Head Trips

[Guest guest]

Anyone here familiar with Hindu Iconography as it

concerns multiple heads?

 

Some Hindu deities are polycephalic (having multiple

heads, like Brahma). Others are theriocephalic

(humans with animal heads, like the popular portrayals

of Varahi). But some are BOTH animal headed, and

multiple headed.

 

I've become fascinated with Heramba Ganapati, a form

of Lord Ganesha with five elephant heads. Now, there

are several forms of five-headed Ganeshas. Hinduism

Today's late founder, Sivaya Sumbramunyaswami,

attempted to popularize a Christmas holiday

alternative, worshipping a five-headed Ganesha

("Panchaganapati") over five days in late December,

and each head had a color association (yellow, blue,

red, green, and orange).

 

Heramba not only has five heads, he rides on a lion

(instead of the usual mouse). A book I have gives

colors and numbers to the heads, but I am puzzled.

 

The first elephant head is described as "the color of

pearls." I'm assuming the first head is central,

let's say facing East. Heramba's body is usually

shown as white, so this makes sense (first, central

head should match the body, right?).

 

The second head is "the color of lightning," and the

commentary specifies "yellow." Would the second head

be to the right, i.e., facing South?

 

The third head is "the color of a storm cloud," and

the commentary specifies "dark blue." Would the third

head continue clockwise around the compass, and be

situated facing West? Or would it be on the left of

the main head, and facing North?

 

The fourth head is described as "the color of milk."

Milk is as white as pearls are. Are two heads the

same color? If the fourth head is North-facing, are

two adjacent heads (first and fourth) likely to be the

same color? (Which is why I suspect blue faces North

and milky faces West...) Milk is perhaps OFF-white.

If there's lots of butter in the milk, it would be

pale yellow. If it's starting to go sour, it might be

pale green! Off-white is most likely a pale grey, or

maybe a bone, beige type of color.

 

The fifth head (usually shown above the four, in a

higher tier) is called "the color of turmeric."

Turmeric is a yellow spice, more yellow than

lightning! I suspect you could define turmeric as

slightly orangy, so is the fifth head orange?

 

Some sources state that Heramba is dark green in

complexion, in which case none of the heads match!

 

I know of two other deities who have fivefold heads.

Sada-Shiva usually has five heads, as the Devi Gayatri

also has five heads of different colors. What colors

do they present, and what does five faces MEAN,

anyway? Master of the five elements? Links to the

five-fingered hand? The five syllables of Shiva's

mantra? Or something else entirely?

 

Years ago, I saw for sale a huge Heramba murthi, over

three feet tall, with all five faces equally spaced on

the same level. Seen from above, the elephant trunks

formed a five-pointed star, which pleased me as a

Wiccan. The pentagram is also a yantra for

Sada-Shiva. I am tempted to try to draw a pentagram

with five elephant faces.

 

-- Len/ Kalipadma

 

 

 

 

 

Discover

Find restaurants, movies, travel and more fun for the weekend. Check it out!

http://discover./weekend.html