The panchavimshatimurti (Sanskrit: पञ्चविंशतिमूर्ति, romanized: Pañcaviṃśatimūrti, lit.
The Sritattvanidhi calls these the panchavimshatililamurti (twenty-five sportive forms).
[2] These forms are based on the Puranas and the Itihasas, in which the theme of Shiva's divine play is explained with numerous narratives.
Most of these forms are featured in South Indian temples as the main images of the sanctum or sculptures and reliefs in the outer walls of Shiva temples.
[3] The Agama texts describe twenty-five forms of Shiva, offering specifications in which the deity is to be represented.