Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4302

c9.4302

VIDYUTĀKṢA. A warrior of Subrahmaṇya. (M.B. Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Stanza 62). VIDYUTKEŚA. A Rākṣasa (giant). (For details see under Praheti). VIDYUTKEŚĪ. A Rākṣasa King. The notorious Sukeśī was the son of this King. (See under Sukeśī). VIDYUTPARṆĀ. A celestial maid born to Kaśyapaprajāpati by his wife Pradhā. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 65, that celestial maids such as Alambuṣā, Vidyutparṇā, Miśrakeśī, Tilottamā and such others were famous for their beauty. VIDYUTPRABHA I. See under Muktāphalaketu. VIDYUTPRABHA II. A hermit. (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 125). VIDYUTPRABHĀ I. A Dānava (Asura). This asura pleased Rudradeva by penance and acquired from him the control of all the three worlds for one lakh of years, the recognition as a follower of Śiva and the kingdom of Kuśadvīpa, as boons. (M.B. Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 14). VIDYUTPRABHĀ I. Ten celestial maids of Northern quarter. (M.B. Udyoga Parva, Chapter 111, Stanza 21). VIDYUTPRABHĀ II. Grand-daughter of Mahābali. (See under Śrīdatta). VIGĀHANA. A famous King, born in Mukuṭa Vaṃśa. (Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 74, Stanza 16). VIGHANA. A giant on the side of Rāvaṇa. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Sarga 6). VIGRAHA I. One of the two attendants given to Subrahmaṇya by the ocean. The other one was Saṅgraha. (M.B. Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Stanza 50). VIGRAHA II. One of the six attributes of Kings. (See under Ṣaḍguṇa). VIGRAHA III. (Image).
1) General information. God, who is not discernible to the outward senses, is given embodiment and consecrated in places of worship by people. These figures are called Vigrahas (idols or images). People worship Śālagrāma, (a kind of ammonite found in the river Gaṇḍakī), Bānaliṅga (Phallus), mystical diagrams, animals, birds, trees, rivers, lakes, places of death etc. and so many other things.
2) The different kinds of Vigrahas. Vigrahas are of three groups. They are:-(1) Mysterious (2) Evident-mysterious (3) Evident. Śālagrāma, Phallus etc. belong to the group mysterious. The Mukhaliṅga, considered to be the image of Trimūrti (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva) in the Elephanta cave, belongs to the group Evident. The image of Phallus is Evident-mysterious. In the first, there is no form or figure. In the second there are parts of the figure. The image which shows the entire figure is Evident. Some gods and goddesses possess two appearances, peaceful and fierce. Those who wish to succeed in performing cruel deeds and to vanquish enemies, worship fierce gods whereas those who wish for peace, worship peaceful Gods. Viśvarūpa, (assuming all shapes), Narasimha (the man-lion), Vaṭapatraśāyī (as lying on banyan-leaf) and Paraśurāma are fierce forms of Viṣṇu. Destroying Kāma (cupid) Gaja and Tripura are fierce forms of Śiva worshipped by some people. Generally temples with this form are erected outside the village or city. Owing to the differences, in the making and the materials used, the images are divided into three groups.