Urdhvakesha, Ūrdhvakeśa, Ūrdhvakeśā, Urdhva-kesha: 9 definitions

Introduction:

Urdhvakesha 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 Ūrdhvakeśa and Ūrdhvakeśā can be transliterated into English as Urdhvakesa or Urdhvakesha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Urdhvakesha in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Ūrdhvakeśa (ऊर्ध्वकेश) refers to “one whose hair stood at its end”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.19 (“Jalandhara’s emissary to Śiva”).—Accordingly, after Rāhu spoke to Śiva: “When Rāhu spoke thus, a terrific being resonant like the thunder came out from the space between the eyebrows of the trident-bearing deity. He had a leonine mouth with a moving tongue; his eyes shed fiery flames; his hair stood at its end (ūrdhvakeśa); his body was dry and rough. He appeared to be the man-lion incarnation of Viṣṇu. He was huge in size. He had long arms. His calves were as stout and huge as the palmyra tree. He was very terrible. He immediately rushed at Rāhu. On seeing him rushing to devour, Rāhu was terrified. He ran out when he was caught by the terrible being”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1) Ūrdhvakeśa (ऊर्ध्वकेश).—A son and commander of Bhaṇḍa.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 21. 81; 26. 47.

2) Ūrdhvakeśā (ऊर्ध्वकेशा).—A svara śakti.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 44. 56 and 85.
Purana book cover
context information

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.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Urdhvakesha in Shaktism glossary
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Ūrdhvakeśa (ऊर्ध्वकेश) refers to one of the eight Servants (ceṭa-aṣṭaka) associated with Oṃkārapīṭha (also called Oḍḍiyāna, Ādipīṭha or Uḍapīṭha), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight servants (ceṭāṣṭaka): Cañcala, Bhāsura, Bhīma, Lampaṭa, Chadmakāraka, Mahākruddha, Vyakta, Ūrdhvakeśa.

2) Ūrdhvakeśa (ऊर्ध्वकेश) also refers to one of the eight Bhairavas associated with Jālandhara (which is in the southern quarter).—[...] The eight Bhairavas: Ruru, Kāla, Bahurūpa, Pracaṇḍaka, Tryambaka, Tripurānta, Ūrdhvakeśa, Aghora.

Shaktism book cover
context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Urdhvakesha in Shaivism glossary
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Ūrdhvakeśa (ऊर्ध्वकेश) refers to “(having) erect hair”, according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 4.21-27, while describing inauspicious dreams]—“[The dreamer] sees a bear or monkey, demons, cruel beings, and dark men. [He sees those who] have erect hair (ūrdhvakeśa), dirty ones, those who wear black garlands, clothes, and coverings. That man who, in his dream, embraces a red-eyed woman, he dies, there is no doubt, if he does not bring about peace. [...]”

Shaivism book cover
context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Ūrdhvakeśa (ऊर्ध्वकेश) is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Śaṃkarī Devī they preside over Dharaṇī: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18). Their weapon is the gadā or gaya and their abode is the tāla-tree. A similar system appears in the tradition of Hindu Tantrims, i.e., in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22), which belongs to the Śākta sect or Śaivism.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Urdhvakesha in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ūrdhvakeśa (ऊर्ध्वकेश).—a.

1) having the hair erect.

2) one whose hair is torn.

Ūrdhvakeśa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ūrdhva and keśa (केश). See also (synonyms): ūrdhvakaca.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Ūrdhvakeśa (ऊर्ध्वकेश):—[=ūrdhva-keśa] [from ūrdhva] mfn. having the hair erect

2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a man

[Sanskrit to German]

Urdhvakesha in German

context information

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.

Discover the meaning of urdhvakesha or urdhvakesa in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

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