Narmada, Narmadā, Nārmada, Narman-da: 30 definitions

Introduction
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In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
2. Mahayana
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
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Introduction:

Narmada 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.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)

One of the Hands of the Famous Rivers.—Narmadā, the Ardha-patāka hand. Also see: Vyāvṛttacāpaveṣṭitau.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Narmadā (नर्मदा):—She was married to Purukutsa (one of the three sons of Māndhātā). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.7.2)

Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

Narmadā (नर्मदा).—Name of a river originating from Ṛkṣa, a holy mountain (kulaparvata) in Bhārata, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 85. There are settlements (janapada) where Āryas and Mlecchas dwell who drink water from these rivers.

Bhārata is a region south of Hemādri, once ruled over by Bharata (son of Ṛṣabha), whose ancestral lineage can be traced back to Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions (purana)

Narmadā (नर्मदा) has been mentioned several times in the Mahābhārata and the Purāṇas. The Viṣṇupurāṇa 4.3.12-13 says that by chanting a mantra addressed to the Narmadā, one does not have any fear from serpents. According to the Purāṇas it flows from a Ṛkṣvat (a part of the Vindhyan range) though some of them refer to it arising directly from the Vindhya itself.

It is stated in the Kūrma and Matsya Purāṇas that a man who commits suicide at any tīrtha on the Narmadā or on the Amarakaṇṭaka does not return to this world. Several rivers such as Kapilā, Viśalyā, Eraṇḍī, Ikṣunadī and Kāverī are mentioned as falling into the Narmadā.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Narmadā (नर्मदा).—A famous holy river of South India. This river which springs from Amarakaṇṭaka flows through the valley called Khambhāta and falls into the ocean. Birth. This river which is considered to be a holy river was the rebirth of Tapatī the daughter of the Sun. (To know how Tapatī was reborn as Narmadā, see under Tapatī). (See full article at Story of Narmadā from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Narmadā (नर्मदा).—See under Puṣpotkaṭā.

3) Narmada (नर्मद).—Wife of Purukutsa, the son of Māndhātā. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Narmadā (नर्मदा) is the name of a sacred river as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 1.12, “somehow men must strive to find a residence in a holy centre. On the shores of the ocean in the confluence of hundreds of rivers there are many such holy centres (puṇyakṣetra or tīrtha) and temples. [...] the holy Narmadā is a great river of twenty-four mouths. By a dip therein and residing on its banks the devotee shall attain the region of Viṣṇu. [...] The devotees of Śiva are the bestowers of Śivaloka and accord cherished desires. [...] The devotee who takes bath in the river Narmadā in the month of Vṛścika, when the Jupiter is in the zodiac of Vṛścika, attains Viṣṇuloka”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Narmadā (नर्मदा).—A mahānadi of the Bhāratavarṣa; a R. from the Ṛkṣa or Ṛṣyavat hills: (Vindhyan ranges) on its northern bank was Bhṛgukaccha: a sacred river that survived the antarakṣaya, sacred to Pitṛs and for śrāddha; in the neighbourhood of the Haihaya kingdom.¹ The scene of battle between Vṛtra and Indra; here Rukmi challenged Kṛṣṇa when the latter was crossing the stream with Rukmiṇī; its current was stopped by Kārtavīrya.² The mahātmya of; just like Mārkaṇḍeya this river does not get lost in the time of the deluge; in Kalinga, near the Amarakaṇṭaka hill; has a number of tīrthas like Jaleśvara, Rudrakoṭi, Amrakaṇṭaka, Kapila and Viśalya Karaṇi. The devotee bathing in any tīrtha on the Narmadā gets the benefit of performing an Aśvamedha sacrifice.³ The Lord enshrined here is Maheśvara who devised plans to vanquish Bāṇāsura of Tripura with the help of Nārada. The Lord was much concerned about virtuous ladies in Tripura and Nārada undertook to delude them by proclaiming ordinances to ladies to give gifts to poor and deserving Brahmanas.⁴ Śiva got ready for war here and attacked Tripura with incendiary materials. Out of the three cities comprising Tripura, (s.v.) two fell down reduced to ashes. The first city became converted into the Śri Śaila hill, and the second Amarakaṇṭaka hill, both adorned by the Siddhas, Gandharvas and so on. The Lord enshrined at the latter is Jvāleśvara. The third city was left unconsumed.⁵

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 19. 18; VIII. 18. 21; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 12. 14; 16. 29; III. 10. 97; Matsya-purāṇa 2. 13-15; 22. 25; 114. 23; Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 99; 77. 32; 94. 28; 108. 82; V. II. 3. 11.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 10. 16; X. 54. 23[1]; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 13. 8, 32; 26. 10 and 38; 38. 3 and 7; 41. 15; 45. 2; 69. 28; Matsya-purāṇa 43. 31; 44. 31; 44. 31; 163. 63; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 11. 19.
3) Matsya-purāṇa ch. 186.
4) Ib. ch. 187.
5) Ib. ch. 188.

