dwarf demon Apasmara
E477471
The dwarf demon Apasmara is a mythological figure in Hindu art symbolizing ignorance and spiritual forgetfulness, often depicted being trampled underfoot by the dancing god Shiva in his Nataraja form.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Apasmara | 0 |
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Hindu mythological character
ⓘ
demon ⓘ mythological figure ⓘ |
| appearsIn |
Nataraja iconography
ⓘ
Shaiva temple sculpture ⓘ South Indian bronze images ⓘ |
| artHistoricalPeriod | Chola bronzes NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| artHistoricalRegion | Tamil Nadu NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| associatedWithDeity | Shiva NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| associatedWithFormOfShiva | Nataraja NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| bodyPartTrampling | right foot of Shiva ⓘ |
| category |
Hindu legendary creature
ⓘ
demon in Hindu art ⓘ |
| culture | Indian ⓘ |
| depictedAs |
dwarf
ⓘ
dwarf demon ⓘ |
| depictedWithBodyFeatures |
dwarfish body
ⓘ
short limbs ⓘ |
| depictedWithExpression |
contorted face
ⓘ
fear or pain ⓘ |
| didacticMeaning | spiritual practice must keep ignorance underfoot ⓘ |
| etymology |
Sanskrit term connoting epilepsy or fits
ⓘ
Sanskrit term related to loss of memory ⓘ |
| functionInMyth | to show triumph of knowledge over ignorance ⓘ |
| functionInRitualContext | didactic symbol rather than worshipped deity ⓘ |
| hasGender | male ⓘ |
| iconographicLocation | beneath Shiva’s dancing foot ⓘ |
| opposedBy | Shiva’s cosmic dance NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| portrayedInMedium |
metal sculpture
ⓘ
paintings ⓘ stone sculpture ⓘ temple reliefs ⓘ |
| relatedConcept |
avidya
ⓘ
maya ⓘ |
| relationshipToShiva | subjugated foe ⓘ |
| religion | Hinduism ⓘ |
| roleInIconography |
obstacle to spiritual knowledge
ⓘ
personification of ignorance ⓘ subdued ego ⓘ |
| statusInMyth | eternally subdued but not annihilated ⓘ |
| symbolizes |
ignorance
ⓘ
nescience ⓘ oblivion of the true Self ⓘ spiritual forgetfulness ⓘ |
| trampledBy |
Nataraja
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Shiva NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| typicalPoseInArt | lying under the foot of Shiva ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.