The Sanskrit term Naraśiras can be transliterated into English as Narasiras or Narashiras, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)

Naraśiras (नरशिरस्) refers to “(offering) a human head”, and formed a part of the Navarātra Tantric ritual (an autumnal festival of the warrior goddess Caṇḍikā).—On Mahāṣṭamī is the worship of the Nine Durgās, [...] restraining the breaths; visualization and self-identification with the deity, rite of the sword in Nepal for powers; animal sacrifice and offering blood from a king’s arms and offering a human head (naraśiras-pradāna); worship of weapons; Goddess is believed to morph into a more uncontrollable presence requiring constant placation.—Various 8th century sources refer to such rituals, for example: Devīpurāṇa, Kālikāpurāṇa, Kṛtyakalpataru, Durgābhaktitaraṅgiṇī, Durgāpūjātattva, Durgāpūjāviveka, Bhadrakālīmantravidhiprakaraṇa in Sanderson (2007); account of the Durgā Pūjā in Kelomal, West Bengal (Nicholas 2013).

context information

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 Samadhi

Naraśiras (नरशिरस्) refers to “(fresh) human heads”, according to the Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—Accordingly, [while describing the iconography of Cakrasaṃvara]: “In the Saṃvara Maṇḍala atop Mount Sumera within a vajra-canopy there is a variegated lotus, on top of that a palace, in the middle of which is the Blessed Lord, standing in ālīḍhāsana, "archer's pose", [...] possessing a naraśiras-mālā-śatārdha, "garland of fifty (fresh) human heads" around the neck, the ṣaṇ-mudrā, "six insignia", bone ornaments, which are the kaṇṭhikā, "necklace", rucaka, "bracelets", kuṇḍala, "ear-rings", mekhalā, "girdle", śiromaṇi, "crest jewel", and bhasmitiḥ, "covered in ashes", a jaṭā-makuṭa, "crest of dreadlocks", kapālamālā, "crown of (five) skulls", topped by an ardhacandra, "crescent moon", and viśvavajra, "world vajra" or "double vajra", a vikṛitānana, "fierce face", and daṃṣṭrotkaṭa, "horrible gigantic fangs".

Note: The garland of fifty fresh human heads (naraśiras-mālā-śatārdha) symbolize the fifty sounds of the Sanskrit alphabet.

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Naraśiras (नरशिरस्) refers to “human heads”.—In the Niṣpannayogāvalī, Saṃvara with four faces and twelve arms wears a garland of fifty wet human hairless heads (naraśiras) [pañcāśatsārdranaraśiraḥśreṇīkah].

context information

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Shiras, Nara.

Starts with: Narashiromala.

Full-text: Narashiromala, Sardra, Pradana.

Relevant text

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