Brihatkaya, Bṛhatkāya, Brihat-kaya: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Brihatkaya means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Bṛhatkāya can be transliterated into English as Brhatkaya or Brihatkaya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय):—Son of Bṛhaddhanu (son of Bṛhadiṣu). He had a son who was called Jayadratha. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.21.22)
Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय).—A king of the family of Bharata. (Bhāgavata, Skandha 9).
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय) refers to “one who has a big body”, according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly, [while describing the gross form of Navātman called Śabdarāśinavātman]: “(Navātman) has a big body (bṛhatkāya) and burns intensely, illumining the sky with (his) radiant energy. (He has) five faces (with) large eyes and is adorned with ten arms and the moon. He has a large chest and, auspicious, has a serene face. He has long arms (that extend up to) the knees, (large) thighs and shanks (like a) palm tree. (His) stomach is thin. He has beautiful hands and feet and thin fingers (like tender) shoots. The lustre of (his) nails is like the moon and his face shines with (his) radiant teeth. The middle (part of his body) is marked by a deep navel and the lotus of the navel is a clockwise spiral”.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय) refers to “(having a) tall body”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 19).—Accordingly, “Furthermore, some say that generosity is the cause and condition (hetupratyaya) for obtaining the thirty-two marks. Why is that? [...] Because the gift serves to maintain life, one obtains the marks consisting of having long fingers (dīrghāṇguli) and the body tall and straight (bṛhat-ṛju-kāya). [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय).—a. large-bodied, gigantic.
-ṅgaḥ a large elephant.
Bṛhatkāya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bṛhat and kāya (काय). See also (synonyms): bṛhadaṅga.
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Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय).—a. big-bodied, bulky, gigantic.
Bṛhatkāya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bṛhat and kāya (काय).
Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय):—[=bṛhat-kāya] [from bṛhat > bṛṃh] m. ‘large-bodied’, Name of a son of Bṛhad-dhanus, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय):—[(bṛhant + kāya)]
1) adj. einen grossen Leib habend. —
2) m. Nomen proprium eines Sohnes des Bṛhaddhanus [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 21, 22.]
Bṛhatkāya (बृहत्काय):—m. Nomen proprium eines Sohnes des Bṛhaddhanus.
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 (+0): Brihat, Kaya.
Full-text (+0): Jayadratha, Brihaddhanu, Brihadanga, Brihadishuvamsha, Visada.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Brihatkaya, Bṛhatkāya, Brhatkaya, Brihat-kaya, Bṛhat-kāya, Brhat-kaya; (plurals include: Brihatkayas, Bṛhatkāyas, Brhatkayas, kayas, kāyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 21 - The Race of Bharata—The History of Rantideva < [Book 9 - Ninth Skandha]
Chapter 22 - The Royal Dynasties of Pāñcāla, Magadha and Kuru < [Book 9 - Ninth Skandha]