Mainaka, Maināka: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Mainaka means something in 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
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryMaināka (मैनाक).—This mountain was the son of Himavan during the Satya-yuga, when mountains had wings. Its wings were clipped, and it was placed in the ocean by Indra.
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇaMaināka (मैनाक).—Name of a minor mountain (kṣudraparvata) situated in Bhārata, a region south of mount Meru, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 85. In the settlements (janapada) along these mountains dwell Āryas and Mlecchas who drink water from the rivers flowing there. Meru is one of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, which is ruled over by Āgnīdhra, a grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Maināka (मैनाक).—General information. A mountain. This mountain was the son of Himavān and father of Krauñca. (Śloka 13, Chapter 18, Harivaṃśa). How the mountain helped Hanūmān. There is an unbreakable tie between Maināka and the Kings of Ikṣvāku family. There is a story in Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa that the sāgara (ocean) was constructed by the sixty thousand sons of the King Sagara of Ikṣvāku family. This sāgara once gave refuge to Maināka and brought it up. There is a reason for that:—In the early yugas mountains had wings and they used to fly and drop to the ground as they liked. People used to live in fright always and at the request of the people Indra made the mountains stand in a row and cut off their wings. At that time the god Vāyu (wind) took away his friend Maināka and put him in the ocean. From that day onwards Maināka and the ocean developed an intimacy which even death could not wipe off. Hanūmān was the son of Vāyu, the friend and saviour of Maināka. It was because of that that Maināka gave refuge for Hanūmān on his way to Laṅkā. Because the ocean gave refuge to Maināka after its escape from the sword of Indra and because the ocean (Sāgara) was the creation of the sons of Sagara, a King of the Ikṣvāku race, Maināka felt indebted to Sagara and the entire race to which he belonged. Maināka thus had great respect for Śrī Rāma who belonged to the Ikṣvāku race. This was also responsible for Maināka giving relief to Hanūmān on his way to Laṅkā. (See under Parvata). Other details.
(i) This mountain is situated near the lake Bindusarovara which was to the north of Kailāsa. Bhagīratha did penance to bring Gaṅgā to the earth on this mountain. (Chapter 3, Sabhā Parva).
(ii) Pāṇḍavas who went to the north crossed the mountain Maināka and went further. (Śloka 1, Chapter 139, Vana Parva).
(iii) The mountain Maināka shines with golden peaks. (Śloka 44, Chapter 145, Vana Parva). (See full article at Story of Maināka from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
2) Maināka (मैनाक).—A holy place on the west coast on the banks of the river Narmadā. This is also on a mountain. (Śloka 11, Chapter 89, Vana Parva).
3) Maināka (मैनाक).—Another mountain. (This is in Krauñcadyīpa. (Śloka 18, Chapter 12, Bhīṣma Parva).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMaināka (मैनाक) is the son of Menā and Himācala, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.5.—Accordingly, after Goddess Śivā (i.e., Umā/Durgā) granted a boon to Menā:—“[...] O sage, when their mutual sexual intercourse took place, Menā conceived and the child in the womb gradually grew up. She gave birth to a beautiful son Maināka who later on became the worthy recepient of the love of Nāga ladies and who later on entered into an alliance with the lord of ocean. O celestial sage, when Indra, the slayer of Vṛtra, became angry and began to chop off the wings of mountains, he retained his wings, nay, he did not even feel the pain of being wounded by the thunderbolt. He had good limbs. He had neat strength and prowess. He was the most important of all the mountains born of him. He too became the lord of mountains. [...]”.
Note: Maināka, the son of Menakā and Himavat, is represented as the most valiant of a hundred sons of his parents. When Indra clipped the wings of the mountains he is said to have been the only one who escaped. He is placed near the southern sea between India and Ceylon, for the present text glorifies his friendship with the ocean. Cf also Skanda P. VI 9. 10-11 “mainākaḥ sumudrāntaḥ”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Maināka (मैनाक).—(Mt.) in Bhāratavarṣa; son of Himavān and Menā; father of Krauñca hill; sacred for śrāddha and to Pitṛs; of Indra; famous for medicinal herbs.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 19. 16; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 13. 34-5; 16. 21; III. 9. 3; 10. 7; 13. 70; Matsya-purāṇa 13. 7; 121. 72; 162. 30; Vāyu-purāṇa 30. 32; 45. 90; 47. 75; 71. 4; 72. 5; 77. 68.
