Saptajihva, Sapta-jihva, Saptan-jihva: 10 definitions

Introduction:

Saptajihva means something in 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

Vedanta (school of philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Saptajihva in Vedanta glossary
Source: Swami Krishnananda: Commentary on the Mundaka Upanishad, Chapter 1: Section 2

Saptajihva:—In a properly performed sacrifice, seven flames of the fire are supposed to shoot up, not just one or two. The hungry fire will lap up in seven tongues, and the seven tongues have their own names –

  1. kālī: the black one;
  2. karalī: the blacker one;
  3. mano-javā: rapid like the movement of the mind; sulhoitā: reddish in colour;
  4. sudhūmravarṇā: brownish in colour;
  5. sphuliṅginī: sparking forth;
  6. viśva-rūpi: radiant;
  7. devī: divine are the flames.

Agni himself rises up to receive our offering and take us to the gods so that, in their satisfaction, they lift us up to the abode of the gods.

Vedanta book cover
context information

Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Saptajihva in Shaktism glossary
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Saptajihvā (सप्तजिह्वा) refers to the “seven tongues (of flame)”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “(Pūrṇagiri) is on the northern peak of Kailāśa and is full of countless flames. [...] That divine city of the supreme Lord is made of pillars of adamantine. It is surrounded by temple arches and palaces of the Fire of Time. It is filled with many forms and adorned with knowledge and (divine) qualities. Possessing many wonders, it is life itself in the triple universe. (All) this is filled by it and so it is called ‘Full’ (pūrṇa i.e. Pūrṇagiri). (The Fire of Time) has seven tongues (of flame) [i.e., saptajihvā-samopeta]; (his) form is Time and has six faces. Possessing the Full Moon, (he) is beautiful. (He is) the Great Vitality, holds a spear and brings about creation and destruction”.

Source: JSTOR: Tāntric Dīkṣā by Surya Kanta

Saptajihvā (सप्तजिह्वा) refers to one of the eight forms of fire (agni) to be assigned to the body parts of the worshipper during preliminary rites before Dīkṣā: an important ritual of Śāktism described in the Śāradātilaka-tantra, chapters III-V. The various tongues (jihvās) of fire are assigned to the various limbs of the body of the worshipper. The eight forms of fire (viz. Saptajihvā) are assigned to the body of the worshipper.

Shaktism book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Saptajihva in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Saptajihva (सप्तजिह्व).—fire. (the seven tongues are kālī, karālī, manojavā, sulohitā, sudhūmravarṇā, ugrā and pradīptā).

Derivable forms: saptajihvaḥ (सप्तजिह्वः).

Saptajihva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms saptan and jihva (जिह्व). See also (synonyms): saptajvāla.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Saptajihva (सप्तजिह्व).—m.

(-hvaḥ) Agni or fire. E. sapta seven, jihvā a tongue or flame.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Saptajihva (सप्तजिह्व).—m. Agni.

Saptajihva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms saptan and jihva (जिह्व).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Saptajihva (सप्तजिह्व).—[adjective] seven-tongued; [masculine] fire.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Saptajihva (सप्तजिह्व):—[=sapta-jihva] [from sapta > saptan] mfn. 7-tongued, [Mahābhārata]

2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of Agni or fire (the 7 tongues of fire have all names e.g. kālī, karālī mano-javā, su-lohitā, su-dhūmra-varṇā, ugrā or sphuliṅginī, pradīptā, and these names vary [according to] to the [particular] rite in which fire is used See hiraṇya, su-varṇā, su-prabhā etc.), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Śiśupāla-vadha [Scholiast or Commentator]]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Saptajihva (सप्तजिह्व):—[sapta-jihva] (hvaḥ) 1. m. Agni or fire.

[Sanskrit to German]

Saptajihva in German

context information

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.

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