Adhomukha, Adhomukhā, Adhas-mukha: 32 definitions
Introduction:
Adhomukha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Adhomukh.
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).
1) 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.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) refers to “(performing penance in a) topsy-turvy position”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.15 (“The penance and reign of Tārakāsura”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated: “Then the demon Tāraka, of great strength and exploit, endowed with a lofty mind, requested permission of his mother for performing penance. [...] A hundred years he performed the penance amidst fires, a hundred years in a topsy-turvy position [i.e., adhomukha] and a hundred years supported on the ground by the palms of his hands. O sage, a hundred years he remained with his head down and feet up clinging fast to the branch of a tree and inhaling the pure smoke of the sacrificial fire. [...]”.
Adhomukha (अधोमुख).—See adhaśśiras.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 2. 163.
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.94) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Adhomukha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Adhomukhā (अधोमुखा) is another name for Gojihvā, a medicinal plant identified with Onosma bracteatum Wall. (“true indigo”) from the Boraginaceae or “borage” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.86-87 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Adhomukhā and Gojihvā, there are a total of seven Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) refers to “facing downwards”, according to the Amṛtasiddhi, a 12th-century text belonging to the Haṭhayoga textual tradition.—Accordingly, “The moon is on the peak of Meru and has sixteen digits. Facing downwards (adhomukha), it rains dewy nectar day and night”.
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) refers to “having one’s face slightly tilted down”, according to the section on Pāśupatayoga in the Skandapurāṇa-Ambikākhaṇḍa verse 178.7-8.—Accordingly, “Then, having formed the [hand gesture called] Yogahasta in which the right [hand is placed] on the left, [the Yogin] should have his face slightly tilted down (adhomukha) while looking at the tip of his nose, without touching the teeth [of his upper jaw] with those [of the lower], and bringing to mind Brahma [in the form of] the syllable om, the wise [Yogin], who is free from his ego, meditates [thus] after [having performed] breath control”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) refers to “facing downwards”, 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, [while describing the Eight Kulas]—“[...] 5) The Lotus (i.e. Yoni) of Kula (at the End of the Twelve above the deity's head) faces downwards (adhomukha). 6) One should know that Kula is Śakti. 7) It is said here that Kula is knowledge. 8) Kula is the instrument (of emanation and attainment). [...]
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
1) Adhomukha (अधोमुख) refers to one of the topics discussed in the Siddhāntamaṇimañjarī, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 1 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (first series)” by Rajendralal Mitra (1822–1891), who was one of the first English-writing historians dealing with Indian culture and heritage.— The Siddhāntamaṇimañjarī is an astrological compendium authored by Vecārāma Nyāyālaṅkāra which contains detailed accounts of the effects of particular conjunctions of the Planets. It contains roughly 400 ślokas.—The catalogue includes the term—Adhomukha in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads: pāṭhāntareṇa laghugaṇaḥ adhomukhagaṇaḥ.
2) Adhomukha (अधोमुख) also refers to one of the topics discussed in the Śiśuhitā.—The Śiśuhitā manuscript authored by Kṛṣṇarāma represents a primer on astrology, giving rules for calculation of nativities and most of the topics usually treated of in Indian astrological. It contains 2,457 ślokas.—The complete entry reads: ūrddhvamukhādhomukhādinakṣatranirūpaṇaṃ.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) refers to “facing downwards”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [after Agastya uttered the dhāraṇī]: “Immediately after this spell had been uttered in front of the Bhagavān by Agastya, the Great Ṛṣi, then all the hostile Nāgas, Yakṣas and Rākṣasas fell with their face downwards (adhomukha). They called the Bhagavān for help in a loud voice, ‘O Bhagavān, we are destroyed, we are cursed by the curse of the Ṛṣi [...]’”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) refers to “facing downwards”, according to chapter 50 of the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “Now, I will explain the characteristic of Mahākaṅkāla. [A practitioner,] devoting himself to the yoga of the donkey-formed, can stop a rush of thought. [The channel of] the balanced bodily constituents is well meditated on the seat [located] at the top of a mountain (viz, at the top of the head). [It] faces downwards (adhomukha), appears to be the stalk of a lotus, and runs to all [regions in one’s body] as [spreading] streaks of lightning. [...]”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Biology (plants and animals)
1) Adhomukha in India is the name of a plant defined with Elephantopus mollis in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Asterocephalus cochinchinensis Spreng. (among others).
