Draft:64 Forms of Lord Shiva

Shaivite literature describes Lord Shiva, the ultimate divinity in the Hindu pantheon, as both with form. and as formless. The Shaivite texts describe elaborately 64 forms that Lord Shiva takes The forms are


 * 1) Linga Murthy - Lord worshipped in a formless form as the Shiva Linga which depicts the form of the Cosmos.
 * 2) Lingodbhava Murthy - Lingodbhava is depicted as the form of the deity emerging from a pillar of light amidst Brahma and Vishnu
 * 3) Mukhalinga Murthy - Lord Shiva with five faces on the Shiva Linga
 * 4) SadaShiva Murthy - Deity of Lord Shiva with five faces representing the five actions (Panchakrityas) of Lord Shiva - Srishti (Creation), Sthithi (Preservation), Samhara (Destruction or Rejuvenation), Tirobhava (Pulling out of Delusion) and Anugraha (Liberation).
 * 5) Maha SadaShiva Murthy - 25 faced form of Lord Shiva representing the 25 states of consciousness and the 25 actions created from the matrix of the five basic actions of the Panchakrityas
 * 6) Umamaheshvara Murthy - Umamaheshvara is depicted as the divine couple of Shiva and Parvati following their wedding.
 * 7) Sukasana Murthy - Sukhasana is depicted as the form of the deity sitting in ease.
 * 8) Umesha Murthy - Lord Shiva with Goddess Uma and in a Varadana (boon giving) pose
 * 9) Somaskandha Murthi - Somaskanda is depicted as the form of the deity accompanied by Parvati and Skanda.
 * 10) Vrishabhantika Murthy - Lord Shiva seated on Nandhi Nandi (Vrishaba) the sacred bull.
 * 11) Chandrashekara Murthy - Chandrashekara is depicted as the form of the deity who wears the crescent moon on his matted hair.
 * 12) Bhujanga Lalita Murthy - Lord Shiva with crescent moon on his head and the snake around his neck
 * 13) Sada Nritta Murthy - Nataraja is depicted as the form of the deity who is regarded to be the king of the dance.
 * 14) Gangavisarjana Murthy - Form of Lord Shiva releasing Devi Ganga from his head thereby bringing in prosperity and life to planet Earth.
 * 15) Ardanarishvara Murthy - Ardhanarishvara is depicted as the syncretic form of Shiva and Parvati.
 * 16) Vrishabharudar- Vrisharudha is depicted as the form of the deity who is accompanied by Parvati and seated on his bull mount, Nandi.
 * 17) Bhujanga Trasa Murthy - Lord Shiva with a Snake in one hand and holding fire in the other.
 * 18) Chandathandava Murthy - Lord Shiva dancing the thandava standing on a daemon.
 * 19) Tripurantaka Murthy - Tripurantaka is depicted as the form of the deity that destroyed the three asura cities of Tripura.
 * 20) Gajasura Samlıara Murthy - Gajasurasamhara is the one who slew the asura Gajasura, who had assumed the form of an elephant.
 * 21) Sandhya Nritta Murthy - Lord Shiva with his wife, Goddess Uma, with a Damru in his hand
 * 22) Gangadhara Murthy - Lord Shiva with the Devi Ganga falling into matted locks depicting how he protects the planet from her raw force.
 * 23) Kalyanasundhara Murthy - Kalyanasundara is depicted as the form of the deity during his wedding ceremony with Parvati as Meenakshi
 * 24) Jvarabhagna Murthy - Deity of Lord Shiva with three faces and three legs
 * 25) Shardhula Hara Murthy - Lord Shiva sitting on a tiger skin.
 * 26) Keshavartha Murthy  - Shankaranarayana form of Lord Shiva depicting Shiva and Vishnu with Damru in one hand and Chakra in the other.
 * 27) Chandisha Anugraha Murthy - In this form the Lord Shiva is seen gifting the Kamdhenu cow to a Sage. Kamdhenu is a mystical divine cow that can fulfil all wishes.
 * 28) Vinadhara Dakshina Murthy - Dhakshinamurthy, the form in while he teaches in silence, playing the divine musical instrument, the Veena
 * 29) Lakulishvara Murthy - Lord Shiva holding the Damru and his trident, the Trishool
 * 30) Vaduka Murthy - Bhairava form of Lord Shiva holding a snake and a begging bowl.
