One of the names of Śiva-Mahādeva (Shiva-Mahadeva) in Aṣtottara Sahasranāma (Ashtottara Sahasranama) of Śiva. The annotator Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha) has explained the name as such— adhyātmānugataḥ ātmānamadhikṛtya pravṛttaṃ śāstramanusaran sādhaka ityarthaḥ. The word adhyātma (adhyatma) signifies to claim one’s ātmā (atma, roughly translated as soul or spirit). To put it simply, it means to be able […]

This is the ātmavidyā (knowledge of the self) which can help one to overcome the fears of karmavandhana (bindings of karma). It is through this knowledge that one may recognise one’s own self. Sage Kapila, the exponent of Sāṁkhya-darśana (Samkhya-darsana; Samkhya philosophy), told her mother, Devahūti (Devahuti), about this Ādhyātmikī ātmavidya (Adhyatmiki atmavidya). [see Ātmavidyā

Ten kinds of people are fit to take up studies. They include the son of a teacher, one who is engaged in taking care of others and attending to others’ needs, a purveyor of various kinds of knowledge, a religious or pious person, one who is virtuous or pure, one who is capable of receiving […]

Āḍi (Adi)is a terrible dānava (danava; demon). According to Skandapurāṇa (Skandapurana), Āndhakāsura(Andhakasura) is the uncle of Āḍi. However, Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) refers to Āḍi as being the son of Andhakāsura, who was slain by Śiva (Siva). In order to take revenge, Āḍi started performing a great tapasyā (ascetic practice). Pleased by his tapasyā, when Brahmā wished […]

Ādi(Adi) is one of the names of God Śiva-Mahādeva9Siva-Mahadeva), mentioned in Śivasahasranāmastotra (Sivasahasranamastotra; The Hymn of the Thousand Names of Siva). He has also been addressed as Ādya (Adya). The commentator, Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), has thus analysed the meaning of the name Ādi — ādi sarvasmāt prathamaḥ. The same idea has been expressed in the clarification of […]

When Hariścandra (Harischandra) lost his kingdom to Sage Viśvāmitra (Viswamitra), the former’s kulapurohita (family-priest through generations) Vaśiṣṭha (Vasistha) became angry and cursed Viśvāmitra so that he would be born of a lower-order creatures, and become a bird, vaka (a heron). Hearing this curse, Viśvāmitra also cursed Vaśiṣṭha in turn, so that Vaśiṣṭha assumed the form […]

In the Purāṇas (Purana), twelve great battles between the Devas (gods) and the Asuras (a kind of demons) have been described. The sixth battle is known as Āḍi-vaka (Adi-vaka). Kakutstha, son of King Śaśāda (Sasada) of the Ikṣvāku (Iksvaku) clan, helped Indra in this battle. Virocana (Virochana), son of Prahlāda (Prahlada), died at the hand […]

One of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu) mentioned in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; Thousand Names of Vishnu in the form of a Hymn). In this stotra, Viṣṇu has been twice addressed as Ādideva (Adideva).  

Ādikara (Adikara) is another name of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu), since he is the Ādi (Adi) or the Beginning of the universe.

Ādikara (Adikara) is one of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu), since he is the primary entity of the universe.

One of the names of God Śiva (Siva), mentioned in Śivasahasranāmastotra. Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the commentator, while clarifying the meaning of the name ‘Ādikara’, has said — Ādikaraḥ hiraṇyagarbhasrastāḥ. In one of the mantras in Ṛgveda (Rigveda) it is said that, in the beginning of creation, there had been only Hiraṇyagarbha. He is the creator and […]

A person disintereted in initiating himself/herself in the mantras of Viṣṇu (Vishnu), Śakti (Shakti), Sūrya (Surya) or Gaṇapati(Ganapati) owing to personal vanity is known as adīkṣita (adikshita).

One of the important names of  Śiva-Mahādeva (Shiva-Mahadeva). The term dīna carries several connotations in Sanskrit : grief, despair, defilement, poverty etc. Mahādeva is the manifestation of Brahma (the Supreme Being), of wisdom, of overwhelming bliss; a symbol of sanctity and luminosity. Therefore, grief, despair or defilement cannot affect Mahādeva. He remains instated beyond these […]

Another name of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu). He is famous as Ādipāla (Adipala) in Gayā (Gaya).

Ādipurāṇa (Adipurana), narrated by Sage Sanatkumara, is one Upapurāṇa (Upapurana; lesser purana).

Bhagavān (Bhagavan, the Supreme Divinity) is known as Ādipuruṣa, since he, in the form of catuṣpāda (chatushpada; four-feeted) Dharma, is continuously protecting and nurturing the universe.

Ādirāja(Adiraja) is one of the grandsons of King Kuru and the sons of Avīkṣita (Avikshita). He is also one among the highly respected kings mentioned in the Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata).  

