Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice)

by Geetika Kaw Kher | 2012 | 86,751 words

This study discusses the dynamics between the philosophy and practice in the Lakulisha-Pashupata order. According to the cave temples of Elephanta and Jogesvari (Jogeshwari), Lakulisa was the 28th incarnation of Shiva, and Pashupata Shaivism his doctrine, of which the Pasupatasutra represents the prominent text detailing various ritual practices (v...

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Guru: The divine preceptor

Siva in his form as a teacher of yoga, music and other sciences is known by the name of Daksinamurti. He is called so because he is believed to have imparted the knowledge of yoga to rishis while facing the south.

Pasupata-sutra 1.9 says: “Mahadevasya Daksinamurteh” and to explain Kaundinya[1] writes:

Here daksina is in the sense of a quarter or direction. The Sun divides the quarters.The quarters again divide the image. The image here means that form which the Sadhaka, seated near on the right side of the Lord with his face turned north realizes and which is characterized as Vrsa-dvaja (the bull symboled) as Sulapani (with trident in his hand) as Mahakala and as Urdhava-linga(with penic raised up)etc. Or the people go the temple of Mahadeva and so there the Sadhaka should worship. The Daksinamurti being taken, the images on the east,north and west are to be discarded.”

The last line clearly suggests the importance of Daksinamurti, i.e Siva in form of a teacher in the Lakulisa-Pasupata order. Vidya, knowledge being of prime importance for a Lakulisa-Pasupata aspirant, the guru automatically assumes a significant position and is identified with Siva himself.The merger with Siva is what a guru is supposed to achieve after he leaves his mortal frame. The Daksinamurti Upanisad and the Suta-Samhita give the esoteric meaning of this icon. It is stated that He is the supreme god who at the end of an aeon (kalpa) absorbs within himself the whole universe and remains dazzling with joy. Further it is stated that Jnana (knowledge) is known as daksina an since daksina is ever Daksinamurti in front of Siva and is gazing at him in the aspect of Daksinamurti he is called Daksinamukha. The Apasmara-Purusa under his foot (also seen under Najrajamurti’s foot) is the personification of the ignorance of the living beings which he keeps under his power.i.e. he has power to dispel ignorance at his own sweet will[2] .

As far as visual representations are concerned an image of is seen in four different aspects viz. as a yogic teacher, as a player of vina, as a knowledge giver and as tutor of Shastras i.e. Vyakhyanamurti. Of these the last form is the one which is most frequently seen in the temples and hence its iconography and form will be discussed in detail.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Ibid.p.58

[2]:

Gopinath Rao, T.A, Elements of Hindu Iconography, 4 Vols, Madras, 1916,p.277

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