Panchavimshatimurti

The panchavimshatimurti (Sanskrit: पञ्चविंशतिमूर्ति, romanized: Pañcaviṃśatimūrti, lit. 'twenty-five forms') is the representation of twenty-five forms of Shiva in Hindu iconography.^[1] These forms are described in the Shaiva Agamas of the southern Shaiva Siddhanta sect of Shaivism. The Sritattvanidhi calls these the panchavimshatililamurti (twenty-five sportive forms).^[2] These forms are based on the Puranas and the Itihasas, in which the theme of Shiva's divine play is explained with numerous narratives. Most of these forms are featured in South Indian temples as the main images of the sanctum or sculptures and reliefs in the outer walls of Shiva temples.^[3]