Ekavaktra, Eka-vaktra: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Ekavaktra 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Ekavaktra (एकवक्त्र) refers to a “Rudraksha with one face”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 1.25, while explaining the greatness of Rudrākṣa:—“[...] a Rudrākṣa of a single face (ekavaktra) is Śiva Himself. It bestows worldly pleasures and salvation. The sin of brahmin-slaughter is washed off at its mere sight. Where it is adored, Fortune cannot be far off. Harms and harassments perish. All desires are fulfilled”.
2) Ekavaktra (एकवक्त्र) refers to “having one face” and is used to describe Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.46 (“The arrival of the bridegroom”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “Menā saw with pleasure lord Śiva, the bridegroom of Pārvatī, served by all the gods and who by that time had come there. Śiva had the complexion of the colour of the Campaka flower. He had only one face (ekavaktra) but retained the three eyes. The face was beaming with a simple smile. He was bedecked in gems and gold and wore a garland of Mālatī flowers. The gem-set crown was lustrous. He wore brilliant necklaces. He was bedecked in bangles and bracelets of fine workmanship. [...]”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramEkavaktra (एकवक्त्र) or Ekavaktrā refers to “one who has one face”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.
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: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra1) Ekavaktra (एकवक्त्र) [=vaktraika?] refers to a “one-faced deity” and is used to describe Amṛteśa (as Mṛtyujit), 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 (ekavaktra), three-eyed, seated on a white lotus, fixed in the bound lotus seat. [...]”.
2) Ekavaktra (एकवक्त्र) or “one-faced” is also used to describe Nārāyaṇa.—Accordingly, [verse 13.1-9, while describing the appearance and worship of Viṣṇu, in the form of Nārāyaṇa]—“Thus, [I have] spoken the kaulika rule of the mantrarāṭ. I again shall tell another method by which [the deity] grants fruits. He should always think of the four-armed Nārāyaṇa arising. [Nārāyaṇa has] two, long, lotus petal eyes, one face (ekavaktra), has the appearance of a [blue] linseed flower, [and is] adorned with all [of his] instruments: a conch, discus, mace, and lotus. [...]”.
3)Ekavaktra (एकवक्त्र) or “one-faced” is also used to describe Sūrya.—Accordingly, [verse 13.17-25ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Sūrya]—“Now, I explain that which consists of light [i.e., Sūrya]. [...] [He] looks like the flower of a pomegranate [and] resembles Soma at the end of time. [Sūrya has] one face (ekavaktra), three eyes, four arms, possess a noble nature, and [holds his] hands in the shape of the wish-granting and protection [mudrās]. [...]”.
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
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesEkavaktrā (एकवक्त्रा) refers to “she who has one face”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[Vajravārāhī holds] an adamantine knife in the right [hand] and a skull bowl in the left hand; hugs the Blessed One (Heruka) around [his] hips with [her] two shanks and loves [him]; [has] one face (ekavaktrā); [has her] hair untied; is naked; is red in color; wears a garland of hairless heads [as a necklace]; is adorned with sexually attractive ornaments; is crowned with a string of skulls on [her] head; [...]”.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ekavaktra (एकवक्त्र):—[=eka-vaktra] [from eka] m. ‘one-faced’, Name of a Dānava, [Harivaṃśa]
2) Ekavaktrā (एकवक्त्रा):—[=eka-vaktrā] [from eka-vaktra > eka] f. Name of a mother in the retinue of Skanda, [Mahābhārata], ([varia lectio] -candrā)
3) Ekavaktra (एकवक्त्र):—[=eka-vaktra] [from eka] n. a kind of berry, [Tārānātha tarkavācaspati’s Vācaspatyam, Sanskrit dictionary]
[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)
Starts with: Ekavaktrabhairava, Ekavaktraka.
Ends with: Anekavaktra.
Full-text: Ekacandra, Ekavaktrabhairava, Mahavidya, Vaktraika.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ekavaktra, Eka-vaktra, Ekavaktrā, Eka-vaktrā; (plurals include: Ekavaktras, vaktras, Ekavaktrās, vaktrās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vastu-shastra (4): Palace Architecture (by D. N. Shukla)
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 2.3 - Partha-anugraha-murti (depiction of the story of Arjuna) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]
The Practice Manual of Noble Tārā Kurukullā (by Dharmachakra Translation Committee)
Chapter 1 < [Appendix - Sanskrit Text]
Harivamsha Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter 47 - The Danavas Described < [Book 3 - Bhavishya Parva]