Sharabha
Some Vaishnava scriptures such as the Narasimha Purana suggest that Vishnu assumed the form of the ferocious two-headed bird Gandabherunda, who in turn defeated Sharabha.
In early Sanskrit literature, Sharabha is initially described as an aggressive beast that roared and scared other animals in the hills and forest areas.
In the later Hindu epic Mahabharata, Sharabha was described as a lion-slaying being with eight legs, eyes on the top; living in the forest and which ate raw flesh.
[5][6] In defining the ecological theme in Hindu medicine related to jungle and the aroma of meats, Sharabha has also been listed among the deer natives of Kashmir in Dalhana's 12th century commentary on the Sushruta Samhita.
However, the features explained are of an eight legged animal of the size of a camel with huge horns and conjectured as a large Himalayan goat.
The top part of the body is shown as human but with the face of a lion with an ornamented crown; side tusks are also depicted giving an overall frightening sight.
It also shows the Narasimha beneath Sharabha's legs as a lion-faced human with anjali (hands folded prayer gesture).
[13] (See Infobox image) In the Sritattvanidhi, the depiction prescribed for Sharabheshvaramurti is of thirty arms; arms on the right are to hold thunderbolt, mushti, abhaya, chakra (discus), sakti, staff, goad, sword, khatvanga, axe, akshamala, a bone, bow, musala, and fire; and the left hands to display noose, varada, mace, arrow, flag, and another type of sword, a snake, a lotus flower, skull-cup, pustaka, plough, and mrudanga with one hand encircling Durga in a hug.
[16] In the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram, a rare image of the Chola period, in black basalt, depicts Shiva as Sharabha.
It is deified in an exclusive small shrine, as part man, beast and bird, destroying the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, Narasimha.
[17] In Chennakeshava Temple, Belur, Karnataka, built in 1113, Gandaberunda, the two-faced bird identified with Vishnu appears in a carved scene of animal mutilation.
The legend of Sharabha as an incarnation of Shiva is narrated in many Hindu scriptures and each presents a different version to suit one's religious beliefs.
But one common refrain in all these depictions is that Sharabha is a combination of a huge animal-bird beast with enormous strength manifested with the purpose of pacifying similar ferocious avatar of Vishnu such as Narasimha (man-lion).
Vishnu assumed the form of Narasimha to slay Hiranyakashipu, an asura (demon) king, who was terrorising the universe, and was a devotee of Shiva.
[22][24] One version also mentions that Sharabha, after subduing Narasimha, assumed his original form of a lion, the mount of goddess Durga and returned to rest at her feet.
[26] Vaiṣṇava scholars, including prominent 16th century Dvaita philosophers such as Vijayīndra Tīrtha, reject the depiction of Narasiṁha being subdued or destroyed by Śarabha.
Afterwards Lord Narasimha, filled with fury and with a massive physical form, with nails from His thousand hands caught hold of this Sharaba a form assumed by Rudra and tore open the chest of the Sharaba, using His sharp and deadly nails and killed it in the same manner as He had killed Hiranyakashipu."
"[31] In the Jataka tales of the Buddha's previous lives, there is narration related to his birth as Bodhisattva in a forest as a Sharabha, the eight-legged deer.
[32][33] In Tibetan Buddhism, sharabha is represented as a beast with a goat's head and horns, a lion's mane and horse's body and legs.
It is often depicted as mounts of young Devas or dwarfs in a Torana – a six-level archway behind an enlightenment throne of a Buddha or Bodhisattva.
[36][37] In Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited logo, Sharabha is depicted in the form of a body of a lion with the head of an elephant to represent the virtues of wisdom, courage and strength.
