Gajakarna, Gaja-karna, Gajakarṇa: 16 definitions

Introduction:

Gajakarna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Gajakarna in Purana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-purana

Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण, “elephant-ear”) refers to one of the fifty-six vināyakas located at Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), and forms part of a sacred pilgrimage (yātrā), described in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa (Skanda-purāṇa 4.2.57). He is also known as Gajakarṇavināyaka, Gajakarṇagaṇeśa and Gajakarṇavighneśa. These fifty-six vināyakas are positioned at the eight cardinal points in seven concentric circles (8x7). They center around a deity named Ḍhuṇḍhirāja (or Ḍhuṇḍhi-vināyaka) positioned near the Viśvanātha temple, which lies at the heart of Kāśī, near the Gaṅges. This arrangement symbolises the interconnecting relationship of the macrocosmos, the mesocosmos and the microcosmos.

Gajakarṇa is positioned in the North-Western corner of the sixth circle of the kāśī-maṇḍala. According to Rana Singh (source), his shrine is located at “Kotwalpura, Ishaneshwara, CK 37 / 43”. Worshippers of Gajakarṇa will benefit from his quality, which is defined as “the giver of well-being”. His coordinates are: Lat. 25.18669, Lon. 83.00547 (or, 25°11'12.1"N, 83°00'19.7"E) (Google maps)

Gajakarṇa, and the other vināyakas, are described in the Skandapurāṇa (the largest of the eighteen mahāpurāṇas). This book narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is composed of over 81,000 metrical verses with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण).—A yakṣa in Kubera’s assembly. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 10, Verse 16).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण).—City of, in atalam.1 IV tala or Gabhastalam.2

  • 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 20. 32.
  • 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 31.

1b) A tīrtham sacred to Pitṛs in Gayā; ritual at.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 22. 38: Vāyu-purāṇa 111. 55.
Purana book cover
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.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Gajakarna in Shaivism glossary
Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II) (shaivism)

Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण) is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Kharāsyā they preside over Elāpura: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the Kubjikāmatatantra. Their weapon is the pāśa. A similar system appears in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18).

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Gajakarṇā (गजकर्णा) (mantra: oṃ hūṃ caṇḍe kāpālini hūṃ) refers to one of the six Yoginīs  of the pantheon of Mantra-deities, according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 7th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—Patterning the processes of inner and outer ritual is the Brahmayāmala’s pantheon of mantra-deities, whose core comprises the Four Goddesses or Guhyakās, Four Consorts or Handmaidens, and their lord, Kapālīśabhairava. Secondary members of the pantheon are a sextet of Yoginīs [e.g., Gajakarṇā] and an octad of Mother-goddesses.

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

Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण) refers to one of the four Kiṅkaras (servants) associated with Tumburu, 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. [...] Devīs and Dūtis stand in all directions, beginning in the East, etc. Thus, the female servants are in their proper places at the entries [of the maṇḍala]. The Dūtīs are called Jambhanī, Mohanī, Subhagā, and Durbhagā. The servants are called Krodhana, Vṛntaka, Gajakarṇa, and Mahābala. [...]”.

Shaivism book cover
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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.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण) is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Kharasthā Devī they preside over Elāpura: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18). Their weapon is the pāśa. A similar system appears in the tradition of Hindu Tantrims, i.e., in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22), which belongs to the Śākta sect or Śaivism.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Gajakarna in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1) Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण) refers to a sub-division of the Mlecchas: one of the two-fold division of men born in Mānuṣottara and in the Antaradvīpas, situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly:—“In these 35 zones on this side of Mānuṣottara and in the Antaradvīpas, men arise by birth; on the mountains, Meru, etc., by kidnapping and power of learning, in the 2½ continents and in 2 oceans. [...]. From the division into Āryas and Mlecchas they are two-fold. [...] The Mlecchas—[e.g., the Gajakarṇas, ...] and other non-Āryas also are people who do not know even the word ‘dharma’”.

2) Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण) also refers to one of the Antaradvīpas.—Accordingly, “The Mlecchas are free from (knowledge of) virtue and vice, and also those born in the Antaradvīpas. The 56 Antaradvīpas are as follows: Half of them are to the east and west of Kṣudrahimavat in the four intermediate directions, beginning with northeast. [...] Beyond them (i.e., northeast, southeast and other intermediate directions) at a distance of 400 yojanas and with an equal length and width, at the intermediate points, northeast, etc., are the Antaradvīpas, Hayakarṇa, Gajakarṇa, Gokarṇa, Śaṣkulīkarṇa, respectively”.

General definition book cover
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Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Gajakarna in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण).—n (S Elephant's ear.) Ringworm.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण).—n Ringworm.

context information

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Gajakarna in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण).—‘elephant's ear’, as symbol of imper-manence (for some reason which is obscure to me as it was to Feer and Speyer): Avadāna-śataka i.144.9 (ime bhogā) jala- candrasvabhāvā gajakarṇa-sadṛśā anityā(ḥ)…

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

Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण):—[=gaja-karṇa] [from gaja > gaj] m. ‘elephant-ear’, Name of a Yakṣa, [Mahābhārata ii, 397]

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Gajakarṇa (गजकर्ण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Gayakanna.

[Sanskrit to German]

Gajakarna 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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Gajakarna in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Gajakarṇa (ಗಜಕರ್ಣ):—[noun] a non-contiguous skin disorder, characterised by inflammation, itching, discharge from blisters, and the formation of scales; eczema.

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Gajakarṇa (ಗಜಕರ್ಣ):—[noun] the plant Adiantum caudatum of Polypodiaceae family.

context information

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

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