Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c8.s1.21

c8.s1.21

Jyotirliṅga, the banner of light, was an ancient symbol since Brahman and all the Gods are Jyotiḥ, the ensign (Ketu) or Liṅga of the unmanifested essence of the Creator. Sūrya is the visible Jyotirliṅga which stands in axial alignment with millions of other Suns and is, therefore, without measure at both its ends. The Māheśvara teachers made capital of this idea and it found a happy representation in art. Similar are other aspects of Śaiva theology speaking of him in a variety of forms, e.g. Kāmāntaka, Yogeśvara, Dakṣiṇāmūrti, etc. which possess valuable religious intimations and formed a significant alphabet of art motifs. The whole idea of Śiva was rooted in the Vedic conception of Rudra being another name of Agni. Rudra's son Skanda is also a scion of Agni.