2) Adhomukha is also identified with Trichodesma indicum It has the synonym Borago indica L. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Nova Genera et Species Plantarum (1820)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1989)
· Primitiae Florae Essequeboensis (1818)
· Plantae e Familiae Asperifoliarum Nuciferae (1818)
· Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae (1810)
· Trichodesma (1817)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Adhomukha, for example pregnancy safety, chemical composition, health benefits, diet and recipes, side effects, extract dosage, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
adhomukha : (adj.) bent over; with face cast down; turned upside down.
Adhomukha refers to: head forward, face downward, bent over, upturned Vin.II, 78; M.I, 132, 234: Vv 161 (= heṭṭhā mukha VvA.78).
Note: adhomukha is a Pali compound consisting of the words adho and mukha.
adhomukha (အဓောမုခ) [(ti) (တိ)]—
[adho+mukha]
[အဓော+မုခ]
[Pali to Burmese]
adhomukha—
(Burmese text): အောက်၌ မျက်နှာရှိသော။ (က) အောက်သို့ စိုက်ကျသော မျက်နှာရှိသော၊ သူ။ (ခ) အောက်သို့ လှည့်သော မျက်နှာရှိသော၊ သူ။ (ဂ) အောက်သို့ ငုံ့သော မျက်နှာရှိသော၊ သူ။ (ဃ) အောက်သို့ မျက်နှာလည့်၍ ပွင့်သော။ အဓောပတ္တ-လည်းကြည့်။
(Auto-Translation): Below are faces that have: (a) a face that is tilted downwards, (b) a face that is turned downwards, (c) a face that is inclined downwards, (d) a face that is turned downwards and opened. Also, look at the diagrams.
Adhomukha (in Pali) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 下口食 [xià kǒu shí]: “making a living by cultivating the land”.
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 ||
adhōmukha (अधोमुख) [-vadana, -वदन].—a With the face downwards, dejected, downcast.
Marathi 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 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.
--- OR ---
Adhomukha (अधोमुख).—(n.) Name of a hell.
Adhomukha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms adhas and mukha (मुख).
Adhomukha (अधोमुख).—mfn.
(-kha-khā-khī-khaṃ) 1. Down-looked, looking downwards. 2. Inverted, turned upside down. 3. Headlong. f.
(-khā) A plant, (Premna esculenta.) E. adhas, and mukha the face.
Adhomukha (अधोमुख).—adj., f. khī. 1. looking downwards, [Pañcatantra] 84, 7. 2. turned downwards, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 26, 20.
Adhomukha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms adhas and mukha (मुख).
Adhomukha (अधोमुख).—[feminine] ī looking or turned (lit. h. the face turned) downwards.
1) Adhomukha (अधोमुख):—[=adho-mukha] [from adhas] mf(ā [Śiśupāla-vadha] or ī)n. having the face downwards
2) [v.s. ...] headlong
3) [v.s. ...] upside down
4) [v.s. ...] m. Viṣṇu
5) [v.s. ...] a division of hell, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
6) Adhomukhā (अधोमुखा):—[=adho-mukhā] [from adho-mukha > adhas] f. the plant Premna Esculenta.
Adhomukha (अधोमुख):—[bahuvrihi compound] I. m. f. n.
(-khaḥ-khā or khī-kham) 1) Downlooked, looking downwards.
2) Inverted, turned upside down, headlong. Ii. m.
(-khaḥ) A name of Viṣṇu. Iii. f.
(-khā) A plant (Premna esculenta). See gojihvā. Iv. n.
(-kham) A division of Naraka or hell. See adhaḥśiras. E. adhas and mukha; in the fem. with aff. ṭāp or ṅīṣ.
Adhomukha (अधोमुख):—[adho+mukha] (khaḥ-khā-khī-khaṃ) a. Downlooked, downcast. f. A plant.
