Bhikshatana (Sanskrit: भिक्षाटन; Bhikṣāṭana; literally, "wandering about for alms, mendicancy"[1]) or Bhikshatana-murti (Bhikṣāṭanamūrti) is an aspect of the Hindu god Shiva as the "Supreme mendicant"[2] or the "Supreme Beggar".[3] Bhikshtana is depicted as a nude four-armed man adorned with ornaments who holds a begging bowl in his hand and is followed by demonic attendants and love-sick women.
Bhikshatana is considered a gentler form of Shiva's fierce aspect Bhairava and a gentle phase between Bhairava's two gruesome forms, one of which decapitates one head of the four headed god Brahma and the other of which kills the god Vishnu's gatekeeper.[4] Bhikshatana is the form of Bhairava that Shiva assumes to atone for his sin of severing Brahma's fifth head. He wanders the universe in the form of a naked Kapali mendicant, begging for alms with Brahma's kapala (skullcup) as his begging bowl, until his sin is expiated upon reaching the holy city of Varanasi.
Another legend describes Bhikshatana's visit to the Deodar (Pine) Forest to dispense the ignorance of sages and lead them to true knowledge. During his visit, he seduces the wives of the sages who come to give him alms. Horrified by Bhikshatana's "heretic" appearance and actions, the sages have a long confrontation with him. Ultimately Bhikshatana triumphs, establishing the worship of the Linga, his aniconic symbol. A variant of the legend narrates how Bhikshatana transforms into Nataraja—Shiva as the Cosmic Dancer.
Bhikshatana is a popular icon in South India, in contrast to North India, where it is of lesser importance. Though Bhikshatana does not have any temples dedicated to him as the primary deity, he is sculpted in stone temple walls, worshipped as a subsidiary deity, and cast in bronze as a temple festival processional icon in almost every major Tamil Shiva temple. Many Tamil language hymns sing of Bhikshatana's wanderings, often narrating of the pining of the love-smitten who are enamoured of him.
^Monier-Williams (2008) [1899]. Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Universität zu Köln. p. 756. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
^Cite error: The named reference Kramrisch155 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
Bhikshatana (Sanskrit: भिक्षाटन; Bhikṣāṭana; literally, "wandering about for alms, mendicancy") or Bhikshatana-murti (Bhikṣāṭanamūrti) is an aspect of...
aspects of Bhairava; the others being Brahmashiraschedaka-murti and Bhikshatana-murti. Shiva – as the terrifying Bhairava – cuts the fifth head of the...
Dakshinamurti's depiction in Indian art is mostly restricted to Tamil Nadu. Bhikshatana (Sanskrit भिक्षाटन; Bhikṣāṭana, "wandering about for alms, mendicancy"...
Tripurantaka Mahakala Sharabha Ravananugraha Vaidishvara Lingodbhava Somaskanda Bhikshatana Dattatreya The Tridevi comprises the consorts of the Trimurti, as well...
Chandikeswarar (a saint and devotee of Shiva). There are also images of Bhikshatana, Dakshinamurthy sporting a Veena, and Vishnu. The first precinct is surrounded...
holding a deer in a hand. In the iconography of Shiva's mendicant form Bhikshatana, a deer playfully leaps near a hand of the god, who holds some grass...
reenacted the penance of Shiva after cutting off one of Brahma's heads (Bhikshatana). They worshipped Shiva with impure substances like alcohol, blood and...
Bhairava had to perform the vow of a Kapali: wandering the world as a Bhikshatana with the skull of the slain as his begging bowl. Bhairava's sin was finally...
grains, it will stick to his hands. Shiva took the form of a beggar, Bhikshatana, roamed the earth and asked for food but the skull was never full. So...
redemption of the sin, Brahma asked Shiva to become a wandering ascetic (Bhikshatana) and beg for food in a skull. As per the story of Angalamman, the fifth...
two dvarapalas flanking the pathway from ardha-mandapam South wall: Bhikshatana, Virabhadra, Dakshinamurti, Kalantaka, Nataraja plus two dvarapalas West...
Rameswaram. The Matsya Purana describes the legend of Shiva's form of Bhikshatana. Having decapitated one of Brahma's heads, Shiva incurs the sin of brahmahatya...
controlled by rituals and mantras. Shiva, hearing this, assumed the form of Bhikshatana, a simple mendicant seeking alms, and went walking in Thillai. He was...
8: The festival image of the deity is carried in the deity's form of Bhikshatana. Day 9: The ratha yatra (car festival) is performed, where the images...
forest with resplendent beauty and brilliance, assuming the form of Bhikshatana, a simple mendicant seeking alms. He was followed by Vishnu, as Mohini...
To humble them, Shiva takes the form of an attractive young beggar (Bhikshatana) and Vishnu becomes Mohini, his wife. While the sages fall for Mohini...
visit of the god Shiva in the form of a cursed mendicant or beggar (Bhikshatana, a form of Bhairava) to Vaikuntha. The Vaikuntha gate was guarded by...
Records that one Ambalan Seyyavayar set up the image of Picchadevar (Bhikshatana), gave lands for its requirements, presented gold and silver ornaments...
Brahmin or an equivalent crime) and had to roam the three worlds as Bhikshatana, a naked beggar, to get absolved of his sin. This sin is finally absolved...
Kailas is a fine specimen of workmanship. One finds sculptures of Buddha, Bhikshatana, Saraswathi without her Veena, and a sculpture of Ardhanarishvara, Brahma...
even 5 ft (1.5 m) wide. The major images seen in the temple are that of Bhikshatana, Venugopala, Krishna as Madanagopala, Krishna as Govardhanagiri, Nammalvar...
construction of the temple. There are multiple images of Dakshinamurthy, Bhikshatana, Vishnu and few other legends indicating the various Hindu legends. Harle...
Global Information