"Shreevatsa" redirects here. For the child care centre, see Shreevatsa (Pune).
The Shrivatsa (Sanskrit: श्रीवत्स; IAST: Śrīvatsa, lit.'Beloved of Shri')[1] is an ancient symbol, considered auspicious in Hinduism and other Indian religious traditions.[2]
Shrivatsa as a triangular mark on right side of Vishnu's chest
Depiction of the Shrivatsa upon the chest of a sculpture of Vishnu
Origin
Shrivatsa means "Beloved of Shri", an epithet of Vishnu, and a reference to his consort, the goddess Lakshmi, also called Shri.[3] It is a mark on the chest of Vishnu, where his consort is described to reside.
The Bhagavata Purana explains the origin of this mark. The story goes that a number of maharishis once gathered on the banks of the river Sarasvati to perform a yajna. A dispute arose among these sages regarding the superiority of the members of the Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva. The sage Bhrigu was appointed to discover the truth of this matter, and undertook this task by travelling to the abodes of these deities. He felt disrespected by Brahma when the latter was offended by the fact that he had taken his seat on a stool that was not offered to him. He grew anxious when Shiva rose to embrace him, which offered the deity offence as well. Bhrigu then journeyed to the abode of Vishnu:[4]
Bhṛgu then turned his steps to Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of Mahāviṣṇu. There he saw Mahāviṣṇu in a deep slumber. Seeing Mahāviṣṇu whose task is the preservation of the world, sleeping like an irresponsible person, Bhṛgu gave him a kick on his breast. Viṣṇu who sprang up suddenly, saw Bhṛgu standing before him. He begged pardon of the sage. He declared that he would carry Bhṛgu’s footprint permanently on his chest as a sign of his repentance for having shown disrespect to the Maharṣi. This foot-print still remains on Viṣṇu’s chest and is known by the name "Śrīvatsa". In this way, the Munis came to the conclusion that Mahāviṣṇu is the noblest of the Trimūrtis.
In the legend of Tirumala, Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi, is offended by the fact that the sage had kicked her beloved, as well as insulted the region of her husband she is associated with the most. She furiously descends upon the earth, where Vishnu finds her as Padmavati, and remarries her in his avatar of Srinivasa.
It is said that the tenth avatar of Vishnu, Kalki, will bear the Shrivatsa mark on his chest.
The symbol offers the deity another epithet, Śrīvatsalāñcchana, which translates to, "He who has the mark or scar of Śrīvatsa on his chest".[5]
In popular culture
Shrivatsa is a popular name in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Historical symbolism
In South India, in the bronze sculptures made after circa 10th century, the Shrivatsa symbol is shown as an inverted triangle on the right chest of Vishnu, and his various incarnations.[6]
Buddhism
The compound Buddhist symbols: shrivatsa within the Three Jewels over a chakra on the Torana gate at Sanchi. 1st century BCE.
In Jain iconography, Shrivatsa often marks the chest of the Tirthankara image.[9] It is one of the Ashtamangala (eight auspicious symbols) found in Jainism. The canonical texts such as Hemchandra's Trīṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra and Mahapurana mentions it as one of the Ashtamangalas.[10] Acharya Dinakara explains in his medieval work that the highest knowledge emerged from the heart of Tirthankaras in the form of Shrivatsa so they are marked as such.[11] In North Indian Jain sculptures of the early centuries, it is marked in the centre of the chest.[6]
^Alex Wayman, "Chanting the Names of Manjusri" 1985, p. 94
^Padmakara Translation Group (translator)) (2018). "The Transcendent Perfection of Wisdom in Ten Thousand Lines". 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. Retrieved 25 December 2019. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
^Rai Govind Chandra (1 December 1996). Indian symbolism: symbols as sources of our customs and beliefs. Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers. p. 37. ISBN978-81-215-0081-4.
References
Jain, Jyotindra; Fischer, Eberhard (1978), Jaina Iconography, Part 12- Iconography of religions: Indian religions, BRILL, ISBN978-9004052598
Further reading
Sutton, Nicholas (2000). Religious doctrines in the Mahābhārata. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 153. ISBN9788120817005.