 * 31) Agorastra Murthy - Lord Shiva in the form of an Aghori - who are wandering ascetics who practice intense tapas and renunciation.
 * 32) Guru Murthy - Lord Shiva himself teaching the truths of the science of Enlightenment in the Vedas and Agamas to the ancient sages
 * 33) Jalandharavata Murthy - Lord Shiva shown as killing Jalandhara, an asura who was born from Shiva's own third eye.
 * 34) Ekapadha Murthy - Lord Shiva shown as standing on one leg
 * 35) Gaurilila Samanvita Murthy - Lord Shiva with his entire family - Goddess Uma, Lord Ganesha and Lord Skanda
 * 36) Brahma Shirachetha Murthy - Lord Shiva cursing Lord Brahma saying that he will never be worshipped when he lied about reaching his head in the contest between Lord Brahma (the intellect) and Lord Vishnu (material prowess) trying to reach the ultimate truth of the Universe.
 * 37) Varaha Samhara Murthy - Form of Lord Shiva when he reminded the Varaha incarnation of Lord Vishnu so he could get back to Vaikunta
 * 38) Shishyabhava Murthy - The Lord assuming the role of a disciple to listen to the exposition of the meaning of the Omkara from his son Skanda.
 * 39) Pasupatha Murthy - Is the form of Lord Shiva in a standing pose in and large form and holding an akshamala
 * 40) Bhikshatana Murthy - Bhikshtana is depicted in the form of a nude four-armed mendicant, adorned with ornaments and holding a begging bowl in his hand.
 * 41) Vvakvana Dakshina Murthy - Here Dhakshinamurthy holds the Vyakhyanamudra, which represents the gesture of teaching
 * 42) Kalanthakar - Kalantaka is depicted as the form of the deity that rescued his devotee, Markandeya, from Yama, the god of death.
 * 43) Bhairava Murthy - Fierce form Lord Shiva as a wandering medicant with a dog
 * 44) Kshetrapaala Murthy - The Lord takes this form to safeguard the temples or Kshetras (sacred places)
 * 45) Dakshayagyahara Murthy - The form depicting the Lord killing Prajapathi Daksha who was the father of his consort Sati.
 * 46) Ashvaruda Murthy - Lord Shiva shown as sitting on a horse
 * 47) Ekapad  triMurthy - Lord Shiva seen taking the forms of all three of the Trimurtis - Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma
 * 48) Gaurivaraprada Murthy - Lord Shiva with his wife Devi Gauri
 * 49) Vishapaharana Murthy  - Lord Shiva is seen resting with Devi Parvati sitting beside him.
 * 50) Kurma Samhara Murthy - Lord Shiva with Lord Vishnu as the Kurma Avatar and enabling him to return to Vaikunta
 * 51) Prarthana Murthy - Lord Shiva pacifies and dances with his consort Parvati.
 * 52) Kankala Murthy -  Lord Shiva seen in a standing pose.
 * 53) Simhaghna Murthy - Also known as Sarabeshwara the Lord is depicted with two Lion faces, four hands, eight legs and with wings.
 * 54) Yoga Dakshina Murthy - Lord teaches the science of Yoga to the four sons of Lord Brahma.
 * 55) Kama Dahana Murthy - Lord Shiva burns Kamadeva the lord of lust with his third eye.
 * 56) Apatuttarana Murthy - The Lord appears like a human being wearing regular clothes in this form.
 * 57) Virabhadra Murthy - Virabhadra is depicted as the form of the deity who destroyed the Daksha yajna.
 * 58) Kiratha Murthy - Kirata is depicted as the form of the deity who assumed the form of a hunter, bestowing the Pashupatastra on Arjuna.
 * 59) Gajantika Murthy - Lord heals Airavata, the elephant of Indra, which was hurt in battle.
 * 60) Tripada Trimurthi - Lord Shiva is standing on one leg along with Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma each with one leg.
 * 61) Chakradanasvarupa Murthy - Chakrapada is depicted as the form of the deity who granted the Sudarshana Chakra to Vishnu.
 * 62) Garudanthika Murthy - Lord Shiva blessing Garuda the vehicle of Lord Vishnu.
 * 63) Matsya Samhara Murthy - The Lord liberates the Matsya Avatar from his corporeal body so he could go back to Vaikunta.
 * 64) Rakthabhiksha Pradana Murthy - Lord Shiva takes the blood of Lord Vishnu and other Gods as an offering to liberate them.