramūrti (destructive aspects),
  2. anugrahamūrti (boon-conferring aspects),
  3. nṛttamūrti (dancing aspects),
  4. dakṣiṇāmūrti (knowledge aspects),
  5. other minor aspects.
Source: Google Books: Elements of Hindu iconography

Śivamūrti (शिवमूर्ति).—The Suprabhedāgama adds further that all figures of Śiva should have the following characteristics, nemely, three eyes, four arms, the crescent moon, the dhurdhura flowers, dātura, snakes on the crown (jaṭāmakuṭa), the tiger-skin, garment, the hāra, the keyūra, yajñopavīta and kuṇḍalas adorning his person. Special figures of Śiva may have other objects about them than those mentioned just now.

According to the Suprabhedāgama, “When Śiva was passing by the slopes of the mountain Meru without any garments, the wives of the Ṛṣis fell in love with him and lost their chastity. The Ṛṣis, wild with rage, performed incantations to kill Śiva, the seducer of their wives; from their ceremonial ground there came snakes, a kṛṣṇamṛga, an apasmārapuruṣa, a paraśu, a bull, a tiger, a lion and several other things. For destroying Śiva all these were discharged by the Ṛṣis against him. The latter took into his hands for his sports the black-deer, the snakes and the paraśu; the apasmārapuruṣa was trampled under his feet and is always serving him as a foot-stool; the lion and the tiger were killed by Śiva and their skins worn by him as his garments, while the skull and digit of the moon were placed on his jaṭāmakuṭa as ornaments.”

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 shivamurti or sivamurti in the context of Shilpashastra from relevant books on Exotic India

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