Purushasimha, Puruṣasiṃha, Purusha-simha: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Purushasimha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
The Sanskrit term Puruṣasiṃha can be transliterated into English as Purusasimha or Purushasimha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraPuruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह).—According to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV), the chief who commands warriors is called a lion-man (puruṣasiṃha) and people call the king of the land puruṣasiṃha. Just as a lion among animals is strong, fearless and can conquer all, so the Buddha triumphs over all ninety-six heretical systems and is called puruṣasiṃha.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismPuruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह) is the name of the fifth Vāsudeva (“violent heroes”) according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. He is also known by the name Nṛsiṃha. Since they enjoy half the power of a Cakravartin (universal monarch) they are also known as Ardhacakrins. Jain legends describe nine such Vāsudevas usually appearing together with their “gentler” twins known as the Baladevas. The legends of these twin-heroes usually involve their antagonistic counterpart known as the Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes).
The parents of as Puruṣasiṃha are known as king Śiva and queen Ammayā (or Ammakā, Ammā) whose stories are related in texts such as the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.
The nine Vāsudevas (such as Puruṣasiṃha) are also known as Nārāyaṇas or Viṣṇus and are further described in various Jain sources, such as the Bhagavatīsūtra and Jambūdvīpaprajñapti in Śvetāmbara, or the Tiloyapaṇṇatti and Ādipurāṇa in the Digambara tradition. The appearance of a Vāsudeva is described as follows: their body is of a dark-blue complexion, they wear a yellow robe made of silk, and they bear the śrīvatsa on their chest.
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1) Puruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह), the son of Śiva and Rājāmṛtā, is one of the nine black Vāsudevas, according to chapter 1.6 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly: “[...] There will be nine black Vāsudevas, enjoyers of three parts of the earth, with half so much power as the Cakrins. [...] In Aśvapura, Puruṣasiṃha will live in the time of Dharmanātha, forty-five bows tall, son of Śiva and Rājāmṛtā. After completing a life of ten lacs of years, he will go to the sixth hell”.
2) Puruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह) is the son of king Vijayasena and a previous incarnation of Sumatinātha, according to chapter 3.3 [sumatinātha-caritra].—Accordingly, “A very powerful god fell from heaven and descended into the womb of Queen Sudarśanā who had taken her purifying bath in the afternoon. Then the Queen, asleep, saw a young lion with a ruddy mane enter her mouth. [...] In accordance with the Queen’s dream, the King gave the prince the charming name, Puruṣasiṃha. Cared for by nurses, the prince gradually grew up quite in accordance with the wishes of mother, father, and subjects. [...]”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPuruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह).—'a tiger or lion among men', a distinguished or eminent man. उद्योगिनं पुरुषसिंहमुपैति लक्ष्मीः (udyoginaṃ puruṣasiṃhamupaiti lakṣmīḥ) H.
2) a hero, brave man.
Derivable forms: puruṣasiṃhaḥ (पुरुषसिंहः).
Puruṣasiṃha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms puruṣa and siṃha (सिंह). See also (synonyms): puruṣavyāghra, puruṣaśārdūla.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह).—m.
(-haḥ) 1. An eminent man. 2. The fifth of the Vasudevas, according to the Jains, and the son of Siva. E. puruṣa mankind, and siṃha pre-eminent.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह).—[masculine] man-lion, hero.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Puruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह):—[=puruṣa-siṃha] [from puruṣa] m. ‘man-lion’, an eminent man or hero, [Kāvya literature]
2) [v.s. ...] (with Jainas) Name of the 5th of the black Vāsudevas, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuruṣasiṃha (पुरुषसिंह):—[puruṣa-siṃha] (haḥ) 1. m. The fifth of the Vasudevas; a fine man.
[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: Purusha, Simha.
Full-text: Ammaka, Shiva, Simha, Simhasana, Amma, Purushashardula, Rajamrita, Purushavyaghra, Ammaya, Kalaya, Vinayanandana, Vikata, Vasudeva, Nrisimha, Simhavikridita.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Purushasimha, Puruṣasiṃha, Purusha-simha, Puruṣa-siṃha, Purusasimha, Purusa-simha; (plurals include: Purushasimhas, Puruṣasiṃhas, simhas, siṃhas, Purusasimhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 7: Puruṣasiṃha’s youth < [Chapter III - Sumatināthacaritra]
Part 11: Birth of Puruṣasiṃha < [Chapter V - Śrī Dharmanāthacaritra]
Part 24: Puruṣasiṃha’s death < [Chapter V - Śrī Dharmanāthacaritra]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Act 1.1: The Buddha enters into the Samādhirājasamādhi < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]
Act 5.1: The Buddha shakes the trisāhasramahāsāhasralokadhātu in six ways < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]
IV. Why teach the ten powers (daśa-bala)? < [Part 1 - General questions]
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Part 3 - On patriarchs < [Chapter 5]
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter I - Prologue < [Volume I]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 7 - Age of Nampi (Sundarar)—Examined < [Volume 1 - Nampi Arurar’s Tevaram (his life and age)]