Acchoda (Achchhoda) is one of the greatest of all the famous lakes mentioned in Purāṇas (Puranas). In significance it is at par with the lakes Mānasa and Vindu. Due to variance in pronunciation it is sometimes spelled as Akṣoda (Akshoda). The lake was dug by a particular sect of manes called Agniṣvātta (Agnishvatta). It is […]

The river Acchodā (Achchhoda) emerged out of lake Acchoda (Achchhoda). The famous Caitraratha (Chaitraratha) forest was located on the banks of this river. According to a story in Purāṇas (Puranas), Acchodā was the mānasī (manasi; female conceived by the mind) daughter of a sect of divine manes called Agniṣvātta (Agnisvatta). Her form was that of […]

Acetanā (Achetana) was the wife of Manu. However, it is not clearly stated in Brahmāndapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) to which particular King Manu (ruler of which particular epoch) she was the wife.

One of the names of Mahādeva Śiva (Mahadeva Shiva). In the Śiva Sahasranāma Stotra (Shiva Sahasranama Stotra; the hymn praising the thousand names of Shiva), the word acintya (achintya) is mentioned twice as one of the names of Mahādeva. The word acintya refers to the one who cannot be validated, proved or established through logic, reason or idea. […]

Rāptī (Rapti), a river that flowed through Ayodhyā (Ayodhya), mentioned in Purāṇas (Puranas), was also known as Acīravatī (Achiravati) or Airāvātī (Airavati). Scholars believe that the ancient city of Śrāvastī (Shravasti) was situated on the banks of river Acīravatī. It may be presumed that the quay or the wharf on the banks of Rāptī, the […]

One of the thousand names of god Viṣṇu (Vishnu) mentioned in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasreanamastotra; hymns praising the thousand names of Viṣṇu). In the Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra, Viṣṇu is addressed as Śrīhari Acyuta (Shrihari Achyuta) thrice. Other than that, even in the epics and Purāṇas (Puranas) the name Acyuta is mentioned many times.

In the ancient times, the areas inhabited by the people belonging to the lower castes were referred to as acyutasthala (achyutasthala). It is a common adjective. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) the areas specified as acyutasthala were deemed uninhabitable. yugandhare dadhi prāśya ūṣitvā cācyutasthale tadvadbhūta laye snātvā saputrā vastumarhasi. Inhabiting acyutasthala requires one to perform special ārādhanā […]

One of the warriors who fought alongside the Kauravas in the battle of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra). His name actually was Acyutāyus, which took the form of Acyutāyu (or Acyutāyuḥ) without declension. He was often mentioned along with the name of Śrutāyuḥ (Shrutayuh) or Śrutāyus (Shrutayus). Even though they were said to be very strong and powerful, and […]

Aḍambara (Adambara) was one of the two lackeys of Skanda-Kārtikeya (Skanda-Kartikeya) presented to him by the Supreme Being for enhancing Skanda’s strength. 

One of the major names of Śiva (Shiva) featuring in the Aṣtottarasahasranāmastotra (Ashtottarasahasranamastotra; an incantation recounting one thousand and eight names of Śiva). Elucidating this appellation of Śiva, Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the commentator of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) observes – adambhaḥ nāsti dambho damako yasya. The term adambha literally refers to the one having no dambha or vanity […]

One of the follower-warriors of Skanda-Kārtikeya (Skanda-Kartikeya). When the gods corronated Skanda-Kārtikeya as their Senāpati (Senapati; General), some distinguished gods including Indra  gave Kartikeya some of their own followers, to help him. Āḍamvara (Adamvara) is one of the five followers given to Kārtikeya by Dhāta (Dhata).

According to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) and Brahmāṇdapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Ādarśa(Adarsa) is one of the sons of Sāvarṇi (Savarni) Manu in the eleventh Manvantara, in future.

According to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Ādarśa(Adarsa) is one of the sons of Sāvarṇi(Savarni) Manu in the eleventh Manvantara of the future.

