Mukuṭa
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Mukuṭa literally means ‘that which decorates the head’.
Significance of Mukuṭa[edit]
Mukuṭa is also spelt as ‘makuṭa’. It is headwear or crown. In iconographical works, almost all the images, whether of gods or semi-gods or demons or human beings, are shown with some kind of mukuṭa.
Classification of Mukuṭa[edit]
There are varieties of the same. Some of them are:
- Kirītamukuta - It is a crown, usually 16 to 24 aṅgulas in height and cylindrical or conical in shape with details like a diadem or a lotus or studded with gems. It is shown on the heads of male deities like Viṣṇu and also the emperors. Sometimes devi images too have them.
- Karandamukuta - It is shaped like a pot or a bulb, it is shown as adorning the major feminine deities and also kings. The lower part of this crown may be studded with precious stones.
- Jatāmukuta - Here, the matted hair is done up like a crown. This is generally shown in the images of Śiva, his attendants and sages. It is even common in some forms of the Devi.
- Śirastraka - In the images of yakṣas and the nāgas, a turban-like headgear, called śirastraka, is provided.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore