Airavana, Airāvaṇa: 12 definitions

Introduction

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

Introduction:

Airavana means something in 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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण).—A son of Irāvatī—the vehicle of Indra, also Irāvata.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 292 & 326.

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण) is the name of a cloud whose sound corresponds to the Ūrdhvaka note made by drums (puṣkara) according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 33. Accordingly, “after seeing that the Mṛdaṅgas, Paṇavas and Dardaras have been made, the great sage Svāti brought about a similarity of their notes with those of clouds... The great cloud named Airāvaṇa gave note to Ūrdhvaka... Those who want Success of performances should make to these clouds, offerings which are dear to spirits (bhūta)”.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., 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) and poetic works (kavya).

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण) is the mount of Indra, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 115. Accordingly, “... then Vidyuddhvaja, elated with the boon of Śiva, seized his mace, and rushed furiously on Indra. He leapt up, planting his feet on the tusks of Airāvaṇa, and climbed up on his forehead and killed his driver”.

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

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’.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण) is the name of an elephant mentioned in chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “[...] Jīvānanda [i.e., previous incarnation of Ṛṣabha] learned the eight-branched Āyurveda followed by his father and also the taste, efficacy, and effect of drugs. Like Airāvaṇa among elephants, like the sun among the planets, he became foremost among physicians, wise and with unquestioned skill”.

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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण).—(see airāvata below); Indra's elephant (produced at the churning of the ocean), मागधोऽथ महापालो गजमैरावणोपमम् (māgadho'tha mahāpālo gajamairāvaṇopamam) Mb.6.62.46. See ऐरावत (airāvata).

Derivable forms: airāvaṇaḥ (ऐरावणः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण).—m.

(-ṇaḥ) Indra'S elephant. E. irāvat the ocean, aṇ affix of descent; ocean-born: na is changed irregularly to ṇa.

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

Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण).—i. e. irāvan + a (the base is curtailed irāvant, ved., and cf. irāvatī), m. Indra's elephant, Mahābhārata 1, 1151.

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

Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण).—[masculine] [Name] of Indra's elephant.

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

1) Airāvaṇa (ऐरावण):—[from aira] m. ([from] irā-van), Name of Indra’s elephant, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Lalita-vistara]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of a Nāga, [Mahābhārata ii] (cf. the next.)

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 12 books and stories containing Airavana, Airāvaṇa; (plurals include: Airavanas, Airāvaṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 4: Birth of Asitākṣa as Airāvaṇa < [Chapter VII - Sanatkumāracakricaritra]

Part 14: Defeat of Indra < [Chapter II - Rāvaṇa’s expedition of Conquest]

Part 5: Birth as Asitākṣa < [Chapter VII - Sanatkumāracakricaritra]

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Appendix 1 - Story of the nāga-king Elapatra < [Chapter XL - The Four Fearlessnesses and the Four Unobstructed Knowledges]

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Chapter 68 - The Slaying of Muci < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]

Chapter 27 - Coronation of the Kings < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]

Chapter 73 - The Slaying of Vṛtra < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

Chapter CXV < [Book XVII - Padmāvatī]

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