Akashaganga, Ākāśagaṅgā, Ākāsagaṅgā, Akasha-ganga, Akasaganga: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Akashaganga means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Ākāśagaṅgā can be transliterated into English as Akasaganga or Akashaganga, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexĀkāśagaṅgā (आकाशगङ्गा).—(River) that encircles Amarāvatī;1 that water which comes down without the cloud; bath in this is called celestial ablution.2
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramĀkāśagaṅgā (आकाशगङ्गा) refers to the “heavenly Ganges” according to the Kālikāpurāṇa chapter 76.—Accordingly, Śiva, the Lord (Bhagavat), has instructed Bhairava and Vetāla in the use of certain mantras. Then he says to them:—“(Now you two) go to the inner sacred seat (antaḥpīṭha) of Kāmarūpa called Nīlācala. This is the secret abode of the (the goddess) Kāmākhyā called the sacred seat of Kubjikā; there the heavenly Ganges (flows) (ākāśagaṅgā). (Bathe there and) sprinkle (yourselves) with its waters, O sons: worship there Mahāmāyā who is the universe. Pleased, the goddess will quickly bestow (her) boons on you. [...]”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Akasaganga - The river that flows southward from the Anotatta Lake receives, in its different stages, various names. That part of it which flows sixty leagues through the air is called Akasaganga (SnA.ii.439; MA.586, etc.). The Buddhas discourse on various topics (pakinnakakatha) is like the downward flow of the Akasaganga (AA.i.94; DhA.iii.360); so also is the eloquence of clever preachers (E.g., DhA.iv.18; J.ii.65).
The fine clay to be found in the area (thirty yojanas in extent) over which the Akasaganga falls to earth, is called, on account of its fineness, butter clay (navanita mattika). This clay was brought by arahant samaneras to be spread over the foundation of the Maha Thupa in Anuradhapura (Mhv.xxix.5f). The spot where it is found is called Tintasisakola. MT.515
2. Akasaganga - A vast channel built by Parakkamabahu I. to bring water from the Karaganga to the Parakkamammudda. Cv.lxxix.25.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
India history and geography
Source: archive.org: Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1963Ākāsagaṅgā (present Aṅgamadilla-ala) is the name of an ancient canal that existed in the Polonnaruva (Polonnaruwa) district of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).—The Sinhalese Chronicles say that Mahāsena dammed the Kāra-Gaṅgā and brought the water to Miṇṇeriya tank along the Talavatu canal. The Kāra-Gaṅgā is mentioned in the Pali Chronicles much later: Parakkamabāhu I (1153-1186) dammed it and conveyed water along the Ākāsa-Gaṅgā (present Aṅgamadilla-ala) to Parakkamasamudda at Polonnaruva.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryākāsagaṅgā : (f.) the celestial river.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryĀkāsagaṅgā refers to: N. of the celestial river J.I, 95; III, 344.
Note: ākāsagaṅgā is a Pali compound consisting of the words ākāsa and gaṅgā.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryākāśagaṅgā (आकाशगंगा).—f (S) ākāśanadī f (S) The Ganges or river of the sky, the galaxy or milky way.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryĀkāśagaṅgā (आकाशगङ्गा).—[ākāśapathavāhinī gaṅgā] the celestial Ganges; नदत्याकाशगङ्गायाः स्रोतस्युद्दामदिग्गजे (nadatyākāśagaṅgāyāḥ srotasyuddāmadiggaje) R.1.78; cf. also उभौ यदि व्योम्नि पृथक् प्रवाहावाकाशगङ्गापयसः पतेताम् (ubhau yadi vyomni pṛthak pravāhāvākāśagaṅgāpayasaḥ patetām) Si.3.8.
Ākāśagaṅgā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ākāśa and gaṅgā (गङ्गा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀkāśagaṅgā (आकाशगङ्गा):—[=ā-kāśa-gaṅgā] [from ā-kāśa > ā-kāś] f. the Gaṅgā flowing down from the sky, [Mahābhārata iii, 10909; Rāmāyaṇa; Raghuvaṃśa i, 78.]
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Akasha, Ganga.
Starts with: Akashagangatirtha.
Full-text (+3): Karaganga, Angamadilla, Nilagarbha, Sundarivalli, Yogini, Nissankasamudra, Talavatu, Parakkasamudda, Ambanganga, Minihirivava, Mandakini, Akashagangatirtha, Nilacala, Antahpitha, Kakeshvara, Samvaha, Paravaha, Ganga, Waterhole, Durdharsha.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Akashaganga, Ākāśa-gaṅgā, Akasa-ganga, Ākāsa-gaṅgā, Ākāśagaṅgā, Ākāsagaṅgā, Akasaganga, Akasha-ganga; (plurals include: Akashagangas, gaṅgās, gangas, Ākāśagaṅgās, Ākāsagaṅgās, Akasagangas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 21 - The Greatness of Ākāśagaṅgā < [Section 1 - Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya]
Chapter 22 - Qualifications of Those Who Are Fit to Receive Charitable Gifts < [Section 1 - Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya]
Chapter 1 - Nārada’s Vision of Yajñavarāha (Stationed on the Peak of Sumeru) < [Section 1 - Veṅkaṭācala-māhātmya]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Dr. Vinayak Krishna Gokak < [April – June 1992]
Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study) (by Debabrata Barai)
Part 2.2 - Creation of Kavi (Poet) in the Kāvyamīmāṃsā < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Act 1.7: Explanation of the parable ‘as numerous as the sands of the Ganges’ < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)