Asitanga, Asitāṅga, Aśitāṅga, Ashitanga: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Asitanga means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Aśitāṅga can be transliterated into English as Asitanga or Ashitanga, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantraAsitāṅga (असिताङ्ग):—The Sanskrit name of the central male deity of the Somamaṇḍala (second maṇḍala of the Khecarīcakra), according to the kubjikāmata-tantra. According to this text, eight female deities are born from his body, occupying the eight petals of the Somamaṇḍala.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexAsitāṅga (असिताङ्ग).—A Bhairava on the sixth parva of geyacakra.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 19. 77-8.
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.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstraAsitāṅga (असिताङ्ग) is the Sanskrit name of a form of Bhairava. According to the Rudrayāmala, there are eight main forms of Bhairava who control the eight directions of this universe. The term is used throughout Śilpaśāstra literature.
Asitāṅga has the following eight manifestations:
- Asitāṅga,
- Viśālākṣa,
- Mārtāṇḍa,
- Modakapriya,
- Svacchanda,
- Vighnasantuṣṭa,
- Khecara,
- Sacarācara.
All these are of golden complexion and have good looking limbs, and carry the triśūla, the ḍamaru, the pāśa and the khaḍga.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramAsitāṅga (असिताङ्ग) refers to one of the eight Bhairavas (bhairavāṣṭaka) associated with Oṃkārapīṭha (also called Oḍḍiyāna, Ādipīṭha or Uḍapīṭha), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight Bhairavas (bhairavāṣṭaka): Niṣkala, Asitāṅga, Saṃvarta, Ānandabhairava, Niṣtaraṅga, Karāla, Amogha, Khecara.
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 SamadhiAśitāṅga (अशिताङ्ग) is the name of a Bhairava deity [i.e., oṃ aśitāṅgabhairavāya svāhā], according to the Vāruṇī Pūjā [i.e., Varuni Worship] 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryAsitāṅga (असिताङ्ग):—[from asita] m. a form of Śiva (especially mentioned in Tantras), [Brahma-purāṇa etc.]
[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)
Starts with: Ashitangabhairava, Ashitangavina, Asitangadiyamala.
Ends with: Bhasitamga.
Full-text (+11): Bhairava, Khecara, Ashtabhairava, Modakapriya, Martanda, Svacchanda, Vighnasantushta, Sacaracara, Vishalaksha, Vahnimandala, Tvaci, Svakshetra, Sparshavati, Bhairavashtaka, Anandabhairava, Vyani, Udani, Krikara, Samanani, Gandha.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Asitanga, Asitāṅga, Aśitāṅga, Ashitanga; (plurals include: Asitangas, Asitāṅgas, Aśitāṅgas, Ashitangas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter XXIV - The worship of Ganapati < [Agastya Samhita]
Chapter CCXXIII - The Tripura Vidya < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Lalitopakhyana (Lalita Mahatmya) (by G.V. Tagare)
The chariot of Mantriṇīnāthā (Geyacakra or Gīticakra)
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 28 - Subāhu’s Defeat < [Section 5 - Pātāla-Khaṇḍa (Section on the Nether World)]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 33 - March of The Victorious Lord Śiva < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 72 - Victory of Durgā < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]