Dvihasta, Dvi-hasta: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Dvihasta 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.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramDvihasta (द्विहस्त) refers to “two hands”, according to the Brahmayāmala verse 57.55.—Accordingly, “Having first fashioned a circular, auspicious area of two hands [i.e., dvihasta], (breadth extending) east and west, and having first divided it in half with a thread, the circular maṇḍala is in three parts”.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)Dvihasta (द्विहस्त) [=hastadvaya?] refers to “(a depth of) two cubits”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “[...] If [someone] touches his buttocks, there is [an extraneous thing] arising from the buttocks [, i.e. coccyx?] or an iron nail at a depth of two cubits (hastadvaya-pramāṇa) [underground]. [The officiant] should remove that extraneous thing from there. If [someone] scratches his thigh, there is an extraneous thing related to the thigh or piece of wood at a depth of one and a half cubits. [The officiant] should remove it carefully. [...]”.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: archive.org: The Elephant Lore of the HindusDvihasta (द्विहस्त) refers to “(the measurement of) two hastas”, according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 6, “on determination of measurements”]: “2. The length of an elephant of the ‘deer’ caste just after birth is a hasta and a half, and he is said to be a kara (=hasta) high; his girth is two hastas [e.g., dvihasta]. And five aṅgulas is said to be their annual growth up to the tenth year”.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesDvihasta (द्विहस्त) refers to the “right and left hands”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[...] [Standing on] Bhairava and Kālarātri on fire on the sun [disk] on the pericarp [of the lotus], [Heruka] is dancing. [He should visualize Heruka] [...] A bunch of weapons is to be known in the right and left [hands] (dvihasta) in order. (1) An elephant’s skin is [grasped] with [the first] two hands (the first pair of right and left hands), and (2) the womb hand gesture is [made] with with the second [pair of right and left hands] [...]”.
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 DictionaryDvihasta (द्विहस्त):—[=dvi-hasta] [from dvi] mf(ā)n. 2 hands long, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]
[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: Dvihastabhujasana.
Full-text: Dvihastabhujasana, Hastadvaya, Prativarsha, Dashavatsara, Pancangula.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Dvihasta, Dvi-hasta; (plurals include: Dvihastas, hastas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Angamardhana: A Treatise on Massage Techniques of Ancient India < [Volume 36 (issue 3), Jan-Mar 2017]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 323 < [Volume 12 (1898)]
Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study) (by K. Vidyuta)
4. Prākāra components (1): Bhitti-lakṣaṇa (walls) < [Chapter 3 - Prākāra Lakṣaṇa]
Hevajra Tantra (analytical study) (by Seung Ho Nam)
2.2. Assembly of the Circle of Initiates (ganacakra) < [Chapter 4 - Tantric Cult in Hevajra Tantra]
Matangalila and Hastyayurveda (study) (by Chandrima Das)
Measurement and Age of the Elephants < [Chapter 3]