Ekapada Murthy Shiva
Ekapada Murthy is one of the forms of Lord Shiva. In this form, Lord Shiva would be having only one leg which denotes that Shiva is holding the entire universe, through his single leg.The idol of this form of Lord Shiva is found in some temples of Odisha, and also in some ancient Shiva temples in India. This form of Lord Shiva was worshipped by lot of Shaivite saints, and he was praised in the Puranas.
Ekapada is one among the 64 forms of Lord Shiva and this form was mentioned in Vedas, and in various holy texts of Hinduism. In Vedas, Ekapada is mentioned as Rudra, and he also contains the features of Lord Kala Bhairava, who appears with smiling face, and he is worshipped by the divine Devas and by the sages since Vedic times.
In the Linga Purana, Ekapada Murthy is mentioned as the protector of the universe.Lord Ekapada stands in his single leg and he contains four arms, three eyes, and used to wear tiger skin, and some ornaments on his body. In the Shiva Temples of Odisha, Lord Ekapada Murthy is worshipped as Ekapada bhairava. Lord Vishnu and Brahma emerge from the body of Lord Ekapada, and worshipped him sincerely. Ekapada also showed his true form to Lord Vishnu and Brahma, and blessed them.
Lord Shiva is worshipped as a popular deity similar to Lord Vishnu, and he has taken many avatars and he is worshipped in various names. He was highly praised by the Nayanmar Saints, and through the introduction of Shaivite texts like Thevaram, Periya Puranam and Thiruvasagam, the name and fame of Lord Shiva had spread throughout the world. Still lot of foreigners are eagerly visiting the famous Arunachala Shiva Temple, situated at Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu.
“OM NAMAH SHIVAYA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR
It is learnt that, in the Bayankeshwara temple in Panemanhaluru in Dakshin Kannada, Karnataka, there is a sculpture of the Ekapsda Shiva.
Can anyone throw some light on this unknown temple and the sculpture on its walls?