The dictionary meaning of the term Ādarśa (Adarsa) is darpaṇa (darpana) or ‘a miror’. In Bhāgavatapurāṇa(Bhagavatapurana) it is said that Devahūti (Devahuti), daughter of Svāyambhuva (Svayambhuva) Manu, while getting ready for her wedding, decorated herself with new clothes and jewellery, and watched her own reflection in a mirror. It is assumed that from a very […]

For the purpose of obliterating the Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon), Mahadevā (Mahadeva) created innumerable mātṛkā (matrika; female deities of a lesser category) from his own body to be of service in the execution. Adarśanā (Adarshana) is one prominent mātṛkā.    

In the ninth manvantara (epoch; age of a Manu; an astronomical period of time measurement) in the future, when Dakṣasāvarṇi (Dakshasavarni) will become the supreme authority or the designated Manu,  Adbhuta will be the appointed Indra.

A son of Savana, a fire.

Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) describes natural calamities like earthquake, downpour, aridity and so on as utpāta (utpata). Following the dictionary meaning of utpāta, the subject may be elaborated in the following manner. Those incidents which do not have a  common rationale or logically set rules of explanation or those incidents that very rarely take place were indicated as […]

A kind of Agni (fire or the Fire-god). A son named Vibhūrasi (Vibhurasi) was born to Adbhuta Agni.

An important appelation of Viṣṇu (Vishnu) mentioned in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; hymns praising the thousand names of Viṣṇu)

A sage. The great sage Adhacchāya’s (Adhachhaya) descendants constitute a prominent order of sages, featuring in the genealogy of sages that Purāṇas (Purana) accord to sage Kaśyapa (Kashyapa), son of the great sage Marīci (Marichi). Adhacchāya is attributed as one prominent originator of gotras (gotra; descendants in an unbroken patriline) belonging to the Kaśyapa lineage.

Adhaḥśirā (Adhahshira) or Adhaḥśiras (Adhahshiras) is a foremost type of hell. Purāṇas (Purana) mention and distinctly elaborate upon numerous hells, and also accord specific types of hell after death for committing specific sins in a lifetime.  Adhaḥśirā is one prominent hell among those. This hell is also known in some places as Adhomukha. 

Before the great war Kṛṣṇa (Krishna) ventured to Hastināpura (Hastinapura) to meet Dhṛtarāṣṭra (Dhritarashtra) with his final proposal for peace. On his way, Kṛṣṇa encounters several sages who wanted to accompany him to the Kaurava court for listening to his erudite and sagacious discourse. One prominent sage among them is the great sage Adhaḥśirā (Adhahshira).

The land called Bhogavardhana, situated in the Dakṣināpatha ( Dakshinapatha; the path towards Sothern India).

Ādhana was one of the sons born of the womb of Ūrjjā (Urja), sired by Vaśisṭha (Vasistha).

One of the major names of Śiva (Shiva) featuring in the Aṣtottarasahasranāmastotra (Ashtottarasahasranamastotra; an incantation recounting one thousand and eight names of Śiva). He is instated beyond and above the limits of material wealth and prosperity, ornamentations and embellishments, and therefore, Purāṇas (Puranas), as well as localized folk tales, depict Śiva as an impoverished pauper. From […]

One of the Sahasranāma(Sahasranama; Thousand Names) of God Viṣṇu

One of the important names of Śiva (Shiva) featuring in the Aṣtottarasahasranāmastotra (Ashtottarasahasranamastotra; an incantation recounting one thousand and eight names of Śiva). The word dharṣaṇa (dharshana) comes from the root dhṛṣ (dhrish) which means being angry or envious and so on. God is contemplated in his tranquil and benevolent manifestation in the name Śiva. He is […]

An important appelation of Viṣṇu (Vishnu) mentioned in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; hymns praising the thousand names of Viṣṇu)

See yajñāyudha (yajnayudha)

In Vanaparva of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) the great sage Pulastya describes several holy places, Adhivaṇga (Adhivanga) being one of them. It is depicted in Mahābhārata that this sacred place is inhabited by Yakṣas (Yaksha) or Guhyakas who are the caretakers of the treasures of the world. Visiting this holy place gives people the chance to live in […]

One of the ten sons of Hṛidika (Hridika) of the Yadu lineage.

Adhipati is the youngest of Bhṛgu’s (Bhrigu) sons out of the twelve somapayī deities (somapayi , the deities who can be pleased with soma, a Vedic ritual drink) born to the great sage Bhṛgu  and Devī (Devi).

