Shanmukha, aka: Ṣaṇmukha; 5 Definition(s)
Introduction
Shanmukha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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 Ṣaṇmukha can be transliterated into English as Sanmukha or Shanmukha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Śilpaśāstra (iconography)
Ṣaṇmukha (one of the aspects of Subrahmaṇya, according to the Kumāra-tantra). The colour of Ṣaṇmukha should be that of kuṅkuma (saffron) and he should be seated on the peacock. As his name indicates he should have six faces, twelvy eyes and twelve arms; in the right hands he should have the śakti, bāṇa, the khaḍga, dhvaja, gadā and abhaya; and in the left ones dhanus, vajra, padma, kaṭaka-hasta and varada (and one more object which is perhaps the kheṭaka). Ṣaṇmukha is here mentioned as the nephew of Viṣṇu. The Śrītatvanidhi mentions the śaṅkha, chakra, kukkuṭa, pāśa and hala as among the objects held by the hands of Ṣaṇmukha. It als states that on either side of Ṣaṇmukha there should be standing two devīs called Jayā and Vijayā.
(Source): Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu IconograpyAs Ṣaṇmukha (or Subrāmaṇya) Murugan is married to two wives:—
- Valli (“the earth”), who represents the casual or informal means of progress and growth.
- Devasenā (“army of the gods”) or Devakunjari (“divine celestial elephant”) — these names are suggestive of ability and power of action.
Śilpaśāstra (शिल्पशास्त्र, shilpa-shastra) represents the ancient Indian science of creative arts such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vāstuśāstra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Purāṇa
1a) Ṣaṇmukha (षण्मुख).—(Kumāra); anecdotes of, in the skāndapurāṇa;1 a leader in the battle of Tripuram;2 all the wives of the seven seers except Arundhatī served Kumāra as mothers. Hence the six-faced.3
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 10. 42; Matsya-purāṇa 53. 42.
- 2) Ib. 136. 68; 137. 32; 159. 3; 160. 11 and 28.
- 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 72. 40.
1b) A name of Vighneśvara.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 44. 68.
The Purāṇas (पुराण, purana) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahāpurāṇas total over 400,000 ślokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
sanmukha (सन्मुख).—a (S) Fronting, facing, opposite to.
(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysanmukha (सन्मुख).—a Fronting, opposite to.
(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Relevant definitions
Search found 89 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Shanmukhamudra |
Ṣanmukhamudrā (षन्मुखमुद्रा, “six-faced seal”) is a Sanskrit word referring to a type of han... | |
| Murugan | Murugan (मुरुगन्).—Lord Murugan is praised as a great Siddha of Bāla-varga group. He rides on t... | |
| Naga | Naga (“snake”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurni is... | |
| Dharma | Dharma (धर्म) refers to the “medium of motion” according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 5.1... | |
| Rama | Rama (“lovely”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurni i... | |
| Sindhu | Sindhu (“sea or flag?”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India).... | |
| Durga | Durga (“fort”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurni is... | |
| Jiva | Jiva (“life”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurni is,... | |
| Sara | Sara (“string”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurni i... | |
| Samsara | Samsara (“family”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurn... | |
| Kumara | Kumāra (कुमार) is the name of a deity mentioned in the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter IV). O... | |
| Keshari | Kesari (“lion”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurni i... | |
| Subrahmaṇya | Subrahmaṇya (सुब्रह्मण्य).—1) an epithet of Kārtikeya. 2) Name of one of the sixteen priests em... | |
| Skanda | Skanda (स्कन्द) is the name of a gaṇa (attendant of Śiva), mentioned in the Skandapurāṇa 4.2.53... | |
| Uttama | Uttama (“best”) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurni i... |
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Shanmukha or Ṣaṇmukha. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Later Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Kaniyamur < [Chapter II - Temples of Kulottunga I’s Time]
Temples in Argal (Argalur) < [Chapter XII - Temples of Kulottunga III’s Time]
Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 2 - On the description of the Śaktis, etc., of the syllables of Gāyatrī < [Book 12]
Chapter 16 - On the description of Sandhyā Upāsānā < [Book 11]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 30 - The Kāmya rites of the followers of Śiva < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
Chapter 32 - Description of Creation (3): The family of Kaśyapa < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 7 - The gods pray < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 4 - The brahmanical trimūrti (Śiva, Viṣṇu and Brahmā) < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]
The history of Andhra country (1000 AD - 1500 AD) (by Yashoda Devi)
Part 50 - A New Family of the Telugu Cholas (Nellore) < [Chapter XX - The Telugu Cholas (Chodas)]
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