Akarshini, Ākarṣiṇī: 4 definitions

Introduction:

Akarshini means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.

The Sanskrit term Ākarṣiṇī can be transliterated into English as Akarsini or Akarshini, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Akarshini in Purana glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Ākarṣiṇī (आकर्षिणी).—A mudrā Devī.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 42. 6.
Purana book cover
context information

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.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Akarshini in Shaktism glossary
Source: Kamakoti Mandali: The Yoginis of Narasimha Vyuha

Ākarṣiṇī (आकर्षिणी) refers to one of the various Nṛsiṃha Yoginīs or Śaktis created for the purpose of pacifying the Rudraśaktis.—Accordingly, [...] Rudra meditated on Mahānṛsiṃha. Pleased with Rudra’s prayers, Narasiṃha created four Vyūhaśaktis [Vāgīśvarī, Mahāmāyā, Bhagamālinī and Atibhadrakālī=Śuṣkarevatī]. The Lord created a group of Nṛsiṃha Yoginīs [viz., Ākarṣiṇī] to accompany the three main Śaktis. All of them, under the command of Śuṣkarēvatī, attacked the Rudraśaktis, subdued them and pacified them to attain benevolence.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)

1) Ākarṣiṇī (आकर्षिणी) or Ākarṣaṇa refers to the sixteen goddesses of attraction, to be installed on the petals of the sixteen-petalled lotuses, according to the Kāmasiddhi-stuti (also Vāmakeśvarī-stuti) and the Vāmakeśvaratantra (also known as Nityāṣoḍaśikārṇava).

The sixteen goddesses of attraction (ākarṣiṇī) are:

  1. Kāmākarṣiṇī,
  2. Budhyākarṣiṇī,
  3. Ahaṃkārākarṣiṇī,
  4. Śabdākarṣiṇī,
  5. Sparśākarṣiṇī,
  6. Rūpākarṣiṇī,
  7. Rasākarṣiṇī,
  8. Gandhākarṣiṇī,
  9. Cittākarṣiṇī,
  10. Dhairyākarṣiṇī,
  11. Smṛtyākarṣiṇī,
  12. Nāmākarṣiṇī,
  13. Bījākarṣiṇī,
  14. Ātmākarṣiṇī,
  15. Amṛtākarṣiṇī and
  16. Śarīrākarṣiṇī (cf. 1.158– 161).

2) Ākarṣiṇī (आकर्षिणी) also refers to one of the ten gestures (daśamudrā or mudrā-daśaka) of the Goddess Nityā Sundarī.—[...] Although the Vāmakeśvaratantra does not assign a place for the gestures (mudrā) in the maṇḍala, it does describe them and asks the worshipper to use them during the worship. As found in the third chapter of the Vāmakeśvaratantra, these ten gestures are [e.g., ākarṣiṇī, ...]

Shaktism book cover
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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Akarshini in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ākarṣiṇī (आकर्षिणी):—[=ā-karṣiṇī] [from ā-karṣin > ā-kṛṣ] f. = ā-karṣaṇī above, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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.

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