Gajadanta, Gaja-danta, Gajadamta: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Gajadanta means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraGajadanta (गजदन्त) refers to a gesture (āṅgika) made with ‘combined hands’ (saṃyuta), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. The hands (hasta) form a part of the human body which represents one of the six major limbs (aṅga) used in dramatic performance. With these limbs are made the various gestures (āṅgika), which form a part of the histrionic representation (abhinaya).
Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)1) One of the saṃyutta-hastāni (Twenty-six combined Hands).—Gajadanta (elephant’s tusk): Sarpa-śīrṣa hands, the middles of the arms boldly crossed. Patron deity Paramātmā. Usage: grasping a pillar, pulling up a stone, lifting anything heavy.
Note: Quite distinct from the Gaja or Daṇḍa hand of T. A. Gopinatha Rao, “Hindu Iconography”, Vol. I, pt. i, p. 16, and ibid., Pl. V, fig. 12.
2) Gajadanta is one of the saṃyutta-hastāni (Twenty-seven combined Hands).
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraGajadanta (गजदन्त).—A type of gesture (āṅgika) made with combined hands (saṃyuta-hasta);—(Instructions): Two Sarpaśiraḥ hands touching the opposite arms between the shoulder and the elbow will give rise to Gajadanta hand.
(Uses): It is to be used to indicate the carrying of the bridegroom and the bride, excessive weight, clasping a pillar and uprooting a hill or a block of stone.
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)Gajadanta (गजदन्त) refers to one of the thirteen Saṃyuktahastas or “combined hand gestures” (in Indian Dramas), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—The hasta-mudrās (lit. “hand-gestures”) are very essential to denote some particular action or state in dancing and these mudrās are formed with the help of hands and fingers.—The word gajadanta denotes the danta i.e., tusk of gaja i.e., elephant. In the gajadanta posture, both hands in sarpaśīrṣa position are bent towards each other along with the elbows and shoulders and this posture is used to show carrying the mountain.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsGajadanta (गजदन्त):—Tusk of elephant
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarygajadanta (गजदंत).—m (S Elephant's tooth.) Ivory.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryGajadanta (गजदन्त).—
1) an elephant's tusk, ivory; कार्योलङ्कार- विधिर्गजदन्तेन प्रशस्तेन (kāryolaṅkāra- vidhirgajadantena praśastena) Bṛ. S.79.19.
2) an epithet of Gaṇeśa.
3) ivory.
4) a peg, pin, or bracket projecting from a wall. °मय (maya) a. made of ivory.
Derivable forms: gajadantaḥ (गजदन्तः).
Gajadanta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms gaja and danta (दन्त).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryGajadanta (गजदन्त).—m.
(-ntaḥ) 1. A name of Ganesha. 2. Ivory, the elephant’s tooth. 3. A bracket or pin projecting from the wall. E. gaja a elephant, and danta a tooth; Ganesha is represented with an elephant’s head.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryGajadanta (गजदन्त).—[masculine] an elephant’s tusk, ivory.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Gajadanta (गजदन्त):—[=gaja-danta] [from gaja > gaj] m. an elephant’s tusk, ivory, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā lxxix, 19]
2) [v.s. ...] a pin projecting from a wall, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of Gaṇeśa (who is represented with an elephant’s head), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] a particular position of the hands, [Purāṇa-sarvasva]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryGajadanta (गजदन्त):—[gaja-danta] (ntaḥ) 1. m. A name of Ganesh; ivory; a bracket.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusGajadaṃta (ಗಜದಂತ):—
1) [noun] a very long, large, pointed tooth, usu. one of a pair, projecting outside the mouth of an elephant; tusk.
2) [noun] a particular hand gesture (using both hands) in dancing.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryGajadanta (गजदन्त):—n. 1. ivory; tusk; 2. Mythol. lord Ganesh;
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Gajadantahasta, Gajadantamani, Gajadantamaya, Gajadantaphala.
Full-text: Gajadantamaya, Gajadantaphala, Carrying, Tusk, Shankhavalayakara, Elephant, Samyutta-hastani, Samyuta, Gajadantahasta, Samyuktahasta, Danta.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Gajadanta, Gaja-danta, Gajadamta, Gajadaṃta; (plurals include: Gajadantas, dantas, Gajadamtas, Gajadaṃtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Abhinaya-darpana (English) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
Chapter 27 - Hands denoting Flying Creatures
Chapter 15 - Twenty-seven Combined Hands
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
2.2. Hand Postures (b): Saṃyukta-hasta < [Chapter 3 - Drama and Dance]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 1: Incarnation as Megharatha (introduction) < [Chapter IV - Tenth incarnation as Megharatha]
Part 4: Attacks by Saṅgamaka < [Chapter IV - Mahāvīra’s second period of more than six years]
Appendix 3.2: new and rare words < [Appendices]
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
Shishupala-vadha (Study) (by Shila Chakraborty)
Tax system according to Kauṭilya < [Chapter 5 - Policies of taxation]