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parivara-devata

परिवार देवता parivāra-devatā

A 'retinue deity', one of the subsidiary deities given smaller shrines arranged around a temple's main sanctum, representing the presiding god's family, attendants and guardians. Also called avarana-devata.

Where this term appears

  • The Temple Is a Cosmos Treatise

    Around the central sanctum, in their own smaller shrines, cluster the parivāra-devatās — the "retinue deities," also called āvaraṇa-devatās , the "enveloping deities." These are the presiding god's court, given…

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