Vajrabahu, Vajrabāhu: 7 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Vajrabahu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Vajrabāhu (वज्रबाहु).—A notorious asura. Vajrabāhu was born of a Vidyādhara-damsel named Cañcalākṣī, when she was raped by the asura Sahasramukha. This Vajrabāhu did penance before Śiva and obtained Pāśupatāstra (a divine arrow) and an impenetrable armour. After this, he caught hold of Indra and bound him. Subrahmaṇya rescued Indra and killed Vajrabāhu. (Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, Uttara Kāṇḍa).

2) Vajrabāhu (वज्रबाहु).—A monkey. With other monkeys Vajrabāhu got on the body of Kumbhakarṇa and scratched his face and body and did much harm in the battle between Rāma and Rāvaṇa. Kumbhakarṇa caught hold of them and ate them. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 287, Stanza 67).

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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Vajrabāhu (वज्रबाहु) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings 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 Vajrabāhu).

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van Svayambhūdeva’s Paümacariu

Vajrabāhu (वज्रबाहु) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Vajrabāhu] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Vajrabāhu (वज्रबाहु) refers to one of the two sons of Himacūlā and king Vijaya, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4 [Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “Now since the time of the kingdom of Ṛṣabha Svāmin in the city Ayodhyā there had been innumerable kings in the solar race in the Ikṣvāku-line, of whom some had attained emancipation and some had gone to heaven. In the expanding congregation of the twentieth Arhat, there were a king Vijaya and his wife, Himacūlā; and they had two sons, Vajrabāhu and Purandara”.

context information

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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vajrabāhu (वज्रबाहु).—[adjective] = vajrapāṇi; [masculine] [Name] of a monkey.

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

1) Vajrabāhu (वज्रबाहु):—[=vajra-bāhu] [from vajra > vaj] mfn. (vajra-) ‘th°-armed’, wielder of a th° (said of Indra, Agni and Rudra), [Ṛg-veda]

2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a king of Orissa and of another person, [Catalogue(s)]

[Sanskrit to German]

Vajrabahu 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 10 books and stories containing Vajrabahu, Vajrabāhu, Vajra-bahu, Vajra-bāhu; (plurals include: Vajrabahus, Vajrabāhus, bahus, bāhus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Rig Veda 9.97.49 < [Sukta 97]

Rig Veda 7.23.6 < [Sukta 23]

Rig Veda 10.44.3 < [Sukta 44]

+ 9 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 13 - The Marriage of Bhadrāyus < [Section 3 - Brāhmottara-khaṇḍa]

Chapter 17 - The breaking of ego of Rukmi and the servants of God < [Section 4 - Dvārakā-māhātmya]

Chapter 10 - Bhadrāyu Resuscitated < [Section 3 - Brāhmottara-khaṇḍa]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview