Bhagiratha, Bhagīratha: 23 definitions

Introduction:

Bhagiratha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi. 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Bhagirath.

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In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)

One of the Hands of Famous Emperors.—Bhagīratha: Ardha-candra hand made like Tripatāka, and this is also used for an eclipse of the moon (lit. seizing by Rahu).

Natyashastra book cover
context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Bhagiratha in Purana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ):—Son of Dilipa (son of Aṃśumān). He performed very severe austerities to bring the Ganges to this material world. He had a son named Śruta. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.9.2-17)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ).—Genealogy. Descended from Viṣṇu thus: Brahmā-Marīci-Kaśyapa-Vivasvān-Vaivasvata manu-Ikṣvāku-Vikukṣi-Śaśāda-Kakutstha-Anenas-Pṛthulāśva-Prasenajit-Yuvanāśva-Māndhātā-Purukutsa-Trasadasyu-Anaraṇya-Haryaśva-Vasumanas-Sudhanvā-Traiyyāruṇa-Satyavrata or Triśaṅku-Hariścandra-Rohitāśva-Harita-Cuñcu-Sudeva-Bharuka-Bāhuka-Sagara-Asamañjas-Aṃśumān*-Bhagīratha. (See full article at Story of Bhagīratha from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ).—The son of Dilīpa and father of Śruta (Suhotra Viṣṇu-purāṇa); by penance on the banks of the Bindusaras he succeeded in bringing the Ganges; was asked how she was to dispose of the sins of men discharged into her waters; Bhagīratha said that Sādhus and others among whom was Hari would take off the sins from her: was asked to pray to Śiva to check her course; so he prayed to Śiva and it was heard; by this he was able to shake off the sins of his ancestors;1 a Rājaṛṣi; went to the forest of the Gaura hills in search of Gangā;2 his lust after more territory;3 after him Gangā became the Bhāgīrathī; so-called after the seventh branch of the Ganges.4

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 9. 2-13 and 16; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 18. 25; Matsya-purāṇa 12. 44; 15. 19; 121. 26; Vāyu-purāṇa 88. 167; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 4. 35-6.
  • 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 47. 24.
  • 3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 3. 10.
  • 4) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 54. 48-51; 63. 166-8; Vāyu-purāṇa 47. 40.
Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (purāṇa)

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ) is the great-grandson of Sagara, who, after his education at the āśrama of the sage Cyavana, with the might of his own arm conquers back the lost kingdom of his ancestors and becomes the king of Ayodhyā. He prays to Śiva to bless him with children. According to the blessings of Śiva, the king begot one son named Aṃśumat from his first wife and sixty thousand from the other. From Aṃśumat was born Dilīpa whose son is Bhagīratha, worthy son of a worthy father.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.177.19) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Bhagīratha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Bhagiratha (भगिरथ) (Bhagīratha?) is the son of Dilipa (Dilīpa?)and grandson of Aṃśumān, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] The illustrious king Sagara was the son of Bāhu and Aṃśumān was born from Sagara. Dilipa was the Son of Aṃśumān and Bhagiratha (Bhagīratha?) was born from Dilipa. Bhagiratha propitiated Śiva by his penance and received the best of boons. Lord Śiva for the protection of the world held Gaṅgā in his head.

By the grace of Lord Śiva, Bhagiratha reigned for a long time and thinking the world to be like indrajāla he desisted from enjoying the kingdom and approached the celebrated sage Jābāla. By the grace of the sage the king got the supreme knowledge and highest perfection. Śruta was the son of Bhagiratha.

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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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (śilpa)

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ) is depicted as a sculpture on the fourth pillar (middle panel) of the southern half of the maṇḍapa of the temple of Lokeśvara.—At the extreme left end of the panel is again Bhagīratha, in penance, standing in between the trees. Below one of the trees is sitting a monkey. Its hand is on some animal like thing. Also, one more head is shown, hiding in the leaves of that same tree which is to the right side of the goddess. It is difficult to say whether it is a tiger or a cat? This picture reminds us that of descent of Gaṅgā cut on a rock at Mahābalipuram. A chameleon is climbing upon a tree which is at the extreme left of the panel.

Shilpashastra book cover
context information

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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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Bhagiratha in Hinduism glossary
Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ): Son of Dilipa, king of Kosala who worshipped Shiva and brought down Ganges.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ) refers to one of the various Ṛṣis (sages) and Mahārṣis (great sages) 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 Bhagīratha).

