Āvarana
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Āvarana literally means ‘veil, cover’.
It is derived from the root ‘vṛ’ with a prefix ‘ā,’ the word ‘āvaraṇa’ means anything which covers or surrounds. In the Advaita Vedānta it refers to the veiling power of māyā/avidyā.
In temple architecture, it refers to the enclosures or prākāras, surrounding the main shrine, wherein the āvaraṇa- devatās (minor deities, the attendants of the chief deity) are housed, and the utsavamurti (procession deity) and other paraphernalia. In śaivism the word is used for a protective covering, in the spiritual sense. There are eight such āvaraṇas.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore