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Showing posts from August 18, 2016


Sthanu Narasimha Form of Vishnu

Sthanu Narasimha is a very rare form of the Narasimha Avatar of Vishnu. In this form the Narasimha murti comes out of a pillar. He has four arms with a conch and discuss at the rear left hands. The front right hand is held in the abhaya mudra pose. As per Agama Texts, Sthanu Narasimha has eight, twelve, or sixteen arms, his body in tribhanga pose; he is depicted as tearing the entrails of Hiranyakashipu. Apart from Sthanu Narasimha the other forms of Narasimha are: Kevala Narasimha Girija Narasimha Yoga Narasimha Yanaka Narasimha Lakshmi Narasimha Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Prahaladanugraha Murti Narasimha and Cencheta Narasimha in Hari-Hara form

Omkareshwar Temple at Mandhata in Indore in Madhya Pradesh – One of the 12 Jyotirlinga Temples

Omkareshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located at Mandhata near Indore in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the 12 Jyotirling Temples in India. Mandhata is partly on the south bank of Narmada River and partly on an island of the river. Legend has it that Shiva agreed to stay on Mandhata Island to fulfill the boon he gave to king Mandhata. Shiva decided to be present here as Omkareshwar Jyothirlinga. Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Shivling at Omkareshwar Temple. The original shrine was built by the Paramaras in the 11th century and rebuilt by the Holkars in the 19th century. The shikhara of the temple is said to correspond with Mount Meru. A series of steps from the ghats leads up to the mandapa of the temple, which is decorated with carved pillars. Murtis of Ganesh, Ram, Sita and other gods can be seen here. Nandi is found after the Mandapa. There are also separate three shrines dedicated to Siddhanath, Kedareshwar and Guptnath – manifestations of Shiva.