Shiva Forms

64 Forms of Lord Siva

The holy forms shown by the Formless Supreme Lord siva are the maheshwara murtham. These are listed as 25 maheshwara muratams. It is also a custom to list these forms as 64. These 64 mUrtams of Lord siva are listed here.


1. shivali.ngam
2. li.ngodbhavar
3. mukhali.ngam
4. sadAshivam
5. mahAsadAshivam
6. umAmaheshwarar
7. sukhAsanamUrti
8. umeshamUrti
9. somAska.ndhamUrti
10. cha.ndrashekaramUrti
11. vR^iShArUDhamUrti
12. vR^IShA.ndikamUrti
13. bhujaNGgalaLitamUrti
14. bhujaNGgatrAsamUrti
15. sa.ndhiyanR^ittamUrti
16. sadAnR^ittamUrti
17. chaNDatANDavamUrti
18. gaNGgAdharamUrti
19. gaNGgAvisarjanamUrti
20. tripurAntakamUrti
21. kalyANasu.ndaramUrti
22. ardanArIshwaramUrti
23. gajAsurasaMhAramUrti
24. jvarAbhagnamUrti
25. shArdhUlaharamUrti
26. pAshupatamUrti
27. gaNGgALamUrti
28. keshavArthamUrti
29. bhixATanamUrti
30. simhagnamUrti
31. chaNdeshwarAnugrahamUrti
32. vyAkhyAnadaxiNAmUrti
33. yogadaxiNAmUrti
34. viNAdharadaxiNAmUrti
35. kAlA.ntakamUrti
36. kAmAri (kAmadahanamUrti)
37. vaguLeshwaramUrti
38. bhairavamUrti
39. ApatuddAraNamUrti
40. vaDukamUrti
41. xetrapAlamUrti
42. vIrabhadramUrti
43. agorAstramUrti
44. daxayaGYaharamUrti
45. kirAtamUrti
46. gurumUrti
47. ashvArUDhamUrti
48. gajA.ndikamUrti
49. jalandharavatamUrti
50. ekapAdatrimUrti
51. tripAdatrimUrti
52. ekapAdamUrti
53. gaurivarapradamUrti
54. chakradAnaswarUpamUrti
55. gaurilIlAsamanvitamUrti
56. viShAbhaharaNamUrti
57. garuDA.ndikamUrti
58. braHmasirachetakamUrti
59. kUrmasaMhAramUrti
60. matsyAri
61. varAhAri
62. prArthanAmUrti
63. raktabhixApradAnamUrti
64. siShyabhAvamUrti

25 Forms

According to Shaiva Sidhdhaantha the God is formless (arUpa) . But for the salvation of lives He took the form of liN^gam - meaning symbol (arUpa rUpa). liN^gam< can be considered both as form as well as formless symbol. This mUrti is called sadA shiva mUrti. From the SadhA Shiva mUrti, for the benefit of lives God took a lot of forms which are called mAhEshwara mUrtis. There are twenty five MAhEshwara mUrtis (Some say there are more). Some of these mUrtis are bhOga mUrtis, usually with Shakthi like R^ishabArUdar, or yOga mUrtis, sitting in one of the yOga postures without Shakthi in the side like dakshiNAmUrti, or vEga mUrtis, in the state of destruction like kAlAri. Usually in the temples, SadhA Shiva mUrthi (Shiva liN^gam ) will be in the Sanctum Sanctorum. The mAhEshwara mUrhtis will be in the Praahaaram. (Outside the Sanctum Sanctorum).

1. bhikshAtanar
2. kAmAri
3. kAlAri
4. kalyANa su.ndarar
5. R^ishabhArUDhar
6. cha.ndra shEkharar
7. umA mahEshvarar
8. naTarAjar
9. tripurA.ntakar
10. jala.ndharAri
11. gajasa.mhAra mUrti (mAtaN^gAri)
12. karALar (vIrabhadrar)
13. sha.nkara nArAyaNar
14. ardha nArIshvarar
15. kirAtar
16. ka.nkALar
17. chaNdEshAnugrahar
18. chakra pradar
19. saha umA ska.ndar (sOmAska.ndhar)
20. Eka pAdar
21. gajamukhAnugrahar (vighnEshAnugrahar)
22. dakshiNA mUrti
23. nIlakaNThar
24. li.ngOdbhavar
25. sukAsanar

Dakshinamoorthy

Dhakshinamoorthy - Guru(the yogi Sivan)
The practice of yoga is pre-vedhic and goes back to the period of hindus valley civilization. The ancient mystics unravelled the depth of the human consciousness and discovered the treasure of enormous energy hidden in it. The yoga system is a practical philosophy advocating physical perfection being a pre-requisite for mental perfection which is the basis for the spiritual progress and salvation. The tadition usually credits Siddhar Patanjali (his previous birth was Adhiseshan), a native of Chidhambaram to be the founder of the yoga system.

Dhakshinamoorthy - Guru(the yogi Sivan)

The lord shivan sitting under the "kallalamaram"(Banyan tree)with "Chinmudra"(a pose in fingers). Lord shivan in this yogic form is called Dhakshinamoorthy(means the god of south). Dhakshinamoorthy gives a yoga lessions with the help of "Mudra" to saiva saints. The god of Dhakshinamoorthy gives a wisdom and healthy to their divotees. Many Students visit a Dakshinamoorthy temple and light two ghee lamps,and offer jasmine flowers or yellow flowers to the Lord.In order to ward off the ill-effects of Guru, devotees may wear the stone pushparaagam or topaz. Offering of 'Chana' (konda kadalai) is also considered beneficial, especially on Thursdays.

(Guru) Dakshinamoorthy places to visit:
1. Tiruvali Dhaayam Near Padi.
2. Govindam Padi near Kancheepuram.
3. Thakolam Near Arakonam
4. Ilambayam Kottor Dakshinamoorthy with 'Chinmudra' (40kms from Poonamallee)
5. Alangudi
6. Then Thittai near Thanjavur
7. Tiruchendur

The god of Dhakshinamorthy was worshipped in the four types of idols in all the sivan temples in southside outer wall of the "garbagraham"
1.Dhakshinamoorthy - Many temples specially in Aalangudi
2.yoga Dhakshinamoorthy - Thirukkurukkai temple
3.Veena Dhakshinamoorthy - Thippoonthuruthy
4.Boga Dhakshinamoorthy - Suruttapalli