Ashvatthama, Aśvatthāmā: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Ashvatthama 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 Aśvatthāmā can be transliterated into English as Asvatthama or Ashvatthama, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा).—Birth and genealogy. The semen of Bharadvāja Ṛṣi fell into the hollow of a bamboo and from there was born Droṇa. As per the instructions of his father Droṇa married Kṛpī, daughter of the sage, Śāradvata. The good-natured Kṛpī gave birth to Aśvatthāmā. (See under Droṇa for genealogy). (Chapter 130, Ādi Parva, Mahābhārata) (See full article at Story of Aśvatthāmā from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
2) Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा).—Indravarmā, King of Mālava, had an elephant of this name and it was killed in the battle by Bhīmasena. (Śloka 15, Chapter 190, Droṇa Parva, Mahābhārata).
Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.63.90, I.63, I.61.67) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Aśvatthāmā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा) refers to:—The son of the great military chief Dronācārya who fought on the side of the Kauravas in the Battle of Kurukṣetra. He murdered the sleeping sons of the Pāṇḍavas and tried to murder the Pāṇḍava heir, Parīkṣit, in his mother’s womb. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
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’).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Aśvatthāma (अश्वत्थाम) refers to one of the “nine Siddhas” belonging to 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.—[The seven Siddhas] are followed by the Nine Siddhas who are emanated from the deity’s radiant energy and are worshipped in the Cavity of Brahmā. Of these nine, three are in the sky, three are in the netherworlds and three are on the earth.—Aśvatthāma is also associated with Nandideva of the Divyādivya (“divine-cum-mortal current”) and with Goṣṭīvya of the Siddhaugha (“the current of the Siddhas”).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
1) Aśvatthāma (अश्वत्थाम):—[=aśva-tthāma] [from aśva] a See ss.vv. below.
2) [from aśva] b mfn. (for aśva-sth) having the strength of a horse, [Patañjali]
Aśvatthāma (अश्वत्थाम):—adj. von aśvatthāman [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 85, Vārttika von Kātyāyana. 7.]
Aśvatthāma (अश्वत्थाम):—Adj. die Kraft eines Rosses habend [Mahābhāṣya 4,38] a.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Aśvatthāma (ಅಶ್ವತ್ಥಾಮ):—
1) [noun] the power exerted by a horse in pulling; horse-power.
2) [noun] a celebrated hero in the epic Mahābhārata.
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)
Starts with (+0): Ashvatthaman, Ashvatthamandalabhishekaprayoga, Ashvatthamavidhi.
Full-text (+35): Ashvatthamavidhi, Yudhamanyu, Kripi, Shrutakarma, Sutasoma, Uttamaujas, Prativindhya, Shrutakirti, Shatanika, Ashvatthaman, Trirathika, Accuvattama, Brahmastra, Brahmasira, Shrutahva, Indravarman, Malayadhvaja, Gautami, Anjanaparvan, Jayanika.
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Search found 49 books and stories containing Ashvatthama, Ashva-tthama, Aśva-tthāma, Asva-tthama, Aśvatthāmā, Asvatthama, Aśvatthāma; (plurals include: Ashvatthamas, tthamas, tthāmas, Aśvatthāmās, Asvatthamas, Aśvatthāmas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dasarupaka (critical study) (by Anuru Ranjan Mishra)
Part 14 - Conclusion < [Chapter 8 - Utsṛṣṭikāṅka (critical study)]
Part 2 - Summary of the Ūrubhaṅga < [Chapter 8 - Utsṛṣṭikāṅka (critical study)]
Part 3-6 - Utsṛṣṭikāṅka rules < [Chapter 8 - Utsṛṣṭikāṅka (critical study)]
Chapter 4 - Arjuna Vows to Kill Jayadratha < [Drona Parva]
Chapter 1 - Ashvatthama Destroys the Pandava Army < [Sauptika Parva]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.3.27 < [Part 3 - Involuntary Ecstatic Expressions (sattvika-bhāva)]
Verse 3.3.113 < [Part 3 - Fraternal Devotion (sakhya-rasa)]