Dear Norbu,

N> could anyone give me an idea of how many interpretations and their
N> explanations are for the word "parimukham" in the above line taken
N> from Mahasatipatthana sutta.

1. 'In the front (of chest)' (in PTS dictionary)

Dr. Rhys Davids, quoting Buddhaghosa's commentary 'ure
loma-samhara.nam' on the phrase 'parimukham kaaraapeti',
from Vin. II.134, suggests the translation 'in front', explaining it as
'set up his memory in front of the object of thought'.

The only support I've found is the Buddhaghosa commentary
(Culavagga-Atthakatha 6.1211) 'Parimukhanti ure lomasa.mhara.na.m'
(cutting off the hair on the breast) to the passage (Culavagga 2.134
5.Khuddakavatthuuni)

“Na, bhikkhave, massu kappaapetabba.m …pe… na massu
va.d.dhaapetabba.m… na golomika.m kaaraapetabba.m… na caturassaka.m
kaaraapetabba.m… na parimukha.m kaaraapetabba.m… na a.d.dhaduka.m
kaaraapetabba.m… na daa.thikaa .thapetabbaa… na sambaadhe loma.m
sa.mharaapetabba.m".

In approximate translation:
(Bhikkhu, the beard should not be trimmed, the beard should not be
enlarged, should not be cut into a ball- or cluster-shape, should
not be cut into quadrangular shape, should not be cut around the
_mouth_, should not be cut in 'half-dyad', should not be arranged in
whiskers, the hair should not be made grown at pudendum.)

Sorry, but there seem to be occasional inexact places in highly
venerable Buddhaghosa's commentary, Vibhanga's and Patisambhidamagga's
interpretation 'around the mouth' is far more credible, and quite fits
here.

2. Thanissaro Bhikkhu mentions the literal translation of 'ure', i.e. on
the breast.

3. 'Around the mouth' (i.e. at the tip of the nostrils or at the upper
lip)

"Parimukha.m sati.m upa.t.thapetvaa"ti tattha katamaa sati? Yaa
sati anussati pa.tissati …pe… sammaasati - aya.m vuccati "sati".
Aya.m sati upa.t.thitaa hoti supa.t.thitaa naasikagge vaa
mukhanimitte vaa. Tena vuccati "parimukha.m sati.m
upa.t.thapetvaa"ti.

Vibhangapali .252

"parimukha.m sati.m upa.t.thapetvaati kamma.t.thaan'aabhimukha.m sati.m
.thapayitvaa. mukhasamiipe vaa katvaati attho. teneva vibha'nge
vutta.m - "aya.m sati upa.t.thitaa hoti sіpa.t.thitaa naasikagge vaa
mukhanimitte vaa, tena vuccati parimukha.m sati.m upa.t.thapetvaa"ti
(vibha. 537). athavaa pariiti pariggaha.t.tho. mukhanti
niyyaana.t.tho. satiiti upa.t.thaana.t.tho. tena vuccati- "parimukha.m
satin"ti. eva.m pa.tisambhidaaya.m vuttanayenapettha attho
da.t.thabbo. tatraaya.m sa'nkhepo- "pariggahitaniyyaanasati.m
katvaa"ti.

Silakkhandhavagga-Atthakatha 1.211

In my inexperienced opinion Vibhanga seems to be one of the most
authoritative commentaries. In the passage above it clearly explains
'parimukha.m' as 'the tip of the nose (naasikagge) or lip of the mouth
(mukha)'. Buddhaghosa's commentaries seem to be later.

See also the article:
http://www2.nethop.net/~birken/texts/NIMITTA.doc

Metta,
Dimitry