Vamahasta, Vāmahasta, Vama-hasta: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Vamahasta 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.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramVāmahasta (वामहस्त) refers to the “left hand”, according to the Ambāmatasaṃhitā verse 18-119-12.—Accordingly, “Washing first (his) food with water, he should eat it with the left hand [i.e., vāmahasta]. Maintaining the vow of purity and silence, (he should remains) concentrated and content. All the food he has earned is the sacrificial pap (caruka) he eats. The pervasion (vyāpti) (of the deity) and success in the repetition of mantra (japasiddhi) arise due to that. This should be done in one's own home or in a secluded place where there are no other people. Otherwise, the householder should not do it”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsVāmahasta (वामहस्त) refers to the “left arm”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 9.—Accordingly, “[...] [The Lord spoke]:—[...] On one half, there should be a forehead mark; on one half a [forehead] eye. A ring [should be] in one ear; a [pendant] ear-ornament in one ear. He should put a trident in his right hand and a breast on his left side, a girdle on the left half, a bangle on the left arm (vāmahasta), a woman’s anklet on the left leg, a man’s anklet on the right leg and a muñja-grass belt. At the hips, he should put a loin-cloth on the right and wear a woman’s garment on the left.”.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraVāmahasta (वामहस्त) refers to “one’s lovely hand”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 3.17-23, while describing a meditation on Amṛteśa in his form as Mṛtyujit]—“And so now, having constructed the amṛtāmudrā or the padmamudrā, [the Mantrin] should meditate on the Ātman. [...] [He is] one-faced, three-eyed, seated on a white lotus, fixed in the bound lotus seat. [He is] four-armed, large-eyed, the hand [fixed in the position] of granting wishes and safety, [holding] a full moon, radiant, filled with amṛta, holding a water pot, [and] completely full of the world, the moon in his lovely hand (vāmahasta). [The Mantrin] should remember him adorned with a reverence that is all white”.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureVāmahasta (वामहस्त) refers to the “right hand”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [as the Bhagavān teaches an offering manual]: “A wax Garuḍa should be made. [...] [The Garuḍa] should hold a three-headed [Nāga] in the right hand, and jewels and gems in the left (vāmahasta). It should be covered with shining gold. It should be touched by colours according to the ritual manual. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryVāmahasta (वामहस्त).—the dew-lap of a goat.
Derivable forms: vāmahastaḥ (वामहस्तः).
Vāmahasta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms vāma and hasta (हस्त).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryVāmahasta (वामहस्त):—[=vāma-hasta] [from vāma] m. the dewlap of a goat, [Āryavidyā-sudhākara]
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)
Full-text: Vama, Parikshepa.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Vamahasta, Vāmahasta, Vama-hasta, Vāma-hasta; (plurals include: Vamahastas, Vāmahastas, hastas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Yajnavalkya-smriti (Vyavaharadhyaya)—Critical study (by Kalita Nabanita)
Chapter 1.2d - The Yājñavalkyasmṛti and its relation with other Ancient Literature < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 4.3 - (c) Sculptures of Shiva and Dance < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]