Gahvara: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Gahvara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Gahvar.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Gahvara (गह्वर) refers to a “cave” according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands, soil, mountains [viz., Gahvara], jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees and plants and substances, with their various kinds.
Gahvarā (गह्वरा) is another name for Viḍaṅga, a medicinal plant identified with Embelia ribes Burm. f; from the Primulaceae or “primrose” family of flowering plants, according to verse 6. 27-29 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu.— Note: Th. B.S. et al report that sometimes Embelia robusta C.B. Clarke with synonym Embelia tsjeriam-cottam A. DC. is used as a substitute or an adulterant. This variety is supposed to have similar properties.—The sixth chapter (pippalyādi-varga) of this book enumerates ninety-five varieties of plants obtained from the market (paṇyauṣadhi). Together with the names Gahvarā and Viḍaṅga, there are a total of sixteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
1) Gahvara (गह्वर) refers to a “cave”, according to the Ambāmatasaṃhitā.—Accordingly, “When the dvāpara (Age) came, (the goddess) went to the venerable cave (gahvara) of (the sacred seat called) Pūrṇa and, having assumed the form of a Śāvarī, became of benefit to (the whole) universe. (Similarly, the god), having attained the power of the knowledge (of the teachings), arose (there) in order to sport (with the goddess). [...]”.
2) Gahvara (गह्वर) (or Prastāra) refers to a “grid” (or “diagram”) from which letters are extracted to make mantras. Such grids were well-known to earlier Tantric schools. This one in particular was drawn wholesale from the Trika school which, as we shall see, was the source of virtually all the major features of this Triangle (but not the Point in the centre of it) except those most specifically related to the Kubjikā cult. We may begin to briefly trace these developments from this feature of the Triangle.
3) Gahvara (गह्वर) or Gahvaraprastāra refers to the “grid (of letters)”, according to the commentary on the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “O fair faced one, I will tell (you) about the extraction of the seed-syllables in the grid (of letters) (gahvara). One should make an effort to know that the locations of the sacred seats in the grid (are marked) by the letters located (in the cells of the letters) A Ṛ Ga and Ha, which correspond to (the sacred seats of) KĀ (Kāmarūpa), PŪ (Pūrṇagiri), JĀ (Jālandhara), and O (Oḍiyāna), respectively. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Gahvara (गह्वर) refers to a “cave” (which is suitable for Yoga practice), according to the Parākhyatantra.—The Amanaska’s description of the ideal place in which to practise Yoga is based on four standard characteristics; it should be isolated, solitary, clean and beautiful. Similar descriptions are found in Tantric traditions. [...] The Parākhyatantra, emphasizes seclusion: “In a lonely place, or a grove, or in an agreeable mountain cave (giri-gahvara), or in an earthen hut that is thoroughly secluded, free from insects, draught and damp”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Gahvara (गह्वर) refers to a “cavern”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.15 (“Gaṇeśa’s battle”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] O great sage, the goddess created two Śaktis then and there for the assistance of her own Gaṇa. O great sage, one Śakti assumed a very fierce form and stood there opening her mouth as wide as the cavern (gahvara) of a dark mountain. The other assumed the form of lightning. She wore many arms. She was a huge and terrible goddess ready to punish the wicked. The weapons hurled by the gods and the Gaṇas were caught in the mouth and hurled back at them. [...]”.
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
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Gahvara (गह्वर) is the name of the northern cremation ground (śmaśāna) according to the Vajravārāhī-sādhana by Umāpatideva as found in te 12th century Guhyasamayasādhanamālā. As a part of this sādhana, the practicioner is to visualize a suitable dwelling place for the goddess inside the circle of protection which takes the form of eight cremation grounds.
Gahvara is mentioned in the Saṃvarodaya-tantra as having various associative characteristics
tree (vṛkṣa) = Bodhi,
protector (dikpati) = Kubera,
serpent (nāga) = Takṣaka,
cloud (megha) = Ghūrṇita,
funeral monuments (caitya) = Saṃskāravajra,
mountain (giri) = Mandara.