Svāyambhuva Manu (Svayambhuva Manu; the first of the fourteen Manus) is known as adhipuruṣa (adhipurusha). In Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) it is said that as humankind is born from its progenitor Svāyambhuva Manu and as he is the foremost archetype of a complete man in appearance and characteristics, therefore, the primordial progenitor of humankind – Svāyambhuva Manu […]

The word adhirāja (adhiraja) does not merely define a king ruling over a populated geographical locale. Rather adhirāja is a king who has conquered even other kingdoms and has established his indisputable power. In one particular hymn of Ṛgveda (Rigveda), the second incantation reads as a prayer, “Let all four directions bow down to me, […]

A township referred to in Padmapurāṇa (Padmapurana). It is considered the same to be as the Karūṣa (Karusha) region that is mentioned in Purāṇas (Puranas). Possibly, it refers to the region of Rewa in Baghelkhand in central India. It lies to the south-west of Allahabad, 131 miles away. It is situated to the north east […]

One of the one thousand names of Śiva Mahādeva (Shiva Mahadeva) in Aṣṭottarasahasranāmastotra (Ashtottarasahasranamastotra; the verse eulogising one thousand and eight names of Śiva). In Śivasahasranāmastotra (Shivasahasranamastotra; the chant of the one thousand names of Śiva), the words ārohaṇa (arohana, or rise) and adhiroha have been mentioned together— ārohaṇo’dhirohaśca. In fact, there is not much difference between […]

At the beginning of Creation, twelve gods were born from Brahmā’s (Brahma) mouth. Created at the inception of the world, these twelve gods were classified under the gaṇa (gana) [here, a group or class] of deities named Jaya. Adhīṣṭa (Adhishta) was one of the twelve Jaya deities.

One of the one thousand names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu).

Different purāṇas (puranas) refer to King Adhisīmakṛṣṇa (Adhisimakrishna) as Adhisāmakṛṣṇa (Adhisamakrishna) or Adhisomakṛṣṇa (Adhisomakrishna), but the most commonly used name was Adhisīmakṛṣṇa. Abhimanyu’s grandson was Pārīkṣita (Parikshita) Janamejaya whose son was known as Śatānīka (Shatanika). According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Adhisomakṛṣṇa was the son of Śatānīka. However, other Purāṇas record that Śatānīka’s son was Aśvamedhadatta (Ashwamedhadatta).This piece […]

At the beginning of Creation, twelve gods were born from Brahmā’s (Brahma’s) mouth. They were classified under the gaṇa (gana) [here, a group or class] of deities named ‘Jaya’. Adhīti (Adhiti) was one of the twelve Jaya deities.

This is a reference to Kṛṣṇa (Krishna). Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) has defined the word adhokṣaja (adhokshaja) as such— adhokṣaja is one the lower part of whose body never undergoes any decay, that is, one who never descends or goes downwards—adho na kṣīyate jātu yasmāttasmādadhokṣajaḥ. According to the annotator Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the word has been compounded in such […]

A township situated in the eastern part of India.

A river mentioned in Padmapurāṇa (Padmapurana). Adhṛiṣyā (Adhrishya) is a river referred to during a discussion of the various ordinary rivers and countries in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata).

One of the one thousand names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu).

In the Svārociṣa (Swarochisha) epoch of Manu, Ābhūtaraya (Abhutaraya) was one among the various classes gods were divided into. Adhṛiti (Adhriti) was a god who belonged to this category.

The word adhvara signifies yajña (yajna). The verbal root dhvar means to be violent. Subsequently, the words dhvaraṇa (dhvarana), or dhvara mean violence. That which has no brutality is known as adhvara— adhvara iti yajñanāma. dhvaratirhiṃsākarmā. During yajñas, grace is bestowed on everyone. The question, however, may arise that there is violence in the animal sacrifice involved in […]

See Adhvaryu

At the outset of yajña (yajna) ceremonies, the priest of Ṛgveda (Rigveda), or ṛtvika (ritwika) used to execute the functions of both the priest and the hotā (hota) or the performer of the yajña. [See Ṛtvika, Hotā] Later, when the rituals of a yajña became more intricate, four priests or ṛtvika of Caturveda (Chaturveda) were appointed separate vedic tasks. […]

One of the disciples of sage Yājñavalkya (Yajnavalkya)