Bahumukha, Bahu-mukha, Bahumukhā: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Bahumukha 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Bahumukha (बहुमुख) refers to “those having many faces”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.43 (“Description of Śiva’s wonderful sport”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] Immediately the army of Śiva came there consisting of wonderful arrays of Bhūtas, Pretas and Gaṇas. [...] Some were awful with overgrown moustaches and beards. Some were lame. Some were blind. Some held staffs and nooses and some great iron clubs in their hands. Some rode on peculiar vehicles. Some played on horns. Some played on Ḍamarus. Some played on Gomukhas. Some had no faces. Some had distorted and deformed faces. Some had many faces (bahumukha). Some had no hands. Others had deformed hands. Some of them had many hands. [...]”.
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)
Bahumukhā (बहुमुखा) is the name of a Vidyādhara-city, situated on mount Vaitāḍhya (in the southern row), according to chapter 1.3 [ādīśvara-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,
“[...] Taking their families and all their retinue and ascending the best of cars, they went to Vaitāḍhya. [...] Ten yojanas above the earth, King Nami made fifty cities on the mountain in a southern row [viz., Bahumukhā]. Nami himself lived in Śrīrathanūpuracakravāla, the capital city among these cities. [...] The two rows of Vidyādhara-cities looked very magnificent, as if the Vyantara rows above were reflected below. After making many villages [viz., Bahumukhā] and suburbs, they established communities according to the suitability of place. The communities there were called by the same name as the community from which the men had been brought and put there. [...]”.
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
Bahumukha (बहुमुख).—a.
1) much, excessive; अस्या भर्तुर्बहुमुखमनुरागम् (asyā bharturbahumukhamanurāgam) Ś.6.
2) Speaking variously.
Bahumukha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bahu and mukha (मुख). See also (synonyms): bahīmukha.
Bahumukha (बहुमुख).—name of a nāga: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 454.16.
Bahumukha (बहुमुख).—[adjective] many-mouthed, speaking variously.
Bahumukha (बहुमुख):—[=bahu-mukha] [from bahu > bah] mf(ī)n. ‘many-mouthed’, speaking variously, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
Bahumukha (बहुमुख):—[(bahu + mukha)] adj. viele Mäuler habend, vielerlei sprechend: loka [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 11, 10.]
Bahumukha (बहुमुख):—Adj. viele Mäuler habend , vielerlei sprechend.
Bahumukha (बहुमुख) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Bahumuha.
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
Bahumukha (ಬಹುಮುಖ):—[adjective] = ಬಹುಮುಖಿ [bahumukhi]1.
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Bahumukha (ಬಹುಮುಖ):—[noun] a number of aspects (as of a personality, talent, etc.).
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)
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Bahumukha, Bahu-mukha, Bahumukhā, Bahu-mukhā; (plurals include: Bahumukhas, mukhas, Bahumukhās, mukhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 698 < [Malayalam-English-Kannada (1 volume)]
Page 551 < [Kannada-English-Malayalam (1 volume)]
Page 521 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 3]
The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa (by Dhrubajit Sarma)
Part 3 - Food and drink (found in the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita) < [Chapter IV - Socio-cultural study of the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 149 < [Volume 10 (1911)]
Further sources of Vijayanagara history (by K. A. Nilakanta Sastri)
Page 220 < [Volume 2]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 5: Description of Vaitāḍhya < [Chapter III]
Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala (study) (by Shri N. M. Kansara)
6.2. Alankaras (1): Anuprasa (alliteration) < [Chapter 15 - The Tilakamanjari as a Prose Poetic work]
6.1. Study of the Gunas, Ritis, and Vrittis < [Chapter 15 - The Tilakamanjari as a Prose Poetic work]