The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2525 page)

(Skt., ‘three-eyed’). Epithet of
iva
in Hinduism. According to
Mah
bh
rata
,
P
rvat
, his consort, covered his eyes in play, and a burning third eye burst forth in his forehead.
iva is often portrayed with a third eye, surmounted by a crescent moon, and he uses it destructively—e.g. of
K
ma
, for evoking amorous thoughts in P
rvat
. The ‘third eye’ is also claimed by adepts, especially in Tibet, to give spiritual vision: see
R
.

 
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