Uttamanga, Uttamaṅga, Uttama-anga, Uttamamga: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Uttamanga means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग):—[uttamāṅgam] Head or head & neck
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग) refers to the “head”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “We shall now proceed to give a brief description of (the qualifications of) a jyotiṣaka. He must be of noble birth and of agreeable appearance; meek, truthful and without jealousy; of proportional limbs; of joints well built and of good growth; have no physical defects; be of fine hands, feet, nails, eyes, chin, teeth, ears, forehead, eye-brows and head [i.e., uttamāṅga]; of fine physique and of high, sonorous voice”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग) refers to the “most excellent body”, according to the Kulakaulinīmata verse 20.505cd-508ab.—Accordingly, “Akula is said to be Kaula. It is Maheśvara, the womb in the womb of the most excellent body (uttamāṅga). O mistress of the gods, he is present everywhere. The abode of Kula is in Kaula, that is, in one's own divine Kula, one’s own nature and form devoid of the body. One should enter into the Self by the Self. The Great Goddess engaged in intercourse within the great Śiva is Pārvatī. By means of the bliss (of this union one) attains the supreme principle and by (that) principle, the supreme (state)”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग) refers to the “upper body” (i.e., the head, eyes, shoulders, throat, chest, etc.), according to the Haṭhapradīpikā 3.96-98.—Accordingly, “Having discarded the first flow of water because of its excessive heat and the last flow because it is worthless, [the Yogin] should use the middle flow [which is] cool. In the Khaṇḍakāpālika sect, this is [called] Amarolī. If he regularly drinks the [middle flow called] Amarī; snorts [it] everyday and correctly practices Vajrolī Mudrā [in order to draw it up his urethra], it is called Amarolī. He should mix the lunar fluid which is emitted because of [this] practice, with ashes and [then,] put it on the upper body (uttamāṅga) (i.e., the head, eyes, shoulders, throat, chest, arms and so on). [As a result], divine sight arises”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग) refers to the “best limb”, according to the Guru-maṇḍala-arcana [i.e., “Guru Mandala Worship]” ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “In the Mandala, an obscured Himalaya, abiding seated in lotus posture, the best limb of all possessed (ākrāntā-sarva-uttamāṅga), an equally elevated pair of white breasts, swinging garlands, having made the gods, Upendra, Sūrya, Candra, etc., [..] a helper for crossing over together, the dreadful wilderness of saṃsāra, routing Māra, Śrī Vajrasattva, homage”.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryuttamaṅga : (nt.) the most important part, i.e. the head.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryUttamaṅga refers to: the best or most important limb or part of the body, viz. (a) the head Vin. II, 256 = M. I, 32 = A. IV, 278 (in phrase uttamaṅge sirasmiṃ); J. II, 163; also in cpd. °bhūta the hair of the head Th. 2, 253 (= kesa-kalāpa ThA. 209, 210) & °ruha id. J. I, 138 = VI, 96 (= kesā C.); (b) the eye J. IV, 403; (c) the penis J. V, 197.
Note: uttamaṅga is a Pali compound consisting of the words uttama and aṅga.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryuttamāṅga (उत्तमांग).—n (S uttama & aṅga The chief member.) The head.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishuttamāṅga (उत्तमांग).—n The head.
Marathi 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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग).—n.
(-ṅgaṃ) The head. E. uttama chief, and aṅga member.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग).—n. the head, Man, 1, 93.
Uttamāṅga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms uttama and aṅga (अङ्ग).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग).—[neuter] the head (lit. highest member).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग):—[from ut-tama] n. the highest or chief part of the body, the head, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata; Bhagavad-gītā; Suśruta; Mṛcchakaṭikā etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryUttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग):—[uttamā+ṅga] (ṅgaṃ) 1. n. The head.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Uttamāṅga (उत्तमाङ्ग) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Uttamaṃga.
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryUttamaṃga (उत्तमंग) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Uttamāṅga.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusUttamāṃga (ಉತ್ತಮಾಂಗ):—[noun] the head, considered as the most important one among all the limbs.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Uttama, Anga, Anka.
Starts with: Uttamangaruha.
Ends with: Mrigottamanga.
Full-text: Mrigottamanga, Adhamanga, Chettavya, Upper body, Uttima, Uttama, Kharpara, Raktakrishna, Avalina.
Relevant text
Search found 14 books and stories containing Uttamanga, Uttama-anga, Uttama-aṅga, Uttamamga, Uttamaṃga, Uttamāṃga, Uttamaṅga, Uttamāṅga; (plurals include: Uttamangas, angas, aṅgas, Uttamamgas, Uttamaṃgas, Uttamāṃgas, Uttamaṅgas, Uttamāṅgas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika (by R. Balasubramanian)
Verse 2.309 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
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Vastu-shastra (Introduction to Indian architecture) (by D. N. Shukla)
Chapter 10 - The Defects of the House < [Volume 3 - House Architecture]
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
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Gati in Theory and Practice (by Dr. Sujatha Mohan)
An analysis of the chapters in Nāṭyaśāstra < [Chapter 1 - Nāṭya]
Study on Sharkara Mishrita Dugda Nasya vs Murchita Ghrita Nasya for Migraine < [Volume 4, issue 3: May- June 2017]
Consanguinity between dinacharya and shalakya tantra: a review < [Volume 6, Issue 1: January - February 2019]
Ayurvedic management of generalised anxiety disorder - a case report < [Volume 10, Suppl 3: May-June 2023]