# वामाचार (vāmācāra)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/vamachara

वामाचार (vāmācāra) is a Sanskrit word meaning the left-hand practices or doctrines of the Tantras, behaving badly or wrongly, the left-hand ritual of the Tantras. Its 6 recorded definitions are grouped into 2 contexts, among them Tantric Left-Hand Path/Practices, Improper Conduct / Misbehavior.

- **SLP1:** `vAmAcAra`  **IAST:** vāmācāra  **Devanagari:** वामाचार
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vamachara
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/vamachara/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Tantric Left-Hand Path/Practices (5 definitions)
- the left-hand practices or doctrines of the Tantras  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H3) [Printed book page 941,3] वामा (vāmā) चार (cāra) m. the left-hand practices or doctrines of the Tantras ( i.e. the worship of the Śakti or Female Energy personified as the wife of Śiva, as opposed to दक्षिणा (dakṣiṇā) चार (cāra), q.v. ), Cat. [ ID=191068 ]
- The left-hand ritual of the Tantras involving the use of flesh and spirits.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वाम (vāma) ाचार (vāmācāra) [Printed book page 752 ] वाम (vāma) ाचार (vāmācāra) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) The doctrine of the Tantras according to one system. E. वाम (vāma) left, and आचार (ācāra) institute; the left hand ritual, the use of flesh, spirits, &c. forming part of the Vāmācāra ceremonies. [ ID=34397 ]
- the left-hand ritual practice involving the use of flesh, spirits, and similar offerings  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वामाचार (vāmācāra) [Printed book page 674-a ] वामा _ चार (vāmā_cāra) ( रः ) ((raḥ)) 1. m. Left hand system; using flesh, spirits, &c. [ ID=33991 ]
- the left-hand ritual of the Tantras  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वामाचार (vāmācāra) [Printed book page 653-14 ] वाम - आचार (vāma-ācāra) m. the left-hand ritual of the Tantras. [ ID=34338 ]
- the left-hand ritual of the Tantras involving the use of flesh and spirits  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > वाम (vāma) ाचार (vāmācāra) [Printed book page 644-b ] वाम (vāma) ाचार (vāmācāra) m. ( - रः (-raḥ) ) The doctrine of the Tantras according to one system. E. वाम (vāma) left, and आचार (ācāra) institute; the left hand ritual, the use of flesh, spirits, &c., forming part of the Vāmācāra ceremonies. [ ID=35967 ]

### Improper Conduct / Misbehavior (1 definition)
- behaving badly or wrongly  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > वामा (vāmā) चार (cāra) mfn. behaving badly or in the wrong way, Suśr.; Pañcar. [ ID=191069 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546