Ekalavya, Ekalavyā: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Ekalavya 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Ekalavya (एकलव्य).—Son of Hiraṇyadhanus, a King of the foresters. He went to Droṇācārya to learn archery. Droṇācārya refused to accept him as a disciple because he was a Śūdra. Undaunted he went to the forests, made a replica of the preceptor in clay and standing before it started practising archery. Soon he became a matchless archer.
Some time later the Pāṇḍavas went to the forests for hunting. One of the hunting dogs wandering saw Ekalavya and started barking. Ekalavya sent seven arrows to its mouth and kept it open. When the dog returned to Arjuna he was dumbfounded at the skill of the archer and when he came to know the archer was an unknown disciple of Droṇa his disappointment knew no bounds. Droṇa had once declared that Arjuna was the best and topmost of his disciples. Arjuna went and complained to Droṇācārya. Droṇācārya called Ekalavya to his side and asked him to give him as 'Gurudakṣiṇā' (fee to the preceptor) his right-hand thumb. Without the least hesitation Ekalavya offered his thumb to the guru and from that day onwards his skill faded and he became inferior to Arjuna. (Chapter 132, Ādi Parva): Ekalavya was killed by Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (Śloka 77, Chapter 48, Udyoga Parva, Mahābhārata).
A son of Ekalavya seized the sacrificial horse of Arjuna and was killed by Arjuna (Chapter 83, Āśvamedhika Parva, Mahābhārata).
2) Ekalavya (एकलव्य).—A King who was a rebirth of an asura, Krodhavaśa. He participated in the great war on the side of the Pāṇḍavas. (Chapter 4, Udyoga Parva, Mahābhārata).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexEkalavya (एकलव्य).—King of Niṣadas; was stationed by Jarāsandha at the southern gate of Mathurā, and again on the southern gate during the seige of Gomanta;1 brought up by hunters.2
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesEkalavya (एकलव्य) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.58) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Ekalavya) 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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraEkalavyā (एकलव्या) is the name of ancient town, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 69. Accordingly, as the Muni Vijitāsu said to Puṣkarākṣa: “... but on account of that intent meditation she [Lāvaṇyamañjarī] was born in the next birth as a courtesan, of the name of Rūpavatī, in a town named Ekalavyā...”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Ekalavyā, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama TextsEkalavya (एकलव्य) is mentioned in chapter 5 of the (fourth part of the) Śāṇḍilyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 3600 Sanskrit verses dealing with devotion towards Kṛṣṇa who is identified with the Supreme, as well as ethical behavior and pious practices to be observed by devotees (bhaktas).—Description of the chapter [gurupūjāpada-nirūpaṇa]: The nine-fold bhakti of the preceptor is discussed in terms of the central role he plays in leading the bhakta in his faith. This is illustrated by the story of Ekalavya (1-10). [...]
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismEkalavya (एकलव्य): He was a young prince of the Nishadha tribes, who achieves a skill level parallel to the great Arjuna, despite Drona's rejection of him. He was a member of low caste and he wished to study in the gurukulam of Dronacharya.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ekalavya (एकलव्य):—[=eka-lavya] [from eka] m. Name of a son of Hiraṇya-dhanus and king of the Niṣādas, [Mahābhārata]
2) Ekalavyā (एकलव्या):—[=eka-lavyā] [from eka-lavya > eka] f. Name of a town.
[Sanskrit to German]
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)
Full-text: Nisadin, Hiranyadhanus, Aikalavya, Ekalu, Shrutadhara, Shraddhadeva, Gurupujapada, Rupavati, Satyadhara, Siladhara, Codakarna, Ashadha, Gurupujapadanirupana, Ketuman.
Relevant text
Search found 22 books and stories containing Ekalavya, Eka-lavya, Eka-lavyā, Ekalavyā; (plurals include: Ekalavyas, lavyas, lavyās, Ekalavyās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Epic Themes in Indo-English Plays < [January – March, 1981]
The English Plays and Poems of Kailasam < [February 1948]
A Reddy Fan Reminisces < [October – December, 1980]
Chapter 8 - The Preceptor Drona < [Adi Parva]
Chapter 10 - The Death of Ghatotkacha < [Drona Parva]
Chapter 6 - Shishupala's Liberation < [Sabha Parva]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Informal Education of Sanskrit in Kerala (by Jayasree M.)
7. The Gurukula Education in Itihasas and Puranas < [Chapter 1 - Sanskrit Education in Historical Perspective]
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