Simhamukha, Simha-mukha, Siṃhamukha: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Simhamukha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)Siṃhamukha (सिंहमुख).—One of the Twenty-eight Single Hands (hasta):—Siṃha-mukha (lion-face): the tips of the middle and third fingersare applied to the thumb, the rest extended. Usage: coral, pearl, fragrance, stroking the hair, a drop of water, salvation (mokṣa) when placed on the heart, homa, hare, elephant, waving kusa grass, lotus garland, lion-face, testing the preparationof medicine.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Dhanurveda (science of warfare)
Source: Wisdom Library: DhanurvedaSiṃhamukha (सिंहमुख) refers to a kind of weapon (lion-mouth-shaped missile). It is a Sanskrit word defined in the Dhanurveda-saṃhitā, which contains a list of no less than 117 weapons. The Dhanurveda-saṃhitā is said to have been composed by the sage Vasiṣṭha, who in turn transmitted it trough a tradition of sages, which can eventually be traced to Śiva and Brahmā.
Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेद) refers to the “knowledge of warfare” and, as an upaveda, is associated with the Ṛgveda. It contains instructions on warfare, archery and ancient Indian martial arts, dating back to the 2nd-3rd millennium BCE.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Siṃhamukha (सिंहमुख) refers to “lion heads”, according to Bāṇa’s Kādambarī (p. 225).—Accordingly, while describing the shire of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, “[Then the portal to the sanctum sanctorum, a riot of colour and form:] She was being illuminated by the entrance, on which there were hanging cloths reddened by lamp-smoke, a row of bracelets made of peacock-throats festooned [over it], a garland of bells closely-set and pale with powdered flour-cakes, which supported two door-panels, [studded] with tin lion heads (trāpuṣa-siṃhamukha) with thick, iron pins in their centres, barricaded with an ivory-rod bolt, carrying [what seemed to be] a necklace of sparkling bubbles that were mirrors oozing yellow, blue and red [light]”.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraSiṃhamukha (सिंहमुख) is the name of a ‘river mouth’ (mukha) into which the lake Anavatapta flows from its northern corner, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV). Accordingly, At the northern boundaries (of Jambudvīpa), in the Snowy Mountains (Himavat), there is lake called Anavatapta. At the four corners of the lake there are four mouths from which the water flows out: at the north, the Lion’s Mouth (Che tseu t’eou = siṃhamukha). In the north, the Lion’s Mouth empties into the Sseu t’o (Sītā). Its bed also consists of golden sand (suvarānavālukā). The Sītā comes from the mountain in the north and empties into the northern ocean (uttarasamudra).
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraSiṃhamukha (सिंहमुख) is the name of an Antaradvīpa, situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“The Mlecchas are free from (knowledge of) virtue and vice, and also those born in the Antaradvīpas. The 56 Antaradvīpas are as follows: Half of them are to the east and west of Kṣudrahimavat in the four intermediate directions, beginning with northeast. [...] Beyond them (i.e., after Ādarśamukha, Meṣamukha, Hayamukha, and Gajamukha) come Aśvamukha, Hastimukha, Siṃhamukha, Vyāghramukha, 600 yojanas in distance, length, and width”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySiṃhamukha (सिंहमुख).—(nt.), lit. lion's mouth, (1) a spout or opening thru which water was conducted into or out of a pond: aṣṭottaraṃ ca °kha-śataṃ yena gandhodakaṃ praviśati tasyāḥ…puṣkiriṇyāḥ (ms., ed. em. puṣka°), aṣṭaśatam eva °khānāṃ yena punar eva tad vāri nirvahati Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 40.15 f.; (2) an instrument of torture (compare ulkāmukha 1 and Pali rāhumukha, Majjhimanikāya (Pali) i.87.13 with commentary ii.58.28): °khaṃ vā hriyamāṇasya Śikṣāsamuccaya 182.4.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Siṃhamukha (सिंहमुख):—[=siṃha-mukha] [from siṃha] mfn. l°-faced
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of one of Śiva’s attendants, [Harivaṃśa]
3) [v.s. ...] of a scholar, [Buddhist literature]
[Sanskrit to German]
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: Mukha, Simha.
Full-text: Narasimha, Krishnaveri, Simhamukhi, Arjuna, Hasta, Dharmapala, Ashvakarna, Trapusa, Vyaghramukha, Hastikarna, Hastimukha, Karnapravarana, Ashvamukha, Simhakarna, Anavatapta, Narasimhavatara, Bhairava.
Relevant text
Search found 10 books and stories containing Simhamukha, Simha-mukha, Siṃha-mukha, Siṃhamukha; (plurals include: Simhamukhas, mukhas, Siṃhamukhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Abhinaya-darpana (English) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
Chapter 26 - Hands denoting Animals
Plate XIII - Combined Hands < [Plates]
Later Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Appendix: The Kudu Ornamentation
Temples in Melaperumballam < [Chapter IV - Temples of Vikrama Chola’s Time]
Temples in Solapuram < [Chapter II - Temples of Kulottunga I’s Time]
Early Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Bronze, group 3: Age of Parantaka I (a.d. 907 - 950) < [Chapter XI - Sculpture]
Middle Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Sitibeta < [Chapter IV - Temples of Rajendra I’s Time]
Temples in Tiruvorriyur < [Chapter IV - Temples of Rajendra I’s Time]
Temples in Tiruvalisvaram < [Chapter II - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]
Pallava period (Social and Cultural History) (by S. Krishnamurthy)
Architecture of the Mamalla Style < [Chapter 2 - Origin of Sculptural Art—Its Development and Scheme]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 31: The Antaradvīpas < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]