Muneeswarar

Muneeswarar (also spelled Munīswara or Munīshwaran) is a Hindu god who is worshipped as a family deity in most Shaivite families in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. His name is a combination of "Muni", meaning saint, and "Īshwara", meaning Shiva, the highest of Hindu gods.[1]

Muneeswarar
WeaponTrishūla, gada, sword
MountHorse

Worship

Muneeswarar is worshipped in Karnataka, Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Gudiyattam of Vellore district, and the northern part of Tamil Nadu in India, and more so in Malaysia, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname, where there are many temples dedicated to him. There are many small temples in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, where many Tamil-speaking people live. During the British colonial period, people brought the deity to Sri Lanka.

Since his weapon is the trident, Muneeswarar temples contain a trident placed in the ground. Lemons are often placed on the prongs of the trident. In most villages in India, the deity is a laid stone. When statues of Muneeswarar are used, they are painted with bright colors, in contrast to the black granite statues in other Indian temples. His statue is dressed in a dhoti, unlike the statues of other gods.

Muneeswarar is generally worshipped either as a fierce god or a peaceful god; those who worship his fierce form offer him animals like lamb and chicken. It is also said that Muneeswaran has seven main qualities, thus he is worshipped in seven main forms which are Shivamuni, Mahamuni, Tavamuni, Nadamuni, Jadamuni, Dharmamuni and Vazhamuni. In the Caribbean however, especially in Trinidad & Tobago as well as Guyana, he is locally called as Munesh Prem Baba.

[2][3]

See also

References

  1. "Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, the Highest Gods of Hinduism". www.hinduwebsite.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  2. "Muneeswaran, Muniswaran Hindu God, Importance of Muneeswaran". www.astroved.com. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  3. Dhevee (30 May 2017). "Muniswaran Gayatri Mantra". Dhevee.org. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
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