Synonyms
Definition
Literally, mūrti means form and refers primarily to any embodiment, manifestation, or incarnation of a deity, guru, or any transcendental power that can be the center for worship in the form of a mūrti [1, 11]. A mūrti is typically represented as an icon or image installed in a temple or shrine but can also be given form in human media in possession rituals or ritual dance.
A mūrti normally has iconic form – but it can also be aniconic, for instance, when a stone or tree is worshipped as a deity or when a full pot of water indicates the presence of a devī for the devotees during temple worship (pūjā) [3, 9, 12].
From Representing a Deity to Becoming a Deity
In temple worship in particular – but also in possession rituals – it is important to differentiate between an image or representation of a given deity and a mūrti. The image becomes a mūrti when the deity it represents is invited and accepts his or her presence in...
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Fibiger, M.Q. (2022). Mūrti. In: Long, J.D., Sherma, R.D., Jain, P., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1188-1_346
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