Shiva is worshipped in nine forms: Lingam, Lingodbhava, Chandrashekhara, Somaskanda, Bhairava, Virabhadra, Nataraja, and Dakshinamurti.
Lingodbhava Lingodbhava or emergence of
lingam, found in various
Puranas as a symbol of Shiva, augments the synthesis of the old cults of pillar and phallic worship. The idea emerged from deity residing in a pillar and later visualised as Shiva emerging from the
lingam. Nataraja Nataraja or
Kuththan (Tamil: கூத்தன்) is a depiction of the
Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation. A Tamil concept, Shiva was first depicted as Nataraja in the famous
Chola bronzes and sculptures of Chidambaram. The dance of Shiva in Tillai, the traditional name for
Chidambaram, forms the motif for all the depictions of Shiva as Nataraja. He is also known as Sabesan, which means "The lord who dances on the
dais". The form is present in most Shiva temples in South India, and is the main deity in the famous temple at
Chidambaram. The sculpture is usually made in bronze, with Shiva dancing in an
aureole of flames, lifting his left leg (or in rare cases, the right leg) and balancing over a demon or dwarf (
Apasmara) who symbolizes ignorance.
Dakshinamurti Dakshinamurti or
Jnana Dakshinamurti (Tamil: தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி, Sanskrit: IAST: ) is an aspect of Shiva as a
guru (teacher) of all fields. This aspect of Shiva is his personification of the ultimate awareness, understanding and knowledge. The image depicts Shiva as a teacher of
yoga, music, and wisdom, and giving exposition on the
Shastras to his disciples. He is worshipped as the god of wisdom, complete and rewarding meditation. This form of Shiva is popular in the Southern states of India especially Tamil Nadu.
Dakshina indicates south and this deity is south facing usually depicted in the wall of first precinct around the sanctum.
Somaskanda Somaskanda derives from Sa (Shiva) with Uma (Parvati) and Skanda (child Murugan). It is the form of Shiva where he is accompanied by Skanda the child and Paravati his consort in sitting posture. Though it is a Sanskrit name, it is a Tamil concept and Somaskandas are not found in North Indian temples. In the
Tiruvarur Thygarajar Temple, the principal deity is Somaskanda under the name of Thyagaraja. Unlike Nataraja, which is a Chola development, Somaskanda was prominent even during the Pallava period much earlier to Cholas. References to the evolution of the Somaskanda concept are found from Pallava period from the 7th century A.D. in carved rear stone walls of Pallava temple sanctums. There are 40 such images of Somaskanda found in different temples including the
Kailasanthar temple at
Kanchipuram. Most of the images are attributed to
Rajasimha Pallava (700-728 A.D.),
Mahendra Pallava (580-630 A.D.),
Narasimha Pallava (630-668 A.D.) and
Parameswara Pallava (670-700 A.D.). Somaskanda was the principal deity during the Pallava period replacing
lingam, including the temples at
Mahabalipuram, a UNESCO world heritage site. But the cult was not popular and Somaskanda images were relegated to subshrines.
Sangam literature does not mention Somaskanda and references in literature are found in the 7th century
Tevaram. The image of the Nayanar with an axe in his hand is present in the first precinct around the sanctum in all Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu.
Bhairava Bhairava (Sanskrit: , "Terrible" or "Frightful",), sometimes known as Bhairo or Bhairon or Bhairadya or Bheruji (In Rajasthan), is the fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation. He is depicted ornamented with a range of twisted serpents, which serve as earrings, bracelets, anklets, and sacred thread (
yajnopavita). He wears a tiger skin and a ritual apron composed of human bones. Bhairava has a
dog (
Shvana) as his divine
vahana (vehicle). Bhairava is known as Vairavar in Tamil where he is often presented as a
grama devata or village deity who safeguards the devotee on all eight directions. In Chola times, Bhairava was referred to as
Bhikshatanar, a mendicant, and the image can be found in most Chola temples.
Navagraha Graha (from Sanskrit ग्रह gráha—seizing, laying hold of, holding) is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother
Bhumi (Earth). In
Hindu astrology, the
Navagraha (Sanskrit: नवग्रह,
nine seizers or
nine influencers) are some of these major influencers. All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the
zodiac. This includes the planets:
Mars,
Mercury,
Jupiter,
Venus, and
Saturn, the
Sun, the
Moon, as well as positions in the sky,
Rahu (north or ascending
lunar node) and
Ketu (south or descending lunar node). As per Hindu customs, the Navagraha are typically placed in a single square with the
Sun (Surya) in the center and the other deities surrounding Surya; no two of them are made to face each other. In
South India, their images are generally found in all important
Shiva temples. They are invariably placed in a separate hall, on a pedestal of about three feet in height, usually to the north-east of the
sanctum sanctorum. There are two kinds of installation of the planets when arranged in this fashion, known as
Agama Pradishta and
Vaidika Pradishta. In
Agama Pradishta, Surya occupies the central place,
Chandra on Surya's east,
Budha on his south,
Brihaspati on his west,
Shukra on his north,
Mangala on his south-east,
Shani on his south-west, Rahu on north-west and Ketu in the north-east. Temples such as
Suryanar temple, Tiruvidadaimarudur, Tiruvaiyaru and Tirucchirappalli follow this system. In
Vaidika Pradishta, Surya is still in the centre, but Shukra is in the east, Mangala in the south, Shani in the west, Brihaspati in the north, Chandra in the south-east, Rahu in the south-west,
Ketu in the north-west and Budha in the north-east.
Durga Durga (); (listen: ); meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of
Devi, the supremely radiant
goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a
lion or a
tiger, carrying weapons and a
lotus flower, maintaining a meditative smile, and practicing
mudras, or symbolic hand gestures. The name is made of Sanskrit
dur- = "with difficulty" (compare Greek δυσ- (
dys-)) and
gā ("come", "go"). The buffalo sacrifice depiction transposes into ritual Durga's feat killing the buffalo demon. The deity is north facing usually depicted in the wall of first precinct around the sanctum. In Tamil Nadu Shiva temples, she stands gracefully on the severed head of buffalo and lion is rarely included.
Saptamatrika The
Sapthamatrika are a group of seven
Hindu goddesses who are always depicted together. Since they are usually depicted as a heptad, they are called
Saptamatrikas (Sanskrit: , , "seven mothers"):
Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshvari, Indrani, Kaumari,
Varahi and
Chamunda or Narasimhi. In Tamil Nadu temples, the saptamatrika are rarely represented in the dancing form compared to their northern counterparts. ==Other structurals==