Sahasralinga, Sahasra-linga, Sahasraliṅga: 5 definitions

Introduction:

Sahasralinga means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Sahasralinga in Purana glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Sahasraliṅga (सहस्रलिङ्ग).—A tīrtha sacred to Pitṛs.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 22. 60.
Source: IGNCA, Purana Bulletin: The Sarasvati Purana

Sahasraliṅga (सहस्रलिङ्ग) is the name of an ancient lake constructed by king Siddharāja Jaysiṃha from Anahillapur Patan (Gujarat), as described in the Sarasvatīpurāṇa.—This Purāṇa gives in details some of the glorious deeds of the king Siddhraj (Jaysiṃha) of Patan. He was learned, generous, and brave king of Gujarat. He invited many scholars to his Court. He was Śaiva by religion and he had a desire to build many temples and other monuments all over Gujarat. He built a great lake Sahasraliṅga at Patan. It was filled in with the waters of the river Sarasvatī through a big canal. It was a very big lake having one thousand Śaiva temples, one hundred and eight Devī temples and the shrines of ten incarnations of the Lord Viṣṇu on the bank of it. It was a unique construction of the time. [...]

Purana book cover
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The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstra

Sahasraliṅga (सहस्रलिङ्ग) is a Sanskrit word referring to one of the classes of mānuṣaliṅgas (liṅgas made by human hands), classified in the Śaivāgamas. All the mānuṣaliṅgas are made of three parts (brahmabhāga, or ‘lower part’, viṣṇubhāga, or ‘middle part’ and rudrabhāga, or ‘top-most part’). They are also carved with lines known as brahmasūtras. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.

Source: Google Books: Elements of Hindu iconography

The sahasra-liṅga (सहस्रलिङ्ग) is obtained in exactly the same manner as the aṣṭottara-śata-liṅga. The carving of the thousand and one liṅgas should be done on the surface of the pūjābhāga of an āḍhya-liṅga. In the case of the sahasra-liṅga the horizontal lines are eleven and the vertical lines ninety-nine.

Shilpashastra book cover
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Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Sahasralinga in Shaktism glossary
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Sahasraliṅga (सहस्रलिङ्ग) and Sahasradhārā refers to the pair of God and Goddess appearing in the seventeenth Kalpa (aeon), according to the Kularatnoddyota.—Chapter nine of the Kularatnoddyota opens with the goddess asking how the Kula tradition (kulāmnāya) will be worshipped along with its mantras and Vidyās and who will bring it down (avatāraka) into the world in the various cosmic aeons (kalpa). After explaining that it is brought down into the world by incarnations or aspects of both the god and the goddess (aṃśamātra), the god goes on to list the names of these aspects—a goddess and her consort [i.e., Sahasradhārā—Sahasraliṅga]—in nineteen aeons (kalpa), many of which we recognize from the earlier version in the Tantrasadbhāva.—(cf. Jayadrathayāmala-tantra of the Kāpālikas).

Shaktism book cover
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Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

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