Eziosolution at 23:46, 6 November 2024

2024-11-06T23:46:38Z

New page

{{Short description|Twenty-four forms of Hindu deity Vishnu}}
{{Hinduism}}
The '''chaturvimshatimurti''' ({{Langx|sa|चतुर्विंशतिमूर्ति|lit=twenty-four forms|translit=Caturviṃśatimūrti}})<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Raju |first=Kalidos |title=Caturviṃśati-Mūrti forms of Viṣṇu Additional notes on Daśāvatāra and Dvādaśa |url=https://www.academia.edu/44279465 |journal= |via=Academia}}</ref> is the representation of twenty-four [[Murti|aspects]] of the deity [[Vishnu]] in [[Hindu iconography]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chugh |first=Lalit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fdEkDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT106 |title=Karnataka's Rich Heritage – Temple Sculptures & Dancing Apsaras: An Amalgam of Hindu Mythology, Natyasastra and Silpasastra |date=2017-05-23 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-947137-36-3 |pages=106 |language=en}}</ref> These aspects are described to represent the central tenets of the [[Pancharatra]] tradition. They are believed to be the most significant of the thousand names of the deity featured in the [[Vishnu Sahasranama]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Stutley |first=Margaret |title=The Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Iconography |publisher=Routledge |year=1985 |pages=31}}</ref> The names of these aspects of the deity are ritually chanted in daily prayer by adherents.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=T. A. Gopinatha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SFbbDwAAQBAJ&dq=twenty+four+Vishnu&pg=PA227 |title=Elements of Hindu Iconography: Volume I - Part I |date=2020-04-06 |publisher=BoD – Books on Demand |isbn=978-3-8460-4766-8 |pages=227 |language=en}}</ref>

== Literature ==
The twenty-four forms of Vishnu seem to have been conceived in the [[Mahabharata]]. His forms are first mentioned in [[Agni Purana]], the Rūpamaṇḍana, and the Aparājitapṛcchā.<ref name="Desai2013">{{cite book|author=Dr. Kalpana Desai|title=Iconography of Visnu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4M90AgAAQBAJ&pg=GBS.PA10|date=31 December 2013|publisher=Abhinav Publications|pages=10–|id=GGKEY:GSELHU3JH6D}}</ref> They are also mentioned in [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] [[Puranas]] such as the [[Bhagavata Purana]] and the [[Vishnu Purana]].

== Usage ==
* The [[Achamana|achamanam]] is a ritual where these names are used while simultaneously touching the numerous parts of the body to purify them.
* The names form an important part of the [[Bhakti movement|Bhakti]] tradition, with saints such as [[Purandara Dasa]] having sung many devotional songs in their praise.

== Iconography ==
{{Vaishnavism}}
The chaturvimshatimurti are all represented as standing and holding the four attributes of Vishnu: the [[Sudarshana Chakra]] (discus), [[Panchajanya]] (conch), [[Kaumodaki]] (mace), and [[Padma (Vishnu)|Padma]] (lotus). Symbolising the deity's different visible forms, the only difference between these images is the order of the emblems held by his [[Chaturbhuja|four hands]].<ref name="Desai2013" /> All of the forms wear the [[kiritamukuta]], the crown of Vishnu, and the traditional ornaments of the deity. They stand upon the base of a lotus (padmasana). According to [[T. A. Gopinatha Rao|Gopinatha Rao]], the distribution of the four attributes among the four hands of each form are to be observed in a circular fashion, from the upper right hand to the upper left hand, and then from the lower left hand to the lower right hand.<ref name=":0" />

The Rupamandana provides the following description of the chaturvimshatimurti:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=T. A. Gopinatha |title=Elements of Hindu Iconography |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1985 |volume=1 |pages=229–230}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Colour
!Attributes
!Element
!Consort
|-
|Keshava
|Gold
|conch, discus, mace, lotus
|Akasha (space)
|Sri
|-
|Narayana
|White
|lotus, mace, discus, conch
|Vayu (air)
|Lakshmi
|-
|Madhava
|Black
|discus, conch, lotus, mace
|Vahni (fire)
|Kamala
|-
|Govinda
|Crystal
|mace, lotus, conch, discus
|Apa (water)
|Padma
|-
|Vishnu
|Yellow
|lotus, conch, discus, mace
|Prithvi (earth)
|Padmini
|-
|Madhusudana
|Red
|conch, lotus, mace, discus
|Shabda (sound)
|Kamalalaya
|-
|Trivikrama
|Red (fire)
|mace, discus, conch, lotus
|Sparsha (touch)
|Ramā
|-
|Vamana
|Red (dawn)
|discus, mace, lotus, conch
|Rupa (sight)
|Vrishakapi
|-
|Sridhara
|White
|discus, mace, conch, lotus
|Rasa (taste)
|Dhanya
|-
|Hrishikesha
|White (lightning)
|discus, lotus, conch, lotus
|Gandha (smell)
|Vriddhi
|-
|Padmanabha
|Black
|lotus, discus, mace, conch
|Vāc (speech)
|Yajña
|-
|Damodara
|Red
|conch, mace, discus, lotus
|Pāṇin (hand)
|Indira
|-
|Samkarshana
|Red
|conch, lotus, discus, mace
|Pāda (feet)
|Hiranya
|-
|Vasudeva
|White
|conch, discus, lotus, mace
|Pāyu (anus)
|Harani
|-
|Pradyumna
|Gold
|conch, mace, lotus, discus
|Upastha (genitals)
|Satya
|-
|Aniruddha
|Black
|mace, conch, lotus, discus
|Shrota (ears)
|Nitya
|-
|Purushottama
|Crystal
|lotus, conch, mace, discus
|Tvaca (skin)
|Nanda
|-
|Adhokshaja
|Black
|mace, conch, discus, lotus
|Netra (eyes)
|Treya
|-
|Narasimha
|Gold
|lotus, mace, conch, discus
|Jihvā (tongue)
|Sukha
|-
|Achyuta
|Yellow
|lotus, discus, conch, mace
|Ghrana (nose)
|Sugandha
|-
|Janardana
|Red
|discus, conch, mace, lotus
|Manas (mind)
|Sundari
|-
|Upendra
|Black
|mace, discus, lotus, conch
|Buddhi (intellect)
|Vidya
|-
|Hari
|Yellow
|discus, lotus, mace, conch
|Ahamkāra (ego)
|Sushila
|-
|Krishna
|Black
|mace, lotus, discus, conch
|Chit (consciousness)
|Sulakshana
|}

== See also ==
* [[Panchavimshatimurti]]
* [[Caturvyūha|Chaturvyuha]]
* [[Dashavatara]]

{{HinduMythology}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Names of Vishnu|*]]
[[Category:Hindu iconography]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaturvimshatimurti}}
[[Category:Forms of Vishnu]]

Chaturvimshatimurti - Revision history

Eziosolution at 23:46, 6 November 2024