Aśvatīrtha (Aswatirtha) is a sacred site of pilgrimage located on the bank of Gaṅgā (Ganga), near Kanvakuvja. While visiting several sites of pilgrimage, Pāṇḍava(s)(Pandavas) came here. When Ṛcīka (Richika), belonging to the lineage of Bhṛgu (Bhrigu), wanted to marry Satyavatī (Satyavati), daughter of king Gādhi (Gadhi), the king demanded from him as the bride’s dowry […]

Aśvatīrtha (Aswatirtha) is a sacred site of pilgrimage located on the bank of Godāvarī (Godavari). The two Aśvinikumāra(s) emerged in this place.

One Aśvatīrtha (Aswatirtha) is found in Assam. This is located on the Aśvakrānta (Aswakranta) parvata (mountain) of Kāmākhyā (Kamakhya).

Aśvattha (Aswattha) is one of the trees that have been considered as ‘divine trees’. In Vibhūtiyoga (Vibhutiyoga) of Bhagavadgītā (Bhagavadgita), while describing his manifestation as the Supreme God, Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Sri Krishna) has identified all things greatest in this world, as manifestation of His own Self. In this context he says, I am Aśvattha among […]

Aśvatthāmā (Aswatthama) was born of the womb of Kṛpī (Kripi), daughter of Śaradvāna (Saradwana), and sired by Droṇa (Drona). In future he would be involved in the activities of the royal Kuru family of Hastināpura (Hastinapura), but at the moment of his birth, Aśvatthāmā’s only identity was that — he was the only son of […]

Aśvatthāma (Aswatthama) is an elephant belonging to Indravarmā (Indravarma), king of Mālava (Malava). Bhīma (Bhima) killed this elephant and circulated the news of the death of Aśvatthāmā (Aswatthama), son of Droṇa (Drona).

Aśvatthāmā (Aswatthama) is one of the sons sired by Akrūra (Akrura), and born of the womb of Aśvinī (Aswini).

Aśvatthatīrtha (Aswatthatirtha)is the name of a sacred tīrtha (tirtha; site of pilgrimage)mentioned in Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana). Goddess Bhagavatī (Bhagavati) is worshipped here as Vandanīyā (Vandaniya).

Śvaphalka (Swaphalka) and Citraka (Chitraka) were the two sons of Pṛṣṇi (Prishni) or Vṛṣṇi (Vrishni) belonging to Yaduvaṃśa (Yaduvamsa; the genealogical line of  Yadu). Aśvavāha (Aswavaha) was one of the sons of Citraka. Probably , this Aśvavāha of Brahmāṇdapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) is the same person mentioned as Aśvavāhu (Aswavahu) in Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana).

See Aśvavāha (Aswavaha)

Aśvavatī (Aswavati))is a sacred river mentioned in Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata).

Āśvāyani(Aswayani) is one of the ṛṣivaṁśa (rishivamsa; hereditary or disciple-wise line of sages) belonging to the gotra (clan) of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Bhṛgu (Bhrigu), as mentioned in the Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scriptures). Through the genealogical or disciple-wise line from Bhṛgu (Bhrigu) , they are also known as Bhārgava(Bhargava).  

Aśvayu (Aswayu) is a ṛṣi (rishi; sage). The vaṃśa (vamsa; genealogical or disciple-wise lineage) of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage)Aśvayu was one of the ṛṣivaṃśa(s) belonging to the pravara of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Aṅgirā (Angira), as mentioned in Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture). His name is mentioned in Purāṇa as one of the Aṅgirasa (Angirasa) gotra-pravartaka […]

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Aśvāyu (Aswayu) was one of the sons born of the womb of Urvaśī (Urvasi), and sired by Pururavā (Pururava).

[See Māsa(Masa; Month)]

Aśvinikumāratīrtha (Aswinikumaratirtha) is a tīrtha(tirtha; site of pilgrimage) located in Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra), blessed with the grace of the twin Aśvinikumāra. In Vanaparva of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), there is a mention of going to this tīrtha from Koṭitīrtha(Kotitirtha).Visiting this tīrtha, one may become more beautiful. It is thought that this tīrtha is located in the place called […]

A Nāga ( Naga, snake) born of the genealogical line of Kauravyanāga. Ātaka of one of those Nāgas who fell into the ritual fire of Janamejaya’s Sarpa-yajña ( Sarpa-yajna, a ritual in which snakes are offered as sacrifice).

