Shvamukha, Sva-mukha, Śvamukha, Śvamukhā, Svamukha: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Shvamukha means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Śvamukha and Śvamukhā can be transliterated into English as Svamukha or Shvamukha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Svamukha (स्वमुख) refers to “one’s own face”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.54 (“Description of the duties of the chaste wife”).—Accordingly, as a Brahmin lady said to Pārvatī: “[...] During the three days of her monthly course she shall neither show her face (svamukha) nor speak to him. She shall not speak within his hearing till she becomes pure after her bath. After her bath she shall see her husband’s face and not that of anyone else. Or after thinking on her husband she shall then gaze at the sun. [...]”.
Śvamukha (श्वमुख).—The country of, watered by Nalinī.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 18. 60.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Śvamukha (श्वमुख) [=Aśvamukha ?] refers to a country belonging to “Uttaratas or Uttaradeśa (northern division)” classified under the constellations of Śatabhiṣaj, Pūrvabhādrapada and Uttarabhādrapada, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Śatabhiṣaj, Pūrvabhādrapada and Uttarabhādrapada represent the northern division consisting of [i.e., Śvamukha] [...]”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Śvamukha (श्वमुख) (in Chinese: Keou-mien) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Kṛttikā or Kṛttikānakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Kṛttikā] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Śvamukha] for the sake of protection and prosperity.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Śvamukhā (श्वमुखा) is another name for Śvamukhī—one of the “Fifty-eight Wrathful Deities” (Tibetan: khro bo lha nga brgyad) according to various sources such as the Guhyagarbha Tantra and the Tibetan Book of the Dead.—They feature in Tantric teachings and practices which focus on purifying elements of the body and mind. These deities [e.g., Śvamukhā] form part part of the the Hundred Peaceful and Wrathful Deities who manifest to a deceased person following the dissolution of the body and consciousness whilst they are in the intermediate state (bardo) between death and rebirth. Śvamukhī is also known as Śvānamukhī, Śvamukhā, Śvāsyā, Śvavaktrā, Śvānamukhā, Śvānāsyā, Śvānavaktrā and is part of the “eight tramen”. She is also known in Tibetan as (1) spyang ki (2) khyi gdong ma (3) shwa na mu kha.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Śvamukha (श्वमुख):—[=śva-mukha] [from śva > śvan] m. [plural] Name of a people, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
Śvamukha (श्वमुख):—adj. ein Hundsgesicht habend; m. pl. Nomen proprium eines Volkes [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 14,25, v. l.] [Oxforder Handschriften 340,a,16.]
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 (+0): Shva, Mukha.
Full-text (+0): Ashvamukha, Sva-mukha-ajna, Shvamukhi, Shvanamukhi, Shvasya, Shvavaktra, Shvanamukha, Shvanavaktra, spyang ki, khyi gdong ma, shwa na mu kha, Krittika, Dutaka, Ajna, Shvanasya.
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Search found 6 books and stories containing Shvamukha, Shva-mukha, Śva-mukha, Sva-mukha, Śva-mukhā, Śvamukha, Śvamukhā, Svamukha; (plurals include: Shvamukhas, mukhas, mukhās, Śvamukhas, Śvamukhās, Svamukhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Advayavajra-samgraha (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri)
Chapter 6 - Caturmudra < [Sanskrit texts of the Advayavajra-samgraha]
Inscriptions of Orissa (Rajaguru) (by Shri Satyanarayana Rajguru)
Part 17 - Kesaribeda Plates of Arthapati < [Section 2 - West-Orissa—The Stambheshvari Padabhaktas and the Nalas]
Part 20 - The Vizagapatam plates of Devendravarma < [Section 1 - The Gangas of Kalinganagara]
Kamashastra and Classical Sanskrit literature (study) (by Vishwanath K. Hampiholi)
Chapter 2.9 - Mouth Congress or Oral Sex < [Chapter 3 - Kamasutra part 2 (Samprayogika)—Critical study]
Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 18 - Description of the Jambūdvīpa < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
The Sun-Worshipping Sakadvipiya Brahmanas (by Martina Palladino)
1. The Magavyakti (glorification of the Magas) < [Chapter 3 - Late Poems]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
The History of Nepal (Part I) < [Volume 3, Number 1 (1975)]