: the Face of GloryThe Hindu, Jain and Sikh Green Man The story of Green Man ‘Kirtimukha’ is told by Hindus, Jains andSikhs. It tells of what happened when the great Hindu god Shiva,whose dance creates and recreates the Universe, was made angry.This is how Kirtimukha came to be.The Giant king, Jalandhara, had conquered most of the world. Hewas now immensely powerful, and thought he could have anythinghe wanted. One of the things he wanted was the god Shiva’s newbride, the beautiful goddess Parvati. So he sent the demon Rahuwith a message to Shiva. Rahu was a demon with no body. Everynow and then he would try to swallow the moon, but every time he swallowed her the moon escaped, because he had no stomach andcould not digest her. Each time he tried to swallow the moon hecaused an eclipse, because the moon disappeared for a whilefrom the sky before she escaped from his throat.Rahu now set off to do what Jalandhara had commanded. He approached Shiva and said: ‘Jalandhara demands that you givehim your bride, the beautiful Parvati.’Shiva answered angrily: ‘And why should I give my wife toJalandhara?’Rahu replied: ‘Because Jalandhara now owns everything you godsused to own. Anyway, you live in a cemetery, so you can’t lookafter Parvati properly, whereas Jalandhara can give hereverything a beautiful goddess should have.’‘How dare he, and how dare you!’ thundered Shiva. The god wasso enraged by Rahu’s cheek and by Jalandhara‘s greed forParvati, that he exploded with pure fury. He frowned a dreadfulfrown and out of his forehead burst a monster. It had the mouth of a lion and flaming eyes. The only thing the monster could dowas eat – it was The Hunger. It chased Rahu, devouringeverything that was in its way. Rahu tried to run away, but he
URBAN SPACES: KIRTIMUKHA STORY  PAGE 2knew he could not escape the terrible monster. In desperation heturned back to Shiva and begged the god for mercy.What was Shiva to do? His anger had created the monster, andnow Rahu wanted protection from it! Shiva had no choice. As agod, he had to grant his protection to anyone who asked for it. Sohe ordered the monster to stand back and leave Rahu alone.The monster protested: ‘But I’m hungry, Lord Shiva. What can Ieat, for eat I must.’Shiva thought quickly. Then he said to the ravenous creature:‘Eat your own hands and feet.’ The monster began to gobble,starting with its toes, and working its way upwards. When it hadeaten its feet and hands, it could not stop – it kept on eatingitself until only its head was left. Shiva looked upon the headwith the flaming eyes and lion’s mouth and gave a great shout oflaughter that shook the Earth. He said: ‘This is my most splendidcreation. It shall be known as Kirtimukha, the Face of Glory. Itmust always stay at my door. From now on, everyone who comes tomy temple to worship me must bow to the Face of Glory beforethey enter.’If you visit a temple in India you will find a carving of Kirtimukha, theFace of Glory, above the door or the gate. Kirtimukha is the guardianwho protects the holy place. It is also known as Vanaspati  – the LordSpirit of the Woods, Patron of the Wilderness and King of Vegetation.It is the Greening Power that transforms life. Kirtimukha is anotherform of the Green Man. Ouroboros