Ananta, Ānanta, Anantā, Anamta, Āṉanta: 62 definitions

Introduction:

Ananta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, biology, Tamil. 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.

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In Hinduism

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: humindian: 108 names of Lord Krishna

One of the 108 names of Krishna; Meaning: "The Endless Lord"

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to:—That which is without end; unlimited; a concept of eternality. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

Vaishnavism book cover
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Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy

According to the Aṃśumadbhedāgama, Ananta (1st class Vidyeśvara), has a handsome, pacific appearance; a single face with three eyes in it; four arms; has the red colour of the shoe-flower; is adorned with a karaṇḍa-makuṭa and all other ornaments; he is to be standing pon a padmapīṭha and clothed in white garments. Two of his hands are held in the varada and abhaya poses and the other two keep in them the śūla and ṭaṅka.

Source: archive.org: Pratima Kosa Encyclopedia of Indian Iconography - Vol 6

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the many varieties of the Śālagrāma (ammonite fossil stones).—The Ananta is thick or large in size (sthūla); mark of serpent-hood (nāga-bhogi); very black in colour or having many colours (nānā-varṇa); and as many as fourteen cakras. Śālagrāma stones are very ancient geological specimens, rendered rounded and smooth by water-currents in a great length of time. They (e.g., Ananta stones) are distinguished by the ammonite (śālā, described as “vajra-kīṭa”, “adamantine worms”) which having entered into them for residence, are fossilized in course of time, leaving discus-like marks inside the stone.

Shilpashastra book cover
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Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantra

Ananta (अनन्त):—Presiding deity of the Dūtīcakra. He is also the ninth and final of the nine male deities, presiding over the Dūtīcakra, into which he multiplied himself, according to the Kubjikāmata-tantra. These nine deities divide themself each nine times, resulting in the eighty-one Dūtīs.

His consort (as a bhairava, or, one of the nine emenation of Ananta himself) is named Bindukā.

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the “eight embodiments” (mūrtyaṣṭaka) of Śiva according to the Svacchandatantra 10.1161–1162 where they are identical with the eight vidyeśvaras (lords of knowledge). The eight embodiments are also mentioned in a copper-plate inscription found in Malhar, Chhattisgarh, written around 650 CE.

All these manifestations of Śiva (e.g., Ananta) appear at the borders of various divisions of the universe according to the Lākula system.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

1) Ananta (अनन्त) is the name of a deity who was imparted with the knowledge of the Candrajñānāgama by Sadāśiva through parasambandha, according to the pratisaṃhitā theory of Āgama origin and relationship (sambandha). The candrajñāna-āgama, being part of the eighteen Rudrabhedāgamas, refers to one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu.

Ananta in turn transmitted the Candrajñānāgama (through mahānsambandha) to Bṛhaspati who then, through divya-sambandha, transmitted it to the Devas who, through divyādivya-sambandha, transmitted it to the Ṛṣis who finally, through adivya-sambandha, revealed the Candrajñānāgama to human beings (Manuṣya). (also see Anantaśambhu’s commentary on the Siddhāntasārāvali of Trilocanaśivācārya)

2) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of the Vimalāgama which is one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu. The purpose of revealing upāgamas (e.g., Ananta Āgama) is to explain more elaborately than that of mūlāgamas (e.g., Vimala-āgama) and to include any new idea if not dealt in mūlāgamas.

Shaivism book cover
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Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Cikitsa (natural therapy and treatment for medical conditions)

Source: Wisdom Library: Ayurveda: Cikitsa

Anantā (अनन्ता):—Another name for Sārivā (Hemidesmus indicus), a species of medicinal plant and used in the treatment of fever (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which is part of the 7th-century Mādhavacikitsā, a Sanskrit classical work on Āyurveda.

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: Wisdom Library: Raj Nighantu

Anantā (अनन्ता) refers to “earth” and is mentioned in a list of 53 synonyms for dharaṇi (“earth”), according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands, soil [viz., Anantā], mountains, jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees and plants and substances, with their various kinds.

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Ananta (अनन्त) is another name for Yavāsa, a medicinal plant identified with Alhagi pseudalhagi, synonym of Alhagi maurorum (“camelthorn”) from the Fabaceae or legume family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.44-46 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Ananta and Yavāsa, there are a total of twenty-two Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgraha

Anantā (अनन्ता) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Hemidesmus indicus (Linn.) R. Br.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning anantā] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Ananta (अनन्त) (or Śeṣa) refers to “snakes with a dot on the forehead between the eyebrows; eyes are still” and represents a classification of Divine Snakes, as taught in the Nāganāman (“names of the Sarpas”) section of the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Agadatantra or Sarpavidyā).—The first aspect of the Agadatantra is about the names of the sarpas and their features. The Kāśyapasaṃhitā verse IV.6-19 provide information on divine serpents [e.g., Ananta], their characterstic features, origin and other details.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Snake bite treatment in Prayoga samuccayam

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the eight primordial snakes, according to the 20th century Prayogasamuccaya (one of the most popular and widely practised book in toxicology in Malayalam).—The work classifies viṣa into two groups, viz. sthāvara and jaṅgama (animate and inanimate). This is followed by a brief description of the origin of snakes. A mythological story is narrated in this context. It is said that in the beginning, there were only 8 snakes, Ananta, Gulika, Vāsuki, Śaṅkhapālaka, Takṣaka, Mahāpadma, Padma and Karkoṭaka and that all other snakes originated from these.

Ayurveda book cover
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Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

Ananta (अनन्त).—The son of Pṛthu, who was the son of Vibhu, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 74. Vibhu was the son of Prastotā, whose ancestral lineage can be traced to Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being. Ananta had a son named Gaya.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Ananta (अनन्त).—(ĀDIŚEṢA). Genealogy. Mahāviṣṇu begot Brahmā and he the Prajāpatis and Ananta (Ādiśeṣa) is one of the Prajāpatis. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa, Canto 14, Verse 7). Ananta is also referred to as the son of Kaśyapa, one of the Prajāpatis born of Kadrū. (Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 105, Verse 41). Also Balabhadrarāma, elder brother of Śrī Kṛṣṇa was a partial incarnation of Ananta. (See full article at Story of Ananta from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Ananta (अनन्त).—A synonym of the Sun God. (Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 3, Verse 24).

