Adhomukha, aka: Adhas-mukha; 7 Definition(s)
Introduction
Adhomukha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) refers to a specific gesture (āṅgika) , or “movements made with the arms (bāhu)”, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 9. These movements form a part of the histrionic representation (abhinaya).
(Source): Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra1) One of the Nine Movements of the Head. Adhomukha (face inclined): the head is bent. Usage: modesty, sorrow, bowing, regarding anything vile, fainting, things on the ground, bathing.
2) One of the Twenty-four Heads. Adhomukha: the head is bent. Usage: modesty, sorrow, bowing.
(Source): archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Purana
Adhomukha (अधोमुख).—See adhaśśiras.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 2. 163.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
adhomukha : (adj.) bent over; with face cast down; turned upside down.
(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
adhōmukha (अधोमुख).—a (S) adhōvadana a (S adhaḥ Down, & mukha & vadana Face.) With the face downwards. 2 fig. Dejected, downcast: also abashed, disconcerted, crest-fallen &c. Ex. paramalajjita adhōvadana || laṅkēsi ālā rāvaṇa ||
(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryadhōmukha (अधोमुख) [-vadana, -वदन].—a With the face downwards, dejected, downcast.
(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Adhomukha (अधोमुख).—a. having the face downwards; °खी तिष्ठति (khī tiṣṭhati); °खैः पत्रिभिः (khaiḥ patribhiḥ) R.3.37.
2) head-long, precipitate, flying downwards.
3) upside down, topsyturvy.
-khaḥ Name of Viṣṇu.
-khā, -khī Name of a plant गोजिह्वा (gojihvā).
-kham (nakṣatram)
Adhomukha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms adhas and mukha (मुख). See also (synonyms): adhovadana.
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Adhomukha (अधोमुख).—(n.) Name of a hell.
Adhomukha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms adhas and mukha (मुख).
(Source): DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Search found 519 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Sumukha | 1) Sumukha (सुमुख).—A nāga, son of Kaśyapa Prajāpati by his wife Kadrū. Sumukha was the grandso... | |
| Mukha | Mukha (मुख).—Face, top-side of an object or figure with more than three sides, especially the t... | |
| Sucimukha | Sūcimukha (सूचिमुख).—A hell. (See under Kāla the section on hell). | |
| Durmukha | Durmukha (दुर्मुख) or Durmukhatantra refers to one of the thirty-three Dakṣiṇatantras, belongin... | |
| Gomukha | Gomukha (गोमुख) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.58) and represents one of the... | |
| Caturmukha | Caturmukha (चतुर्मुख) or Caturmukhāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of... | |
| Kalamukha | Kālamukha (कालमुख).—A hybrid race born from the union of men and Rākṣasas. Sahadeva defeated th... | |
| Kartarimukha | Kartarīmukha (कर्तरीमुख).—A particular position of the hands.Derivable forms: kartarīmukhaḥ (कर... | |
| Shrimukha | Śrīmukha (श्रीमुख) or Śrīmukhāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of the ... | |
| Adha | Adha (अध) or Adhā (अधा).—ind. Ved. Used like अथ (atha) as an inceptive particle in the sense of... | |
| Ashvamukha | Aśvamukha (अश्वमुख).—a. [aśvasya mukhamiva mukhamasya] having the head or face of a horse. -kha... | |
| Mukharaga | Mukharāga (मुखराग).—the colour or complexion of the face; ददृशुर्विस्मितास्तस्य मुखरागं समं जना... | |
| Ajamukha | Ajamukha (अजमुख).—(Ajavaktra) He was one of the soldiers in Skanda’s army. (Mahābhārata, Śalya ... | |
| Antarmukha | Antarmukha (अन्तर्मुख).—a. -khī f.) Antarmukha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms a... | |
| Agnimukha | Agnimukha (अग्निमुख).—An Asura. Genealogy. He was descended from Viṣṇu in this order: Viṣṇu-Bra... |
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Adhomukha or Adhas-mukha. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Mirror of Gesture (abhinaya-darpana) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 2 - On the description of the Śaktis, etc., of the syllables of Gāyatrī < [Book 12]
Chapter 16 - On the description of Sandhyā Upāsānā < [Book 11]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Some Geography < [Second Section]
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)