The Sanskrit term Mṛtyulakṣaṇajñāna can be transliterated into English as Mrtyulaksanajnana or Mrityulakshanajnana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: academia.edu: Chapter Nineteen of the Kakṣapuṭatantra

Mṛtyulakṣaṇajñāna (मृत्युलक्षणज्ञान) refers to “signs of death” as mentioned in the Kakṣapuṭatantra.—In the Kakṣapuṭatantra chapter 19, the section on knowing the time of death consists of usual signs of death, along with two kinds of augury.

In the first procedure, a practitioner draws a maṇḍala in the shape of a lotus flower and then writes dates, months and years on it. Through a certain ritual procedure, he reads the exact date of death on the maṇḍala. We can see a similar augury in the Kubjikāmatatantra 23.44-50. However, this one does not tell the exact date, but only the duration of oneʼs lifetime.

In the second one, a practitioner writes a vidyā on a birch bark leaf, and through a certain ritual procedure, reads his fortune on the leaf. It does not tell the time of death, but only his future in general. The exact procedure can be also found in the Kubjikāmatatantra 23.64-77. With respect to these two kinds of augury, it must be added that there is a similarity between the Kakṣapuṭatantra and the Kubjikāmatatantra.

context information

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Jnana.

Full-text: Kalajnana.

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