The Sanskrit term Paścimavaktra can be transliterated into English as Pascimavaktra or Pashcimavaktra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Pashchimavaktra.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)

Paścimavaktra (पश्चिमवक्त्र) refers to the “western face” (of Svacchanda), according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult. Accordingly, “O goddess, Svacchanda is in the middle, within the abode of the triangle. Very powerful, he has five faces with three times five flaming eyes. [...] O beautiful lady, this, the western one [i.e., paścimavaktra], is yellow like vermillion mixed with musk. Divine, it generates great energy. (The southern face) is somewhat fierce with large sharp teeth and long red eyes. It is blue like a blue lotus and blue collyrium. Beautiful and fierce, he wears a gem and a snake and his hair is brown. He is called Aghora, contemplating (him) he bestows success in every enterprise”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Paścimavaktra (पश्चिमवक्त्र) refers to the “western face” of Sadāśiva, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 9.19cd-26, while instructing to visualize Sadāśiva in order to worship the formless Amṛteśa]—“[He] resembles the swelling moon, a heap of mountain snow. [...] [The Southern Sadāśiva] bears a skull rosary and makes the world tremble. [Sadāśiva's] Western [face] (paścimavaktra—pūrvavaktrataḥ ... paścimavaktraṃ) resembles snowy jasmine and the North as a beautiful red lotus. The face above the [other] Śiva [faces] resembles a crystal [i.e., colorless]. [...]”.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Paścimavaktra (पश्चिमवक्त्र) refers to the “western face” of Goddess Kubjikā, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “(Kubjikā’s) iconic form is threefold (according to whether it is) in (the transmission) of the Child, Middle One or the Aged. [...] The fourth one is Kālikā’s face. It is black and frightening. It is called Mahākālī and brings about the destruction of all things. The fifth is the northern face. It is (red) like a pomegranate flower and is endowed with Mahālakṣmī. The sixth is said to be the western face [i.e., paścimavaktra—paścimam ucyate ... vaktraṃ vicintayet]. It is Umābhagavatī. One should think (her) face to be light blue. Raudrī has a divine (beautiful) form and wears a divine earring. Brahmā is at her two feet and Viṣṇu is said to be on her shanks. Rudra lives in her heart, Īśvara in the circle of (her) throat”.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Pashcima, Vaktra.

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