Karkota, Karkoṭa: 17 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Kavya
3. Shaktism
4. Pancaratra
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Karkota means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Karkoṭa (कर्कोट).—The Nāga presiding over the month of puṣya.¹ A Kādraveya Nāga.² The sabhā of, in Māhiṣamati. His son defeated by Kārtavīrya Arjuna;³ used for Tripurārī's chariot.⁴ The assembly of, conquered by Kārtavīrya Arjuna.⁵

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 11. 42; Matsya-purāṇa 126. 18; Vāyu-purāṇa 52. 17; 69. 70.
2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 23. 17; III. 7. 34; IV. 20. 53; 33. 36; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 39; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 21. 22.
3) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 69. 26; Matsya-purāṇa 43. 29.
4) Matsya-purāṇa 133. 33; 163. 56.
5) Vāyu-purāṇa 94. 26.

context information

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.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdomlib Libary: Kathā

Karkoṭa (कर्कोट).—One of the eight kulas (‘families’) of nāgas mentioned by Soḍḍhala in his Udayasundarīkathā. Karkoṭa, and other nāgas, reside in pātāla (the nether world) and can assume different forms at will. Their movement is unobstructed in the all the worlds and they appear beautiful, divine and strong.

The Udayasundarīkathā is a Sanskrit work in the campū style, narrating the story of the Nāga princess Udayasundarī and Malayavāhana, king of Pratiṣṭhāna. Soḍḍhala is a descendant of Kalāditya (Śilāditya’s brother) whom he praises as an incarnation of a gaṇa (an attendant of Śiva).

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Karkoṭa (कर्कोट) is the name of a snake and symbolically refers to the girdle of Kubjikā, according to the Agnipurāṇa chapter 144.—Accordingly, while describing the visualization of Kubjikā: “(She) is dark blue like the leaf of a blue lotus. She has six faces and six aspects (ṣaṭprakārikā). She is the energy of consciousness and has eighteen eyes and twelve arms. She is seated comfortably on a lion throne and is on top of a lotus and a ghost. She is rich with millions of Kulas. (The snake) Karkoṭa is (her) girdle. Takṣaka is above (him) and so on the throat (of the goddess). Vāsuki is (her) necklace. Kulika is on her two ears. [...]”.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (shaktism)

Karkoṭa (कर्कोट) or Karkoṭatantra refers to one of the twenty Bhūtatantras, belonging to the Śāktāgama (or Śāktatantra) division of the Āgama tradition. The Śāktāgamas represent the wisdom imparted by Devī to Īśvara and convey the idea that the worship of Śakti is the means to attain liberation. According to the Pratiṣṭhālakṣaṇasamuccaya of Vairocana, the Śāktatantras are divided into to four parts, the Karkoṭa-tantra belonging to the Bhūta class.

context information

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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 5

Kārkoṭa (कार्कोट) or Kārkoṭaka refers to a type of vegetables fit for use in oblation offerings, according to verse 25.121b-125 of the Īśvarasaṃhitā.

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: Vajrayogini

Karkoṭa (कर्कोट).—Serpent deity (nāga) of the western cremation ground.—In the Śmaśānavidhi 9, the nāga Karkoṭa is described as “resplendent as dark-green dūrvā grass”, with three lines on his throat, and making the añjali.

Source: Wisdomlib Libary: Vajrayogini

Karkoṭa (कर्कोट) is the name of a serpent (nāga) associated with Karaṅkaka: the western cremation ground (śmaśāna) according to the Vajravārāhī-sādhana by Umāpatideva as found in te 12th century Guhyasamayasādhanamālā. As a part of this sādhana, the practicioner is to visualize a suitable dwelling place for the goddess inside the circle of protection which takes the form of eight cremation grounds.

These nāga-kings (e.g., Karkoṭa) are variously known as nāgarāja, nāgeśa, nāgendra and bhujageśa and are depicted as wearing white ornaments according to Lūyīpāda’s Śmaśānavidhi. They have human tosos above their coiled snaketails and raised hoods above their heads. They each have their own color assigned and they bear a mark upon their raised hoods. They all make obeisance to the dikpati (protector) who is before them and are seated beneath the tree (vṛkṣa).

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

Karkoṭa (कर्कोट) refers to one of the eight serpent king (nāgendra) of the Guṇacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the guṇacakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. Karkoṭa is associated with the charnel grounds (śmaśāna) named Jvālākulakaraṅka; with the tree (vṛkṣa) named Kaṅkelli; with the direction-guardians (dikpāla) named Varuṇa and with the cloud king (meghendra) named Ghora.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Karkoṭa (कर्कोट).—

1) One of the eight principal cobras. [When king Nala, being persecuted by Kali, was made to undergo many hardships, Karkoṭa, who was once saved by him from fire, so deformed him that none might recognise him during his days of adversity.]

2) The sugar-cane.

3) The बिल्व (bilva) tree.

Derivable forms: karkoṭaḥ (कर्कोटः).

[Sanskrit to German]

Karkota in German

context information

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Karkōṭa (ಕರ್ಕೋಟ):—

1) [noun] (myth.) one of the eight principal cobras.

2) [noun] a malignant, spiteful, malicious person.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 10 books and stories containing Karkota, Karkoṭa, Kārkoṭa, Karkōṭa; (plurals include: Karkotas, Karkoṭas, Kārkoṭas, Karkōṭas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 13 - Tuber Poison (13): Karkata or Karkota < [Chapter XXX - Visha (poisons)]

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Chapter 10 - Karkoṭeśvara (karkoṭa) or Karkoṭakeśvara (karkoṭaka-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]

Chapter 18 - The World of Seven Sages < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]

Chapter 66 - Śaileśa and Other Liṅgas < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]

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One hundred and eight (108) names of Sāvitrī < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]

Chapter 6 - Birth of Devas, Daityas, Birds and Serpents etc. < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]

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Chapter CXCVI - Therapeutic properties of drugs < [Dhanvantari Samhita]

Chapter VI - Re-incarnation of Daksha in the form of Prachetas < [Agastya Samhita]

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