Gahvara (गह्वर) refers to one of the eight charnel grounds (śmaśāna) of the Guṇacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the guṇacakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. Gahvara is associated with the tree (vṛkṣa) named Aśvattha; with the direction-guardian (dikpāla) named Kubera; with the serpent king (nāgendra) named Takṣaka and with the cloud king (meghendra) named Ghūrṇita.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Gahvara (गह्वर).—a. (-rā or -rī f.).
1) Deep, impervious; Bhāgavata 1.6.13.
2) Confused (in mind); बभूव गह्वरो ग्रामवासी कोऽपि जडः पुमान् (babhūva gahvaro grāmavāsī ko'pi jaḍaḥ pumān) Kathāsaritsāgara 61.39,41.
-ram 1 An abyss, a depth.
2) A thicket, forest; गुल्मतृणवीरुद्भिर्गह्वरमिव भव- त्येवमेव गृहाश्रमः (gulmatṛṇavīrudbhirgahvaramiva bhava- tyevameva gṛhāśramaḥ) Bhāgavata 5.14.4.
3) A cave, cavern; गौरीगुरोर्गह्वरमाविवेश (gaurīgurorgahvaramāviveśa) R.2.26.46; Ṛtusaṃhāra 1.21.
4) An inaccessible place.
5) A hiding-place.
6) A riddle.
7) Hypocrisy.
8) Weeping, crying.
9) Water.
1) A deep sigh.
-raḥ An arbour, bower.
-rī 1 A cave, cavern, recess in a rock or mountain.
2) The earth.
Gahvara (गह्वर).—nf. (-raṃ-rī) A cave, a cavern, a grotto, a recess in a rock or mountain, &c. n.
(-raṃ) 1. A thicket, a wood. 2. Hypocrisy. 3. Weeping, crying, but not violently. m.
(-raḥ) An arbour, a bower. E. gāha to be agitated, and ṣvarac Unadi affix, the radical vowel made short.
Gahvara (गह्वर).—[gah + vara] (cf. gahana), I. adj., f. rā and rī, Impenetrable, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 5, 14, 4. Ii. n. 1. A thicket, Mahābhārata 4, 727. 2. An enigma, Mahābhārata 13, 1388.
Gahvara (गह्वर).—[feminine] ā & ī deep, impenetrable, confused, perplexed; p. = [preceding] [neuter], also secret, riddle.
1) Gahvara (गह्वर):—[from gah] mf(ā, ī)n. ([gana] aśmādi) deep, impervious, impenetrable, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā v; Harivaṃśa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] confused (in mind), [Kathāsaritsāgara; lxi, 39 and 41]
3) [v.s. ...] m. an arbour, bower, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] a cave, cavern, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) Gahvarā (गह्वरा):—[from gahvara > gah] f. the plant Embelia Ribes, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) Gahvara (गह्वर):—[from gah] n. ‘an abyss, depth’ (‘water’ [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska; Nirukta, by Yāska]) See re-ṣṭha
7) [v.s. ...] a hiding-place, thicket, wood, [Atharva-veda xii, 2, 53; Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
8) [v.s. ...] an impenetrable secret, riddle, [Mahābhārata xiii, 1388]
9) [v.s. ...] a deep sigh, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) [v.s. ...] hypocrisy, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) [v.s. ...] Abrus precatorius (?), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Gahvara (गह्वर):—[(raṃ-rī)] 1. n. 3. f. A cave; a wood; pride; hypocrisy; a weeping. m. An arbour.
Gahvara (गह्वर):—
--- OR ---
Gahvara (गह्वर):—
1) proparox. [Taittirīyasaṃhitā 5, 5, 10, 4.] als Beiwort eines Dummkopfes wohl so v. a. verworren, confus [Kathāsaritsāgara 61, 39. 41.] —
2) b) auch so v. a. Leere: gahvarībhūta [Harivaṃśa 11285.]
