Kirtimukha - A Fierce Face, A Sacred Purpose
The Kirtimukha is a fierce guardian face carved above temple entrances, symbolizing protection and the removal of negativity. Born from a myth in which a being created by Shiva devoured itself in surrender, it became a sacred emblem placed on thresholds, arches, and shikharas. Across Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Southeast Asian traditions, it protects the boundary between the worldly and the divine. Even today, homes use the Kirtimukha above doors for auspicious energy and spiritual safeguarding. Kirtimukha: The devouring face that Guards the Sacred