Airavata, aka: Airāvata, Āirāvata, Aīrāvata; 14 Definition(s)

Introduction

Airavata means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Airāvata (ऐरावत).—Name of a minor mountain (kṣudraparvata) situated in Bhārata, a region south of mount Meru, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 85. In the settlements (janapada) along these mountains dwell Āryas and Mlecchas who drink water from the rivers flowing there. Meru is one of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, which is ruled over by Āgnīdhra, a grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

1) Airāvata (ऐरावत).—A large elephant, son of Irāvatī. Genealogy. Descended from Viṣṇu in this order:—Viṣṇu-Brahmā-Kaśyapa-Bhadramatā-Irāvatī-Airāvata. Kaśyapa married Dakṣa’s daughter, Krodhavaśā who bore him ten daughters. They were: Mṛgī, Mṛgamandā, Harī, Bhadramatā, Mātaṅgī, Śārdūlī, Svetā, Surabhī, Sarasā and Kadru. Of these Bhadramatā had a daughter named Irāvatī and Airāvata was her son. Airāvata was not human in shape; he was a large elephant. (See Sarga 14, Araṇyakāṇḍa, Rāmāyaṇa). (See full article at Story of Airāvata from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Airāvata (ऐरावत).—Name of a serpent born to Kaśyapa and his wife Kadru. This is mentioned in Śloka 5, Chapter 35, Ādi Parva of the Mahābhārata. Arjuna’s father-in-law and Ulūpi’s father, Kauravya belonged to the family of this serpent. (See Śloka 18, Chapter 213, Ādi Parva).

3) Airāvata (ऐरावत).—An asura who was killed by Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (See Chapter 38, Sabhā Parva, Mahābhārata).

1) Āirāvata (आइरावत).—A species of white elephants with four tusks;¹ the elephant of Indra.² Lord of elephants; travelling in the sun's chariot during the month of kārtika;³ Indra rode on, to see Kṛṣṇa;⁴ defeated by Garuḍa in a fight between Kṛṣṇa and Indra.⁵

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa, X. 59. 37.
• 2) Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 9. 7, 25; 22. 5.
• 3) Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 10. 12.
• 4) Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 12. 2. 13 and 25; 29. 1.
• 5) Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 30. 66.

2) Aīrāvata (अईरावत).—The Nāga presiding over the month of tapasya (phalguna);¹ with the sun in the śarat.²

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 11. 40; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 23. 3 and 14; III. 7. 33 and 327; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 39; 126. 15.
• 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 52. 14; 69. 70.

3a) Airāvata (ऐरावत).—Bhauvana got hold of the sun's aṇḍakapāla and sang the rathantara portion of Sāmagāna when an elephant appeared given to Irāvati as son. Hence Airāvata the vehicle of Indra—the first king among elephants;¹ fourteen tusks;² Indra's mount; defeated by Vṛtra;³ came out of the amṛtamathana;⁴ sacred.⁵

• 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 209-11; Matsya-purāṇa 8. 7.
• 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 11. 11; Matsya-purāṇa 133. 10; 177. 48.
• 3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 8. 4; X. 25. 7.
• 4) Ib. VIII. 8. 4.
• 5) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XI. 16. 17.

3b) The uttarasthāna; has three roads or vīthis.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 66. 47-48.

Airāvata (ऐरावत) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.33.2, I.31.5, I.35, I.52.11, I.60.60) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Airāvata) 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.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Airāvata (ऐरावत) refers to a type of temple (prāsāda) classified under the group named Sāndhāra, according to Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 56. The Sāndhāra group contains twenty-five out of a sixty-four total prāsādas (temples) classified under four groups in this chapter. The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra is an 11th-century encyclopedia dealing with various topics from the Vāstuśāstra.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Airāvata (ऐरावत, “born-of-the-ocean”):—The first mount of Indra, and represents an elephant with four tusks. Indra is the king of the gods. He is the ruler of the storm and represents the all-pervading electric energy. As a major deity in the Ṛg-veda, he also represents the cause of fertility.

Airāvata (ऐरावत): Indra's elephant.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Airāvata (ऐरावत).—One of the seven regions (kṣetra) of Jambūdvīpa according to Jaina cosmology. Jambūdvīpa sits at the centre of madhyaloka (‘middle world’) is the most important of all continents and it is here where human beings reside. In Airāvata flows the twin rivers Raktā and Raktodā.

Airāvata (ऐरावत) or Airāvatavarṣa refers to a region of Jambūdvīpa: the first continent of the Madhya-loka (middle-word), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.10. Due to its association with the Kṣatriya King Airāvata, this region is called Airāvatakṣetra. The mountain chain Śikhari separates the Hairaṇyavata and Airāvata regions. The Rivers Raktā and Raktodā divide Airāvata-kṣetra.

Bharata, Airāvata and Videha except Uttarakuru and Devakuru are the regions of labour i.e. where spiritual effort is possible also. There are 15 regions of labour in the Two-and-half continents (dhāi-dvīpa) namely; five in Bharata, five in Airāvata and five in Videha regions. The region where the inhabitants engage themselves in the six activities /occupations are called region of labour. The Human beings living in the regions of labour are called inhabitants of the region of labour (karmabhūmija).

Jambūdvīpa (containing the Airāvata region) is in the centre of all continents and oceans; all continents and oceans are concentric circles with Jambūdvīpa in the centre. Like the navel is in the centre of the body, Jambūdvīpa is in the centre of all continents and oceans. Sumeru Mount is in the centre of Jambūdvīpa. It is also called Mount Sudarśana.

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

Marathi-English dictionary

airāvata (ऐरावत).—m (S) pop. airāvatī m The name of Indra's elephant. Pr. indrācā ai0 śāmbhaṭācī taṭāṇī.

airāvata (ऐरावत) [-tī, -ती].—m The name of Indra's elephant.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Airāvata (ऐरावत).—[irā āpaḥ tadvān irāvān samudraḥ tasmādutpannaḥ aṇ]

1) Name of the elephant of Indra. ऐरावतं गजेन्द्राणाम् (airāvataṃ gajendrāṇām) Bg. 1.27.

2) An excellent elephant; a species of elephant; ऐरावतानैन्द्रशिरान्नागान्वै प्रियदर्शनान् (airāvatānaindraśirānnāgānvai priyadarśanān) Rām.2.7.23.

3) One of the chiefs of the Nāgas or serpent-race (inhabiting Pātāla); अहमैरावत ज्येष्ठभ्रातृभ्योऽकरवं नमः (ahamairāvata jyeṣṭhabhrātṛbhyo'karavaṃ namaḥ) Mb.1.3.139.

4) The elephant presiding over the east.

5) A kind of rainbow.

6) A kind of lightning; (said to be n. also in these two senses).

7) The orange tree.

-tam 1 A vast and waterless region.

2) (pl.) Name of a Varṣa.

3) Name of the northern path of the moon.

4) A kind of cloud; 'मेघस्योपरि मेघो यः स ऐरावत उच्यते (meghasyopari megho yaḥ sa airāvata ucyate)' इति दक्षिणावर्तः (iti dakṣiṇāvartaḥ) (Commentator of meghadūta).

-tī 1 The female of Indra's elephant.

2) Lightning.

3) Name of a plant (vaṭapatrī)

4) Name of river Rāvi in the Panjab (= irāvatī).

5) Name of a particular portion of the moon's path.

Derivable forms: airāvataḥ (ऐरावतः).

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