Elapatra, Elāpatra: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Elapatra 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.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Elāpatra (एलापत्र).—A 1000 headed Nāga; living with the sun for a part of the year; in the month of nabha.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 11. 37; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 23. 9; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 40; 126. 10; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 10. 9.
1b) A Kādraveya Nāga.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 34.
Elapatra (एलपत्र) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.35.1, I.31.6, I.35, V.101.10/V.103) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Elapatra) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (itihasa)Elāpatra is the name of a Serpent (sarpa) mentioned in the thirty-fifth chapter (verses 4-17) of the Ādiparva of the Mahābhārata.—Accordingly, Sauti, on being implored by Śaunaka to name all the serpents in the course of the sarpa-sattra, tells him that it is humanly impossible to give a complete list because of their sheer multiplicity; but would name the prominent ones in accordance with their significance [e.g., Elāpatra].
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
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraElapatra (एलपत्र) is the name of a yakṣa of olden times subdued by the Buddha mentioned in order to demonstrate the fearlessness of the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XL.1.4. Accordingly, “Great yakṣas such as Yi-lo-po-to-lo (Elapatra), etc., submitted and took refuge in him”.
A famous nāgarāja, called Elapatra, Elāpatra, Airāvaṇa in Sanskrit, Erapata in the inscriptions at Bhārhut, Erāpatha, Erakapatta, Erāvana, Erāvaṇa in Pāli, a name invoking both the eraka plant, ‘cardamom’, used to make blankets, and Airāvaṇa, Indra’s mount, who was an elephant and not a snake. Also see Appendix on Elapatra.
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
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryElapatra (एलपत्र).—m., (1) one of four ‘great treasures’ (ma-hānidhi; compare a similar group of four treasures in Pali, Dīghanikāya (Pali) commentary i.284.8, saṅkha, ela, uppala, puṇḍarīka), each presided over by a nāga-king of (presumably) the same name (so definitely stated for Elapatra): Mahāvastu iii.383.18— 384.1 catvāro mahānidhayo saṃkho vārāṇasyāṃ mithilā- yāṃ (19) padumo kaliṃgeṣu piṃgalo takṣaśilāyāṃ ela- patro; vārāṇasyāṃ saṃkhasya māsiko (20) samājo vartati; tahiṃ nidhānādhipatayo nāgarājāno nimantritakā āgatā; (384.1) tatra ca elapatreṇa nāgarājñā praśnā sthāpitā (see below for Pali equivalent); (2) Elapatra, in Mahāvastu iii.384.1, above, name of a nāga-king presiding over the ‘treasure’ of the same name; presumably the same as the nāga (or nāga-king) named (without reference to the ‘treasure’) Mahāvyutpatti 3271 (Kyoto ed. Elāpattra, by error; Mironov Ela° with no v.l.); Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 162.9; (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 452.20; Kāraṇḍavvūha 2.9; Mahā-Māyūrī 222.3; 247.2; certainly the same as the Elapatra (mss.; ed. wrongly em. Elā°) of Divyāvadāna 61.4, tho here he is not called a nāga but one of the four ‘kings’ presiding over the four treasures (compare Mahāvastu iii.383.18 ff. above), (Divyāvadāna 61.1) atha catvāro mahārājāś caturmahānidhisthāḥ, (3—4, verse) Piṅgalaś ca Kaliṅgeṣu Mithilāyāṃ ca Pāṇḍukaḥ, Elapatraś ca Gān- dhāre Śaṅkho Vārāṇasīpure. Besides the Pali parallel, Dīghanikāya (Pali) commentary above, compare the 9 treasures of Kubera which include Śaṅkha and Padma (with presiding personages of the same names), and among the Jains the 9 treasures of a cakra- vartin, which in their AMg. forms include piṃgala, paṇḍua (= pāṇḍuka), and saṃkha; the Sanskrit forms of these are recorded at least lexically. Note also in Pali the nāga- king Erakapatta, of Dhammapada (Pali) commentary iii.231 ff., who however does not seem to be brought into relation to the ‘treasure’ called in Pali ela (above); but the verses attributed to him, and the replies to them, in Dhammapada (Pali) commentary are reproduced in Mahāvastu iii.384, see above.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryElāpatra (एलापत्र).—m.
(-traḥ) One of the chiefs of the Nagas or serpent-race.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryElāpatra (एलापत्र):—[elā-patra] (traḥ) 1. m. One of the chiefs of the serpent race.
[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)
Ends with: Belapatra.
Full-text: Elapattra, Shesha, Pingala, Panduka, Shankha, Cyavanaprasha, Padma.
Relevant text
Search found 19 books and stories containing Elapatra, Ela-patra, Elā-patra, Elāpatra; (plurals include: Elapatras, patras, Elāpatras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 1 - Story of the nāga-king Elapatra < [Chapter XL - The Four Fearlessnesses and the Four Unobstructed Knowledges]
IV. How do we know that the Buddha is fearless? < [Part 1 - The four fearlessnesses of the Buddha according to the Abhidharma]
Introduction to third volume < [Introductions]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 2 - Introduction: The Lineage of the Sādhana < [Book 14 - Great Compassion Cycle]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter XXXVII - The questions of Nālaka < [Volume III]
Foreword to the third volume < [Volume III]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 10 - Karkoṭeśvara (karkoṭa) or Karkoṭakeśvara (karkoṭaka-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Chapter 65 - The Greatness of Nāga Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Avantīkṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 114 - The Term ‘Nāgara’ < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]