The Sanskrit terms Ṣaṇmudrā and Ṣaṭmudrā can be transliterated into English as Sanmudra or Shanmudra or Satmudra or Shatmudra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Ṣaṇmudrā (षण्मुद्रा) refers to “(having) six insignia” (i.e., the six bone ornaments), which is used to describe Cakrasaṃvara, according to the Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—Accordingly, [while describing the iconography of Cakrasaṃvara]: “In the Saṃvara Maṇḍala atop Mount Sumera within a vajra-canopy there is a variegated lotus, on top of that a palace, in the middle of which is the Blessed Lord, standing in ālīḍhāsana, "archer's pose", [...] possessing a naraśiromālā-śatārdha, "garland of fifty (fresh) human heads" around the neck, the ṣaṇmudrā, "six insignia", bone ornaments, which are the kaṇṭhikā, "necklace", rucaka, "bracelets", kuṇḍala, "ear-rings", mekhalā, "girdle", śiromaṇi, "crest jewel", and bhasmitiḥ, "covered in ashes", a jaṭā-makuṭa, "crest of dreadlocks", kapālamālā, "crown of (five) skulls", topped by an ardhacandra, "crescent moon", and viśvavajra, "world vajra" or "double vajra", a vikṛitānana, "fierce face", and daṃṣṭrotkaṭa, "horrible gigantic fangs".

Note: [For Cakrasaṃvara]—The six bone ornaments (ṣaṇmudrā) represent the ṣaṭpāramitā, "Six Perfections", the first six of the daśapāramitā respectively.—[For Vajravārāhī and Vajrayoginī]—The five bone ornaments symbolize the pañca-jñāna, "The Five Wisdoms".

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Ṣaṭmudrā (षट्मुद्रा) refers to the “six seals”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[...] [He should visualize Heruka] [...] The weaponry in the seventy-two hands is thus to be discerned in order. A decoration (headband) made of five hairless heads, an ornament of the six seals (ṣaṭmudrā-upetabhūṣaṇa), a garland of a hundred hairless heads [as a necklace], sounding armlets and anklets, a garment [made of] some tiger skin, and a romāvalī (or line of bodily hair) are on [his] body. Before him is a great goddess [named] Vajravārāhī, [who is] as previously. [...]”.

Note: The six seals (ṣaṭmudrā) are symbolic ornaments made of bones and ashes, although these are not always identical. They are an ornament for the neck (kaṇṭhikā), a bracelet (rucaka), an earring (kuṇḍa), a jewel on the head (śiromaṇi), a sacred thread (yajñopavīta), and ashes (bhasman) according to Lūyīpa’s Cakrasaṃvarābhisamaya.

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: Shan, Sat, Mudra, Shash, Can.

Full-text: Shiromala, Narashiras, Shatardha, Narashiromala, Mekhala, Kundala, Rucaka, Siromani, Vikritanana, Kanthika, Damshtrotkata, Vishvavajra, Jatamakuta, Ardhacandra, Kapalamala.

Relevant text

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