Gajasura, Gajāsura, Gaja-asura: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Gajasura 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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexGajāsura (गजासुर).—Killed by Gaṇeśa (Śiva-m.p.).*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 27. 98 and 101. Matsya-purāṇa 55. 16.
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.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Google Books: Elements of Hindu iconographyGajāsura (गजासुर).—(According to the Śilparatna), the image of Śiva, when he is in the act of killing the Gajāsura, should have ten arms; when it has ten arms, the right hands should carry an akṣamālā, a sword, the śaktyayudha, the daṇḍa and the śūla; whereas the left hands should carry the khaṭvāṅga, a snake, a skull, the kheṭaka and the deer.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Wisdom Library: HinduismGajāsura (अघासुर, “elephant demon”) is the Sanskrit name of a demon (asura) slain by Śiva.
Source: Google Books: Interpreting DevotionGajāsura (गजासुर).—The sages of Darukavana pine forest sent Gajāsura (elephant demon) to attack Śiva for seducing their wives in his form of Bhikṣātaṇa (enchanting beggar). Śiva killed the demon and performed a dance of victory wearing his hide. There is a nother myth cycle in which Śiva offers Gajāsura, who had performed much penance, a boon and the latter requests that the Lord reside in his stomach. Eventually Pārvatī enlists Viṣṇu and Śiva’s bull Nanti (Nandi) to coax the demon to let Śiva out of his stomach. Śiva agrees to the demon’s rquest to be spiritually liberated, and his decapitation of the demon is said to achieve this effect. Later, Śiva uses Gajāsura’s head as a substitute for his son Gaṇeśa’s head, which he had severed in a fit of anger.
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismGajasura (गजासुर): Gajasura (elephant demon) is the name used to refer to demon Nila when he took the form of an elephant and attacked Shiva. He was destroyed by Ganapati.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryGajāsura (गजासुर):—[from gaja > gaj] m. the Asura Gaja (slain by Śiva), [Bālarāmāyaṇa ii, 34]
[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)
Starts with: Gajasuradveshin.
Full-text: Gajasuradveshin, Stamberamasura, Gajasamharamurti, Kapalin, Dveshin, Ganesha.
Relevant text
Search found 14 books and stories containing Gajasura, Gajāsura, Gaja-asura; (plurals include: Gajasuras, Gajāsuras, asuras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Matangalila and Hastyayurveda (study) (by Chandrima Das)
Elephants in Śaivism < [Chapter 4]
Mythological motifs related to Elephants < [Chapter 4]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 57 - Gajāsura is slain < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
9. Battle with Gajāsura < [Chapter 5 - Rudra-Śiva in the Purāṇic Literature]
2.13. Rudra as Kṛttivāsa < [Chapter 6a - The Epithets of Rudra-Śiva]
Pallava period (Social and Cultural History) (by S. Krishnamurthy)
Minor deities, celestials, sages and asuras < [Chapter 3 - Socio-Religious Life]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 68 - The Origin of Kṛttivāsas < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Chapter 12 - The Installation of Gaṇeśa < [Section 2 - Dharmāraṇya-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 21 - Tārakā’s Victory in the Battle < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 3.4 - Gajaha-murti (the story of killing Gajasura) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]
Symbology of wearing skins in Shaivism < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]
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