Koshta Murtis of Iraivan Temple
Aum Namah Sivaya.
One of the most important tasks our visiting Selvanathan Sthapathi has this time around is to participate in the installation of the Koshta Devata murtis, the directional forms of Siva. One of them has already been installed.
An Agamic temple such as Iraivan is in itself the body for Siva’s manifestation. It is considered that the temple is Siva in a five-headed form, Sadashivamurti, and each head or form is represented by a murti placed on the golden Vimanam, facing North, South, East and West. The Vimanam itself is the fifth head, more mystical and subtle, Ishana, “Ruler,” holding the power of revealment.
The others are Tatpurusha, “Supreme Soul” (the power of concealment); Sadyojata, “Quickly Birthing” (the power of creation); Vamadeva, “Lovely, Pleasing” (the power of preservation); and Aghora, “nonterrifying” (the power of reabsorption).
Our tradition says that the first four faces revealed the Vedas and the fifth, Ishana, revealed the Agamas. Below we bring you a link to a beautiful slideshow of this most traditional and commanding feature of Iraivan Temple.
From Our Gurus' Teachings
- Gurudeva's Master Course Lesson of the Day
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Bodhinatha's Latest Upadesha: "Detachment from Experiences; Importance of Daily Vigil" (May 5, 2013)
All experiences are good experiences, necessary to get us here. Awareness of aspects of ourselves that are constantly changing is a liberating perception, breaking our chains to mundane areas, detaching from instinctive and intellectual to go into superconscious. The greatest challenge facing youth today is the lack of relating to the devotional side of Hinduism. Daily practice, daily vigil, moves us forward spiritually. Commentary on Merging with Siva, The Master Course, Lesson 21.
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