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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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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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Bhagiratha in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ) is the grandson of Cakrin Sagara and lead the Gaṅgā river to the Eastern Ocean, according to chapter 2.6 [ajitanātha-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: “[...] Bhagīratha, having a cruel arm-staff, drew the roaring river by the staff, like a wreath by a hook. Bhagīratha made the Gaṅgā cross through the middle of the Kurus to the south of the city Hastināpura, but to the west of the Kosala-realm, to the north of Prayāga, and to the south of the Kāśis, through the Vindhyas to the south of the Aṅgas, to the north of Magadha to the Eastern Ocean, drawing rivers that were on the way like the wind bunches of grass. From that time the tīrtha was called Gaṅgāsāgara, and because she had been led by Bhagīratha the Gaṅgā was called Bhāgīrathī”.

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»] — Bhagiratha in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ).—Name of an ancient king of the solar dynasty, the great-grandson of Sagara, who brought down, by practising the most austere penance, the celestial river Gaṅgā from heaven to the earth and from earth to the lower regions to purify the ashes of his 6, ancestors, the sons of Sagara.

Derivable forms: bhagīrathaḥ (भगीरथः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Bhāgīratha (भागीरथ).—name of one or two former Buddha(s): Mahāvastu iii.239.5; Avadāna-śataka i.65.11.

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

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ).—m.

(-thaḥ) A king of the solar dynasty, whose austerities brought down Ganga, the river, from heaven to the earth.

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

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ).—m. A king whose austerities brought Gaṅgā, the river, from heaven; called her father, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 44, 8 sqq. Gorr.; [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 167, 10; Chr. 24, 47.

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

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ).—[masculine] [Name] of an ancient king.

--- OR ---

Bhāgīratha (भागीरथ).—[feminine] ī relating to Bhagīratha; [feminine] ī [Epithet] of Gaṅgā.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Bhagīratha (भगीरथ) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa]

2) Bhagīratha (भगीरथ):—son of Harshadeva, of the Pītamuṇḍī family, lived under Jagaccandra of Kūrmācala: Kāvyādarśaṭīkā. Kirātārjunīyaṭīkā. Vijayā Devīmāhātmyaṭīkā. Naiṣadhīyaṭīkā. Mahimnaḥstavaṭīkā. Tattvadīpikā Meghadūtaṭīkā. Jagaccandrikā Raghuvaṃśaṭīkā. Śiśupālavadhaṭīkā.

3) Bhagīratha (भगीरथ):—Vaidyajīvanaṭīkā Jagaccandrikā.

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

1) Bhagīratha (भगीरथ):—[from bhaj] m. ([probably] [from] bhagin + ratha, ‘having a glorious chariot’), Name of an ancient king (son of Dilīpa and great-grandfather of Sagara, king of Ayodhyā ; he brought down the sacred Gaṅgā from heaven to earth and then conducted this river to the ocean in order to purify the ashes of his ancestors, the 60,000 sons of Sagara; cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 322]), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Purāṇa] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] Name of sub voce authors (also with ṭhakkura and megha; cf. bhagin), [Catalogue(s)]

3) [v.s. ...] of an architect of recent date, [Inscriptions]

4) [v.s. ...] of a mountain, [Śatruṃjaya-māhātmya]

5) Bhāgīratha (भागीरथ):—[from bhāga] a mf(ī)n. ([from] bhagīr) relating to Bhagīratha

6) b See p. 751, col. 3.

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

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ):—(thaḥ) 1. m. Name of a king.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bhagiratha 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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Hindi dictionary

[«previous next»] — Bhagiratha in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Bhagīratha (भगीरथ) [Also spelled bhagirath]:—(nm) an ancient Indian king of the solar dynasty who is supposed to have caused the river Ganga: to descend on earth through his unprecedented penance; —[prayatna] a Herculean effort, tremendous effort.

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Kannada-English dictionary

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

Bhagīratha (ಭಗೀರಥ):—[noun] a mythological king, who by his austerities pleased Śiva and got the celestial Gaṃgā released and brought to earth, which is supposed to the present Gaṃgā river; ಭಗೀರಥ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನ [bhagiratha prayatna] bhagīrata prayatna undetered, rigorous effort that leads to success despite severe odds.

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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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