1b) The Mānasakanyā of Śukālā Pitṛs; given in marriage to Purukutsa by her brother Uraga; and mother of Trasadasyu; she took him to Rasātala where he killed some bad Gandharvas to the satisfaction of the Nāgas:¹ Heard the viṣṇu purāṇa from him and narrated it to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the Nāga and Āpūraṇa.²

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 7. 2-3; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 10. 97; Vāyu-purāṇa 73. 48; 88. 74.
2) Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI. 8. 45.

1c) The wife of Yuvanāśva, son of Ambarīṣa.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 63. 73.

1d) A mind-born daughter of Somapa Pitṛs: one of the 16 wives of Havyavāhana: turned into a river of Dakṣiṇāpatha.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 15. 25, 28; 51. 13; Vāyu-purāṇa 77. 32.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Narmadā (नर्मदा) refers to the name of a River mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.9.18, II.9, II.28.9, III.80.71, III.87.2, VI.10.13). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Narmadā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantra

Narmada (नर्मद):—Another name for Kāśmarī, one of the twenty-four pītha (‘sacred sites’) of the Sūryamaṇḍala according to the Ṣaṭsāhasraṭippanī and the kubjikāmata-tantra.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Narmadā (नर्मदा) or Narmadānadī is the name of a river (nadī), according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 71. Accordingly, “then, as Mṛgāṅkadatta was journeying to Ujjayinī, with Śrutadhi and Vimalabuddhi, to find Śaśāṅkavatī, he reached the Narmadā which lay in his path... And when he had gone down into the bed of the river to bathe, it happened that a king of the Śavaras, named Māyāvaṭu, came there for the same purpose”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Narmadā, 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.

Source: Shodhganga: A critical appreciation of soddhalas udayasundarikatha

Narmadā (नर्मदा).—One of the four rivers if India mentioned by Soḍḍhala.—Narmadā rises from the Amarakaṇṭaka hills in the Vindhya range and flows into the gulf of Cambay, It is Revā by its second name. It is an abode of piety, says Soḍḍhala, as a number of huts of ascetics are built on its bank. It is the Gaṅgā of the heaven that has descended directly to the earth. Bhṛgukaccha, the modern Broach is situated on its bank.

Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara

Narmada (नर्मद) is the name a locality mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—Rājaśekhara mentions Narmadā amongst the river of south India. Which is rises from the Amarakaṇtaka hills in the Vindhya Range and flows into the Gulf of Cambay.

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’.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Narmadā (नर्मदा) or is the name of a river, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If there should be both lunar and solar eclipses in one month, princes will suffer both from dissensions among their own army and from wars. [...] If Mars should be eclipsed by Rāhu [—the eclipsed or eclipsing lunar or solar disc as the case may be], the people of Āvanti, those living on the banks of the Kāverī and the Narmada and haughty princes will be afflicted with miseries. If Mercury should be so eclipsed, men living between the Ganges and the Yamunā, on the banks of the Sarayū and in the country of Nepāla, those living about the east sea and on the banks of the Śoṇa will suffer and women, princes, soldier boys and men of letters will perish”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Narmadā (नर्मदा): The Nerbudda river, one of the most important sacred rivers, originating from Amarkantak is believed to have descended from the sky by the order of Lord Shiva. The personified river is variously represented as being daughter of a Rishi named Mekala (from whom she is called Mekala and Mekala-kanya), as a daughter of the moon, as a 'mind-born daughter' of the Somapas, and as sister of the Nagas. It was she who brought Purukutsa to the aid of the Nagas against the Gandharvas, and the grateful snake-gods made her name a charm against the venom of snakes.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Narmadā (नर्मदा) refers to one of the female Śrāvakas mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Narmadā).

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.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Narmadā (नर्मदा) (in Chinese: Nai-mo-t'o) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Citrā or Citrānakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Citrā] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Narmadā] for the sake of protection and prosperity.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Geography in Ancient Indian inscriptions

Narmadā (नर्मदा) is the name of a river found in India.—The river Narmadā rises in the Amarakantak range and fallsinto the Arabian sea.

Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions

Narmadā (नर्मदा) is the name of a river mentioned in the Gupta inscription No. 18. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The knowledge of the river is implied in the reference to a chief Revottaras mentioned in the Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa 7.9.3.1. We find from the Amarakośa that Revā is another name of the river Narmadā. It is likely that the name of the chief was derived from his association with the river.

The river rises in the Amarakaṇṭaka mountain and falls into the Gulf of Cambay. The junction of the Narmadā with the sea is a sacred place of pilgrimage.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana (history)

Narmadā (नर्मदा) is the name of a river and rises in the Vindhya mountain and falls into the gulf of Cambay. It flows in a wide flood-plain and is fairly deep. It forms a suitable boundary between the political units north and south of it. Revā and Narmadā are the two small branches of one and the same river in the upper course which are later united into one.

Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early Buddhism

Narmadā (नर्मदा) or Narbudā is the name of a river situated in Dakkhiṇāpatha (Deccan) or “southern district” of ancient India, as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—The river Narbudā is referred to in the Kakkaṭa Jātaka as well as in the Citta Sambhūta Jātaka. It rises in the Amarakaṇṭaka mountain and falls into the Gulf of Cambay.

context information

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

narmadā (नर्मदा).—f (S) The river Narmada (Nerbuda).

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

narmadā (नर्मदा).—f The river Narmada.

context information

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 dictionary

Nārmada (नार्मद).—a.

1) Belonging to the river Narmadā.

2) A class of Brāhmaṇas.

--- OR ---

Narmada (नर्मद).—a. delighting, making happy; नन्दसूनुरनघे तव वत्सो नर्मदः प्रणयिनां विजहार (nandasūnuranaghe tava vatso narmadaḥ praṇayināṃ vijahāra) Bhāgavata 1.35.2.

-daḥ a jester (= narmasaciva q. v.).

Narmada is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms narman and da (द).

--- OR ---

Narmadā (नर्मदा).—Name of a river which rises in the Vindhya mountain, and falls into the gulf of Cambay.

Narmadā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms narman and dā (दा).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Narmada (नर्मद).—i. e. narman-da, 1. adj. Causing pleasure, Somad. [Nala] 128. 2. f. dā, The name of a river, the modern Nerbudda, Mahābhārata 2, 371; personified, 15, 550.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Narmada (नर्मद).—[adjective] causing sport, sporting; [feminine] ā [Name] of a river.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Narmada (नर्मद):—[=narma-da] mfn. causing mirth or pleasure, delightful, [Naiṣadha-carita]

2) [v.s. ...] m. a jester, the companion of a person’s sports or amusements, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] Name of a man, [Catalogue(s)]

4) Narmadā (नर्मदा):—[=narma-dā] [from narma-da] a f. See narmadā.

5) [=narma-dā] [from narma] b f. of -da (above), ‘pleasure-giver’, Name of a river (the modern Nerbudda), [Mahābhārata] etc. (she is personified as the wife of Puru-kutsa and mother of Trasa-dasyu, or as a sister of the Ura-gas id est. serpents, or as a daughter of the Soma-pas)

6) [v.s. ...] of a Gandharvī, [Rāmāyaṇa]

7) [v.s. ...] a kind of plant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) Nārmada (नार्मद):—mf(ī)n. belonging to the river Narma-dā (pra-vāha), [Kathāsaritsāgara]

9) m. [metronymic] of a man, [Harivaṃśa 8019.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Narmada (नर्मद):—[narma-da] (daḥ-dā-daṃ) a. Giving pleasure. m. The companion of one’s sports. f. (dā) Narmada river; a plant (Trigonella corniculata).

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Narmadā (नर्मदा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇammayā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Narmada 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.

Relevant text

Search found 75 books and stories containing Narmada, Narmadā, Nārmada, Narman-da, Narman-dā, Narma-da, Narma-dā; (plurals include: Narmadas, Narmadās, Nārmadas, das, dās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chapter 13 - The Greatness of Narmadā < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]

Chapter 16 - Kāverī Saṃgama Tīrtha < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]

Chapter 21 - Vīhageśvara, Narmadeśvara, Aśvatīrtha, Pitāmaha, Sāvitrītīrtha, Mānasa etc. < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]

+ 45 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 24 - The Greatness of the Confluence of Kara and Narmadā [Karanarmadā] < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]

Chapter 29 - The Story of Dhaneśvara < [Section 4 - Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya]

Chapter 29 - The Greatness of the Confluence of Kāverī and Narmadā < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]

+ 209 more chapters / show preview

Note on Arjuna and the Narmadā < [Notes]

Notes on the river Mandākinī < [Notes]

Chapter CII < [Book XII - Śaśāṅkavatī]

+ 4 more chapters / show preview