Kalantaka
Kalantaka | |
---|---|
Abode | Mount Kailash |
Mantra | oṁ hāum jum sāhā Mahamrityunjaya Mantra |
Weapon | Scimitar, Sword, Trishula (Trident), Parashu |
Festivals | Maha Shivaratri |
Consort | Parvati |
Kalantaka (
Etymology and Other Names
The word Kalantaka means "He who ends time". The name is derived from two Sanskrit words- kala (काल) which means "time" and antaka (अन्तक) which means "He who ends". His other names are-
- Kalakala (कालकाल) - the person who is death of death or we can say that the person who can kill the death.[2]
- Kalasamhara (कालसंहार) - slayer of Death.
- Kalari (कालारि) - foe of Death.
- Kalahara (कालहार) - one who destroys Death.
- Kalahari (कालहारी) - one who takes away Death.
- Markandeyanugraha (मार्कण्डेयानुग्रह) - bestowing grace upon Markandeya.
- Mrityunjaya (मृत्युञ्जय) - he who won over Death.
The suffix "murti" meaning image or icon may be added to these names e.g. Kalarimurti, Kalaharamurti or Kalantakamurti.[1]
Legend
The legend of
As per his destiny, the messengers of Yama came to take away Markandeya's soul, but failed to approach him as he ceaselessly repeated Shiva's name. Yama came himself to take Markandeya's soul and told Markandeya to stop his worship and come with him as per his fate. Markandeya refused, warning Yama that he was committing an offence against Shiva. Yama, however, proclaimed that not even Shiva could stop him. The wrathful Yama assumed a fearsome form and threw his noose to capture Markandeya, who hugged the lingam tightly. When the noose touched the lingam, Shiva emerged from it in all his wrath and struck Yama with his Trishula and kicked his chest, killing the Lord of Death.[3]
Sages, gods and other beings appeared to praise Shiva, who blessed Markandeya to remain a youth of 16 for seven
The legend establishes that the true devotee achieves freedom from death and
Veneration
Shiva's portrayal as Kalantaka is popular in
In Tamil
The legend of Shiva's manifestation of Kalantaka is believed in local tradition to have happened at Triprangode, Tirur, Malappuram district, Kerala where the Kalasamharamurthy Temple is situated.[9][10]
Iconography
The description of Kalantaka is found in Agamic texts. The right foot should be rested on a lotus-pedestal (padma-pitha) and the left leg lifted to kick Yama, just touching his chest. The leg positions are reversed in some textual descriptions. Sometimes, Shiva is depicted as rising from the lingam that Markandeya is worshipping and his right leg is buried in the lingam while the left one raised to strike Yama. Shiva, depicted red in anger, should have a third eye on the forehead, a jatamukuta (a crown of matted hair), lateral tusks and four or eight arms.[11]
In the four-armed form, one of the right hands holding a Trishula should be raised pointing to Yama or sometimes even piercing his torso or neck, while other right hand should hold in a parashu or express the varadamudra (boon-giving gesture). The left hands should be held in vismaya mudra (hand gesture of astonishment) and suchi mudra (needle gesture). In the eight-armed form, the right arms hold a trishula, parashu, vajra and khadga (sword). The left arms hold a khetaka (shield), pasha (noose) and in vismaya and suchi mudras. Sometimes, he may even hold a kapala or a mriga.[11]
Yama is often depicted as bowing to Shiva with folded hands and holding a noose in between them. He is depicted trembling with fear, with legs wide apart suggesting that he is trying to steady himself after being kicked by Shiva. Another configuration portrays him lying fainted on the ground after being kicked by Shiva. Shiva may be depicted as standing or dancing on the fallen Yama.[11] Yama is sometimes mistaken as an apasmara (a dwarf) in this configuration and the image as that of Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of Dance who is depicted trampling the apasmara.[2]
Markandeya is usually depicted as terrified by the sight of Yama. Seated near the lingam, he worships it with flowers or bows the rising Shiva, his saviour. Markandeya may be also depicted hugging the lingam or just standing in a corner with folded hands.[11]
See also
- Yamāntaka is the "lord of death" deity of Vajrayana Buddhism.[12]
Notes
- ^ ISBN 0-500-51088-1. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Smith pp. 201-2
- ^ a b c Shulman pp.36-9, 41
- ^ Shulman pp. 38-40
- ^ Peterson p. 147
- ^ Peterson p. 342
- ^ Peterson p. 98
- ^ Peterson pp. 128-9
- ^ "Triprangode Maha Shiva Kshethram: Triprangode Siva Temple". 3 September 2011.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b c d Rao pp. 158-161
- ISBN 978-1-4384-2659-4.
References
- The Dance of Siva: Religion, Art and Poetry in South India; David Smith; Cambridge University Press. ; 0 521 52865 8
- Rao, T.A. Gopinatha (1916). Elements of Hindu iconography. Vol. 2: Part I. Madras: Law Printing House. ISBN 0-89581-761-6.
- Poems to Śiva: the hymns of the Tamil saints By Indira Viswanathan Peterson;Motilal Banarsidass Publ; 81-208-0784-7
- Shulman, David (1984). "The Enemy Within: Idealism and Dissent in South Indian Hinduism". In Eisenstadt, S. N.; Shulman, D.; Kahane, R. (eds.). Orthodoxy, heterodoxy, and dissent in India. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-009659-5.