3) Ananta (अनन्त).—A synonym of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 70, Verse 14).

4) Ananta (अनन्त).—One of the military captains of Skanda. (Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 57).

5) Ananta (अनन्त).—A synonym of Viṣṇu. (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 149, Verse 83).

6) Ananta (अनन्त).—A synonym of Śiva. (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 17, Verse 135).

7) Anantā (अनन्ता).—Wife of Janamejaya, son of King Pūru.

8) Ananta (अनन्त).—The abode of Ananta in the nether regions. (Devī Bhāgavata, Canto 8). (There are certain indications that Ananta refers to Trivandrum, Capital city of the Kerala State. Explanations of words like Svarga, Bhūmi, Pātāla, Ananta, Deva, Asura, throw much light on this inference).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Ananta (अनन्त) refers to “endless”, and represents an epithet of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.10. Accordingly as Viṣṇu said to Brahmā:—“[...] He cannot be defined. He is not subject to deterioration or decay. He is the supreme soul, without a second, unswerving and endless (ananta). He is the cause of dissolution, all-pervasive and great lord”.

2) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantarūpa refers to one who assumes the “infinite” form and represents and epithet of Goddess Durgā, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.11. Accordingly as Brahmā said to Nārada:—“[...] O sage, seeing her [Durgā] who was Śiva’s Energy herself, directly in front of me, my lofty shoulders bent down with devotion and I eulogised her after due obeisance. [...] Thou art the Vidyā of diverse sorts. Thou art endowed with illumination, purity and detachment. Thou assumest Kūṭastha (perpetually immovable), Avyakta (unmanifest) and Ananta (infinite) form and Thou art the eternal time holding all the worlds”.

3) Ananta (कपिल) refers to the foremost among the Serpents (Nāga), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.2 (“The Prayer of the gods).—Accordingly, as the Gods eulogized Śiva: “[...] Among the Gandharvas you are Citraratha; among the Vasus you are certainly the fire; among the months you are the intercalary month; among the holy rites you are the Caturdaśī rite. Among all lordly elephants you are Airāvata; among all Siddhas you are Kapila; among all serpents you are Ananta, among all Pitṛs you are Aryaman. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Ananta (अनन्त).—The Tāmasī Kalā of Hari. Followers of sātvata tantra designate him Saṅkarṣaṇa. He bears the Earth on one of his 1000 hoods. From between his agitated brows came out Rudra exhibiting in eleven forms. The Nāga princes make obeisance to him for his blessings. He wears the vaijayantī garland. His glory is sung by Nārada and Tumburu in the court of the Creator. Also known as Śeṣa.1 Identified with Balarāma, the seventh son of Devakī.2 At the time of the deluge, withdraws the universe unto himself.3 Identified with Hari;4 a Nāga;5 ety. of;6 Balarāma, an incarnation of.7

  • 1) Bhā III. 26. 25; IV. 9. 14; V. 25. 1-11; VII. 7. 10-11; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 5. 13-27; V. 18. 54.
  • 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 1. 24; 2. 5.
  • 3) Ib. X. 68. 46.
  • 4) Ib. XI. 16. 19.
  • 5) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 20. 53.
  • 6) Matsya-purāṇa 248. 38.
  • 7) Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 25. 3; 35. 3; Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 14. 35.

1b) The sacred hill.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 13. 58.

1c) A king and the son of Vītihotra (Vīrahotra, Vāyu-purāṇa). Father of Durjaya.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 69. 53; Vāyu-purāṇa 94. 53.

2) Anantā (अनन्ता).—The wife of Svāyambhuva Manu.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 4. 33.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Ananta (अनन्त) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.32.24, I.59.40, I.65, IX.44.52) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Ananta) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Anantā is also mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.90.12) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places.

Purana book cover
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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.

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Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Wisdom Library: Pāñcarātra

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to an aspect of nṛsiṃha (‘man-lion’), according to the Vihagendra-saṃhitā 4.17, which mentions seventy-four forms (inlcuding twenty forms of vyūha). He is also known as Anantanṛsiṃha or Anantanarasiṃha. Nṛsiṃha is a Tantric deity and refers to the furious (ugra) incarnation of Viṣṇu.

The 15th-century Vihagendra-saṃhīta is a canonical text of the Pāñcarātra corpus and, in twenty-four chapters, deals primarely with meditation on mantras and sacrificial oblations.

Source: Wisdom Library: Pancaratra (Samhita list)

1a) Ananta (अनन्त) is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—[Cf. Jñānapāda chapter 1, verses 99-114]—First is explained the folly of following more than one Saṃhitā for a single series of rituals. Then the names of the 108 Tantras of the Pāñcarātra corpus are named [e.g., Ananta]. Even those who repeat these 108 titles will gain salvation.

1b) Ananta (अनन्त) is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—[Cf. Jñānapāda chapter 1, verses 99-114]—First is explained the folly of following more than one Saṃhitā for a single series of rituals. Then the names of the 108 Tantras of the Pāñcarātra corpus are named [e.g., Ananta]. Even those who repeat these 108 titles will gain salvation.

1c) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantasaṃhitā is also mentioned in the Puruṣottamasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text consisting of more than 1800 verses devoted to temple-building and the practical concerns of the Pāñcarātra priestly community.

2) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantapratiṣṭhā (lit. “installation of Ananta”) is the name of chapter 15 of the Saṃkarṣaṇa-Kāṇḍa of the Hayaśīrṣapañcarātra: an ancient Pāñcarātra consisting of four sections (kāṇḍas), deriving its name from the fact that according to its frame-story (ādikāṇḍa) it was revealed by God in the form of Hayaśiras, the Horse-Headed One. The Agnipurāṇa chapters 62-69 have parallels with the Saṃkarṣaṇakāṇḍa of the Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra.—Note: It is possible that Saṃkarṣaṇa is identical to Ananta. Saṃkarṣaṇa has been identified with the snake-incarnation Saṃkarṣaṇa/Balarāma and is called Śeṣa in Mahābhārata 12.326.35, which is a name of the snake-king, just as Ananta is.

Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 1

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the various Vibhava manifestations according to the Īśvarasaṃhitā 24.196-200.—Accordingly, “the Lord of the worlds is only one who becomes many through powers having their (own) forms. Ananta (is one such form) taken up with a desire to do favour to the devotees. Listen to the form desired by the Lord of all. It is like Himālayas (hill of snow) has a face like the full moon, has the group of hoods which is made known by its gems, bearing the plough-share and discus with the two right hands conch and pestle with the two left hands. He is the omniscient Acyuta having the power of serpent. Śeṣa, ever present and who fulfils that which is in the mind of those who do the acts and turned towards within themselves”.

These Vibhavas (e.g., Ananta) represent the third of the five-fold manifestation of the Supreme Consciousness the Pāñcarātrins believe in.

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

1) Ananta (अनन्त) (seated on a tortoise) is associated with the third court (āvaraṇa) of the temple, as discussed in the ninth chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (printed edition), a Pāñcarātra work in 8200 verses and 24 chapters dealing with topics such as routines of temple worship, major and minor festivals, temple-building and initiation.—Description of the chapter [dvārāvaraṇa-devatālakṣaṇa-ādi-vidhi]: This chapter concerns the daily ritual obligations owed to the deities whose abodes are fixed in the temple doorways—[...] In the third court [āvaraṇa] will be found, in due order, the ten deities: Indra on his elephant, Agni on his goat, Yama on his buffalo, Rākṣaseśvara (=Nirṛti) on a corpse, Varuṇa on the makara-whale, Vāyu on a deer. Moon on his rabbit, Śiva on his bull, Ananta on his tortoise, and Brahmā on his swan (89-105a). In the entrance to this third courtyard, at the gopura, will be found Sudarśana (105b-115).

2) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantamudrā refers to one of the fifty-three Mudrās (ritual hand gestures) described in chapter 22 (Caryāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa-vidhi]: Brahmā asks the meaning, uses and varieties of mudrā-gestures. Bhagavān says these finger movements are ways to fend off evil and to prevent those taking pleasure in harming others. Furthermore, they please the Lord-so long as they are demonstrated in private (1-5a). He then names and describes 53 mudrā-gestures: [e.g., ananta (60-61a)] [...]

3a) Ananta (अनन्तमन्त्र) or Anantamantra is the name of a Mantra discussed in the nineteenth and twenty-fourth chapter of the Parāśarasaṃhitā: a Pañcarātra work of some 2000 verses dealing withe the composition and applications of Mantras, the characteristics of devotees (prapanna) and initiation.—For pratiṣṭhā-purposes, Bhagavān says He will tell about certain mantras of Viṣṇubhaktas—ananta-mantra (2-8); garuḍamantra (9-16); viṣvaksenamantra (17-23). The remainder of the chapter deals with certain general rules for performing worship with mantras for the various classes, etc. * * * [The rest of the chapter is lost]. * * *

3b) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantamantra is the name of a Mantra discussed in chapter 29 (Caryāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [śryādiparivāra-mantravarṇana]: In this chapter Bhagavān tells about the mantras to be used in the worship of Śrī and of the deities in Her retinue found in the precincts of the first prākāra-courtyard. [...] Then comes the mālā-mantra addressed to Śrī (47-64). This is followed by the vasudhā-mantra (65-82a), the dharaṇī-mantra (82b-95a), sarasvatī-mantra (95b-131), the ādhāraśakti-mantra (132-142), the ananta-mantra (143-149) and the bhū-mantra (150-1512). [...]

4) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantamudrā is the name of a Mudrā (“ritual hand-gestures”) mentioned in in chapter 13 of the Viśvāmitrasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2600 Sanskrit verses covering topics such as initiation (dīkṣā) and the construction, decoration and consecration of temples and icons, as well as routines of regular and special worship cycles.—Description of the chapter [mudrā-adhyāya]: Kāśyapa asks what are the various types of mudrā-gestures, and Viśvāmitra complies by first defining mudrā as that by seeing which one derives pleasure (“mu-”) and then by counseling that whoever practices these mudrās must do so in secrecy (1-6). Thereupon he names and briefly describes how to perform a number of mudrās [e.g., ananta]

5) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantamudrā refers to one of the 37 Mudrās (hand-gestures) described in chapter 7 of the Viṣṇusaṃhitā: a Sanskrit text written in 2600 verses which covers typical Pāñcarātra topics through a narrative dialogue between Aupagāyana and Siddha Sumati.—[Cf. the chapter mudrā-lakṣaṇa].

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (pancaratra)

Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantasaṃhitā is the name of a Vaiṣṇava Āgama scripture, classified as a sāttvika type of the Muniprokta group of Pāñcarātra Āgamas. The vaiṣṇavāgamas represent one of the three classes of āgamas (traditionally communicated wisdom).—Texts of the Pāñcara Āgamas are divided in to two sects. It is believed that Lord Vāsudeva revealed the first group of texts which are called Divya and the next group is called Muniprokta which are further divided in to three viz. a. Sāttvika (e.g., Ananta-saṃhitā). b. Rājasa. c. Tāmasa.

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (p)

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the eight Divine Serpents visualized as the decorations (nāgābharaṇa) of Garuḍa, according to the second chapter of the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā (Toxicology).—Accordingly, text text dictates that a Garuḍa-upāsaka, the aspirant, must meditate on Garuḍa of the following form—[...] He shines with his head adorned with a crown, bedecked with jewels, handsome in every limb, with tawny eyes and tremendous speed, shining like gold, long-armed, broad-shouldered and adorned with the eight divine serpents or Nāgas [e.g., Ananta form his left shoulder bands]. Ananta and Gulika form his left and right shoulder bands.

Pancaratra book cover
context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

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Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature

Ananta (अनन्त) is the name of a king and one of the patrons of Kṣemendra, who, (as a poet, as a historian and as a rhetorician) was patronized by many kings of Kashmir of his time. Mainly king Ananta and his son Kalaśa had extended patronage to the great composer. In his Aucityavicāracarcā, Kṣemendra also mentions about Ratnasiṃha and Udayasiṃha as his patrons.

