The Sanskrit term Śaṅkhaśikhā can be transliterated into English as Sankhasikha or Shankhashikha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Śaṅkhaśikhā (शङ्खशिखा) refers to a “top-knot which was in the form of a conch”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 8).—Accordingly, “[Question: How does the Bodhisattva fulfill the virtue of meditation (dhyānapāramitā)?]—[Answer]—When he obtains mastery (vaśita) over all the dhyānas of the heretics (tīrthika). Thus king Śaṅkhācārya, seated in meditation, had no in- (āna) or out- (apāna) breath. A bird came and laid her eggs in his top-knot which was in the form of a conch (śaṅkhaśikhā); the Bodhisattva remained motionless (acala) until the fledglings flew away”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Shikha, Shankha.

Full-text: Tirthika, Shankhacarya, Vasita, Dhyanaparamita.

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Search found 1 books and stories containing Shankhashikha, Śaṅkhaśikhā, Śaṅkha-śikhā, Shankha-shikha, Sankhasikha, Sankha-sikha; (plurals include: Shankhashikhas, Śaṅkhaśikhās, śikhās, shikhas, Sankhasikhas, sikhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

Story of the kindness of Śaṅkhācārya towards animals < [Part 5 - The virtue of meditation]

3. The six virtues (pāramitā) < [Part 4 - The Bodhisattva in the Abhidharma system]

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