Adhomukha, Adhomukhā, Adhas-mukha: 14 definitions
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraAdhomukha (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: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)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 (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 and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexAdhomukha (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)
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭuAdhomukhā (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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryadhomukha : (adj.) bent over; with face cast down; turned upside down.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryAdhomukha 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.
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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryadhōmukha (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 Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishadhōmukha (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-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAdhomukha (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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAdhomukha (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.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAdhomukha (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).
Sanskrit, 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Adho, Mukha, Adhas.
Starts with: Adhomukhamatsyasana, Adhomukhashvanasana, Adhomukhavrikshasana.
Full-text: Adhovadana, Sakuliya, Ajamukha, Nine Heads, Twenty-four Heads, Adhashshira, Avakujjapanna, Nikkujjita, Bahu, Avritta, Gojihva, Narasimha Shalagrama, Ujjayanta.
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Search found 10 books and stories containing Adhomukha, Adhasmukha, Adho-mukha, Adhomukhā, Adhas-mukha, Adhōmukha, Adho-mukhā, Adhas-mukhā; (plurals include: Adhomukhas, Adhasmukhas, mukhas, Adhomukhās, Adhōmukhas, mukhās). 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)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 1 - The Śucimukhī-sūtra < [Chapter VI - The Great Bhikṣu Saṃgha]
Part 5 - What is the absolute point of view if the views are all false < [Chapter I - Explanation of Arguments]
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)