Chandas book cover
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Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Anantā (अनन्ता) refers to “endless”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra (Yogakhaṇḍa), a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “She moves in the middle of the Stone in an anticlockwise circle. The energy Vāmā, who is called Anantā (Endless) and the soul (jīva), is the ball of vital seed (kuṇḍagolakā). (Her) rotation is spherical, she is a spark (of consciousness) (kākinyā) and her form is Unstruck Sound (haṃsa)”.

2) Anantā (अनन्ता) and Anantīśa refers to the pair of Goddess and God appearing in the fourteenth Kalpa (aeon), according to the Kularatnoddyota.—After explaining that [the Kula tradition] is brought down into the world by incarnations or aspects of both the god and the goddess (aṃśamātra), the god goes on to list the names of these aspects—a goddess and her consort [i.e., Anantā—Anantīśa]—in nineteen aeons (kalpa), many of which we recognize from the earlier version in the Tantrasadbhāva.—(cf. Jayadrathayāmala-tantra of the Kāpālikas).

3) Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the “five Siddhas” associated with the Divyaugha or Gurvogha (“current of the teachers”), as discussed in the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Three Siddhas were born from the first Siddha’s radiant energy. They were the counterparts of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Rudra of the previous Current. After them, as in the previous Current, Five Siddhas came into being who were the counterparts of the previous ones. They entered ‘the sequence of the six parts’, that is, the Krama. Thus, along with Śrīnātha, they are the Siddhas of the sacred seats.—Ananta is also associated with Caryā of the Divyādivya (“divine-cum-mortal current”) and the sacred seat of Jālandhara.

According to the Kubjikāmatatantra, Ananta is associated with the Fire principle.—The “Five Siddhas” appear as aspects of Bhairava’s five-fold form who is called Ciñciṇīnātha here. They are ‘the agents of emanation’ and govern the five gross elements. These five are the agents of emanation. In this way, the god who has five natures is established in Earth and the other (gross elements).

4) Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantagranthi refers to one of the “sixteen knots” (granthi), according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—[...] The sixteen Knots [i.e., ananta-granthi] are parts of the goddess’s body. Accordingly, they are projected into the adept’s body to transform it into the Triple Fort, that is, the triangular body of the goddess replete with the energies of the sacred seats. She is both with form, consisting of the letters and mantras, and without form as the Transmental (manonmanī) energy of the god.

5) Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the eight Heroes (vīra-aṣṭaka) associated with Jālandhara (which is in the southern quarter), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—[...] The eight heroes: Ananta, Jvāla, Jṛmbhaṇa, Stambhana, Mohana, Stambhakārī, Saṃkarṣaṇa, Vighnāntaka.

6) Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the twenty-one spheres of the rūpa state.—Chapter nineteen of the Kubjikāmatatantra begins with an exposition of the state called Form (rūpa). This is manifest in twenty-one spheres (cakra) [i.e., Ananta] of ‘millions’ (koṭi) of energies arranged along the axis of the head starting with the throat, up through the eyebrows and beyond. [...]

7) Ananta (अनन्त) is the name of the Nāga (snake) associated with Gagananātha (one of the Nine Nāthas) according to sources such as the Kulakaulinīmata and Kumārikākhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra.—Gagananātha is associated with the following: Breaths: Prāṇa and Apāna; Gods of the Directions: Indra (Ahi); Planet: Sun; Snake (Nāga): Ananta; Other names: Hara.

Shaktism book cover
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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.

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Shaiva philosophy

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (philosophy)

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to an “infinite number (of atoms)”, according to Utpaladeva’s Vivṛti on Īśvarapratyabhijñākārikā 1.5.6.—Accordingly, “[...] To explain: a second atom that is connected with the atom considered as the first [one] must be one with this [first atom]; for if [these atoms] devoid of parts are in contact, how much [of them could] remain that might not be in contact? And [if they are thus entirely] in contact, their natures must be immersed in each other, therefore [they] can only be manifest as one [single] atom; and if [they are] in contact with yet another atom, the same [consequence follows]—therefore even if an infinite number of atoms (ananta-paramāṇu) were connected (yojana), they should be manifest as having the size of one [single] atom; or [rather], even this [manifestation] would not exist, because atom[s], [taken] one by one, are beyond the realm of the sense organs”.

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Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)

Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics

Ananta (अनन्त) represents the number 0 (zero) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 0—ananta] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.

Ganitashastra book cover
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Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Ananta (अनन्‍त): Ananta may be 1.The thousand headed nāga that issued from Balrāma's mouth 2. Author and commentator of Katyayana sutra 3. Ananta was the name of present Shekhawati region of Rajasthan in India.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

The serpent king referred to under Anantapokkharani, but not elsewhere mentioned in the old books. He is also called Anantabhoga. For details see Hopkins Epic Mythology (pp. 23-4).

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, Deities and other Spiritual beings

1) Ananta (अनन्त) refers to one of the “Twenty-Five Kalkis” (Tibetan: rigs ldan) as well as the “Thirty-two kings of Shambhala”, according to the Tibetan oral recounting and written texts such as the Kalachakra Tantra (kālacakratantra), dealing with the Buddhist conception of the end of the world and time.—The Tibetan mythic land (the kingdom of Shambhala) is a parallel world invisible and inaccessible to common people which is closely related to the teaching about the Wheel of Time (dus 'khor). The seven Dharmarajas and twenty-five Kulikas [e.g., Ananta] are the traditional rulers of Shambhala, passing on the reign from father to son.

Ananta is also known in Tibetan as (1) Thayä (Nyen) (2) Rigden Thayenyen [rigs ldan mtha' yas gnyen] (3) [mtha' yas gnyen] (4) [mtha' yas] and in Mongolian as: Khaan Tayaa. His traditional reign is considered to be from 1327 to 1427 CE.

2) Anantā (अनन्ता) refers to one of the female Śrāvakas 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 Anantā).

