On Thu, Jan 4, 2018 at 8:37 AM, Harry Spier via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info> wrote:

Dear list members,

Verse 7 of the liṅgāṣṭakam is:

aṣṭadalopariveṣṭitaliṅgaṁ

sarvasamudbhavakāraṇaliṅgam

aṣṭadaridravināśitaliṅaṁ

tatpraṇamāmi sadāśivaliṅgam

I;ve seen various interpretations of the phrase  aṣṭadalopariveṣṭitaliṅgaṁ

M. Aktor in his article "The Sivalinga between artifact and nature" translates the phrase as "the lingam which is enclosed upon an eight petaled lotus" and interprets that as a reference to a  Shiva lingam with an eight petaled lotus design on its pedestal. I've seen other interpretations of this phrase, some as a reference to a lingam in an eight petaled cakra in the body, and others just as a lingam surrounded by eight petaled lotuses.

But I've been asked if this phrase might be a reference to either:

a) A yantra that has a lingam in the center and is surrounded by an eight petaled lotus.

Are any of the list members aware of any references in the Sanskrit literature to a Yantra with an eight petaled lotus pattern and a lingam in the center?  There is a websiite lingabhairavi.org that has such a yantra but I've been unable to find any other references to such a yantra so I'm wondering if this isn't just a modern innovation.

or

b) A ritual where the lingam is placed on a mandala made of either coloured grains or other coloured material in an eight petaled lotus pattern and worshiped.

Is anyone aware of such a ritual?

Also is anyone aware of other interpretations of this phrase.

Thanks,,

Harry Spier

Thanks,

Harry Spier

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