January 03, 2023
shrivatsa, shreevatsa, redirects, here, child, care, centre, shreevatsa, pune, sanskrit, वत, iast, Śrīvatsa, beloved, shri, ancient, symbol, considered, auspicious, hinduism, other, indian, religious, traditions, triangular, mark, right, side, vishnu, chest, c. Shreevatsa redirects here For the child care centre see Shreevatsa Pune The Shrivatsa Sanskrit श र वत स IAST Srivatsa lit Beloved of Shri 1 is an ancient symbol considered auspicious in Hinduism and other Indian religious traditions 2 Shrivatsa as a triangular mark on right side of Vishnu s chest Contents 1 Hinduism 1 1 Origin 1 2 In popular culture 1 3 Historical symbolism 2 Buddhism 3 Jainism 4 Other uses 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further readingHinduism Edit Depiction of the Shrivatsa upon the chest of a sculpture of Vishnu Origin Edit Shrivatsa means Beloved of Shri an epithet of Vishnu and a reference to his consort the goddess Lakshmi also called Shri 3 It is a mark on the chest of Vishnu where his consort is described to reside The Bhagavata Purana explains the origin of this mark The story goes that a number of maharishis once gathered on the banks of the river Sarasvati to perform a yajna A dispute arose among these sages regarding the superiority of the members of the Trimurti Brahma Vishnu or Shiva The sage Bhrigu was appointed to discover the truth of this matter and undertook this task by travelling to the abodes of these deities He felt disrespected by Brahma when the latter was offended by the fact that he had taken his seat on a stool that was not offered to him He grew anxious when Shiva rose to embrace him which offered the deity offence as well Bhrigu then journeyed to the abode of Vishnu 4 Bhṛgu then turned his steps to Vaikuṇṭha the abode of Mahaviṣṇu There he saw Mahaviṣṇu in a deep slumber Seeing Mahaviṣṇu whose task is the preservation of the world sleeping like an irresponsible person Bhṛgu gave him a kick on his breast Viṣṇu who sprang up suddenly saw Bhṛgu standing before him He begged pardon of the sage He declared that he would carry Bhṛgu s footprint permanently on his chest as a sign of his repentance for having shown disrespect to the Maharṣi This foot print still remains on Viṣṇu s chest and is known by the name Srivatsa In this way the Munis came to the conclusion that Mahaviṣṇu is the noblest of the Trimurtis Bhagavata Purana In the legend of Tirumala Vishnu s consort Lakshmi is offended by the fact that the sage had kicked her beloved as well as insulted the region of her husband she is associated with the most She furiously descends upon the earth where Vishnu finds her as Padmavati and remarries her in his avatar of Srinivasa It is said that the tenth avatar of Vishnu Kalki will bear the Shrivatsa mark on his chest Shrivatsa is one of the names of Vishnu in the Vishnu Sahasranamam The symbol offers the deity another epithet Srivatsalancchana which translates to He who has the mark or scar of Srivatsa on his chest 5 In popular culture Edit Shrivatsa is a popular name in Andhra Pradesh Telangana Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Historical symbolism Edit In South India in the bronze sculptures made after circa 10th century the Shrivatsa symbol is shown as an inverted triangle on the right chest of Vishnu and his various incarnations 6 Buddhism Edit The compound Buddhist symbols shrivatsa within the Three Jewels over a chakra on the Torana gate at Sanchi 1st century BCE In Buddhism the srivatsa is said to be a feature of the tutelary deity Tibetan yidam Manjusri the Youth Skt Manjusrikumarabhuta 7 In Tibetan Buddhism the srivatsa Tib དཔལ བ འ Wyl dpal be u is depicted as a triangular swirl or an endless knot 3 In the Chinese tradition Buddhist prayer beads are often tied at the tassels in this shape In some lists of the 80 secondary characteristics it is said that a Buddha s heart is adorned with the srivatsa 8 Jainism Edit Shrivatsa as Flower shaped symbol on Jain Tirthankar Rishabhanatha s chest In Jain iconography Shrivatsa often marks the chest of the Tirthankara image 9 It is one of the Ashtamangala eight auspicious symbols found in Jainism The canonical texts such as Hemchandra s Triṣaṣṭisalakapuruṣacaritra and Mahapurana mentions it as one of the Ashtamangalas 10 Acharya Dinakara explains in his medieval work that the highest knowledge emerged from the heart of Tirthankaras in the form of Shrivatsa so they are marked as such 11 In North Indian Jain sculptures of the early centuries it is marked in the centre of the chest 6 Other uses Edit Flag of Rakhine State showing the Shrivatsa The Shrivatsa is the symbol of Rakhine State and the Rakhine people of Burma See also EditCintamani Gem Kaustubha Gem Syamantaka Gem AurvaNotes Edit Hinnells John R 25 March 2010 The Penguin Handbook of the World s Living Religions Penguin UK p 284 ISBN 978 0 14 195504 9 Sarat Chandra Das 1902 Tibetan English Dictionary with Sanskrit Synonyms Calcutta India Bengal Secretariat Book Depot p 69 a b The Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols p PA11 at Google Books www wisdomlib org 28 January 2019 Story of Bhṛgu www wisdomlib org Retrieved 8 August 2022 www wisdomlib org 28 January 2019 Story of Viṣṇu www wisdomlib org Retrieved 8 August 2022 a b http www e books chennaimuseum tn gov in ChennaiMuseum images 125 files basic html page51 html dead link Alex Wayman Chanting the Names of Manjusri 1985 p 94 Padmakara Translation Group translator 2018 The Transcendent Perfection of Wisdom in Ten Thousand Lines 84000 Translating the Words of the Buddha Retrieved 25 December 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a last1 has generic name help Red sandstone figure of a tirthankara Jain amp Fischer 1978 p 15 31 Rai Govind Chandra 1 December 1996 Indian symbolism symbols as sources of our customs and beliefs Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers p 37 ISBN 978 81 215 0081 4 References EditJain Jyotindra Fischer Eberhard 1978 Jaina Iconography Part 12 Iconography of religions Indian religions BRILL ISBN 978 9004052598Further reading EditSutton Nicholas 2000 Religious doctrines in the Mahabharata Motilal Banarsidass p 153 ISBN 9788120817005 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shrivatsa amp oldid 1131276686, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