Of the seven tiers of pātāla (patala; the netherworld), the first tier is known as atala. The Puranic texts describe the soil of atala as black. But Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana) differs on this matter and describes the soil of atala as white, and the only tier of pātāla to have such soil. This tier of atala boasted exquisite […]

While describing the reigns of the notable rulers of the Kali era (kaliyuga), Bhāgavatpurāṇa (Bhagavatpurana) mentions that in kaliyuga the kngdom of Magadha would be ruled by a lowly-born (śūdra; sudra) king called Bali after the fall of the Śuṅga (Sunga) and Kaṇva (Kanwa) dynasties in Magadha. Aṭamān (Ataman) was a scion of this lineage, the son of […]

Atandrita is another name for Śiva-Mahādeva (Siva-Mahadeva), one of the holy trinity of Hinduism. The Sanskrit word tandrā (tandra) means ‘sleep’ or ‘slumber’. Therefore the word atandrita literally means ‘one who does not sleep’ or ‘one not addicted to sleep’. Śiva, as manifesting as the Lord of the Universe, is always busy in the process of Creation […]

According to Bhāgavatapurāṅa, Ātapa is one of the sons born out of the womb of Ūṣā (Usha), sired by Vibhāvasu (Vibhavasu). He is the father of the god called Pañcayāna (Panchayana).

One of the disciples of Yājñavalka (Yajnavalka). Yājñavalka assumed the form of aśva (aswa, a horse) and taught Śuklayajurveda to his fifteen disciples. Those disciples were also known as ‘Aśva‘. Ātabī was one of them.

A state in the Southern part of India. Sahadeva brought this state under submission, while conquering this portion of the land. He conquered this state without a battle, only by sending messengers and accepting revenues.

See Aṭavīśikhara (Atavishikhara)

Aṭavīśekhara (Atavishekhara) is a township mentioned in Purāṇas (Purana). It is assumed that the inhabitants of this regions were same as the ethnic group of people called Aṭavīśikhara (Atavishikhara). 

It is believed that Aṭavīśikhara (Atavishikhara) is another name by which Aṭavīśabara (Atavishabar) have got fame. The Sanskrit word aṭavī (atavi) means ‘forest’. It is assumed that this ethnic group of people consisted of the forest dwelling (āṭavik; atavik) tribes.  Scholars tend to identify this ethnic group with the Bheels of Middle Vindhya region. Evidently the āṭavik […]

Aṭavītīrtha (Atavitirtha) is a site of pilgrimage on the bank of the river Narmadā (Narmada). One can attain the splendour of Indra, the king of gods, by taking a dip at this extremely holy place. 

A region located in Central India. Even though the name Atharva is mentioned in Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana), the other Purāṇas refer to this land occasionally as Āvanta (Avanta), or as Arvuda or even as Atharvā (Atharva). According to D.C.Sircar, Atharva is another variation of Avantī (Avanti).

A male offspring conceived by Satī (Sati) and fathered by Aṅgirā (Angira). A prominent sage. The descendants and disciples of this lineage grew into a clan or an order of sages (varga). The entire Atharvaveda divided in two parts is known as Atharvāṅgirasa (Atharvangirasa) Veda and the supremacy of Atharvaveda over Ṛgveda (Rigveda), Sāmaveda (Samaveda) […]

A foremost appellation of Śiva Mahādeva (Shiva Mahadeva). In the Śiva Sahasranāma Stotra, the hymn praising the thousand names of Śiva, Mahādeva has been addressed by this name.

In Jambukhaṇḍavinirmāṇaparva [Jambukhandabinirmanparva; a sub-chapter of Bhīṣmaparva (Bhishmaparva)] of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), a catalogue of towns and townships is presented. Aṭhida (Athida) is one of them and mentioned to be located in South India. 

After somakraya (the purchase of soma), the iṣtiyajña ( ishtiyajna; a kind of beneficial yajña) performed for the saṁvardhana (ritual felicitation, showing hospitality towards the soma) of that krītasoma (purchased soma) is called Āthithyaiṣti. [See Somayāga]

Atibāhu (Atibahu) is the name of one of the ten sons of Svāyambhūva Manu (Swayambhuva Manu). 

Atibāhu (Atibahu) was one of the most prominent gandharva (demigods proficient in musical, magical and martial abilities). He was the son of Sage Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) and Prādhā (Pradha), the tenth daughter of Prajāpati Dakṣa (Prajapati Daksha), the famous patriarch. 

