Building up from the number 25, is the number 64. 64 is significant in Shaivite and Shakta Agamic traditions. There are 64 Yoginis, 64 Siddhas, 64 Bhairavas, 64 Bhairava Agamas, 64 Kaula Tantras, 64 Tantric kriyas (rites), 64 Kalas, 64 Tamil Shaivite Saints (63 Nayannars + Manikkavasagar), and thus 64 forms of Shiva are also listed, which are inclusive of the 25 forms. 64 is a holy number because it is 8 x 8. Eight, as we've already seen, is significant because it is the number of existent entities in creation, all of which are Shiva Himself. Eight is also the state of Shiva beyond the seven higher worlds of creation (bhu, bhuva, svaha, maha, jana, tapa, satya) and beyond the seven chakras (muladhara, svadhisthana, manipura, anahata, vishuddha, ajna, and saharsra).
Finally, building up from the number 64, is the number 108. 108 is significant in the Vedic tradition. There are 108 Upanishads of the Muktika canon, 108 (main) Pancharatra Agamas of the Vaishnavas, 108 Divyadeshas (holy pilgrimage spots) of the Sri-Vaishnavas, 108 beads on japa malas (chanting rosaries), 108 divisions of the eclipctic in Vedic astrology, 108 names in the ashtottarashata namavalis (list of Divine names), etc. Thus 108 forms of Shiva are also listed, which are inclusive of the 64 forms. 108 is a holy number because it represents the completeness or fullness of the manifest Divine (Virat Purusha). Note that 108 is equal to 100 + 8. 100 is the number of Rudras according to the Rudra Adhyaya of the Yajurveda, and 8 represents Shiva, as we've seen in the above paragraph, and in previous posts.
The below list of the forms of Shiva are inclusive of the 25 forms (in bold), the 64 forms (bold + non-bold names), and the 108 forms (bold + non-bold + italicized names) per Saiva Siddhanta traditions. The anthropomorphic (iconic) forms of Shiva are called Maheshvara Murtis (forms of the Great Lord), and not to be considered as Avatars or incarnations. The Maheshvara Murtis are are secondary to the primary (aniconic) form, the Shiva Lingam, which is called the Sadashiva Murti. It should be noted that every school of Shaivism places greater emphasis on the aniconic Lingam rather than the iconic forms, but the iconic forms are deemed beneficial to for the human mind to relate to the Divine.
The list below was complied mainly using sources listed at the end. Every effort has been made to ensure that the same name is not repeated. Any repetition of the same or similar name is either due to ignorance on my part, or truly represents a separate form. The list has been edited to standardize spellings, and when appropriate duplicate names (or synonyms) are listed in parentheses. Therefore, the 108 names may not conform to other available lists. This list should not be confused with the prayer of 108 names (Ashtottarashata Namavali) of Shiva. The list below describes the represented iconic forms of Shiva either in temple iconography or art, and is based on various Vedic, Agamic and Puranic legends. As mentioned above, forms of Shiva are innumerous, literally and philosophically, so this list is far from exhaustive.
108 Maheshvara Murtis of Shiva
अष्टोत्तरशत महेश्वर मूर्ति
- Bhikshatana Murti
- Nataraja Murti
- Aja-Ekapada Murti
- Yoga-Dakshinamurti
- Lingodhava Murti
- Kamadahana Murti (Kamari)
- Tripurantaka Murti(Tripurari)
- Mahakaleshvara Murti (Kalari/Kalantaka/Kalasamhara)
- Jalandharavata Murti (Jalandhari)
- Gajasurasamhara Murti (Gajantika)
- Virabhadra Murti (Karala)
- Kankala-Bhairava Murti
- Kalyanasundara Murti
- Vrishabharudha Murti
- Chandrashekhara Murti
- Uma-Maheshvara Murti
- Shankaranarayana Murti (Keshavardha/Harihara)
- Ardanarishvara Murti
- Kirata Murti
- Chandeshvaranugraha Murti
- Chakradaneshvararupa Murti (Chakrapradasvarupa)
- Somaskanda Murti
- Gajamukhanugraha
- Nilakantha-Maheshvara Murti
- Sukhasana Murti
- Mukhalinga Murti (Panchamukhalingam)
- Sadashiva Murti
- Mahasadashiva Murti
- Umesha Murti
- Vrishabhantika Murti
- Bhujangarlalita Murti
- Bhujangatrasa Murti
- Sandhyanritta Murti
- Sadanritta Murti
- Chanda-Tandava Murti
- Gangadhara Murti
- Gangavisarjana Murti
- Jvarabhagna Murti
- Shardhulahara Murti
- Pashupata Murti
- Vyakhyana-Dakshinamurti
- Vina-Dakshinamurti
