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A Murti (Sanskrit: मूर्ति, IAST: Mūrti) literally means any form, embodiment or solid object,〔 and typically refers to an image, statue or idol of a deity or person in Indian culture.〔 In Hindu temples, it is a symbolic icon. A ''Murti'' is itself not the god in Hinduism, but it is an image of god and represents emotional and religious value.〔 ''Murtis'' are also found in some nontheistic Jainism traditions, where they serve as symbols of revered persons inside Jain temples, and are worshipped in Murtipujaka rituals.〔John Cort (2011), Jains in the World, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0199796649, pages 80-85〕〔(Murtipujakas ), Overview Of World Religions, University of Cumbria (2009)〕 A Murti is typically made by carving stone, wood working, metal casting or through pottery. Medieval era texts describing their proper porportions, positions and gestures include the Puranas, Agamas and Samhitas.〔Klaus Klostermaier (2010), ''A Survey of Hinduism'', State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0791470824, pages 264-267〕 The expressions in a ''Murti'' vary in diverse Hindu traditions, ranging from ''Ugra'' symbolism to express destruction, fear and violence (Durga, Kali), as well as ''Saumya'' symbolism to express joy, knowledge and harmony (Saraswati, Lakshmi). Saumya images are most common in Hindu temples.〔 Other Murti forms found in Hinduism include the Linga.〔 A ''Murti'' is an embodiment of the divine, the Ultimate Reality or Brahman to some Hindus.〔 In religious context, they are found in Hindu temples or homes, where they may be treated as a beloved guest and serve as a participant of Puja rituals in Hinduism.〔 In other occasions, it serves as the center of attention in annual festive processions and these are called ''Utsava Murti''.〔 Murti is sometimes referred to as ''murthi'', or ''vigraha'' or ''pratima''.〔(【引用サイトリンク】url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/398379/pratima )〕 ==Etymology and nomenclature== ''Murti'' literally means any solid body or form with definite shape or limits produced from material elements.〔 It contrasts with mind, thought and the immaterial in ancient Indian literature. The term also refers to any embodiment, manifestation, incarnation, personification, appearance, image, idol or statue of a deity.〔Monier Monier-Williams, Sanskrit English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-8120831056 (Reprinted in 2011), page 824〕 The earliest mention of the term ''Murti'' occurs in primary Upanishads composed in the 1st millennium BCE, particularly in verse 3.2 of Aitareya Upanishad, verse 1.13 of Shvetashvatara Upanishad, verse 6.14 of Maitrayaniya Upanishad and verse 1.5 of Prashna Upanishad.〔G. A. Jacob, (A concordance to the principal Upanishads ), Harvard University Press, Reprinted Motilal Banarsidass, page 750〕 For example, the Maitrayaniya Upanishad uses the term to mean a "form, manifestation of time". The section sets out to prove Time exists, acknowledges the difficulty in proving Time exists by Pramana (epistemology in Indian philosophy), then inserts a theory of inductive inference for epistemological proof as follows,〔 The section includes the concept of Time and non-Time, stating that non-Time as that which existed before creation of universe, and time as which came into existence with the creation of universe.〔Paul Deussen (2010 Reprint), Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120814684, pages 355-358〕 Non-Time is indivisible, Time is divisible, and the Maitri Upanishad then asserts that "Year is the ''Murti'' of time".〔Diana L. Eck (1986), (Darshan of the Image ), India International Centre Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 1, Images (March 1986), pages 43-53〕〔 Robert Hume translates the discussion of ''Murti'' of time, in verse 6.14 of the Maitri Upanishad, as "form".〔Robert E Hume, (''The Thirteen Principal Upanishads'' ), Oxford University Press, page 434; Sanskrit: कालात्स्रवन्ति भूतानि कालाद्वृद्धिं प्रयान्ति च । काले चास्तं नियच्छन्ति कालो मूर्तिरमूर्तिमान् ॥ ॥ १४॥, Source: (Archive ), (Archive2 ) Wikisource〕 Most scholars, such as Jan Gonda, Max Muller, PV Kane and Stephanie Jamison, state that there were neither Murti nor temples nor idol-facilitated worship in the Vedic era.〔Noel Salmond (2004), Hindu Iconoclasts, Wilfrid Laurier University Press, ISBN 978-0889204195, pages 15-17〕 The Vedic Hinduism rituals were directed at nature and abstract deities called during yajna with hymns. However, there isn't universal consensus, with scholars such as AC Das, pointing to the word ''Mūradeva'' in Rig Veda verses 7.104.24, 10.87.2 and 10.87.14.〔 This word may refer to "Deva who is fixed" or "Deva who is foolish". The former interpretation, if accurate, may imply that there were communities in the Vedic era who had Devas in the form of ''Murti'', and the context of these hymns suggest that the term could possibly be referring to practices of the tribal communities outside of the Vedic fold.〔 One of the earliest firm textual evidence of Deva images, in the sense of ''Murti'', is found in ''Jivikarthe Capanye'' by the Sanskrit grammarian Pāṇini who lived about 4th century BCE.〔 He mentions ''Acala'' and ''Cala'', with former referring to images in a shrine, and the latter meaning images that were carried from place to place.〔 Panini also mentions ''Devalaka'', meaning custodians of images of worship who show the images but do not sell them, as well as ''Jivika'' as people whose source of livelihood was the gifts they received from devotees.〔 In ancient Sanskrit texts that follow Panini's work, numerous references are found to divine images with terms such as ''Devagrha'', ''Devagara'', ''Devakula'', ''Devayatana'' and others.〔Noel Salmond (2004), Hindu Iconoclasts, Wilfrid Laurier University Press, ISBN 978-0889204195, pages 18-20〕 These texts, states Noel Salmond, strongly suggest that temples and Murti were in existence in ancient India by about 4th century BCE. Recent archaeological evidence confirms that the knowledge and art of sculpture was established in India by the Maurya Empire period (~3rd century BCE).〔 By early 1st millennium BCE, the term ''Murti'' meant idols, image or statue in various Indian texts such as Bhavishya Purana verse 132.5.7, Brihat Samhita 1.8.29 and inscriptions in different parts of India.〔 The term Murti has been a more generic term referring to an idol or statue of anyone, either a deity, of any human being, animal or any art.〔〔John Cort (2011), Jains in the World, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0199796649, pages 250-251〕 ''Pratima'' includes Murti as well as painting of any non-anthromorphic object. In contrast, ''Bera'' or ''Bimba'' meant "idol of god" only, and ''Vigraha'' was synonymous with ''Bimba''.〔PK Acharya, (An Encyclopedia of Hindu Architecture ), Oxford University Press, page 426〕 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「Murti」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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