Vāmadeva
Vāmadeva, “the beautiful deva”
Vāmadeva is a name used for more than one being in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.
People
- Vāmadeva: the maharshi who knew the oneness of ātmā and Brahman in the womb, a chief student of Kumārasvāmi and priest of Daśaratha. Śiva Purāṇa, Kailāsa Saṃhitā, Chapters 11–23; Nārada Purāṇa, Uttarārdha, Chapters 10–11; Padma Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 60
- Vāmadeva Yogī: a Śaiva yogī whose bhasma-covered body freed a brahmarākshasa in the Krauñca forest. Skanda Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Dharmāraṇya Khaṇḍa, Uttarārdha, Chapters 15–16
Things and ideas
- Pañcabrahma: Vāmadeva as one of the five faces of Bhagavān Śiva, with Sadyojāta, Tatpurusha, Aghora and Īśāna; its mantra is used in pūjā and snāna. Śiva Purāṇa, Vāyavīya Saṃhitā, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 31; Śiva Purāṇa, Kailāsa Saṃhitā, Chapters 3, 4, 6, 14, 15; Śiva Purāṇa, Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā, Chapters 4, 15
- Pañcāvatāra of Śiva: Vāmadeva as one of the five avatāras of Bhagavān Śiva, each in its own kalpa. Śiva Purāṇa, Śata Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 1