Indian iconography
Encyclopedia
Indian Iconography is the art and science of designing temples: architectural elements, sculpture and the ornamentation of religious significance as described in sacred texts
(shilpa shaastra aagamas). In Ancient India
twelve years of theoretical and practical training used to be given to the student by an able experienced teacher.
Description, symbolism and Iconometric measurements of various gods' and goddesses' sculpture or images as described in the scriptures is as follows.
The sacred texts describe many types of shiva linga
based on variations in the proportions. The following is the description of sarvatobhadra shiva lingam preferably constructed in black spotless hard stone which can be worshiped by every living being.
The Shiva linga represents the supreme creator, the cause behind the creation,protection ,and destruction of every thing visible and invisible and the god shiva.
The sacred texts suggest that the shiva linga must have three parts. A bottom most 1/3 rd part that is in the earth - brahma bhaagam (creators part) it is rectangular in cross section.A middle 1/3 rd part that is embedded in peetham i.e. visible ornamented pedestal called vishnu bhaagam (protectors part); it is octagonal in cross section. A visible 1/3 rd shiva pooja bhaagam which is top most part which is worshiped.It is circular in cross section.
The Shiva linga is at the level of ground and easily accessible to the worshipers irrespective of their caste, social or economic status.
Religious text
Religious texts, also known as scripture, scriptures, holy writ, or holy books, are the texts which various religious traditions consider to be sacred, or of central importance to their religious tradition...
(shilpa shaastra aagamas). In Ancient India
History of India
The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago. The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from...
twelve years of theoretical and practical training used to be given to the student by an able experienced teacher.
Description, symbolism and Iconometric measurements of various gods' and goddesses' sculpture or images as described in the scriptures is as follows.
God Shiva
Shiva in Lingua formThe sacred texts describe many types of shiva linga
Lingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
based on variations in the proportions. The following is the description of sarvatobhadra shiva lingam preferably constructed in black spotless hard stone which can be worshiped by every living being.
The Shiva linga represents the supreme creator, the cause behind the creation,protection ,and destruction of every thing visible and invisible and the god shiva.
The sacred texts suggest that the shiva linga must have three parts. A bottom most 1/3 rd part that is in the earth - brahma bhaagam (creators part) it is rectangular in cross section.A middle 1/3 rd part that is embedded in peetham i.e. visible ornamented pedestal called vishnu bhaagam (protectors part); it is octagonal in cross section. A visible 1/3 rd shiva pooja bhaagam which is top most part which is worshiped.It is circular in cross section.
The Shiva linga is at the level of ground and easily accessible to the worshipers irrespective of their caste, social or economic status.