3) Ananta (अनन्त) is the name of a Nāga mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

Source: Google Books: Vajrayogini

Ananta (अनन्त) is another name for Huluhulu: the serpent deity (nāga) of the south-eastern cremation ground.—Huluhulu is also “Ananta” (Śmaśānavidhi 15), described there as colored like a peacock’s neck, with a lotus on his hood, making the añjali before his lord’s feet.

Source: WikiPedia: Tibetan Buddhism

Ananta (अनन्त) (in Tibetan: Nyen) (1327–1427 CE) refers to the fifteenth of the twenty-five Kalki kings (of Shambhala) who represents the holders of the Kalachakra (“wheel of time”) teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni.—The king Ananta is described as “holder of the mallet that crushes false ideas”.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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.

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Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to “that which is infinite”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 31).—Accordingly, “Without knowing if the ātman exists or does not exist, you are asking why one does not produce the idea of the ātman in regard to another. [The distinctions] between one’s own body (ātmakāya) and another’s body (parakāya) exist as a function of the Ātman. But the Ātman is non-existent. [The characteristics attributed to it]: having form (rūpin) or formless (arūpin), permanent (nitya) or impermanent (anitya), finite (antavat) or infinite (ananta), moveable (gantṛ) or motionless (agantṛ), cognizant (jñātṛ) or ignorant (ajñātṛ), active (kāraka) or inactive (akāraka), autonomous (svatantra) or non-autonomous (asvatantra): all these characteristics of the ātman do not exist, as we have said above in the chapter on the Ātman. [...]”.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to “infinite (knowledge)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “The great vehicle (mahāyāna) is made with four wheels (cakra), namely with the means of attraction, the spokes (ara) are well fitted as the roots of good have been transformed with intention, [...] is in accordance with the mental capacity of followers, strives for all practices of Bodhisatva, is superior because of infinite knowledge (ananta-jñāna) and immeasurable virtue (ākāra-guṇa), and is connected with the knowledge of knowing everything that is emptiness (śūnyatā) endowed with all sorts of excellencies”.

Mahayana book cover
context information

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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

1) Ananta (अनन्त):—The fourteenth Tīrthaṅkara (Janism recognizes 24 such teachers or Siddhas). He is also known as Anantanātha. His colour is gold (kāñcana), according to Aparājitapṛcchā (221.5-7). His height is 50 dhanuṣa (a single dhanuṣa (or, ‘bow’) equals 6 ft), thus, roughly corresponding to 91 meters. His emblem, or symbol, is a Porcupine or Falcon.

Ananta’s father is Siṃhasena and his mother is Suyaśā according to Śvetāmbara or Sarvayaśā according to Digambara. It is an ancient Jain practice to worship the Tīrthaṅkara’s parents in various rites, such as the pratiṣṭhāvidhi, according to the Ācāradinakara (14th century work on Jain conduct written by Vardhamāna Sūri).

2) Ānanta (आनन्त) refers to a heavenly abode (kalpa) inhabited by Kalpopapanna gods, according to Jain cosmological texts in both the Śvetāmbara and Digambara tradition. The Kalpopapannas (‘those born in the heavens’) represent a sub-species of the Vaimānika gods, which in turn represents the fourth main classification of devas (gods). This kalpa is also known as Ānantakalpa. In this specific kalpa, instead of bodily coition, a more and more refined sort of sexual satisfaction takes its place. The associated leśyā is white. There are ten such kalpas being ruled over by sixty-four Indras (heavenly kings).

In Jain iconography, the associated animal symbol of the Ānanta-kalpa is a snake (prakrit: bhujaṃga, sanskrit: bhujaṃga, bhujaṅga, bhujaga). These animals are depicted in a cosmological text of the Śvetāmbara tradition known as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna (“jewel of the compilation”), also known as the Trailokyadīpikā (“illumination of the triple world”), written by Śrīcandra in the 12th century.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Ananta (अनन्त) or Anantajit refers to the fourteenth of the twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras praised in the first book (ādīśvara-caritra) [chapter 1] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Ananta is the son of Siṃhasena and Suyaśā, according to chapter 4.4, “Now in the heaven Prāṇata the soul of Padmaratha, immersed in bliss, passed its life of maximum duration. On the seventh day of the dark half of Śrāvaṇa, the moon being in Revatī, it fell and descended into the womb of Queen Suyaśas. [...] Then the name Anantajit was given to the Supreme Lord, because infinite armies of his enemies had been conquered by his father while he was in the womb. Sucking nectar from his own thumb, like a yogi the nectar of meditation, instead of nursing, the Supreme Lord gradually grew up. The Lord gradually passed childhood, like the moon, and gradually attained youth, fifty bows tall”.

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Ananta (अनन्त) refers to “infinite (power)”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “This [self], which is master of the three worlds, omniscient [and] possessed of infinite power (ananta-śaktimatanantaśaktimān), does not recognise itself and has deviated from its own true nature. Tarnished by awful stains arising from eternity, it grasps objects according to its own desire which are very different from itself”.

Source: SOAS Research Online: Prekṣā meditation: History and Methods

Ananta (अनन्त) or “infinite” refers to one of the 46 qualities of the soul to be meditated on in the “Practice of Meditation on Liberated Souls (Siddhas)”, according to Jain texts like Ācārāṅga (5.6.123-140), Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama (13.5.4.31) and Samayasāra (1.49).—The pure soul can be recognised by meditation on its true nature, represented by the liberated souls of the Siddhas. The practice which leads to this realisation is meditation on the fact that attachment, aversion, passions and the influx of karmas, are ‘not mine’, that I am separate from them and consist of infinite knowledge, perception, conduct, spiritual energy, that I am the pure, enlightened, and everlasting soul. The qualities of the soul to be meditated on as truly mine are: [e.g., My soul is infinite (ananta)] [...] The meditation on such extended fourty-five qualities of the pure soul presents the niśacaya-naya, which is aligned with Kundakunda’s approach.

General definition book cover
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.

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India history and geography

Source: Project Gutenberg: Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 1

Ananta (“cobra”) is one of the exogamous septs (divisions) among the Komatis (a trading caste of the Madras Presidency). The Komatis are said to have originally lived, and still live in large numbers on the banks of the Godavari river. One of the local names thereof is Gomati or Gomti, and the Sanskrit Gomati would, in Telugu, become corrupted into Komati. The sub-divisions are split up into septs (viz., Ananta), which are of a strictly exogamous character.

