Mudralakshana, Mudrālakṣaṇa, Mudra-lakshana: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Mudralakshana means something in 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 term Mudrālakṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Mudralaksana or Mudralakshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Google Books: Consecration Rituals In South AsiaMudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) refers to one of the chapters of the Devyāmata: an Early Śaiva Pratiṣṭhātantra dating back to the 5th century CE dealing with topics related to temple construction, consecration rituals, and iconography.—The Devyāmata is written in the form of a dialogue between Śiva and the Goddess. It begins with the praśnapaṭala, ‘the chapter on questions’, in which Devī tells Śiva what topics she would like to learn about. The answers are provided in the following chapters [e.g., mudrālakṣaṇa], of which each is dedicated to one specific subject.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts1) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) (lit. “concerning ritual hand gestures”) is the name of the sixth chapter of the Nāradīyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra document comprising over 3000 verses in 30 chapters presenting in a narrative framework the teachings of Nārada to Gautama, dealing primarily with modes of worship and festivals.
Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa]: Gautama asks Nārada about mudrās, by using which one can please the Lord (1) Nārada then names and describes how to form with the hands 26 gestures: namely, those for the four Vyūhas (2-5), then the hṛdayas, kavaca, netra, udara, pṛṣṭha, bāhu, stana, jaṅghā, pāda, aṅguṣṭha (6-16). Also śakti, śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, padma, musala, khaḍga, aṅga and vanamāla (17-28). All the preceding are mudrās appropriate to use when worshipping the Lord in His central shrine. He then turns to mudrās for the two major parivāra-devatās, that is, Vainateya and Viṣvaksena. The chapter closes saying that there are special mudrās—e.g., matsyamudrā—and these, along with the others already named, may be used in special ways for special occasions as, for examples, when the Lord is bathed, taken in procession, etc. (29-36).
2) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) (lit. “description of mudrā-gestures”) is the name of chapter 7 of the Viṣṇusaṃhitā: a Sanskrit text written in 2600 verses which covers typical Pāñcarātra topics through a narrative dialogue between Aupagāyana and Siddha Sumati.
Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa]: In the course of worship, especially during the nyāsa-concentrations, certain hand-gestures are to be used. Some thirty-six mudrās are named and described in this chapter: añjali, vandanī, ūrdhvāṅguṣṭha (1-4); brahmāñjali, vahinī, sānnidhya, sthāpanī, pārameṣṭhī (5-11); yoni, koṭi (12-16); hṛdaya, śiras, śikhā, kavaca, astra, netra, (17-22a); pāvanī, cakra, gadā (24-27); śaṅkha, dhanus, śara, khaḍga, kheṭa, garuḍa, ananta, prārthana, śrīvatsa, kaustubha, ūrdhva, dhvaja, vināyaka, liṅga, viṣvaksena, saṃkalpa (28-44a). The remainder of the chapter gives certain general rules for the employment of and proper times for inserting these ritual hand-gestures into worship. Especially important for Sādhakas are the śrīvatsa and kaustubha-mudrās; in addition, serious Sādhakas use one called mālā (44b-58).
3) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) (lit. “chapter on hand gestures”) is the name of chapter 2 of the Ṛṣirātra section of the Sanatkumārasaṃhitā: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).
Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa]: Sanatkumāra here describes 81 mudrā-gestures, and briefly notes how the hands form them. Those mentioned are: muṣṭi, snāna, gandha, puṣpa, dīpa, dhūpa, yajñopavīta, vastra, alaṁkāra, vainata, ācāra, rakṣā, para, svāgata, saṅkhyā, pratimā, tarjanī, dvandva, vyūha, nāga, grāsa, paśu, mṛgī, hasta, dāna, liṅga, prati, sṛṣṭi, praṇava, śleṣa, vistīrṇa, prasṛti, dhvaja, bīja, brahma, viṣṇu, rudra, siṃha, toraṇa, cakra, gadā, mukha, dhanus, śakti, kūṭa, śayana, garuḍa, vyoma, sarpa, mahā, mālā, musala, śrīvṛkṣa, valaya, kuṇḍa, parama, tomara, hayaśīrṣaka, vāmana, śakra, agni, nirṛti, varuṇa, vāyu, soma, nirmālya, vasana, śakti, kāla, loka, nṛtta, gīta, vādya, yoga, tattva, jñāna, karma, nyāsa, mantra, pāśa, kalaśa, and kavaca (78-97). The last verse (98) says that the bṛhaspatirātra tells how to employ these mudrā-gestures.
4) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) refers to the “characteristics of ritual hand-gestures”, as discussed in the twenty-fourth chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (printed edition).—Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa-bhagavaddhyāna-ādi-prakāra]: Nārada tells how one prepares himself for the practice of mudrā-gestures—washing the hands with sandal-paste, doing certain exercises with the fingers, ritually touching the chest with the thumbs and forefingers of both hands, executing certain motions with the palms joined, etc. (3-11). Different mudrā-gestures are named and described (12-72): [...]
5) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) or Mudrālakṣaṇavidhi (lit. “rules regarding ritual hand-gestures”) is the name of the twenty-seventh chapter of the Kapiñjalasaṃhitā. Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa-vidhi]:—Kaśyapa asks to be told about the mudrās that are enjoined in the śastras. Kapiñjala stresses how important mudrās are as a part of worship, and how the Lord is pleased by them, etc. (1-3). The remainder of the chapter names and describes 27 types of mudrās (4-26). Those which are not listed and described here, says Kapiñjala, may be found in other tantra works (27).
6) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) refers to the “characteristics of ritual hand gestures”, as discussed in chapter 22 (Caryāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā.—Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa-vidhi]: Brahmā asks the meaning, uses and varieties of mudrā-gestures. Bhagavān says these finger movements are ways to fend off evil and to prevent those taking pleasure in harming others [hiṃsakānām aśeṣāṇām mudaṃ drāvayati kṣaṇāṭ / tato mudrā nirasanaṃ teṣāṃ tasya prayojanam //]. Furthermore, they please the Lord-so long as they are demonstrated in private (1-5a). He then names and describes 53 mudrā-gestures: [...]
7) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) (lit. “description of ritual hand-gestures”) is the name of chapter 33 of the Puruṣottamasaṃhitā.—Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa]: Brahmā asks about ritual hand-gestures, when and why they should be demonstrated (1). Bhagavān says that “mudrā” means that which gives pleasure for everyone (2). Then he describes briefly how to formulate some 41 different mudrā-gestures (3-44).
8) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) refers to the “features of mudrā”, as discussed in chapter 54 of the Śrīpraśnasaṃhitā.—Description of the chapter [bharanyāsa-ādi-mudrālakṣaṇa-arcana-anta-vidhi]: [...] During the performance of arcana-worship to the Lord, one should display mudrā-gestures to the Lord in order to drive away evil spirits and to please God. He names and describes some 7 nyāsa-positions as well as some 13 mudrā-gestures (62-117). Then he tells what flowers are acceptable to the Lord at different times of the day (118-134). [...]
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[tantric] B. 4, 264. Ben. 44. Rādh. 28. Oudl X, 22.
—by Kṛṣṇanātha. NW. 206.
2) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण):—[tantric] Rgb. 986.
3) Mudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण):—[dharma] Bd. 291. L.. 680.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryMudrālakṣaṇa (मुद्रालक्षण):—[=mudrā-lakṣaṇa] [from mudrā] n. Name of [work]
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: Lakshana, Mudra.
Starts with: Mudralakshanabhagavaddhyanadiprakara, Mudralakshanavidhi.
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Full-text (+320): Shodashamudralakshana, Dhanurmudra, Urdhva, Sannidhya, Vandani, Urdhvangushtha, Linga, Vahini, Sthapani, Kotimudra, Vandanimudra, Brahmanjalimudra, Vahinimudra, Sannidhyamudra, Sthapanimudra, Pavanimudra, Khetamudra, Urdhvamudra, Vinayakamudra, Yoni.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Mudralakshana, Mudrā-lakṣaṇa, Mudra-laksana, Mudra-lakshana, Mudrālakṣaṇa, Mudralaksana; (plurals include: Mudralakshanas, lakṣaṇas, laksanas, lakshanas, Mudrālakṣaṇas, Mudralaksanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
The Old-Javanese Agastya-Parva < [Purana, Volume 4, Part 1 (1962)]
Studies in the Upapuranas (by R. C. Hazra)