Manikantha
Another name for Ayyappa is mani (मणि) kantha (कण्ठ )
Kantha means neck and mani means a bell.
You can see from the picture that there is a bell hanging on his neck.
As usual I will focus on iconography alone not on pauranik katha (story)
Mani kantha has a bell on his neck.
Bell represents Impermanence, the phenomenal world which we see is impermanent and Evanescent i.e quickly fading away.
It also represents the creation of transient universe through sound - being perceived but not held or kept.
Manikantha holds a spear (kuntha)
In his right
It represents one pointed concentration applied during meditation aimed at goal of perfection.
Focussed attention at eliminating inner demons of delusion, anger, greed, hatred, etc.
In other hand he holds Bow and arrow.
It represents the concentration and focussing of mind on goals of overcoming lower nature and achieving transformation, enlightenment and liberation.
He sits on the Tiger
Which represents harnessing of our courage and sagacity and directing it to our spiritual upliftment.
According to the legend it was Indra who took form of tiger and mani kantha rides on him and took tiger into the palace.
Indra represents the mind which is the king of all senses which easily gets addicted to pleasures and intoxicants.
So mani kantha rides on that tiger (mind)
And directs it towards spiritual upliftment of the seeker
Sacred thread (yagnopavita)
There is a sacred thread that runs over manikantha's left shoulder and rests on right hip.
The three strands indicate body, speech and mind .
Threefold knot is called as bramha ganthi
Which indicates the three phases of existence :
1. Creation 2. Preservation 3.destruction.
Another name for Ayyappa is mani (मणि) kantha (कण्ठ )
Kantha means neck and mani means a bell.
You can see from the picture that there is a bell hanging on his neck.
As usual I will focus on iconography alone not on pauranik katha (story)
Mani kantha has a bell on his neck.
Bell represents Impermanence, the phenomenal world which we see is impermanent and Evanescent i.e quickly fading away.
It also represents the creation of transient universe through sound - being perceived but not held or kept.
Manikantha holds a spear (kuntha)
In his right
It represents one pointed concentration applied during meditation aimed at goal of perfection.
Focussed attention at eliminating inner demons of delusion, anger, greed, hatred, etc.
In other hand he holds Bow and arrow.
It represents the concentration and focussing of mind on goals of overcoming lower nature and achieving transformation, enlightenment and liberation.
He sits on the Tiger
Which represents harnessing of our courage and sagacity and directing it to our spiritual upliftment.
According to the legend it was Indra who took form of tiger and mani kantha rides on him and took tiger into the palace.
Indra represents the mind which is the king of all senses which easily gets addicted to pleasures and intoxicants.
So mani kantha rides on that tiger (mind)
And directs it towards spiritual upliftment of the seeker
Sacred thread (yagnopavita)
There is a sacred thread that runs over manikantha's left shoulder and rests on right hip.
The three strands indicate body, speech and mind .
Threefold knot is called as bramha ganthi
Which indicates the three phases of existence :
1. Creation 2. Preservation 3.destruction.
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