The Sanskrit terms Śvavaktrā and Śvavaktra can be transliterated into English as Svavaktra or Shvavaktra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, Deities and other Spiritual beings

Śvavaktrā (श्ववक्त्रा) 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., Śvavaktrā] 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.

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: Shva, Vaktra.

Ends with: Ashvavaktra, Parshvavaktra.

Full-text: Shvamukhi, Shvanavaktra, Shvamukha, Shvasya, Shvanamukhi, spyang ki, Shvanamukha, shwa na mu kha, khyi gdong ma, Shvanasya.

Relevant text

No search results for Shvavaktra, Shva-vaktra, Śva-vaktrā, Sva-vaktra, Śva-vaktra, Śvavaktrā, Śvavaktra, Svavaktra; (plurals include: Shvavaktras, vaktras, vaktrās, Śvavaktrās, Śvavaktras, Svavaktras) in any book or story.