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Kirtimukha ( Sanskrit: कीर्तिमुख ,', also ', a bahuvrihi compound translating to "glorious face") is the name of a swallowing fierce monster face with huge fangs, and gaping mouth, very common in the
The word ''mukha'' in Sanskrit refers to the face while ''kīrti'' means "fame, glory". The story of Kirtimukha begins when a great king Jalandhara, who "by virtue of extraordinary austerities ... accumulated to himself irresistible powers." In a burst of pride, he sent forth his messenger, the monster Rahu, whose main task is eclipsing the moon, to challenge Shiva. "The challenge ... was that Shiva should give up his shining jewel of a bride Parvati." Shiva's immediate answer was to explode a tremendous burst of power from his third eye, which created a horrendous, emaciated, ravenous lion. A terrified Rahu sought Shiva's mercy, which Shiva agreed to. But how then were they to feed the ravenous demon lion? "Shiva suggested that the monster should feed on the flesh of its own feet and hands." So Kirtimukha willingly ate his body starting with its tail as per Lord Shiva's order, stopping only when his face remained. Shiva, who was pleased with the result gave it the name ''Face of Glory'' and declared that it should always be at the door of his temples. Thus Kirtimukha is a symbol of Shiva himself.
The Kirtimukha is often used as a The Theosophical Society - The Predator, turning back on itself
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File:Kirtimukha relief decoration at Amruteshvara temple in Annigeri.JPG, ''Kirtimukha'' at Amruteshvara temple in Annigeri, Dharwad district, Karnataka state, India
Image:Chikkamagalur Amruthapura kirthimukha retouched.jpg, ''Kirtimukha'' at Amruteshwara temple in Amruthapura,
Yalli & Mukha
Indian architectural history Architectural elements Hindu temple architecture Hindu legendary creatures
Kirtimukha ( Sanskrit: कीर्तिमुख ,', also ', a bahuvrihi compound translating to "glorious face") is the name of a swallowing fierce monster face with huge fangs, and gaping mouth, very common in the iconography
Iconography, as a branch of art history, studies the identification, description and interpretation of the content of images: the subjects depicted, the particular compositions and details used to do so, and other elements that are distinct fro ...
of Hindu temple architecture
Hindu temple architecture as the main form of Hindu architecture has many varieties of style, though the basic nature of the Hindu temple remains the same, with the essential feature an inner sanctum, the ''garbha griha'' or womb-chamber, where ...
in India and Southeast Asia, and often also found in Buddhist architecture.
Unlike other Hindu legendary creatures, for example the makara sea-monster, the kirtimukha is essentially an ornamental motif in art, which has its origin in a legend from the Skanda Purana and Shiva Purana - Yuddha khand of Rudra Samhita.
Origin and characteristics
The word ''mukha'' in Sanskrit refers to the face while ''kīrti'' means "fame, glory". The story of Kirtimukha begins when a great king Jalandhara, who "by virtue of extraordinary austerities ... accumulated to himself irresistible powers." In a burst of pride, he sent forth his messenger, the monster Rahu, whose main task is eclipsing the moon, to challenge Shiva. "The challenge ... was that Shiva should give up his shining jewel of a bride Parvati." Shiva's immediate answer was to explode a tremendous burst of power from his third eye, which created a horrendous, emaciated, ravenous lion. A terrified Rahu sought Shiva's mercy, which Shiva agreed to. But how then were they to feed the ravenous demon lion? "Shiva suggested that the monster should feed on the flesh of its own feet and hands." So Kirtimukha willingly ate his body starting with its tail as per Lord Shiva's order, stopping only when his face remained. Shiva, who was pleased with the result gave it the name ''Face of Glory'' and declared that it should always be at the door of his temples. Thus Kirtimukha is a symbol of Shiva himself.
The Kirtimukha is often used as a motif
Motif may refer to:
General concepts
* Motif (chess composition), an element of a move in the consideration of its purpose
* Motif (folkloristics), a recurring element that creates recognizable patterns in folklore and folk-art traditions
* Moti ...
surmounting the pinnacle of a temple or the image of a deity, especially in South Indian architecture. As Zimmer writes, "Kirtimukha serves primarily as an apotropaic demon-mask, a gruesome, awe-inspiring guardian of the threshold."
This face is sometimes confused with another sculptural element, the lion face ''( Simhamukha)''. However, in order to be a Kirtimukha it has to be engaged in swallowing, for the Kirtimukha is the figure of the "all consuming"
This monstrous face with bulging eyes sits also as an embellishment over the lintel
A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of w ...
of the gate to the inner sanctum in many Hindu temples signifying the reabsorption that marks the entry into the temple. In Dravidian architecture and elsewhere it tops gavaksha (''kudu, nasi'') motifs. Mostly it is only a face, indeed very often only the upper jaw and top of the face is visible, although in some places its arms are portrayed as well. The motif can also sometimes be found in Shiva's matted hair.
Some authors have compared the Kirtimukha with the Greek myth of Ouroboros./ref>
Gallery
Chikkamagaluru district
Chikmagalur, officially Chikkamagaluru is an administrative district in the Malnad subregion of Karnataka, India. Coffee was first cultivated in India in Chikmagalur. The hills of Chikmagalur are parts of the Western Ghauts and the source of ...
, Karnataka state, India
File:Kirtimukha relief decoration at the Kasi Visveshvara temple in Lakkundi.jpg, ''Kirtimukha'' at Kasi Visveshvara temple in Lakkundi, Gadag district, Karnataka state, India
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Poort op de Borobudur TMnr 10015959.jpg, ''Kala-Makara'', a ''Kirtimukha'' of 9th century Javanese Sailendra Borobudur portal, Indonesia
Image:Linteau Musée Guimet 25974.jpg, Kirtimukha at ''Prasat Kok Po A'', Angkor, Siemreap, Cambodia. 9th century
Image:Guimet-JAN09-Linteau Khmer-6.jpg, Khmer ''Kirtimukha'' lintel at ''Vat Kralanh'', Cambodia, Baphuon, Angkor style, 11th century
Image:Kirthimukha sculpture in Siddhesvara Temple at Haveri.jpg, ''Kirthimukha'' at Siddhesvara temple in Haveri, Karnataka state, India
File:KirtimukhaP1040930D1.jpg, A Thailand, Thai ''Kirthimukha'' at 'Wat Baan Ping' in Chiang Mai, Thailand
File:Bhubaneshwar ei04-20.jpg, ''Kirthimukha'' at Mukteshvara Temple, Bhubaneswar, Mukteshvara Temple in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (India)
File:Parasuramesvara Temple 02.jpg, ''Kirthimukha'' at Parashurameshvara Temple in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha (India)
See also
*Bhavacakra * Rahu *Bhoma *Batara KalaNotes
External links
{{commons categoryYalli & Mukha
Indian architectural history Architectural elements Hindu temple architecture Hindu legendary creatures