Samudrika Shastra (Hindi:सामुद्रिक शास्त्र) is the study of face reading, aura reading, and whole body analysis in the
Vedic tradition, a Sanskrit term that translates roughly as "knowledge of
body features." Often used in
Vedic astrology, as it is contiguous to
astrology and
palmistry (Hast-samudrika) as well as
phrenology (kapal-samudrik) and face reading (
physiognomy, mukh-samudrik). It is also one of the themes incorporated in the ancient Hindu text, the
Garuda Purana.
This tradition assumes that every natural or acquired bodily mark encodes its owner's psychology and destiny. Elevation, depression, elongation, diminution, and other marks become relevant. Traditional stories in
India thus abound with descriptions of rare auspicious markings found on the bodies of memorable people. Legends about the
Rama and Krishna
Avatars,
Gautama the Buddha, and
Mahavira the
Tirthankara conform to this tradition.
Indeed,
Hindus,
Buddhists, and
Jains share this ancient Samudrika Shastra tradition. Fragments of it pop up in other cultures as well.
Phrenology and
face reading evoke its principles.
Sheldon's typology of body forms,
ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph (called
somatotypes) also mimics the ancient Samudrika Shastra's impulse.
There are mainly 5 types of humane in terms of the Samudrika:-
- Agni
- Vayu
- Jal
- Akash
- Prithvi
References
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