Chitrasutra – The Art of Painting in Ancient India in the Light of Vishnudharmottara Purana – Part 1
by Cottage9 Admin
Dakshina Murty is one of the unusual forms of Shiva, the Destroyer among the hindu trinity.
Shiva is shown as a young teacher, quiet and serene, seated under a banyan tree. His hair is bound as a halo around and tied at two levels. He bears in his hair a Datura flower, crescent moon, skull, snake and Ganga.
His ears adorn earrings - male earring in right and female in left, signifying his completeness as Brahman.
In his top two hands he bears a drum (Damaru) with a snake twirled around it and the flame of destruction. One of his lower hands is raised in Gyana Mudra and the other holds scriptures.
His left foot is gracefully placed on his right thigh while the right foot crushes a dwarf under it. The dwarf represents all the ignorance in the world that remains ever subdued by Shiva.
Shiva is surrounded by four of the seven celestial sages who have approached him for the ultimate knowledge (Brahma Vidya).
The tree under which Shiva sits is beautifully crafted with leaves shown prominently. The two birds on the tree might be a representation of the great Upanishadic concept of the enjoyer (Jivatman) and the witness (Paramatman) within the body.
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