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In the Hindu tradition, a murti (Sanskrit: मूर्ति, romanized: mūrti, lit. ' form, embodiment, or solid object ') [1] is a devotional image, such as a statue or icon, of a deity or saint [2] used during puja and/or in other customary forms of actively expressing devotion or reverence - whether at Hindu temples or shrines.
Utsavar of the Abirameswarar temple, Thiruvamathur. In Hinduism, utsava murti, [1] utsavar or uthsavar, is a form of a murti (icon) which represents a deity.The portable utsavar is employed in the tradition of temple processions, serving as a substitute for the central idol present in the temple shrine, called the mulavar.
Meaning literally "embodiment", a murti is a representation of a divinity, made usually of stone, wood, or metal, which serves as a means through which a divinity may be worshiped. [20] Hindus consider a murti worthy of serving as a focus of divine worship only after the divine is invoked in it for the purpose of offering worship. [21]
Over the millennia of its development, Hinduism has adopted several iconic symbols, forming part of Hindu iconography, that are imbued with spiritual meaning based on either the scriptures or cultural traditions. The exact significance accorded to any of the icons varies with region, period and denomination of the followers.
In Hinduism, an icon, image or statue is called murti or pratima. [8] [133] Major Hindu traditions such as Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism favor the use of a murti (idol). These traditions suggest that it is easier to dedicate time and focus on spirituality through anthropomorphic or non-anthropomorphic icons.
Even though the icon of Dakshinamurti is installed in every Shiva temple, there are only a few temples where Dakshinamurti is the chief deity. Only one of the twelve Jyotirlingas is Dakshinamurti, the Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain. Being the only Dakshinmurthy Jyotirlinga, It holds special importance for Shaivites as a site of learning.
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Garbhagriha (lit. womb chamber) is a Sanskrit word referring to the interior of the sanctum sanctorum, the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple, where resides the murti (idol or icon) of the primary deity of the temple. The sanctum is located at the centre of the temple, and its only opening mostly faces east.