Source: What is India: Epigraphia Indica volume XXXI (1955-56)

Ananta is one of the Brāhmaṇa donees mentioned in the “Asankhali plates of Narasiṃha II” (1302 A.D.). When a grant was made to a large number of Brāhmaṇas, the chief amongst the donees seems to have been called Pānīyagrāhin especially. In the present record, though all the donees (e.g., Ananta) are referred to as Pāṇigrāhi-mahājana, their list is headed by a Brāhmaṇa with Pāṇigrahī as his surname.

These copper plates (mentioning Ananta) were discovered from the house of a Santal inhabitant of Pargana Asankhali in the Mayurbhanj State (Orissa). It was made when king Vīra-Narasiṃhadeva was staying at the Bhairavapura-kaṭaka (city, camp or residence).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Ananta.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘cypher’. Note: ananta is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Ananta in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers from the Poaceae (Grass) family. For the possible medicinal usage of ananta, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.

Ananta in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Tabernaemontana divaricata Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult. from the Apocynaceae (Oleander) family having the following synonyms: Tabernaemontana citrifolia, Tabernaemontana coronaria, Nerium coronarium.

Ananta [अनन्ता] in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Vitex trifolia L. from the Verbenaceae (Verbena) family.

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

1) Ananta in India is the name of a plant defined with Alhagi maurorum in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Hedysarum pseud-alhagi M. Bieb. (among others).

2) Ananta is also identified with Alhagi pseudalhagi It has the synonym Alhagi pseudalhagi (M. Bieb.) Desv. (etc.).

3) Ananta is also identified with Fagonia indica It has the synonym Fagonia oliveri DC. var. grandiflora Ozenda & Quézel (etc.).

4) Ananta is also identified with Gloriosa superba It has the synonym Methonica platyphylla Klotzsch (etc.).

5) Ananta is also identified with Hemidesmus indicus It has the synonym Periploca indica L. (etc.).

6) Ananta is also identified with Ichnocarpus frutescens It has the synonym Gardenia volubilis Loureiro (etc.).

7) Ananta is also identified with Tabernaemontana divaricata It has the synonym Nerium divaricatum L. (etc.).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Systema Vegetabilium (1819)
· Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden (1994)
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1989)
· Feddes Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis (1913)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2005)
· Notizbl. Bot. Gart. BerlinDahlem (1935)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Ananta, for example diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, health benefits, side effects, chemical composition, extract dosage, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

ananta : (adj.) endless; limitless; infinite.

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

ananta (अनंत).—a (S) Eternal: unbounded: innumerable:--i.e. endless or boundless whether in time, in space, or in number. 2 m A name of viṣṇu or kṛṣṇa. 3 The chief of the Naga or Serpent race that inhabit pātāḷa. 4 A silken cord with fourteen knots, tied on the right arm, and worshiped on the fourteenth of bhādrapadaśuklapakṣa. 5 An ornament for the ear. 6 Abridged from anantacaturdaśī. 7 A flower. See anantatagara. 8 In arithmetic. Infinite quantity.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

ananta (अनंत).—a Eternal; unbounded; innumer- able. m A name of viṣṇu or kṛṣṇa.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ananta (अनन्त).—a. [nāsti anto yasya] Endless, infinite, eternal, boundless, inexhaustible; °रत्नप्रभवस्य यस्य (ratnaprabhavasya yasya) Kumārasambhava 1.3.

-ntaḥ 1 Name of Viṣṇu; गन्धर्वाप्सरसः सिद्धाः किन्नरोरगचारणाः । नान्तं गुणानां जानन्ति (gandharvāpsarasaḥ siddhāḥ kinnaroragacāraṇāḥ | nāntaṃ guṇānāṃ jānanti) (nāsyāntamadhigacchanti) तेनानन्तोऽयमुच्यते (tenānanto'yamucyate) ||; also of Viṣṇu's couch, the serpent Śeṣa; of Kṛṣṇa and his brother; of Siva, the 14th Arhat; Vāsuki, the lord of serpents अनन्तश्चास्मि नागानाम् (anantaścāsmi nāgānām) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 1.29.

2) A cloud.

3) Talc.

4) Name of a plant (sindu- vāra) Vitex Trifolia (Mar. niraguḍī).

5) The asterism श्रवण (śravaṇa).

6) A silken cord with 14 knots tied round the right arm on the अनन्तचतुर्दशी (anantacaturdaśī) day.

7) The letter आ (ā).

-ntā 1 The earth (the endless).

2) The number one.

3) Names of various females; Name of Pārvatī.

4) Names of various plants; शारिवा, अनन्तमूल (śārivā, anantamūla) (a very medicinal plant) दूर्वा, आमलकी, गुडूची, अग्निमन्थ, कणा, लाङ्गली, दुरालाभा, हरीतकी, अग्निशिखा, श्यामलता, पिप्पली (dūrvā, āmalakī, guḍūcī, agnimantha, kaṇā, lāṅgalī, durālābhā, harītakī, agniśikhā, śyāmalatā, pippalī).

-ntī A small silken cord tied round the left arm of a woman.

-ntam 1 The sky, atmosphere.

2) Infinity, eternity.

3) Absolution, final beatitude; तदनन्ताय कल्पते (tadanantāya kalpate) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 2.72.

4) The Supreme Spirit, Brahman (parabrahma,); सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्मेति श्रुतिः । न व्यापित्वाद्देशतोऽन्तो नित्यत्वान्नापि कालतः । न वस्तुतोऽपि सर्वात्म्यादानन्त्यं ब्रह्मणि त्रिधा (satyaṃ jñānamanantaṃ brahmeti śrutiḥ | na vyāpitvāddeśato'nto nityatvānnāpi kālataḥ | na vastuto'pi sarvātmyādānantyaṃ brahmaṇi tridhā) ||

5) A sloping and a projecting member of the entablature representing a continued pent-roof; अनन्तं चान्तरिक्षं च प्रस्तरं चाष्टधा लुपाः (anantaṃ cāntarikṣaṃ ca prastaraṃ cāṣṭadhā lupāḥ) | Māna.18.174-175. cf. अनन्तः शेषविष्ण्वोश्चानवधौ क्लीबमम्बरे । स्त्रियां स्याच्छारिपादूर्वाविशल्याला- ङ्गलीषु च । हैमवत्यां गळूच्यां च (anantaḥ śeṣaviṣṇvoścānavadhau klībamambare | striyāṃ syācchāripādūrvāviśalyālā- ṅgalīṣu ca | haimavatyāṃ gaḷūcyāṃ ca)... ()| Nm.