Adhomukha (अधोमुख):—(adhas + mukha)
1) adj. f. ī . a) mit nach unten gerichtetem Gesicht [Amarakoṣa 3, 1, 33.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 457.] [Nalopākhyāna 9, 15.] [Śākuntala 15, 9.] — b) nach unten gerichtet: adhomukhamukhī [Rāmāyaṇa 5, 26, 20. 6, 7, 12.] adhomukhī tadā dṛṣṭirgacchatā vihitā mayā [5, 56, 54.] ūrdhvādhomukhakūrcakau [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 750.] adhomukhairūrdhvamukhaiśca patribhiḥ (Pfeile) [Raghuvaṃśa 3, 57.] —
2) m. ein Beiname Viṣṇu’s [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 73.] —
3) f. khā Name einer Pflanze, = gojihvā [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma] nach [Wilson’s Wörterbuch] Premna esculenta. —
4) n. Name einer Hölle [Viṣṇupurāṇa 207. 208]; vgl. adhaḥśiras .
Adhomukha (अधोमुख):——
1) Adj. (f. ī) — a) mit nach unten gerichtetem Gesicht [65,17.27.] — b) nach unten gerichtet [99,8.317,7.] zu [Indische sprüche 1519.] —
2) m. — a) eine best. Hölle [Wilson's Uebersetzung des Viṣṇupurāṇa ,6,17.] — b) *Beiname Viṣṇu's. —
3) *f. ā eine best. Pflanze , = gojihvā —
4) *f. ī ein best. Vogel [Galano's Wörterbuch]
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.
Hindi dictionary
Adhomukha (अधोमुख) [Also spelled adhomukh]:—(a) face downwards.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Adhōmukha (ಅಧೋಮುಖ):—
1) [noun] a down cast face, as from shame.
2) [noun] the position of having the face downwards.
3) [noun] (dance) a hanging down of the head to express shame, shyness, modesty, sorrow, obeisance, etc.
4) [noun] a man walking with face bent down.
5) [noun] the state of being upside down.
6) [noun] Viṣṇu.
7) [noun] a division in the Hell.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Adhomukha (अधोमुख):—adj. dejected; upside down;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Adho, Adhas, Mukha, Ato.
Starts with (+0): Adhomukhagana, Adhomukhajananashanti, Adhomukhamatsyasana, Adhomukhanakshatra, Adhomukhapravaha, Adhomukhashvanasana, Adhomukhatthapita, Adhomukhavrikshasana.
Full-text (+9): Adhovadana, Adhomukhashvanasana, Adhomukhavrikshasana, Anadhomukhata, Adhomukhamatsyasana, Adhomukhatthapita, Adhomukh, Adhahshiras, Sakuliya, Ajamukha, Avakpushpi, Nikujjati, Adhomukhanakshatra, Nine Heads, Twenty-four Heads, Adhomukhagana, Apanga, Avakujjapanna, Adhashshira, Xia kou shi.
Relevant text
Search found 41 books and stories containing Adhomukha, Adhas-mukha, Adhas-mukhā, Adhasmukha, Adho-mukha, Adho-mukhā, Adhomukhā, Adhōmukha; (plurals include: Adhomukhas, mukhas, mukhās, Adhasmukhas, Adhomukhās, Adhōmukhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 6.1.25 < [Chapter 1 - Jarāsandha’s Defeat]
Verse 5.8.3 < [Chapter 8 - The Killing of Kaṃsa]
Verses 1.10.18-19 < [Chapter 10 - Description of the Birth of Lord Balarāma]
Effects of an 8-Week Yoga-Based Physical Exercise Intervention on Teachers’... < [Volume 13, Issue 4 (2021)]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
Insights on Surya namaskar from its origin to application towards health < [Volume 13 (issue 2), Apr-Jun 2022]
Yoga module design and validation for ankylosing spondylitis. < [Volume 13 (issue 1), Jan-Mar 2022]
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 1350: Sadasiva Sakti (Haum) Immanent in All < [Tantra Four (nankam tantiram) (verses 884-1418)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 1 - The Śucimukhī-sūtra < [Chapter VI - The Great Bhikṣu Saṃgha]
Part 6 - Avadāna of the sumptuous alms of Velāma < [Chapter XIX - The Characteristics of Generosity]
Part 5 - What is the absolute point of view if the views are all false < [Chapter I - Explanation of Arguments]