Ashtadiggaja, Ashta-diggaja, Aṣṭadiggaja: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Ashtadiggaja means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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.
The Sanskrit term Aṣṭadiggaja can be transliterated into English as Astadiggaja or Ashtadiggaja, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaAṣṭadiggaja (अष्टदिग्गज) and AṢṬADIKKARIṆĪS. There are eight male and eight female elephants standing guard over the eight zones. They are: Zone Male Female
East Airāvata Abhramu
South-east Puṇḍarīka Kapilā
South Vāmana Piṅgalā
South-west Kumuda Anupamā
West Añjana Tāmrakarṇī
North-west Puṣpadanta Śubhradantī
North Sārvabhauma Aṅganā
North-east Supratīka Añjanāvatī
(Amarakośa) Besides these, there are four diggajas (elephants of the universe) who bear the earth standing below in the nether world. It is stated that the sons of Sagara who went into the nether land in search of the lost horse of his father saw these elephants. As they went to the east they saw the huge elephant Virūpākṣa, holding the earth on its head. It is said an earthquake occurs when for a change it shakes its head. Going to the left of it they saw the elephant Mahāpadmasama holding the earth on its head on the south. Going again to the left of it they saw Saumanasa holding the earth on its head on the west and going to the left of it on the north they saw Bhadra holding the earth on its head. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Sarga 40). (See full article at Story of Aṣṭadiggajas from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryAṣṭadiggaja.—(EI 33), eight poets at king Kṛsṇadevarāya's court at Vijayanagara. Note: aṣṭa-diggaja is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAṣṭadiggaja (ಅಷ್ಟದಿಗ್ಗಜ):—[noun] (pl.) (myth.) the eight celestial elephants supposed to be the guardians of eight quarters of the universe.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ashta, Diggaja.
Full-text: Diggaja, Ashtanaga, Ashagaja, Dikkarin, Digdantin, Digvarana, Pundarika, Pushpadanta, Mahapadma, Saumanasa, Virupaksha, Bhadra.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ashtadiggaja, Ashta-diggaja, Aṣṭadiggaja, Asta-diggaja, Aṣṭa-diggaja, Astadiggaja, Aṣtadiggaja; (plurals include: Ashtadiggajas, diggajas, Aṣṭadiggajas, Astadiggajas, Aṣtadiggajas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Matangalila and Hastyayurveda (study) (by Chandrima Das)
Eight noble Elephants (aṣṭadiggajas) < [Chapter 4]
Gaja-piṭha or Gaja-pṛṣṭha (elephant-platform) < [Chapter 4]
Airāvata (vehicle of the King of Gods—Indra) < [Chapter 4]
Elephantology and its Ancient Sanskrit Sources (by Geetha N.)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Prabandha in Telugu Literature < [October - December 1973]
A Poem at The Right Moment < [July – September, 2000]
Some Women-Poets of Ancient Andhra < [September-October 1932]