The Sanskrit term Daśabāhu can be transliterated into English as Dasabahu or Dashabahu, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Daśabāhu (दशबाहु) (Cf. Daśabāhvī) refers to “one who has ten arms”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “Nādamaṅgalyā (Vinayā) is in the north-east. She has the face of a bird and three eyes. She sits on a pig. She has ten arms [i.e., daśabāhvī] and is very fierce. In the right hands she holds a sword, lance, bow, double-headed drum, and skeleton; in the left, a dagger, a skull (kādya), trident, fetter, and goad. She has matted hair and is the goddess who bestows boons in the north-east. Worshipped, there is success in whatever one desires. Full of the sixteen energies, she, the guardian of the door, is beautiful”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)

Daśabāhu (दशबाहु) refers to “one who has ten arms” and is used to describe Svacchanda, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult. Accordingly, “O goddess, Svacchanda is in the middle, within the abode of the triangle. Very powerful, he has five faces with three times five flaming eyes. He has ten arms [i.e., daśabāhu] and, very fierce, is adorned with many garlands, ornaments, necklaces and anklets. He has beautiful matted hair and the half moon is his crest jewel. O beloved, the face in the east is white like cow’s milk, it shines brilliant white. Generating great energy, contemplate it thus. One should think that the northern face is like the young rising sun, the form of a pomegranate flower and (red) like a Bandhūka”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

1) Daśabāhu (दशबाहु) refers to “ten-armed” and is used to describe Sadāśiva, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 9.19cd-26, while instructing to visualize Sadāśiva in order to worship the formless Amṛteśa]—“[He] resembles the swelling moon, a heap of mountain snow. Five-faced, large-eyed, ten-armed (daśabāhu), [and] three-armed, [he] has a serpent as a sacred thread. He is covered in a garment made of tiger skin. [He] sits in the bound lotus pose atop a white lotus, [holding] a trident, blue lotus, arrow, rudrākṣa, [and] a mallet. [...]”.

2) Daśabāhu (दशबाहु) or “ten-armed” is also used to describe Bhairava, according to the Netratantra.—Accordingly, [verse 10.1-7ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Bhairava]—“Now, at this moment, I shall explain the distinct appearance of Bhairava, [who] resembles an ointment [that clears the eye]. He has a nature that burns up and dissolves all things. Five-faced, atop a corpse, ten-armed (daśabāhu) [and] terrible, he resembles troops with demon mouths. [...]”.

3) Daśabāhu (दशबाहु) or “ten-armed” is also used to describe Tumburu.—Accordingly, [verse 11.1-24ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Tumburu]—“Now, at this moment, I will tell the highest-most teaching to be worshipped with this mantra, for the sake of peace from all calamities, resulting in the fruits of all Siddhis. [He worships] Deva as Tumburu in the middle of an eight petaled lotus, in the maṇḍala, [starting] in the East, O Devī. [The Sādhaka] honors the Lord who is ten-armed (daśabāhu), five-faced, and three eyed, with the form and faces like Sadāśiva. [...]”.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Daśabāhu (दशबाहु).—an epithet of Śiva.

Derivable forms: daśabāhuḥ (दशबाहुः).

Daśabāhu is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms daśan and bāhu (बाहु).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Daśabāhu (दशबाहु):—[=daśa-bāhu] [from daśa] m. ‘ten-armed’, Śiva, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

[Sanskrit to German]

Dashabahu in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Dasa, Bahu, Tacan, Taca.

Ends with: Shodashabahu.

Full-text: Dashabahvi.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Dashabahu, Daśabāhu, Dashan-bahu, Daśan-bāhu, Dasabahu, Dasan-bahu, Dasha-bahu, Daśa-bāhu, Dasa-bahu; (plurals include: Dashabahus, Daśabāhus, bahus, bāhus, Dasabahus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 11 - Procedure of Gaṇeśa Worship: Manifestation of Lakṣmī < [Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa]

show preview

The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)

Chapter 38 - The Prayer by Dakṣa

show preview

The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)

Chapter 65 - Thousand names of Śiva (Rudra-sahasranāma) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]

show preview