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Kirtimukha (Sanskrit ', mistakenly〔Monier-Williams, s.v. '〕 also ', a bahuvrihi compound translating to "glorious face") is the name of a swallowing fierce monster face with huge fangs, and gaping mouth, quite common in the iconography of Indian and Southeast Asian temple architecture.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Yalli and Mukha )〕 In Southeast Asia it is often referred to as Kala and in China it is known as ''T'ao t'ieh'' ''(Monster of Greed)''. ==Origin and characteristics== The word ''mukha'' in Sanskrit refers to the face while ''kīrti'' means "fame, glory". Kirtimukha has its origin in a legend from the Skanda Purana when ''Jalandhara'', an all-devouring monster created from Shiva, third eye willingly ate his body starting by its tail as per Lord Shiva's order, who pleased with the result gave it the name ''face of glory''. Some authors have compared the Kirtimukha myth with the Greek myth of Ouroboros.〔(The Theosophical Society - The Predator, turning back on itself )〕 The Kirtimukha is often used as a decorative motif surmounting the pinnacle of a temple or the image of a deity, especially in South Indian architecture. This face is sometimes assimilated to, or confused with, another sculptural element, the lion face ''(Simhamukha)''.〔Robert Beér, ''The encyclopedia of Tibetan symbols and motifs'', ISBN 1-932476-10-5〕 However, in order to be a Kirtimukha it has to be engaged in swallowing, for the Kirtimukha is the figure of the "all consuming"〔Eckard Schleberger, ''Die indische Götterwelt''〕 This monstrous face with bulging eyes sits also as an embellishment over the lintel of the gate to the inner sanctum in many Hindu temples signifying the reabsorption that marks the entry into the temple.〔Rohan Bastin, ''The Domain of Constant Excess: Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in Sri Lanka''〕 Mostly it is only a face, although in some places its arms are portrayed as well. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kirtimukha」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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