Kirtimukha
Also called: Face of glory · Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Kirtimukha means "face of glory". It is a fierce face, like a lion's, with bulging eyes and an open mouth. It is carved above temple doorways, niches and tower windows. People believed it guarded the temple and kept evil away. A popular story says Shiva created a hungry demon that ate its own body until only its face was left, and Shiva named it the "face of glory". The motif is common in Chalukya, Hoysala and Chola temples.
Example
At the Chennakeshava temple in Belur, Karnataka (Hoysala, c. twelfth century CE), kirtimukha faces crown the doorways and decorated frames. They often have strings of pearls or leafy designs coming out of their mouths.
Related concepts
- Puranic Hinduism
- Vaishnavism
- Avatar
- Dashavatara
- Varaha
- Vasudeva-Krishna
- Shaivism
- Linga
- Garbhagriha
- Antarala