As a young
Deekshithar boy I would go to the temple to
worship with my parents. Entering through the
East entrance and descending the 21 steps that
lead into the temple, my parents would point out
the two mythical beings with lion’s bodies and
human faces that sit on a raised platform on
both sides of the doorway. I was taught/? to
worship these purushamriga or human beasts
because they take away the negative influence
from the devotees on their way to sanctum of the
Dancing Lord in the Chit Sabha.
As I grew up I
continued to follow my parent’s directions and always
worshipped the purushamriga whenever I entered the
temple through the East entrance. I was always
fascinated by their serene smile, their curling mane,
and their peaceful composure. It was through my growing
interest in the traditions and mythologies from other
parts of the world that I realized one day these
creatures were the Indian parallels of/to the Egyptian
and Greek mythological beings known as sphinx. The
sphinx is a mysterious composite being from ancient
mythology with the body of a lion and the head of a
human being. It represents secret wisdom and guards
sacred places.
The initial
realization of the parallel between the sphinx and the
purushamriga eventually led me to the discovery of many
other sphinxes in the Indian civilization, and even in
South East Asia. I researched their role, their
function, and their history. Eventually I shared my
discovery with the world through publications and
through my website.
Many times I was
asked about the symbolic meaning of the sphinx. My
answer to this question is that I see the sphinx as a
symbol of human evolution and devolution. The human soul
is on a quest for higher realization, but is also in
danger of sliding back into animal nature. The animal
aspires to a higher form of existence. This process can
be depicted as a Möbius strip. In the Möbius strip we
see a continuous one-dimensional plane expressing the
continuous/never ending evolution and devolution of the
cosmos. When we draw a line in the centre of the strip
it will eventually reach its own beginning.
In the sphinx
evolution and devolution meet one another, as in the
Möbius strip. The animal aspires to higher consciousness
and attainment. The human being receives the strength
and courage of the animal nature. The lion represents
symbolically the king of all animals, sovereignty and
strength. The human being symbolizes consciousness, self
realization and knowledge.
The animal aspires
towards consciousness and self realization. The human
being is always in danger of sliding back towards animal
nature. But when they come together with the lower body
of a lion and the head of a human, both rise above their
own limitations and become a being which is greater then
the sum of its parts, an image and symbol of
realization, wisdom and strength, the sphinx.
This
is one of a pair of
sphinxes or purushamriga
found in the porch of
the Shri Kailasanatha
temple in Ellora. This
temple was constructed
in the third quarter of
the 8th century by king
Krishna I of the
Rashtrakuta dynasty.