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

Ananta (अनन्त).—mfn.

(-ntaḥ-ntā-ntaṃ) 1. Eternal, endless. 2. Unbounded, illimitable. 3. Infinite, innumerable. m.

(-ntaḥ) 1. A name of Vishnu or Krishna. 2. Baladeva, the brother of Krishna. 3. The chief of the Nagas or serpent race, that inhabit the infernal regions: the couch and constant attendant of Vishnu. 4. The king of serpents, confounded with Vasuki. See vāmuki. 5. The fourteenth of the Jaina Tirthakaras or defied Saints: also called anantajit. f.

(-ntā) 1. A name of Parvati, the wife of Siva. 2. The earth. 3. A synonym of several plants, (as Hedysarum alhagi.) 4. A kind of potherb. See viśalyā. 5. Bent grass, (Agrostis linearis.) 6 Another plant, (Echites frutescens, Rox.) See śyāmā. Or according to others, (Asclepias pscudosarsa, Rox.) See śārivā. 7. Yellow myrobalan, (Terminalia citrina.) 8. Emblic myrobalan, (Phyllanthus emblica). 9. Another plant, (Menispermum glabrum.) See guḍucī. 10. Long pepper. See kaṇā. n.

(-ntaṃ) Sky or atmosphere, æther. E. an neg. and anta end.

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

Ananta (अनन्त).—I. adj. endless, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 275. Ii. m. 1. a name of Viṣṇu. 2. Śeṣa, the chief of the Nāgas, or serpents.

Ananta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms an and anta (अन्त).

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

Ananta (अनन्त).—[adjective] endless; [masculine] Viṣṇu, a man’s name.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Ananta (अनन्त) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—See Vaidyakānanta, Śeṣānanta.

2) Ananta (अनन्त):—ananta, son of Kāśyupādhyāya, brother of Yajñeśvara, father of Kāśīnātha (Dharmasindhusāra 1791). L 773.

3) Ananta (अनन्त):—Udayabhānukāvya. Peters. 3, 393.

4) Ananta (अनन्त):—Kārakacakra [grammatical] Bhr. 637.

5) Ananta (अनन्त):—Cidambaraśivāṣṭaka. Bhk. 16.

6) Ananta (अनन्त):—Prāyaścitta Āśval. B. 1, 156.

7) Ananta (अनन्त):—Yogasūtrārthacandrikā, Yogacandrikā, Padacandrikā, a
—[commentary] on the Yogasūtra. Hall. p. 11. L. 2127. Ben. 66. NW. 418. Burnell. 112^a.

8) Ananta (अनन्त):—Vākyamañjarī. Oudh. Vii, 8.

9) Ananta (अनन्त):—Vidhyaparādhaprāyaścittaprayoga [dharma] B. 1, 236. Peters. 2, 185.

10) Ananta (अनन्त):—Śukladaśabhāṣya Vs. Peters., 2, 171.

11) Ananta (अनन्त):—Sāhityakalpavalli alaṃk. Taylor. 1, 6.

12) Ananta (अनन्त):—son of Cintāmaṇi, father of Nīlakaṇṭha and Rama (1601): Kāmadhenugaṇitaṭīkā. Quoted by his son Rāma. W. p. 263. Oxf. 335^b. Janipaddhati jy., ibid. Sudhārasa jy. Ben. 27.

13) Ananta (अनन्त):—son of Bhīma: Naigeyārcikānukrama. Oxf. 378^a.

14) Ananta (अनन्त):—son of Mantrimaṇḍana, wrote in 1458: Kāmasamūha, erotic. Io. 396. B. 3, 46. Peters. 3, 366. 394. D 6. Oxf. 218^a.

15) Ananta (अनन्त):—Śivaliṅgapratiṣṭhā or Liṅgapratiṣṭhā.

16) Ananta (अनन्त):—son of Cintāmaṇi, father of Nīlakaṇṭha and Rāma (Muhūrtacintāmaṇi 1601), grandfather of Govinda, great grandfather of Ananta, Mādhava (Tājikaṭīkā) and Cintāmaṇi.

17) Ananta (अनन्त):—son of Vināyaka and Lakṣmī, of Tulāpura: Śabdasudhā and—[commentary].

18) Ananta (अनन्त):—Darśapūrṇamāsapaddhati Baudh.

19) Ananta (अनन्त):—son of Puruṣottama: Saṃhitādīpaka jy.

20) Ananta (अनन्त):—Iṣṭakāpūraṇaṭīkā.

21) Ananta (अनन्त):—Īśāvāsyopaniṣaṭṭīkā.

22) Ananta (अनन्त):—Vīracarita.

23) Ananta (अनन्त):—a younger brother of Kāśmīrin Keśava Bhaṭṭa: Vedāntaratnamālā.

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

1) Ananta (अनन्त):—[=an-anta] mf(ā)n. endless, boundless, eternal, infinite

2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of Viṣṇu

3) [v.s. ...] of Śeṣa (the snake-god)

4) [v.s. ...] of Śeṣa’s brother Vāsuki

5) [v.s. ...] of Kṛṣṇa

6) [v.s. ...] of his brother Baladeva

7) [v.s. ...] of Śiva

8) [v.s. ...] of Rudra

9) [v.s. ...] of one of the Viśva-devas

10) [v.s. ...] of the 14th Arhat, etc.

