Ajamukha, Aja-mukha, Ajāmukha: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Ajamukha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)Aja-mukha is one of the saṃyutta-hastāni (Twenty-seven combined Hands).
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)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaAjamukha (अजमुख).—(Ajavaktra) He was one of the soldiers in Skanda’s army. (Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 75). In the battle between Skanda and the Asuras, Ajamukha killed the Asura, Madhu. (Skanda Purāṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Ajāmukha (अजामुख).—One of Danu's sons.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 68. 5.
1b) (also adhomukhas)—a group of piśācas.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 381; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 263, 267.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraAjamukha (अजमुख) refers to a sub-division of the Mlecchas: one of the two-fold division of men born in Mānuṣottara and in the Antaradvīpas, situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“In these 35 zones on this side of Mānuṣottara and in the Antaradvīpas, men arise by birth; on the mountains, Meru, etc., by kidnapping and power of learning, in the 2½ continents and in 2 oceans. [...]. From the division into Āryas and Mlecchas they are two-fold. [...] The Mlecchas—[e.g., the Ajamukhas, ...] and other non-Āryas also are people who do not know even the word ‘dharma’”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAjamukha (अजमुख).—a. goat-faced. (khaḥ) Name of a Prajāpati (Dakṣa). When Dakṣa reviled Śiva at his sacrificial session, Vīrabhadra pulled out his face, and afterwards at the request of Śiva himself he put up a goat's face in place of the original human one.
-khī Name of a Rākṣasī kept to watch over Sītā in the Aśoka garden at Laṅkā.
Ajamukha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms aja and mukha (मुख).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryAjamukha (अजमुख):—[=aja-mukha] [from aja > aj] mfn. goat faced
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAjamukha (अजमुख):—[bahuvrihi compound] I. m. f. n.
(-khaḥ-khī-kham) Goat-faced, having a face like that of a goat. Ii. f.
(-khī) The name of a female fiend. E. aja and mukha.
[Sanskrit to German]
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)
Ends with: Gajamukha, Pankajamukha, Rajamukha.
Full-text: Ajamukhi, Samyutta-hastani, Mleccha.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ajamukha, Aja-mukha, Ajāmukha, Ajā-mukha; (plurals include: Ajamukhas, mukhas, Ajāmukhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Abhinaya-darpana (English) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 30: Mlecchas < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 7 - Different dynasties enumerated < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]