Shaktidhara, Śaktidhara, Shakti-dhara: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Shaktidhara 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 term Śaktidhara can be transliterated into English as Saktidhara or Shaktidhara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu IconograpyŚaktidhara: Aspect of Subrahmaṇya, according to the Kumāra-tantra. He should have a single face and only two arms. The left hand should bear a vajra and the right one the śakti; the latter weapon is said to represent the ichchhā, jñāna and kṛyā śaktis.
The following description of Jñānaśakti-Subrahmaṇya is found in the Śrītatvanidhi: this form of the deity should have only one face and four arms and his head adorned with a jaṭāmakuṭa ornamented with rubics, he should wear a garland of cactus flowers, and his body should be smeared with a paste of sandal and there must be on his chest a white yajñopavīta. In three out of the four hands there should be the śakti, kukkuṭa and vajra and and the fourth hand should be held in the abhaya pose. It is therein stated that this aspect of Subrahmaṇya is the embodiment of jñāna-śakti.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)Śaktidhara (शक्तिधर) refers to “one who holds a javelin” and represents one of the attributes 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 fair lady, my attributes—trident, dagger, sword, the king of the snakes, and rosary—adorn the right (arms). O beloved, a skull, double-headed drum, javelin [i.e., śaktidhara], noose and goad—(these) are my divine, brilliant and very auspicious weapons that (are held) in the left (hands). The king of snakes (hangs) on the shoulder and a garland of skulls hangs (from the neck). There is a necklace of scorpions around the throat and the ears are adorned with snakes. [...]”.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraŚāktidharā (शाक्तिधरा) refers to “she who wears a spear” and is used to describe Ajitā Devī, 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 11.1-24ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Tumburu]—“[...] The Devīs are white, red, yellow, and black, four-faced, four armed, three eyed, and in [their] hands bear golden hatchets, sticks and rosaries. [...] Ajitā [is yellow, like] the calyx of a lotus. Four-faced and four-armed, [she] bears a spear and a bell (śāktidharā—śāktighaṇṭādharā devī) and rests on a flat hide. [...] [When one] worships and meditates on [the Devīs, as they] stand in the cardinal directions, [the Devīs grant the practitioner] the fruits of siddhi. [...]”.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationŚaktidhara (शक्तिधर) is another name for Kārttikeya (i.e., Śiva’s son), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.5 (“Kārttikeya is crowned”).—Accordingly, after the Kṛttikās spoke to Kārttikeya: “[...] On seeing Pārvatī and Śiva, Kārttikeya (śaktidhara) [atha śaktidharaḥ skandau] got down from the chariot immediately and saluted them. Embracing him with love, Śiva kissed Kumāra on the head. He, the cause of great affection, was highly delighted. Embracing him in great excitement and melting with love, Pārvatī suckled him at her breasts. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚaktidhara (शक्तिधर).—a. strong, powerful.
Śaktidhara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śakti and dhara (धर).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaktidhara (शक्तिधर).—m.
(-raḥ) 1. A name of Kartikeya. 2. A spearman, a lancer. Adj. Developed, powerful E. śakti a spear, dhara the holder.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaktidhara (शक्तिधर).—[śakti-dhara], m. A name of Skanda, the god of war.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaktidhara (शक्तिधर).—[adjective] carrying a spear, [Epithet] of Skanda.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumŚaktidhara (शक्तिधर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—a tāntric teacher. Mentioned in Śaktiratnākara Oxf. 101^b.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śaktidhara (शक्तिधर):—[=śakti-dhara] [from śakti > śak] mfn. bearing or holding a spear, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
2) [v.s. ...] m. ‘spearman’, Name of a warrior, [Hitopadeśa] ([varia lectio] śaktivara)
3) [v.s. ...] of Skanda, [Harivaṃśa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] (cf. kanaka-śakti)
4) [v.s. ...] of an author of Mantras, [Catalogue(s)]
5) [v.s. ...] of a Tāntric teacher, [ib.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaktidhara (शक्तिधर):—[śakti-dhara] (raḥ) 1. m. A lancer; a name of Kārtikeya.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚaktidhara (ಶಕ್ತಿಧರ):—
1) [noun] he who has the mystic weapon ಶಕ್ತಿ [shakti] (see ಶಕ್ತಿ - [shakti -] 3, above).
2) [noun] Ṣaṇmukha, son of Śiva.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shakti, Dhara.
Full-text: Shaktipani, Cattitaran, Shaktivara, Shaktidhvaja, Kanakashakti, Villan, Subrahmaṇya.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Shaktidhara, Śakti-dhara, Sakti-dhara, Śakti-dharā, Śaktidhara, Saktidhara, Śaktidharā, Shakti-dhara; (plurals include: Shaktidharas, dharas, dharās, Śaktidharas, Saktidharas, Śaktidharās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.1.73 < [Chapter 1 - Summary of Lord Gaura’s Pastimes]
Verse 2.22.66 < [Chapter 22 - Delivering Śacīdevī from Offense and Descriptions of Nityānanda’s Qualities]
Verse 3.4.154 < [Chapter 4 - Descriptions of Śrī Acyutānanda’s Pastimes and the Worship of Śrī Mādhavendra]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 28 - The glory of Bhasma < [Section 7.1 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (1)]
Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4 (by Vihari-Lala Mitra)
Chapter xxxvi < [Book III - Utpatti khanda (utpatti khanda)]
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 101 - Destruction of Kāma (madanadāha) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 34 - The Greatness of Śaktibheda Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Avantīkṣetra-māhātmya]
Some Guhyas and Ganas < [January – March, 1987]