- Vaguleshvara Murti
- Apat-Uddharana Murti
- Vatuka Bhairava Murti
- Kshetrapala Murti
- Aghorastra Murti
- Dakshayajnahara Murti
- Ashvarudha Murti
- Ekapada-Trimurti Murti
- Tripada-Trimurti Murti
- Gaurivaraprada Murti
- Gaurililasamanvita Murti
- Vrishabhaharana Murti
- Garudantika Murti
- Brahmasirachedataka Murti
- Kurmasamhara Murti (Kurmari)
- Mastyasamhara Murti (Mastyari)
- Varahasamhara Murti (Varahari)
- S
- Raktabhikshapradana Murti
- Guru-Murti (Gurushiva)
- Prarthana-Murti
- Shishyabhava Murti
- Anandatandava Murti
- Shantyatandava Murti
- Samharatandava Murti
- Kapalishvara Murti (Brahmakapaladhara)
- Mahamritunjaya Murti
- Tryaksharmritunjaya Murti
- Shadaksharamrityunjaya Murti
- Andhasurasamhara Murti
- Juvarapaghna Murti
- Simhasana Murti
- Ilakeshvara Murti
- Satyanatha Murti
- Ishana Murti
- Tatpurusha Murti
- Aghora Murti
- Vamadeva Murti
- Ananteshvara Murti
- Kumaranugraha Murti
- Hayagrivanugraha Murti
- Maha Rudra Murti
- Nartana Rudra Murti
- Shanta Rudra Murti
- Yoga Rudra Murti
- Krodha Rudra Murti
- Vrinji Rudra Murti
- Muhunta Rudra Murti
- Dvibhuja Rudra Murti
- Ashtabhuja Rudra Murti
- Dashabhuja Rudra Murti
- Trimukha Rudra
- Panchamukhabhishana Rudra Murti
- Jvalakeshashadbhuja Rudra Murti
- Aghora Rudra Murti
- Vishnudharmottara Rudra Murti
- Bhima Rudra Murti
- Svarnakarshana Rudra Murti
- Bhishana Bhairava Murti
- Kapala Bhairava Murti
- Unmatta Bhairava Murti
- Krodha Bhairava Murti
- Asitanga Bhairava Murti
- Ruru Bhairava Murti
- Chanda Bhairava Murti
- Samhara Bhairava
Sources:
http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/maahesh.html
http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/forms64.htm
http://www.hindutempleofgeorgia.org/... html
Related Post: Forms of Shiva II
I have enjoyed reading your blog which is very interesting and informative. I have a question about avatars of Shiva.
ReplyDeleteThe wikipidia article on Shiva says that Shiva does have avatars, and lists Adi Shankara as and Hanuman. From what you write I would assume that the wikipedia aritcle was written from a Smarta or Vishnava perspective. I would assume that from a Shaiva perspective:
* Adi Shankara was a guru, with knowledge ofShiva but not an avatar.
* PossiblyHanuman was a Maheshvara Murti, Shiva in another form.
The question is, do Shaivans see Hanuman as a form of Shiva, or is this again given from a Smarta or Vishnava perspective?
Thanks again for this wonderful, inspiring blog.
Namaste Chris,
ReplyDeleteYou are interesting and poignant questions.
The belief that Adi Shankara is a literal incarnation of Shiva is a Smarta perspective, not held by Shaivites. However, in both Shaivism and Smartaism, the fully realized Guru is always equated with the Lord, as he has realized his complete oneness with the Divine. In a sense, realized Gurus may be considered veritable "Avatars", but in this sense the "Avatar" is an ascent of man, and not a descent of God. If you read the Guru Gita, you will find that the Satguru is spoken of as the Lord Himself; and that is to be taken with the above understanding.
As for the belief that Hanuman is an Avatar of Shiva, that is largely a Vaishnava belief that arose in medieval times with the appearance of newer versions of the Ramayana. In these texts, one finds the idea that when Vishnu descended as Rama, all the Devas descended in the form of monkeys to help him to defeat Ravana. In particular, Brahma is said to have descended as Jambavan and Shiva as Hanuman.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, one finds Hanuman mentioned as a form (not incarnation) of Shiva once in the Shiva Purana, which is also a medieval text.
In Shaivism, Hanuman is not considered a form of Shiva, but is rather a Mahadeva, a Son of Shiva like Ganesha or Kartikeya. Hanuman (aka Maruti) is an embodiment of the wind deities of the Vedas known as Maruts. In the Veda, the Rudras and Maruts are considered children of Rudra-Shiva, and are actually representative of the subtle body's various pranas (vital airs). Notice that Hanuman is always associated with the wind -- which is more evidence of the same.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteDo you have the list of 64 Bhairavas and 64 Bhairava Agamas?