Brāhmaṇas (Brahmanas) well-versed in the Vedas — those perform vrata (ritual to be performed, with a specific purpose) according to the instruction of their guru, are called ādiṣṭi (adisti, those who act according to instruction). If the ādiṣtī brāhmaṇas, while performing the vrata, consume rice dedicated to a śrāddha (sraddha, funeral rite), the vrata gets […]

One of the one thousand names of Śiva (Shiva). Devī (devi) Aditi is the wife of Prajāpati (Prajapati) Kaśyapa (Kashyapa); she is a mother goddess. Mahādeva (Mahadeva) is the creator of the universe, the begetter/progenitor of gods, and hence he is considered to be a form of Aditi, the maternal figure, and also referred to as […]

In the process of exterminating the Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon), Śiva (Shiva) created innumerable mātṛkā (matrika; female deities of a lesser category) from his own body to be of service in the execution. Aditi is one prominent mātṛikā.

Bālagraha (balagraha) or child-lifter. Aditi is understood to represent the star Revatī (Revati), a bālgrāhiṇī (balagrahini) celestial element. In the form of this star, Aditi causes pain and peril to children.

Āditya (Aditya) is the Sun. The most important observation about Āditya has been made in Aitareya Brāhmaṇa (Aitareya Brahmana). The One who provides heat, is manifested as Agniṣṭoma yajña (Agnishtoma yajna). Āditya is associated with daytime, and the Agniṣtoma yajña has to be performed in one day. So Āditya  himself is Agniṣṭoma. When rises in the morning, he emits a […]

In Chāndogya Upaniṣad (Chandogya Upanishad) it is said that the Āditya (Aditya) and the Viśvadeva (Viswedeva) are the presiding deities over tritiya savana (the third ritual bath) the evening bath taken by the Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana). ādityānāñca viśveṣāṁ devānāṁ tṛtīya savanam. Here the hymn of the homa is — nama ādityebhyaśca viśvebhyaśca devebhyaḥ. In this hymn, […]

Forty nine ‘Marut’ devatā ( devata; gods) were born out of the womb of Dakṣa’s (Daksha) daughter Diti, sired by Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) Prajāpati (prajapati; Ruler of the people). These forty nine gods were divided in seven gaṇa (gana, genus). Āditya(Aditya) was one of the seven gods included in the first gaṇa. However, in the reading […]

In Śivasahasranāmastotra (Sivasahasranamastotra), the term Āditya(Aditya) is uttered twice as a name for God Śiva. In the first case, the term Āditya is found to be place between two other names, ‘Bhaga’ and Aṁśu (Amsu). They are also among the twelve Āditya born of the womb of Aditi, sired by Kaśyapa. It is said that […]

The word Āditya (Aditya) is uttered twice as the name of God Viṣṇu(Vishnu) in his Sahasranāma-stotra (Sahasranama-stotra;The Hymn of Thousand Names). In course of explaining the meaning of Āditya, the name of God, the commentator Śaṅkarācārya(Sankaracharya) stated – ādityamaṇḍlāntaḥstho hiranmayapuruṣaḥ ādityaḥ. The sun-god Sūrya (Surya) is primarily referred to as Āditya. Āditya-Sūrya resides at the centre […]

Ādityahṛdayamantra (Adityahridayamantra) is a powerful hymn in salutation to Āditya (Aditya), the Sun-god. The hymn consists of the salutation to Ghṛṇi(Ghrini) at first, then Sūrya (Surya), and then Āditya along with Praṇava(Pranava; Om-kara). It is believed to be a sanātana (sanatana; eternal and traditional) hymn, which is also guhya( secret) as Sage Agastya says to Rāmacandra(Ramachandra). […]

Ādityaketu(Adityaketu) is one of the hundred sons born of the womb of Gāndhārī (Gandhari), sired by Dhṛtarāṣtra (Dhritarashtra). In order to avenge the death of his brother Sunābha (Sunabha) at the hand of Bhīma (Bhima), Ādityaketu (Adityaketu), along with other six brothers, launched an attack upon Bhīma. however, he also got killed by Bhīma.

The abode of Mahādeva (Mahadeva) situated towards the east of Himālaya (Himalaya; the Himalayas). This place is spread across ten yojana ( an unit of measure) , and surrounded by fire. So the rākṣasas (rakshasas, monsters) and dānavas (danavas; a type of demons) cannot enter into this region. Mahādeva performed a great tapasyā (ascetisc penance) […]

Prajāpati (Prajapati, ruler of the people) advised Bhiṣma(Bhishma about several tīrthasthāna (tirthasthana, pilgrimage) when there arose a dharmic doubt over them (site of pilgrimage). During their exile in the forest, Yudhiṣṭhira(Yudhisthira) learned about this from the divine sage Nārada (Narada). Ādityāśramatīrtha (Adityasramatirtha) is one of those pilgrimage sites mentioned by Nārada. Suryadeva (Sun-god) is the […]

