Alternative spellings of this word include Gajacharman.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Gajacarman (गजचर्मन्) refers to “elephant skin”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 11.1-24ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Tumburu]—“[...] [He worships] Deva as Tumburu in the middle of an eight petaled lotus, in the maṇḍala, [starting] in the East, O Devī. [...] He [has] a half-moon in his topknot, sits in the blue lotus Āsana. [Tumburu is] white like a drop of frosty jasmine, similar to mountain snow. [He wears] a serpent as a sacred thread and is adorned with snake ornaments. [Tumburu is] adorned with all jewels, a tiger skin on the ground [below his] hips, a garment of elephant skin (gajacarman-parīdhāna), mounted on a very strong bull, and wears a rhino hide. [...]”.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Gajacarman (गजचर्मन्) refers to the “elephant hide”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.39 (“The gods arrive at Kailāsa”).—Accordingly, as the guests arrived for Śiva’s marriage: “[...] O sage, the serpents that had been embellishing His ears before became the ear-rings studded with various gems. The serpents in the other parts became the befitting ornaments of those parts, very beautiful and studded with gems. The ashes became the sweet unguent smeared over his body. The elephant hide (gajacarman) etc. became the beautiful silken cloth. The form assumed a beauty beyond description. Lord Śiva seemed to have acquired from Himself all the riches. [...]”.

context information

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)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Gajacarman (गजचर्मन्) refers to an “elephant skin” which is used to describe Cakrasaṃvara, according to the Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—Accordingly, [while describing the iconography of Cakrasaṃvara]: “In the Saṃvara Maṇḍala atop Mount Sumera within a vajra-canopy there is a variegated lotus, on top of that a palace, in the middle of which is the Blessed Lord, standing in ālīḍhāsana, "archer's pose", [...] possessing a vyāghracarma, "tiger skin" and twelve arms, the foremost arms holding a vajra and ghaṇṭā, embracing Vajravārāhī, the uppermost arms holding a gajacarman, "elephant skin", dripping with blood, the remaining arms holding, starting second from the top, on the right, a ḍamaru, "double-headed drum", paraśu, "ax", kartika, "flaying knife", triśūla, "trident", on the left, a khaṭvāṅga, "staff", kapāla, "skull bowl", pāśa, "noose", and brahmamuṇḍa, "lopped head of Brahma", [...]”.

Note: The elephant skin (gajacarman) symbolizes having forsaken avidyā, "ignorance".

context information

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

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Gajacarman (गजचर्मन्):—[=gaja-carman] [from gaja > gaj] n. an elephant’s skin

2) [v.s. ...] a kind of leprosy.

[Sanskrit to German]

Gajacarman in German

context information

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Gajacarma (ಗಜಚರ್ಮ):—

1) [noun] the thick, rough skin of an elephant.

2) [noun] any thing resembling it.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Gaja, Carman.

Starts with: Gajacarmanivasin.

Full-text: Vicarci, Vicarcika, Ghanta, Paridhana, Damaru, Parashu, Trishula, Brahmamunda, Vajra, Khatvanga, Vyaghracarman, Karttika, Pasha, Kapala.

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Search found 2 books and stories containing Gajacarman, Gaja-carman, Gaja-carma, Gajacarma; (plurals include: Gajacarmans, carmans, carmas, Gajacarmas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)

Verse 8.13.84 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]

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The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa (by Dhrubajit Sarma)

Part 5 - Śrīkaṇṭhacarita - Summary of contents < [Chapter II - The Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]

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