Bhagirathi, Bhāgīrathī: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Bhagirathi means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी).—Another name of Gaṅgā. (See under Gaṅgā).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी).—(Gaṅgā): so-called on account of Bhagīratha having brought her; a sacred river;1 Indra worshipped Lalitā on the banks of the;2 to its east lay Haṃsaprapatanam. a sacred spot;3 the seventh stream of the Gaṅgā flowing towards the south in Himāhvavarṣa;4 fit for srāddha.5
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 18. 42; III. 13. 100; 54. 51; 63. 168-9; Matsya-purāṇa 12. 44; 163. 60; Vāyu-purāṇa 88. 169; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 18. 57; IV. 4. 35; V. 35. 30.
- 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 12. 44.
- 3) Matsya-purāṇa 106. 32.
- 4) Ib. 121. 41; Vāyu-purāṇa 47. 40.
- 5) Ib. 77. 92.
Bhāgīrathī (भागीरथी) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.90.50). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Bhāgīrathī) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Bhāgīrathī also refers to the name of a River mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.9.18, II.9, III.85.10, III.85.17).
Bhāgīrathī also refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.82.142).
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.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Bhagirathi. A name for the Ganges (E.g., J.v.93, 255; Ap.ii.436). The river was so called because the sage Bhagiratha filled up the ocean with the Ganges whom he made his daughter (Mahabharata, iii. 107, 9961; v.178, 7096). It may also be the name of a separate river flowing from the Himalaya and forming one of the chief sources of the Ganges. The river flowed past Hamsavati (E.g., Ap.i.51; ii.343). v.l. Bhagirasi, Bhagirathi.
2. Bhagirathi. A channel, branching off from the Anotatta vapi in Ceylon, and forming part of the irrigation scheme of Parakkamabahu I. Cv.lxxix.49.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी) is the name of a river according to appendix 1 of the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XVI). Accordingly, “In the region of the Himālaya, there is a river called Fen lou (Bhāgīrathī); on the bank of this river there is the hermitage of the ṛṣi Kia pi lo (Kapila)”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी) is the name of Vidyārājñī (i.e., “wisdom queen”) 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 Bhāgīrathī).
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी) is another name for the river Gaṅgā, 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”.
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.
India history and geography
Source: archive.org: Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1963Bhagīrathī is one of the twenty canal-systems associated with Parakkamasamudda waters that existed in the Polonnaruva (Polonnaruwa) district of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).—The Pūjāvaliya gives the name Mahāsamudra to the Parakkamasamudda at Polonnaruva. The canal system associated with Parakkamasamudda is described and named in the Cūlavamsa as follows:—[...] Bhagīrathī canal, which started from Anotattavāpi; [...].
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarybhāgīrathī : (f.) the ganges.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarybhāgīrathī (भागीरथी).—f (S From bhāgīratha q. v.) The Ganges.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी).—[bhagīrathena sānītā tena bhāgīrathī smṛtā]
1) Name of the river Ganges; भागीरथीनिर्झरशीकराणाम् (bhāgīrathīnirjharaśīkarāṇām) Kumārasambhava 1.15.
2) Name of one of the three main branches of the Ganges; cf. भागीरथी भोगवती जाह्नवी त्रिजटेश्वरी । विष्णुपादाब्जसंभूता गङ्गा त्रिपथगामिनी (bhāgīrathī bhogavatī jāhnavī trijaṭeśvarī | viṣṇupādābjasaṃbhūtā gaṅgā tripathagāminī) || Stotra.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी).—f. (-thī) The Ganges. E. bhagīratha a pious monarch, at whose intercesion the Ganges first descended from heaven, affs. aṇ and ṅīp .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी).—i. e. bhagiratha + a + ī, f. The Ganges. [Hitopadeśa] 3, 3, M. M.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Bhāgīrathī (भागीरथी):—[from bhāgīratha > bhāga] a f. Name of the Ganges (or of one of the 3 main streams or branches of it, viz. the great western branch; cf. nava-dvīpa), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature etc.]
2) [from bhāga] b f. of ratha, in [compound]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी):—(thī) 3. f. The Ganges.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Bhagīrathi (भगीरथि) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Bhairahi, Bhagirahi, Bhagīrahi, Bhāīrahī.
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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी):—(nf) a name of the river Ganga: (see [bhagīratha]).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusBhāgīrathi (ಭಾಗೀರಥಿ):—[noun] the Gaṃgā river (so called because it is believed that this river was brought by king Bhagīratha, from heavens, by pleasing Śiva by his austerities).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryBhāgīrathī (भागीरथी):—n. 1. name of the river Ganges; 2. name of one of the three main branches of the Ganges;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Bhagirathicampu, Bhagirathinatha, Bhagirathiprarthana, Bhagirathitira, Bhagirathivallabha.
Ends with: Gangabhagirathi.
Full-text (+37): Navadvipa, Bhairahi, Bhagirathivallabha, Bhagirathicampu, Bhagirathinatha, Bhagirathiprarthana, Bhagirahi, Suratarangini, Sur-tarangini, Brahmakataha, Dushpratara, Parokshartha, Pakirati, Divyadhuni, Alakananda, Andakosha, Ganga, Audasinya, Duradharsha, Abhipravrit.
Relevant text
Search found 66 books and stories containing Bhagirathi, Bhāgīrathī, Bhagīrathi, Bhāgīrathi, Bhāgirathi; (plurals include: Bhagirathis, Bhāgīrathīs, Bhagīrathis, Bhāgīrathis, Bhāgirathis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal (by Shubha Majumder)
General Introduction < [Chapter 2 - Geographical Setting of the Study Area]
Archaeological sites in Triveni (Hooghly District) < [Chapter 4 - Distribution of Sites Yielding Jaina Remains]
Geographical Setting of Zone III < [Chapter 2 - Geographical Setting of the Study Area]
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
The River Gaṅgā or Ganges < [Chapter 4 - Geographical history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
Dynasty of Ikṣvāku < [Chapter 6 - Human history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 4.19.115 < [Chapter 19 - A Thousand Names of Srī Yamunā]
Verse 8.13.62 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
The Matsya Purana and the Ramayana < [Purana, Volume 8, Part 1 (1966)]
A Note on the article on the Siva-purana < [Purana, Volume 7, Part 1 (1965)]
Some Geographical and Ethnic Data of Matsya Purana < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 2 (1964)]
Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints (by Justin E. Abbott)
22.5: The leper thinks of suicide < [Chapter 24 - Padmanabh and Kabir]
14.4: Krishna’s glorification of Pandhari < [Chapter 14 - Namdev’s Life (continued)]
26.8: The tiger becomes Narsi Meheta < [Chapter 26 - King Pipaji of Gademandal]
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