A pilgrimage site located on the bank of the river Sarasvatī (Sarasvati). Balarāma (Balarama), while travelling across several pilgrimage-sites, visited this site as well. Sūryadeva (Suryadeva; he Sun-god) achieved control over the planets and stars, through his performance of yajña (yajna, ritual sacrifice) at this site. According to Padmapurāṇa (Padmapurana), this pilgrimage site is situated […]

In Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), when Mārkaṇḍeya (Markandeya) describes the greatness of Prayāga (Prayaga), we have the mention of another Ādityatīrtha (Adityatirtha), located towards the north of Yamunā (Yamuna). Still, the Ādityatīrtha that is found during the antarvedī parikramā (antarvedi parikrama; travelling around the inner altars, in a ritualistic mode) in the town of Prayāga, is probably identical […]

A sacred pilgrimage site situated on the northern bank of the river Narmada. On the śuklā saptamī (sukla saptami) tithi of Māgha (Magha), this site becomes more effective to attain virtuous results.

A sacred site of pilgrimage. Visiting and having a darśana (darsana) of this pilgrigame-site yields the result of visiting all pilgrimage-sites. There is a sacred Śivaliṇga (Sivalinga) in this pilgrimage-site, located on the bank of river Narmadā (Narmada).

The son of Viśvaga (Viswaga) or Śīghraga (Sighraga) of Suryavaṃśa (Suryavamsa; the Sun-dynasty).

The father of Balāka (Balak), a rākṣasa (rakshasha) as mentioned in Purāṇas (Puranas).

Adri was the son of king Viṣvagaśva (Vishwagashwa) of the Ikṣvāku (Ikshvaku) dynasty. He is the father of Yuvanāśva (Yuvanashwa).

When Adrikā (Adrika), the celestial nymph, having been cursed or imprecated took birth at Añjana (Anjana) mountains in the form of a female cat, she became the wife of Keśarī (Kesari), the chief of the vanara (vanara; the monkey people). A piśāca (pishacha) or a ghoul named Adri was born of Adrikā, sired by Niṛṛti (Nirwiti). He is […]

According to the Karṇaparva (Karnaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Adriḍha (Adridha) was the eldest son of Jarāsandha (Jarasandha). Probably, after Jarāsandha’s death, his sons separated into different groups and orders according to their opinions and judgements. This fragmentation can be traced in the fact that although Sahadeva, the immediate successor of  Jarāsandha as the king of […]

Adrija is one prominent ethnic clan among others who participated in armed conflict against Bhīma (Bhima) and Arjuna, with the support of Aśvatthāmā (Ashwatthama), son of Droņa (Drona), and Duryodhana. A warring tribe, Adrija is usually mentioned together with the Yaudheya tribe (who also appear to be a warring clan). Adri means hills. Supposedly, they […]

A river that annihilates sin, coming from Ṛkṣa (Riksha) or Vindhya mountain ranges.

One of the apsarās (apsaras) born of Prajāpati Kaśyapa (Prajapati Kashyapa) to Dakṣa’s (Daksha’s) daughter Muni. It is known that when King Uparicara (Uparichara) Vasu used to reside in the divine seven storied abode given to him by Indra, Adrikā, the apsarā, used to live there with him. One day, while King Uparicaravasu (Amāvasu or […]

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

Adṛśyanti was the wife of Śaktri, and the daughter-in-law of the great sage Vaśiṣṭha. When Śaktri died, due to the conspiracy of Viśvāmitra, Vaśiṣṭha considered committing suicide in grief. However, failing to kill himself, when he was coming back, he could hear the sound of Vedic chanting. Actually his daughtr-in-law was following him, and she […]

A sage. Purāṇas (Puranas) mention a number of sages as mantradraṣṭā (mantradrashta) or seers who realized Vedas.  Adviṣeṇa (Adwishena) is one significant mantradraṣṭa.

One of the names of Śiva -Mahādeva(Siva-Mahadeva)              [see Ādi]

According to the Purāṇas (Puranas), Ādya (Adya) is one of the ṛṣivaṁśas (rishivamsa; hereditory or disciple-wise line of sages) belonging to Sage Viśvāmitra (Viswamitra), who came of the gotra (clan) of Sage Kauśika (Kausika). According to the geneological or disciple-wise tradition associated with Viśvāmitra, they were also known as Kauśika.

Ādya is one of the gaṇa ( classificatory genus) of the gods as per the classification existing in the Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha) Manvantara.

One of the Aṣṭottara Sahasranāma (Astottara sahasranama; Thousand and eight names) of God Śiva (see Ādikara).

Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) mentions  Agāvaha (Agabaha) who was a brave warrior from the Vṛṣṅi clan. During the Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra) war, Dhṛtarāṣtra (Dhritarashtra), who had become very anxious at the death of Abhimanyu, expressed his concern that this incident could enrage the warriors of the Vṛṣṅi clan and incite them to leave the Kauravas’s side for joining the […]