Alternative spellings of this word include Vichitrarupa.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: The Matsya-purāṇa

Vicitrarūpā (विचित्ररूपा) is the name of a mind-born ‘divine mother’ (mātṛ), created for the purpose of drinking the blood of the Andhaka demons, according to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.8. The Andhaka demons spawned out of every drop of blood spilled from the original Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon). According to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.35, “Most terrible they (e.g., Vicitrarūpā) all drank the blood of those Andhakas and become exceedingly satiated.”

The Matsyapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 20,000 metrical verses, dating from the 1st-millennium BCE. The narrator is Matsya, one of the ten major avatars of Viṣṇu.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Vicitrarūpa (विचित्ररूप) refers to the “diverse forms”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] On hearing her words, Śiva was fascinated and he went to the summit of the Himālayas along with her. He reached the beautiful summit where the Siddha ladies resided, which could not be reached by birds and which shone with lakes and forests. The top was of variegated colours as of various gems, embellished by lotuses of diverse forms (vicitrarūpa), shapes and lustre. Śiva in the company of Satī reached that top which shone like the rising sun”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Vicitrarūpā (विचित्ररूपा).—A mind-born mother.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 179. 21.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Kamakoti Mandali: Nrisimha matrika-mandala

Vicitrarūpā (विचित्ररूपा) refers to one of the various Mātṛkā-Śaktis created by Rudra in order to destroy the clones that spawned from Andhaka’s body.—Accordingly, [...] Andhakāsura attempted to abduct Girājanandinī (Pārvatī) and thus ensued a fierce battle between Andhakāsura and the great Rudra, the Lord of Umā. Like raktabīja, every drop of blood that fell from the body of Andhaka created another Asura like him and in no time, the entire world was filled with Andhakas. To destroy the growing number of Andhakas, Rudra created innumerable Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Vicitrarūpā]. These Śaktis of immense power at once began to drink every drop of blood that flowed from the body of Andhaka, but they could still not effectively contain the emergence of more and more demons.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vicitrarūpa (विचित्ररूप).—a. diverse.

Vicitrarūpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms vicitra and rūpa (रूप).

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

Vicitrarūpa (विचित्ररूप):—[=vi-citra-rūpa] [from vi-citra] mfn. having various forms, various, diverse, [Mahābhārata]

[Sanskrit to German]

Vicitrarupa 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Vicitra, Rupa.

Starts with: Vicitrarupadarshana.

Full-text: Vicitrarupadarshana, Prushitapsu, Abharana.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Vicitrarupa, Vicitra-rupa, Vicitra-rūpa, Vicitrarūpā, Vicitrarūpa; (plurals include: Vicitrarupas, rupas, rūpas, Vicitrarūpās, Vicitrarūpas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)

Verse 2.2.8-9 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]

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The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)

Chapter 27 - The description of the Jaya ablution < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]

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Lankavatara Sutra (by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki)

Introduction

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