In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Raktanakha (रक्तनख) refers to “one who has red nails”, 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, while describing the signs of one who is a Siddha: “His heart is uplifted and his nose and the rest (of his face) is well balanced. The sign of one who is well accomplished is that he is well behaved and he produces abundance. His foot is upraised and his thighs are broad, the forehead is well balanced. He is accomplished from a previous life and is Bhairava. His navel has three creases. His penis is small and auspicious. His body is straight and well proportioned. Such a one is accomplished from a previous life in the western (tradition). His nails are well proportioned and red [i.e., raktanakha—nakhāśca susamā raktā]. His hands bear the marks of elevation and his eyes are red. Such is an accomplished one in the previous lineage. His face is like a lotus and his hair is (tied up in a knot in the) foreign style. One who is such and is equal in pleasure and pain is part of the Siddha lineage”.

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: 84000: Mañjuśrī­mūla­kalpa (The Root Manual of the Rites of Mañjuśrī)

Raktanakha (रक्तनख) refers to “one with copper-colored smooth fingernails”, according to the Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa, a large scripture devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) classified as a kriyā-tantra (containing practices of ritual purification).—Accordingly, as Lord Śākyamuni said to Mañjughoṣa: “I will further teach the auspicious characteristics of men for whom the mantras are successful‍—Those of the highest, medium, and the lowest types. [...] One with copper-colored, smooth fingernails [i.e., raktanakha], with the palms of his hands red and clean, with the extremities of his feet red and smooth, and adorned with circles, svastikas, banners, archways, fish, flags, lotuses, and water lilies visible on his hands and feet‍— [...]”.

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: Nakha, Rakta.

Relevant text

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