Ashvapada, Aśvapāda: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Ashvapada means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Aśvapāda can be transliterated into English as Asvapada or Ashvapada, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Aśvapāda (अश्वपाद).—A siddha named Aśvapāda pretends first to be a pāśupata, then a kāpālika. He lives on Śrīparvata and has supernatural powers, such as sending a messenger back to Kashmir in a second. (See Rājataraṅgiṇī verse 3.267)
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)
Aśvapāda (अश्वपाद) refers to the “foot of a horse”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “[...] If [someone] scratches his toe, [the officiant] should prognosticate a foot of a horse (aśvapāda—aśvapādaṃ vinirdiśet) [beneath the site]. It exists at a depth of one and a half vitastis. There is no doubt regarding this. If [someone] scratches his little toe, [the officiant] should prognosticate a piece of bell-metal [beneath] the spot. That [extraneous thing] exists [at a depth of] eight digits [underground]. There is no doubt about it. [...]”.
Note: A foot of a horse (aśvapādaṃ) is supported by Ms. B and Ms. A reads aṣṭapādaṃ (a spider). Since the omen is scratching the toe, an extraneous thing related to the foot might be better.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
1) Aśvapada (अश्वपद):—[=aśva-pada] [from aśva] n. the print of a h°orse’s foot, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
2) Aśvapāda (अश्वपाद):—[=aśva-pāda] [from aśva] mfn. horse-footed, ([gana] hasty-ādi, q.v.)
3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a Siddha, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]
Aśvapāda (अश्वपाद):—(a + pā) pferdefüssig in übertr. Bed. gaṇa hastyādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 5, 4, 138.] Nomen proprium eines Siddha [Rājataraṅgiṇī 3, 267. fgg.] [366. fgg.]
Aśvapada (अश्वपद):—n. Fussstapfe eines Pferdes [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtra 16,2,21.]
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Aśvapāda (अश्वपाद):——
1) *Adj. pferdefüssig (in übertr. Bed.). —
2) m. Nomen proprium eines Siddha.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ashva, Pada, Pata.
Full-text: Ashtapada, Sopana, A shi po ta, Lanch, A sha bo tuo, Hastihasta, Mudra.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ashvapada, Ashva-pada, Aśva-pada, Asva-pada, Aśva-pāda, Aśvapāda, Asvapada, Aśvapada; (plurals include: Ashvapadas, padas, pādas, Aśvapādas, Asvapadas, Aśvapadas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice) (by Geetika Kaw Kher)
Samkaracarya and Kapalikas < [Chapter 2 - Spread and Transition]
Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Temples of Munnur (Historical Study) (by R. Muthuraman)
Abhijnana Shakuntala (synthetic study) (by Ramendra Mohan Bose)
Chapter 3 - Tritiya-anka (tritiyo'nkah) < [Abhijnana Sakuntalam, text and commentary]
Chapter 2 - Dvitiya-anka (dvitiyo'nkah) < [Abhijnana Sakuntalam, text and commentary]
Chapter 1 - Prathama-anka (prathamo'nkah) < [Abhijnana Sakuntalam, text and commentary]