Avaŋ (adv.) [Vedic avāk & avāŋ] the prep. ava in adv. use, down, downward; in C. often expld. by adho. Rarely absolute, the only passage found so far being Sn 685 (avaŋ sari he went down, v. l. avasari, expld. by otari SnA 486). Opp. uddhaŋ (above, up high). Freq. in cpd. avaŋsira (adj.) head downward (+ uddhaŋpāda feet up), a position characteristic of beings in Niraya (Purgatory), e. g. S i.48; Sn 248 (patanti sattā nirayaŋ avaŋsirā = adhogata -- sīsā SnA 290); Vv 5225 (of Revatī, + uddhaŋpāda); Pv iv.146; J i.233 (+ uddhapāda); iv.103 (nirayaŋ vajanti yathā adhammo patito avaŋsiro); Nd1 404 (uddhaŋpāda +); DhA iv.153 (gloss adhosira). -- On avaŋ˚ cp. further avakkāra, avākaroti, avekkhipati.