1b) The continent about the Āmbikeya hill.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 122. 25.
Maināka (मैनाक) refers to the name of a Mountain or Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. ). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Maināka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical studyMaināka (मैनाक) refers to one of the two sons of Himavān and Menā, according to the Vaṃśa (‘genealogical description’) of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, Ākūti was married to Ruci and Prasūti to Dakṣa. Dakṣa produced in Prasūti twenty-four daughters. [...] [Svadhā was given to Pitṛs.] Pitṛ and Svadhā had two daughters—Menā and Dhāriṇi. Menā was given in marriage to Himavān who begot two sons—Maināka and Krauñca and two daughters—Gaurī and Gaṅgā.
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: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraMaināka (मैनाक) or Mainākaparvata is the name of a mountain situated on the island Nārikela, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 54. Accordingly, as four heavenly figures said to Naravāhanadatta: “... there is in the midst of the great sea a great, prosperous and splendid island, which is called the island of Nārikela, and is renowned in the world for its beauty. And in it there are four mountains with splendid expanses of land, named Maināka, Vṛṣabha, Cakra and Balāhaka; in those four we four live”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Maināka, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
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’.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismMainaka (मैनक): Another mountain, well wooded and full of fruits and roots, Hanumana coursed through the air while searchin Sita.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMaināka (मैनाक).—[menakāyāṃ bhavaḥ aṇ] Name of a mountain, son of Himālaya and Menā, who alone retained his wings (when Indra clipped those of other mountains) on account of his friendship with the ocean; cf. Kumārasambhava 1.2; चिरं जलनिधौ मग्नो मैनाक इव मार्दवम् (ciraṃ jalanidhau magno maināka iva mārdavam) Bv.
Derivable forms: mainākaḥ (मैनाकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMaināka (मैनाक).—m.
(-kaḥ) A mountain, or rock in the sea between the southern end of the Peninsula, and Lanka. E. menakā the wife of Himalaya, aṇ aff. of descent, being in mythology her son.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMaināka (मैनाक).—i. e. menā + ka + a, m. The name of a mountain, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 49, 27.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMaināka (मैनाक).—[masculine] [Name] of a mountain & a Daitya.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Maināka (मैनाक):—m. ([from] menā) Name of a mountain (son of Hima-vat by Menā or Menakā, and said to have alone retained his wings when Indra clipped those of the other mountains; [according to] to some this mountain was situated between the southern point of the Indian peninsula and Laṅkā), [Taittirīya-āraṇyaka] ([varia lectio] maināga), [Atharva-veda.Pariś.; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) Name of a Daitya, [Harivaṃśa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMaināka (मैनाक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A mountain near the island of Ceylon.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Maināka (मैनाक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Mayaṇāya.
[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)
Starts with: Mainakabhagini, Mainakam, Mainakan, Mainakaparvata, Mainakaprabhava, Mainakara, Mainakarppumi, Mainakasvasar, Mainakasvasri.
Full-text (+85): Mainakasvasri, Himavatsuta, Hiranyanabha, Mainakam, Himaja, Mainaga, Sunabha, Girisuta, Mainakabhagini, Mainakaprabhava, Gocya, Mayanaya, Girinandana, Mena, Kalibhratri, Hiranyashringam, Parvatatmaja, Kraunca, Parvata, Vidisha.
Relevant text
Search found 30 books and stories containing Mainaka, Maināka; (plurals include: Mainakas, Mainākas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Hanuman Nataka (critical study) (by Nurima Yeasmin)
The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa (by Dhrubajit Sarma)
Part 8c - Mountains (found in the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita) < [Chapter IV - Socio-cultural study of the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 5 - Menā obtains the boon < [Section 2.3 - Rudra-saṃhitā (3): Pārvatī-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 41 - Description of the Altar-Structure < [Section 2.3 - Rudra-saṃhitā (3): Pārvatī-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 36 - The statements of the seven sages < [Section 2.3 - Rudra-saṃhitā (3): Pārvatī-khaṇḍa]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 8.13.76 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
The Gautami Mahatmya (by G. P. Bhatt)