The Sanskrit term Vaktrāṣṭa can be transliterated into English as Vaktrasta or Vaktrashta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Vaktrāṣṭa (वक्त्राष्ट) (or Aṣṭavaktra) refers to “(having) eight faces”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “Now I will tell (you) the teaching concerning Gurunātha, merely by knowing which the tradition of the teachers functions. [...] O god, (he is) associated with the eighty-one parts (of Navātman) and has eight lotus-like faces (vaktrāṣṭa—vaktrāṣṭau paṅkajair) and sixteen arms. (This is the) Sakala (form of the teacher), which is endowed with energy. Each part of (his) body is (like a shining) lamp within (his) maṇḍalas. (He is) the first teacher adorned with the Krama and (accompanied) by the Siddha couples of the Transmental (that constitutes the Divine Current). [...]”.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ashta, Vaktra.

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Full-text: Ashtavaktra.

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