11) [v.s. ...] the plant Sinduvāra, Vitex Trifolia

12) [v.s. ...] Talc

13) [v.s. ...] the 23rd lunar asterism, Śravaṇa

14) [v.s. ...] a silken cord (tied round the right arm at a particular festival)

15) [v.s. ...] the letter ā

16) [v.s. ...] a periodic decimal fraction?

17) Anantā (अनन्ता):—[=an-antā] [from an-anta] f. the earth

18) [v.s. ...] the number one

19) [v.s. ...] Name of Pārvatī and of various females, the plant Śārivā

20) [v.s. ...] Periploca Indica or Asclepias Pseudosarsa or Asthmatica (the root of which supplies a valuable medicine)

21) Ananta (अनन्त):—[=an-anta] n. the sky, atmosphere

22) [v.s. ...] Talc.

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

Ananta (अनन्त):—[bahuvrihi compound] I. m. f. n.

(-ntaḥ-ntā-ntam) Endless in time and space: eternal, unbounded, innumerable &c. Ii. m.

(-ntaḥ) 1) A name of Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa.

2) A name of Baladeva, the elder brother of Kṛṣṇa.

3) A name of Śiva.

4) A name of Rudra, in an Upanishad of the Atharvaveda.

5) A name of Śeṣa, the chief of the Nāgas or serpent race that inhabit the infernal regions: the couch and constant attendant of Viṣṇu.

6) A name of Vāsuki, another king of the serpents, the brother of the former.

7) A name of one of the Viśvadevas.

8) The name of the fourteenth of the twenty-four Arhats or Jaina deified saints of the present Avasarpiṇī; see also anantajit.

9) The name of a king of Kashmir; see also anantadeva.

10) A proper name common to several authors &c.

11) The name of a plant, Vitex trifolia (Lin.); see sindavāra.

12) Talc (see abhraka; in this sense the word is given by some as a neuter).

13) (In arithmetic.) Infinite quantity: a fraction having a cypher for its denominator; see also anantarāśi and khahara.

14) The name of the twenty-third of the lunar asterisms; see śravaṇa.

15) A silken cord with fourteen knots which the Hindus tie round the right arm at the festival of Anantachaturdaśī. Iii. f.

(-ntā) 1) The earth.

2) (In arithmetic sometimes used to denominate) the numeral one.

3) A name of Pārvatī, the wife of Śiva.

4) A name of Tārā, a Buddhist deity.

5) The proper name of the wife of Janamejaya.

6) The name of the following plants: [a.]) Hedysarum alhagi; see yavāsa or rodanī. [b.]) Echytes frutescens; see śyāmā or gopī. [c.]) A sort of potherb; see viśalyā or śakrapuṣpī. [d.]) Agrostis linearis (Koen.) or Panicum dactylon; see dūrvā or bhārgavī, śvetadūrvā and nīladūrvā. [e.]) Phyllanthus emblica (emblic myrobolan); see āmalakī. [f.]) Menispermum glabrum or cordifolium; see guḍūcī. [g.]) Gloriosa superba; see lāṅgalī. [h.]) See hemamānī. [i.]) Premna spinosa; see asimantha. [k.]) Piper longum (Long pepper); see pippalī or kaṇā. [l.]) Terminalia chebula (yellow myrobolan); see harītakī. [m.]) Asclepias pseudosarsa; see śārivā. [n.]) Justicia adhatoda(?). [o.]) Bromelia Ananas(?). [p.]) Echytes dichotoma(?). [q.]) According to some also the same as anantamūla q. v. Iv. n.

(-ntam) 1) Sky, atmosphere, æther.

2) Talc; (also given in the latter sense as a masculine). E. a priv. and anta.

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

Ananta (अनन्त):—[ana+nta] (ntaḥ) 1. m. A name of Vishnu; the serpent on which he rests. f. (ntā) wife of Shiva; the earth. n. (ntaṃ) the sky. a. Eternal.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Ananta (अनन्त) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Aṇaṃta.

[Sanskrit to German]

Ananta 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.

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Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Aṇaṃta (अणंत) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Ananta.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Anaṃta (ಅನಂತ):—

1) [adjective] having no end; going for ever; everlasting.

2) [adjective] lacking limits or bounds; extending beyond measure or comprehension; extending to infinity; infinite.

3) [adjective] (math.) indefinitely large; greater than any finite number however large; b) capable of being put into one-to-one correspondence with a part of itself.

4) [adjective] (fig.) (of numbers) very large; countless.

--- OR ---

Anaṃta (ಅನಂತ):—

1) [noun] Viṣṇu, (or Kṛṣṇa).

2) [noun] 2) Śiva.

3) [noun] Balarāma, elder brother of Kṛṣṇa.

4) [noun] Ādiśeṣa, the king of serpents; or his brother Vāsuki, as a symbol of never-ending cyclic time.

5) [noun] the sky; the atmosphere.

6) [noun] the earth.

7) [noun] (Jain.) the fourteenth sanctified teacher.

8) [noun] the plant, Vitex trifolia, of Verbenaceae family.

9) [noun] the twenty-third asterism, Śravaṇa.

10) [noun] 10) absolute emancipation; final beatitude.

11) [noun] that which is not only without determinate bounds, but which cannot possibly admit of bound or limit; an infinite.

12) [noun] the object for absolute meditation (which is above the objects for meditations of lower type).

13) [noun] a large number of people, assembled together (considered as a unit); a multitude.

14) [noun] a mode in Karnāṭaka system of music, derived from the main mode Sūryakānta, having six notes in ascending and five in descending orders;15) [noun] ಅನಂತಯ್ಯನ ಮಾತ್ರೆ, ವೈಕುಂಠಯಾತ್ರೆ [anamtayyana matre, vaikumthayatre] ananthayyana mātre, vaikuṇṭa yātre (prov.) a resort to a quack is a resort to death.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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Tamil dictionary

Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil Lexicon

Āṉanta (ஆனந்த) noun < ā-nanda. The 48th year of the Jupiter cycle; ஒரு வருஷம். [oru varusham.]

context information

Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

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Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

1) Ananta (अनन्त):—adj. 1. without end; 2. eternal; 3. infinite;

2) Ananta (अनन्त):—n. 1. endlessness; boundlessness; 2. eternity; 3. vastness;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

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