Shadvaktra, Ṣaḍvaktra, Ṣaḍvaktrā, Shash-vaktra: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Shadvaktra 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.
The Sanskrit terms Ṣaḍvaktra and Ṣaḍvaktrā can be transliterated into English as Sadvaktra or Shadvaktra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Ṣaḍvaktra (षड्वक्त्र) refers to a “Rudraksha with six faces”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 1.25, while explaining the greatness of Rudrākṣa:—“[...] a Rudrākṣa with six faces (ṣaḍvaktra) is Kārtikeya. A man who wears it on the right arm is certainly absolved of the sins of brahmin-slaughter and the like”.
2) Ṣaḍvaktra (षड्वक्त्र) refers to “one who has six faces” and is used to describe Kumāra / Kārttikeya (i.e., Śiva’s son), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.6 (“The miraculous feat of Kārttikeya”).
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Ṣaḍvaktra (षड्वक्त्र) is another name for Vaktraṣaṭka, referring to “(one adorned with) six faces”, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.
2) Ṣaḍvaktrā (षड्वक्त्रा) refers to “she who has six faces”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—Accordingly, “The auspicious Uḍumaṅgalyā in the west has six faces [i.e., ṣaḍvaktrā] and eight arms and is auspicious. She is beautiful, her hair is dishevelled and she is adorned with all the ornaments. She holds an ascetic’s staff, a javelin, a cup (pātra) and double-headed drum in her right hands, (and) a skull, a bow and sword along with a severed head in the left. She sits on a ghost and, when worshipped, she destroys the enemy”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryṢaḍvaktra (षड्वक्त्र).—[adjective] = 2 ṣaḍānana.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ṣaḍvaktra (षड्वक्त्र):—[=ṣaḍ-vaktra] [from ṣaḍ > ṣaṣ] mfn. six-mouthed, six-faced, [Mahābhārata; Pañcarātra]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of Skanda, [Mahābhārata; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Matsya-purāṇa]
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shash, Vaktra, Sat.
Full-text: Shadvaktropanishaddipika, Shadvaktri, Karttikeya, Shadanana, Shanmukha, Narayana.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Shadvaktra, Ṣaḍvaktra, Sad-vaktra, Ṣaṣ-vaktra, Ṣaḍ-vaktra, Ṣaḍvaktrā, Shash-vaktra, Sadvaktra, Sas-vaktra, Shad-vaktra, Ṣaḍ-vaktrā, Ṣaṣ-vaktrā; (plurals include: Shadvaktras, Ṣaḍvaktras, vaktras, Ṣaḍvaktrās, Sadvaktras, vaktrās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 81 - The holy rite for the release of Paśus (paśupāśa-vimocana) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Paduka-panchaka (the five-fold footstool) (by Arthur Avalon)
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 44 - The Birth of Kumāra and the Death of Tārarka < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 29 - Kumāra Becomes Commander-in-chief of the Deva Army < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]