Ashvagriva, Aśvagrīva, Ashva-griva: 12 definitions

Introduction:

Ashvagriva 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.

The Sanskrit term Aśvagrīva can be transliterated into English as Asvagriva or Ashvagriva, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Ashvagriva in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव).—Son born to the Sage, Kaśyapa by his wife, Danu. (Śloka 24, Chapter 65, Ādi Parva, Mahābhārata).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव).—A Dānava.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 6. 10.

1b) A son of Citraka.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 114; Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 113.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.59.24, I.65, I.61.18) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Aśvagrīva) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Purana book cover
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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Ashvagriva in Jainism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव) is the name of the first Prativāsudeva according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Jain legends describe nine such Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes) usually appearing as powerful but evil antagonists instigating Vāsudeva by subjugating large portions of Bharata-land. As such, they are closely related with the twin brothers known as the Vāsudevas (“violent heroes”) and the Baladevas (“gentle heroes”).

The Prativāsudevas (such as Aśvagrīva) fight against the twin-heroes with their cakra-weapon but at the final moment are killed by the Vāsudevas. Their stories are narrated in the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव) refers to one of the nine Prativāsudevas (enemies of Vāsudevas), according to chapter 4.1 [śreyāṃsanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly:—“Now in the city Ratnapura, there was a Prativiṣṇu, Aśvagrīva, son of Mayūragrīva, borne by Nīlañjanā. He was eighty bows tall, with the color of a new cloud, with a life of eighty-four lacs of years, long-armed. The itch of his arms was not satisfied by beatings of his enemies, like that of a lion by rending the boss of an elephant. [...]”.

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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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Ashvagriva in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव).—

1) Name of a demon who was a foe of Viṣṇu.

Derivable forms: aśvagrīvaḥ (अश्वग्रीवः).

Aśvagrīva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms aśva and grīva (ग्रीव).

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

Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव).—m.

(-vaḥ) The name of a demon, more commonly named Hayagriva. E. aśva and grīvā a neck; horse-necked.

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

1) Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव):—[=aśva-grīva] [from aśva] m. ‘horse-neck’, Name of an Asura, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] of a son of Citraka, [Harivaṃśa 1920.]

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

Aśvagrīva (अश्वग्रीव):—[aśva-grīva] (vaḥ) 1. m. Demon, Hayagrīva.

[Sanskrit to German]

Ashvagriva 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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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Ashvagriva in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Aśvagrīva (ಅಶ್ವಗ್ರೀವ):—

1) [noun] (myth.) an incarnation of Viṣṇu, with horse-head.

2) [noun] a demon killed by Viṣṇu.

3) [noun] (Jain.) name of a demi-god.

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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