Atibala was one of the two warrior aides donated by Vāyu (Vayu; the Wind-god) to Skanda Kārtikeya (Kartikeya), when the latter was installed as the general of the divine army by the gods with the goal of killing Tārakāsura (Tarakasura). Each of them also gave him a few of their own followers to help him […]

Atibalā (Atibala)  is one of the eight herbs used in consecration or bathing ceremony of a deity (or his/her idol). Apart from Balā (Bala) and Atibalā, some of the other herbs mentioned in this context are Byāghrī (Byaghri), Śaṅkhapuṣpī (Sankhapushpi) and so on. In Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana) we find Sage Viśvāmitra (Viswamitra) imparting to Rāmacandra (Ramachandra) and […]

Anaṅga (Ananga), a descendant of Kardama Prajāpati (Prajapati), was a king well-versed in political science. Atibala was his son and bearer of his legacy. Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) identifies him as nītimān (nitiman). There is scope to discuss whether this usage of the term serves as an adjective or as a proper noun. The word nītimān literally […]

Atibalā (Atibala) is the name of one of the lesser female deities (māṛtkā; matrika) created by Śiva (Siva) out of his own body in order to aid him in killing the demon Andhakāsura (Andhakasura). 

Brahmā (Brahma), while performing a yajña (yajna) once consecrated two statues – one of Hari or Nārāyaṇa (Narayana) and another of Hara or Śiva (Siva). The statue of Hara was known as Atibala, which gave its name to the famous shrine of Atibala. This shrine is situated in modern day Mahabaleswar in the Indian state of […]

Sacrifice or bali is a means to satisfy Caṇḍikā (Chandika), a form of the Supreme Female Energy. Atibali is another term for human sacrifice for the goddess. 

Atibhānu (Atibhanu) was one of the sons sired by Kṛṣṇa (Krishna) to Satyabhāmā (Satyabhama). 

Atibṛddha (Atibriddha) is one of the one hundred and eight epithets of Śiva Mahādeva (Siva Mahadeva). The prefix ati serves to suggest ‘much’ or ‘more’. The Sanskrit root bṛdh (bridh) means ‘to grow’. The lexical meaning of the word bṛddha (briddha) is ‘old’ or ‘ancient’. However, when the epithet is applied to Śiva, it does not necessarily […]

Atidhūmra (Atidhumra) is one of the one thousand and eight epithets of Śiva Mahādeva (Siva Mahadeva). The famous commentator Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha) explains this epithet as – atidhūmraḥ kālāgnirūpeṇa sarvadāhakāle’tyantadhūmramayaḥ. Śiva, the destroyer of the cosmos, manifests as kālāgni (kalagni) or the cataclysmic fire causing the end of the universe at the time of pralaya (equivalent of the […]

Atidīpta (Atidipta) is one of the one thousand and eight names of Śiva (Siva). Attempting to explain this epithet of Śiva, the famous annotator Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha) observes – atidīptaḥ koṭisūryapratīkāśaḥ śatrutejo’bhibhāvaḥ. The vast form of the Supreme Being that comes to our imagination is essentially full of divine brightness and splendour incomparable to anything worldly. No earthly […]

Atigulma was one of the sons of Balarāma (Balarama).

Atikapila was one of the seven sons of Jyotiṣmān (Jyotishman), the king of Kuśadvīpa (Kusadweepa). The Bengali edition of Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana) mentions his name as ‘Kapila’. Jyotiṣmān divided his kingdom of Kuśadvīpa in seven parts and installed his seven sons as lords of each one of them. The landmass or varṣa (varsha) which Atikapila ruled later derived […]

Atikāya (Atikaya) was a son of Rāvaṇa (Ravana), born to Dhānyamālinī (Dhanyamalini). Etymololgically this name suggests hugeness. Maybe he derived this name from the sheer facts that he had an enormous body and possessed superhuman strength yaścaiṣa vindhyāstamahendrakalpo dhanvī rathastho’tiratho’tivīraḥ. visphārayaścāpamatulyamānaṃ nāmnātikāyo’tivibṛddhakāyaḥ.  Atikāya could fly in the skies, was skilled in magic and invincible in […]

Atikṛccha (atikrichchha) is the name of a (purifying) ritual or vow (vrata) which requires to be observed over a stretch of twelve days. In order to observe this vow, the performer must obey certain rules of eating throughout the twelve-day long phase. For the first three days he should not eat anything but three handfuls […]

Atilomā (Atiloma) was an asura (demon of a type) known to be killed in the hand of Kṛṣṇa (Krishna). 

See Atināmā (Atinama).