Angushtha, Aṅguṣṭha, Amgushtha: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Angushtha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
The Sanskrit term Aṅguṣṭha can be transliterated into English as Angustha or Angushtha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: YogaAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “thumb”. It is used in Yoga.
Source: Google Books: Croaking Frogs: (Yoga)Aṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ) refers to the “big toes” representing one of the sixteen vital centres of the body (i.e., ādhāra), according to the Jyotsnā 3.73 (Cf. Gorakṣaśataka 14 and Svātmārāma’s Haṭhapradīpikā 3.72).—In Haṭhayoga, ādhāra refers to a vital point of the body, a seat of vital function. Jyotsnā verse 3.73 cites a passage attributed to Gorakṣa listing the ādhāras as [e.g., aṅguṣṭha (big toes), ...]. The Haṭhapradīpikā refers to sixteen ādhāras but does not name them or explain what they are. The Gorakṣaśataka also refers to sixteen ādhāras as something the Yogī should be familiar with, but does not name them.
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).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ) refers to the “big toe”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.15 (“The penance and reign of Tārakāsura”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated: “[...] For a hundred years he [Tāraka] performed penance with his hands lifted up, standing on only one leg and gazing at the sun. With his mind steady and firm he observed all sacred rites. Then for a hundred years, the lord and king of Asuras, Tāraka performed the penance: stood steady touching the ground with the single big toe [i.e., aṅguṣṭha]. For hundred years he performed penance by drinking only water; another hundred years by sustaining himself on air alone, another hundred years standing in water and another hundred years standing on dry land. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ).—Gifts, receiving of gifts, homa, feeding, bali offering, all to be done.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 79. 88.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: academia.edu: The Śaiva Yogas and Their Relation to Other Systems of YogaAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ, “big toes”) refers to one of the sixteen types of “locus” or “support” (ādhāra) according to the Netratantra. These ādhāras are called so because they “support” or “localise” the self and are commonly identified as places where breath may be retained. They are taught in two different setups: according to the tantraprakriyā and according to the kulaprakriyā. Aṅguṣṭha belongs to the latter system.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ) refers to the “thumbs”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, as Bhairava explains: “[...] By squeezing where the channels that transport the vital breath (are located), (with) the two thumbs [i.e., aṅguṣṭha—aṅguṣṭhau dvau] consecrated with mantra, it [i.e., parāśakti—the supreme energy] heats up and (then) burns up the cage of sin. The mind attains the transmental state and (the disciple) falls on the ground unconscious”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ) refers to the “thumb” (e.g., Aṅguṣṭhābharaṇa—‘a thumb ring’), according to the Gurupādārgha (Guru foot offering) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryaṅguṣṭha (अंगुष्ठ).—m (S) A thumb or a great toe. aṅguṣṭhācī āga mastakānta jāṇēṃ g. of s. To be filled with fury; to be in a blaze from the great toe to the crown of the head. aṅguṣṭhāvaruna daśaśira karaṇēṃ (To make Rava&n2dot;a out of a thumb.) To tell the whole from seeing a small part. To deal in hyperbole or exaggeration. Also aṅguṣṭhāvaruna daśaśira karaṇārā. An exaggerator &c.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishaṅguṣṭha (अंगुष्ठ).—m A thumb or a great toe.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ).—[aṅgau pāṇau prādhānyena tiṣṭhati; aṅgu-sthā P.VIII. 4.97]
1) The thumb; great toe.
2) A thumb's breadth, usually regarded as equal to अङ्गुल (aṅgula) [cf. Zend angusta, Pers. angust.]
Derivable forms: aṅguṣṭhaḥ (अङ्गुष्ठः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ).—m.
(-ṣṭhaḥ) The thumb. E. aṅgu here said to be the hand, and ṣṭha, from sthā to stay.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ).—i. e. aṅgu-stha (cf. aṅgula), m. 1. The thumb. 2. The great toe. 3. A thumb’s breadth as a measure.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ).—[masculine] thumb or great toe; aṅguṣṭhamātra & aṅguṣṭhamātraka [adjective] having the length of a thumb.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Aṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ):—[from aṅgula] m. the thumb
2) [v.s. ...] the great toe
3) [v.s. ...] a thumb’s breadth, usually regarded as equal to an aṅgula.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ):—[tatpurusha compound] m.
(-ṣṭhaḥ) 1) The thumb.
2) The great toe.
3) A thumb’s breadth, as a linear measure which is said to be a measure of six barley corns. This seems, however, not to be correct, because twelve aṅguṣṭhas are given by the same authority as equal to a Vitasti or span. See aṅgula. E. aṅgu here said to mean the hand, and stha.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ):—(ṣṭhaḥ) 1. m. The thumb.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Aṅguṣṭha (अङ्गुष्ठ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Aṃguṭhṭha.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAṃguṣṭha (ಅಂಗುಷ್ಠ):—
1) [noun] the largest of the five fingers of the hand; the thumb.
2) [noun] the largest of the five small parts at the termination of the foot; the great toe.
3) [noun] breadth of a thumb, as a measure;4) [noun] ಅಂಗುಷ್ಠ ಕಂಡು ರಾವಣನ ಬರೆ [amgushtha kamdu ravanana bare] aŋguṣṭha kaṇḍu rāvaṇana bare (id.) to have a very sharp mental grasping and keen executing power; ಅಂಗುಷ್ಠ ಬಾತರೆ ಪರ್ವತವಾದೀತೆ [amgushtha batare parvatavadite]? aŋguṣṭha bātare parvatavādīte (prov.) do not make a mountain out of a molehill; do not blow up a slight difficulty into a very serious one.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Amgushthaprasena, Angushthabharana, Angushthagra, Angushthamatra, Angushthamatraka, Angushthamula, Angushthana, Angushthaparvabhara, Angushthaparvan, Angushthasana, Angushthavibhedaka, Angushthavibhedika.
Ends with: Anangushtha, Caranangushtha, Kangushtha, Nirangushtha, Padangushtha, Shangushtha, Vriddhangushtha, Vyangushtha.
Full-text (+8): Angushthamatra, Padangushtha, Angu, Angushthya, Amgushtha, Angushthavibhedaka, Angushthamatraka, Anguli, Nirangushtha, Amguththa, Vibhedika, Anguri, Vyangushtha, Anguttha, Angotha, Padangushthasana, Suptapadangushthasana, Ubhayapadangushthasana, Padangushthadhanurasana, Angushthasana.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Angushtha, Aṅguṣṭha, Angustha, Amgushtha, Aṃguṣṭha; (plurals include: Angushthas, Aṅguṣṭhas, Angusthas, Amgushthas, Aṃguṣṭhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2.59 < [Section XIII - Initiation (upanayana)]
Verse 2.58 < [Section XIII - Initiation (upanayana)]
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
2.6. Various other Finger Ornaments < [Chapter 3 - Ornaments]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 32 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]
Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas (by Goswami Mitali)
Part 9 - Iconographic Traces of Sūrya in the Purāṇas < [Chapter 4 - Vedic Influence on the Sun-Worship in the Purāṇas]
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter CXXXIII - Asokastami Vratas etc < [Brihaspati (Nitisara) Samhita]