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Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.s5: Other Ugra Forms of Siva

Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.s5

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English

Other Ugra Forms of Siva

v2.c16.s5.1

OTHER WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR

v2.c16.s5.3

A MONG the rites and ceremonies that are prescribed for kings for attaining success against their enemies is the adoration of Aghōramūrti. The description of the rites that have to be performed is given in the *Liṅgapurāṇa*. A priest who has attained mantra-siddhi or the power of efficaciously using mantras, should for that purpose repair to a place where there is a corpse or where there is a temple dedicated to the Saptamātṛikas (or the seven mothers), and construct five *kuṇḍas* (receptacles for fires), one on each cardinal point and one in the centre. On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight * the ceremonies

v2.c16.s5.4

* The fourteenth *tithi* of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguni is known as Aghōra-chaturdaśi; it is said that those who worship Śiva in the aspect of Aghōra on this day will be taken to Śiva's abode.

v2.c16.s5.5

भाद्रमास्यसिते पक्षे ह्यघोराख्या चतुर्दशी ।
तस्यामाराधितश्शम्भुर्नयेच्छिवपुरं ध्रुवम् ॥

v2.c16.s5.6

(Apte's Sanskrit Dictionary.)

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ought to be begun and continued to the eighth day in the succeeding bright half of the next month. During this period the priest with four of his disciples, who have also attained *mantra-siddhi*, should sit in front of the *kuṇḍas*, himself occupying the middle and the four disciples the four quarters, before the *kuṇḍas* and perform *hōma* sacrifices in the fire concentrating their thought upon Aghōra. Then they should make a wooden effigy of the enemy king, place it in one of the *kuṇḍas* with the head downwards and burn it with the fire brought from the burning ground. There are a few other minor ceremonies of no great interest.

v2.c16.s5.8

The following is the description of the Aghōra who is required to be meditated upon. The figure of Aghōra should have eight arms; in the hands are to be seen the *śūla*, *ḍamaru*, *pāśa*, *kapāla*, *daṇḍa*, *dhanus*, *bāṇa* and *khaḍga*; the neck of Aghōra should be blue and his complexion black. He should be naked, or be clad in the skin of the elephant and the lion and be adorned with ornaments composed of snakes and scorpions, and be covered with the ashes of the dead bodies of human beings. His face should be terrific in appearance and should have side tusks. A snake should bind his hair and he should be surrounded by demons and goblins.

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Another description, according to which the Aghōramūrti is generally sculptured and set up in temples, is found in the Kāraṇāgama. In this work he is known as the Aghōrāstramūrti and it is stated therein that the image of this aspect of Śiva is set up for gaining victory, for destroying such great sins as *brahmahatyā* or brahmanicide and for granting riches. Aghōrāstramūrti should have three eyes, eight arms and be of terrific look, with side tusks. The colour of this aspect of Śiva is dark. He is to be draped in red clothes, adorned with garlands of red flowers, ornaments set with rubies, a garland of skulls, and another composed of short daggers (*khaḍgamālā*) and a third of scorpions. His hair should be flaming and his forehead marked with ashes in the shape of the crescent moon. In his two hands he should carry a *triśūla* horizontally as though about to charge with it, and the other hands should hold a *vētāla*, *khaḍga*, *ḍamaru*, *kapāla* and *khaḍga* (*ghaṇṭā*?).

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A third description is given in the Śivatatvaratnākara. According to this, Aghōra has a single face, and thirty-two arms; on the head is a *jaṭā-makuṭa* and in it the crescent moon. He should have three eyes. In his right hands are to be *abhaya*, *khaḍga*, *śūla*, *chakra*, *ḍamaru*, a bone, *bāṇa*, *gadā*, a lotus flower, *kapāla*, *jñānamudrā*, kuṇḍa, aṅkuśa, akṣamālā, khaṭvāṅga and paraśu; in the left hands, varada, kavacha (shield), ṭaṅka, pāśa, mudgara, a snake, agni, mṛiga, ghaṇṭā, dhanus, katyavalambita-hasta, ratnas or gems, a water lily, a pitcher, musala and pustaka. This Aghōramūrti should have also a garland of skulls and be standing upon the severed head of Kāla. An image of the above description is believed to grant all protection to its votaries.

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Aghōramūrti with ten arms is described as possessing three eyes and a terrific countenance. The colour of his body is blue and that of the garments red. There are to be snake ornaments all over the body. In his ten hands he should carry the paraśu, ḍamaru, khaḍga, kheṭaka, bāṇa, dhanus, śūla and kapāla and the remaining hands should be held in the varada and abhaya poses.

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Two photographs, figs. 1 and 2 on Pl. XLVIII, are reproduced in illustration of Aghōramūrti, both of which belong to Southern India. The first image is to be found in the Śiva temple at Tirukkaḷukkuṉṟam and the other in the Śiva temple at Paṭṭiśvaram. Both of them are almost similar to each other; in these pieces of sculpture two front hands bear the triśūla in a horizontal position, while the other hands carry the ghaṇṭa, the pāśa, the kheṭaka, kapāla, the khaḍga and the ḍamaru. The head is surrounded by tongues of flames and the face, with its round eyes and the side-tusks, indicates the terrific nature of this image. Round the neck is a large garland of skulls reaching down to the ankles and the prabhā-maṇḍala surrounds the figure.

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Fig. 1. Aghōramūrti : Stone : Paṭṭīśvaram.

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Fig. 2. Aghōramūrti : Stone : Tirukkaḷukkuṉṟam.

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An asura named Dūṣaṇa was giving trouble to the Brāhmaṇas residing in and near Ujjayini. They prayed to Śiva to relieve them from the visitations of the cruel asura. Śiva pleased with the prayers of the Brāhmaṇas, appeared on the spot and with a breath of his reduced Dūṣaṇa to ashes. The Brāhmaṇas then prayed to Śiva to stay away in their midst; Śiva assumed the form of a Jyōtirlinga and the name Mahākāla and stopped away at Ujjayini. Such is the account of Mahākāla of Ujjayini as given in the Śivapurāṇa.

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The description of the image of Mahākāla with his consort Mahākālī is found in the Lalitōpākhyāna. It is stated therein that Mahākāla should be embracing Mahākālī and be wearing a black coat. The colour of Mahākāla is black. His eyes should be red on account of the excessive drink in which he is indulging; he should be drinking from the brahmaṇḍa (the colossal shell from which Brahmā was born) used as a vessel to hold the liquor. His sight must itself be resting fondly on his dark coloured consort Mahākālī, and both of them should be seated upon a *siṃhāsana*. Mahākāla, swallower of the Universe, should have by his side Kāla and Mṛityu. He should also be meditating upon Lalitā, doing *pūjā* to her and bestowing long life on her devotees.

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