Kapalahasta, Kapala-hasta, Kapālahasta, Kapālahastā: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Kapalahasta 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: ManthanabhairavatantramKapālahastā (कपालहस्ता) refers to “she who holds a skull in her hand”, according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly, “That, O goddess, is said to be the subtle (form), now listen to the gross one. [...] She holds a skull, dagger [i.e.,kapālahastā—kapālakartṛkāhastā], javelin and ascetic's staff. Fierce, she holds a knife, a great noose and sword. (She also holds) a thunderbolt, spear, bow, arrows and double-headed drum. Her neck is adorned with the great lord of snakes. She wears a snake as a sacred thread and (her) girdle is tied with that also. She is adorned with the thousand-headed lord of the snakes (who is) on (her) head. Snakes are (her) anklets and bangles. Her topknot has the form of a burning fire and scorpions are (her) rings”.
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: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesKapālahasta (कपालहस्त) (or Kapālahastaka) refers to “holding a skull bowl in the hand”, 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, “[Vajravārāhī holds] an adamantine knife in the right [hand] and a skull bowl in the left hand (kapālahastaka); hugs the Blessed One (Heruka) around [his] hips with [her] two shanks and loves [him]; [has] one face; [has her] hair untied; is naked; is red in color; wears a garland of hairless heads [as a necklace]; is adorned with sexually attractive ornaments; is crowned with a string of skulls on [her] head; [...]”.
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 DictionaryKapālahasta (कपालहस्त):—[=kapāla-hasta] [from kapāla] mfn. bearing a skull in the hand, [Buddha-carita]
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 corpusKapālahasta (ಕಪಾಲಹಸ್ತ):—[noun] Śiva, who has skull in his hand.
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)
Partial matches: Hasta, Kapala.
Starts with: Kapalahastaka.
Full-text: Kapalapani, Kapalin.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Kapalahasta, Kapala-hasta, Kapāla-hasta, Kapāla-hastā, Kapālahasta, Kapālahastā; (plurals include: Kapalahastas, hastas, hastās, Kapālahastas, Kapālahastās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 325 < [Volume 19 (1915)]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 45 - The Arrival of Sixty-four Yoginīs < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]
Kathasaritsagara (cultural study) (by S. W. Chitale)
Description of Minor Deities in the Kathasaritsagara < [Chapter 5 - Religion and Philosophy]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
5. Epithets of Rudra-Śiva tracked in the Upaniṣadic literature < [Chapter 6b - Epithets (References)]
Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)
Brahma Purana (critical study) (by Surabhi H. Trivedi)
10. Description of Brahma (Prajapati) < [Mythology]