Gahvara (गह्वर):——
1) Adj. (f. ā und ī) — a) tief , undurchdringlich (eig. und übertr.) [Harivaṃśa 1,50,27.] — b) verworren , confus (von einem Dummkopf). —
2) *m. — a) Gebüsch , Laube. — b) Höhle. —
3) *f. ā Embelia Ribes [Rājan 6,50.] —
4) *f. ī — a) Höhle. — b) die Erde [Galano's Wörterbuch] —
5) n. — a) Abgrund , Tiefe ; Versteck , Dickicht ; undurchdringliches Geheimniss , Räthsel. — b) Leere. — c) *Wasser. — d) *ein tiefer Seufzer. — e) *Heuchelei. — f) *Abrus precatorius (?).
Gahvara (गह्वर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Gavvara, Gahara.
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
Gahvara (गह्वर) [Also spelled gahvar]:—(nm) a recess; cave; chasm.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Gahvara (ಗಹ್ವರ):—
1) [adjective] inaccessible a) impossible to reach or enter; b) that cannot be seen, talked to, influenced, etc.; inapproachable.
2) [adjective] that is very deep.
--- OR ---
Gahvara (ಗಹ್ವರ):—
1) [noun] an opening more or less horizontally into a hill, mountain, etc.; a cave; a grotto.
2) [noun] a deep ditch.
3) [noun] a wide extent of land covered by natural growth of trees, thickets, inhabited by wild animals; a forest.
4) [noun] a shrub or clump of shrubs with stems of moderate length; a bush.
5) [noun] an inaccessible place.
6) [noun] the tree Pongamia glabra; Indian beech.
7) [noun] darkness; want of light.
8) [noun] the black colour.
9) [noun] proximity; nearness.
10) [noun] an impenetrable secret.
11) [noun] a weeping aloud with sobbing sounds.
12) [noun] a pretending to be what one is not or to feel what one does not feel, esp., a pretense of virtue, piety, etc.; hypocrisy.
13) [noun] a hiding place.
14) [noun] water.
15) [noun] a deep sigh.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Gahvara (गह्वर):—n. 1. a deep and dark den; hiding-place; cave; 2. a thicket; an arbor; woods;
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.
Pali-English dictionary
gahvara (ဂဟွရ) [(ti) (တိ)]—
[+va．thoma.]
[ဂါဟ်+ဝရခ်။ ထောမ။]
[Pali to Burmese]
gahvara—
(Burmese text): နက်စောက်သော။ ဂဟွရတီရ-ကြည့်။
(Auto-Translation): Darkness. Look at the gem.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+0): Gahvarakunda, Gahvarantastha, Gahvaratira, Gahvaratiriya, Gahvaratiriyatthera.
Full-text (+42): Girigahvara, Gahvaratira, Hanumanmantragahvara, Suratagahvara, Hanumadgahvara, Gahvarita, Gahvar, Gahvari, Mukhagahvara, Gurvarthagahvara, Ghranagahvara, Ghurnita, Shashpa, Takshaka, Gabhvara, Kubera, Gavvara, Gahara, Mukh-gahvar, Ashvattha.
Relevant text
Search found 24 books and stories containing Gahvara, Gahvarā; (plurals include: Gahvaras, Gahvarās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Earth and its aspects < [Chapter 5 - Aspects of Nature]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 8.13.75 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 18 - The holy Pāśupata rite < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Chapter 63 - Origin of Devas and others (devādi-sṛṣṭi) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Chapter 27 - The description of the Jaya ablution < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.4.154 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]
Verse 2.4.125 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]
Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita (by Laxmi Maji)
Treatment of Kāsa (cough) < [Chapter 3 - Diseases and Remedial measures (described in Atharvaveda)]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 222 < [Volume 24 (1918)]