Chaturvimshati Murtis on the Central Walls

-

The central walls of the temple under study have 75 large images. These include the twenty-four classical forms of VISHNU popularly known as the CHATURVIMSHATI MURTIS.
VISHNU ( see the photo below ) is four armed and in each of his hands holds a weapon. In his upper right hand is Lotus i.e., PADMA ( P ), in his upper left hand is Conch i.e., SHANKHA ( S ), in his lower left hand is Discus i.e., CHAKRA ( C ) and in his lower right hand is Mace i.e., GADAA ( G ). These four weapons can be arranged in 24 different ways ( 4 Factorial ) and each different arrangement represents a different form of VISHNU. The order in which the arrangement is to be noticed is : upper right hand, upper left hand, lower left hand and lower right hand. The 24 forms of VISHNU are : Keshava, Narayana, Madhava, Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusudana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrishikesha, Padmanabha, Damodara, Sankarshana,Vasudeva, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Purushottama, Adhokshaja, Narasimha, Achyuta, Janardana, Upendra, Hari and Krishna. These 24 forms are distinguished from each other by the arrangement of the four weapons of VISHNU.


VISHNU on the central wall

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Iconographical Features of Chaturvimshati Murtis

-
Image
It may be noted that all the 24 forms of VISHNU are : STHAANAKA ( standing in posture ) ; SAMASTHAANAKA ( without bends ) ; SHAANTA or SAUMYA VAKTRA( pacific in countenance ) ; and CHATURBHUJA ( four armed ). They have a tall crown, a VANAMAALA ...( garland of wild flowers ) and KAUSTUBHA MANI ( Kaustubha gem ) on the chest. They are also bedecked with with ornaments like wristlets, armlets, necklaces and earpieces. A picture of ANIRUDDHA ( sixteenth form of VISHNU ) is also posted below for a closer study of the iconographical features of the Chaturvimshatimurtis. ANIRUDDHA ( G - S - P - C ) on the wall of the temple under study
Read more

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

-
Image
Lakshmi Narasimha Temple The temple in the picture is the rear portion of the LAKSHMI NARASIMHA TEMPLE, at NUGGEHALLI, which is approximately 20 kilometers from CHANNARAYAPATTANA in Hassan district of Karnataka. Nuggehalli, formerly known as VIJAYA SOMANATHAPURA has two HOYSALA STRUCTURES: the temple under study now and the SADASIVA TEMPLE. The LAKSHMI NARASIMHA TEMPLE was consecrated in SHALIVAHANA SHAKA 1168 (Paraabhava samvatsara, Chaitra Shukla Panchami, Wednesday) corresponding to A.D.1246. The temple under study is a three celled structure i.e., a TRIKOOTA housing KESHAVA (facing east) in the central Cell, VENUGOPALA (facing north) to the right of Keshava and LAKSHMI NARASIMHA (facing south) to the left of Keshava. Though the temple has three ARCHA IMAGES i.e, images that are worshipped it is referred to as LAKSHMI NARASIMHA TEMPLE. The temple stands on a platform called JAGATI ( ಜಗತಿ ) (in the picture you see a few people sitting on the JAGATI). The JAGATI follows th
Read more

The Vimaana of the Temple Under Study

-
Image
Vimaana of the Lakshminarasimha Temple The main tower, a photo of which is seen above, is composed of three rows of turrets and is surmounted by a stone KALASHA ( ಕಲಶ ). Its face has a KIRTIMUKHA ( ಕೀರ್ತಿಮುಖ ) with GARUDA ( ಗರುಡ ) in the centre ( the attached photo does not show this part ). Below the KIRTIMUKHA is a four- armed YAKSHA. Various forms of VISHNU ( ವಿಷ್ಣು ) have been carved on the other three faces. There are two other towers - one each on the other two sanctums but they are later additions and out of harmony with the main tower.
Read more