Gandaki, Gaṇḍakī: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Gandaki means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Gaṇḍakī (गण्डकी).—Name of a river originating from Himālaya, a holy mountain (kulaparvata) in Bhārata, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 85. There are settlements (janapada) where Āryas and Mlecchas dwell who drink water from these rivers.
Bhārata is a region south of Hemādri, once ruled over by Bharata (son of Ṛṣabha), whose ancestral lineage can be traced back to Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.
Gaṇḍakī (गण्डकी).—(Gaṇḍaka) A river in Orthern India which falls into the Gaṅgā. Origin. There arose an argument between the Devas and the asuras about the Amṛtam (nectar) got from the churning of Kṣīrābdhi (the milk ocean) and Mahāviṣṇu appeared in the form of Mohinī and enticed the asuras away from the subject and gave the nectar to the Devas. Attracted by the great beauty of Mohinī, Śiva made love to her, and the sweet produced at the time of their embrace flowed as river Gaṇḍaki through the earth. (Skandha Purāṇa, Āsura Khaṇḍa). It became a holy river. While the worms on the banks of Gaṇḍakī were once collecting soil they fell into the river, and all at once they attained salvation, the reason being that the water in the river had been formed by the sweet of Viṣṇu and Śiva. And, from that day onwards people began worshipping Gaṇḍakī as a holy river. (Skandha Purāṇa, Āsura Khaṇḍa). Other information.
(i) He who drinks the water of the river is freed from sins. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 169, Verse 20).
(ii) The river is also known as Nārāyaṇī, Śālagrāmī, Hiraṇvatī and Hiraṇyavatī. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 25).
(iii) Śrī Kṛṣṇa Arjuna and Bhīmasena once on their way from Indraprastha to Girivraja crossed this river. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 20, Verse 27).
(iv) The water in Gaṇḍakī is a mixture of the waters of all holy rivers. Therefore, a bath in Gaṇḍakī is of equal value as an Aśvamedha yajña and he who bathes in it will attain Sūryaloka. (Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Verse 113).
(v) Gaṇḍakī is one of the rivers which were responsible for the origin of Agni (fire). (Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Verse 113). (See full article at Story of Gaṇḍakī from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
Gaṇḍakī (गण्डकी).—(River) from the Himalayas visited by Balarāma;1 in the chariot of Tripurārī;2 a mahānadī.3
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 79. 11: Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 16. 26: Matsya-purāṇa 114. 22.
- 2) Matsya-purāṇa 133. 23.
- 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 96: 108. 79.
Gaṇḍakī (गण्डकी) refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) or River mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.26.4, II.82.97). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Gaṇḍakī) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
India history and geography
Gaṇḍakī (गण्डकी) or Gaṇḍakīnadī is the name of a North-Indian Tirtha (sacred place) mentioned in the Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī authored by Varadarāja (A.D. 1600-1650), a pupil of Bhaṭṭoji Dīkṣita.—Varadarāja in his Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī refers to several works which ought to be studied by a Pandit. In the same text are listed some Ghats of Benares (Varanasi). We also find in this work a list of holy places or tīrthas on folio 6 of the manuscript [e.g., gaṇḍakī-nadī] which appears to have been composed say between A.D. 1600 and 1650.—[Cf. the manuscript of the Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī at the Government Manuscripts Library, B.O.R. = Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona]
Gandaki Province (i.e., gaṇḍakī pradeśa), is one of the seven federal provinces established by the current constitution of Nepal which was promulgated on 20 September 2015. Pokhara is the province’s capital city. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region in Southwest China to the north, Bagmati Province to the east, Karnali Province to the west, and Lumbini Province and Bihar of India to the south. Gandaki Province was named after the river Gandaki, which is a major river in the province. This river has important links with historical Hindu civilization. The Gandaki river is mentioned in the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. It has been said that Valmiki wrote the great epic Ramayana here. It is also believed to be the birthplace of Luva and Kusha. Its evolution is described in Shiva Purana, Kumara-khanda, in the chapter of the killing of Shankhachuda.
Gandaki province was once home to the Chaubisi Rajya, the 24 kings, of which Gorkha was one. From Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan Shah arose to unify all the kingdoms and expand to include all of present-day Nepal.[citation needed] Gandaki Province was known as "Gandak Kshetra" which was established in 1956. Gandak Kshetra was composed by grouping the then 4 districts. Those 4 districts are now divided into many districts. Gandak Kshetra had total area of 5,400 square miles (14,000 km2) and total population was 12 Lakhs.
The four districts were:
- Lumbini District (Rupandehi, Parasi, Palpa);
- Syangja District (Syangja, Nawalpur);
- Pokhara District (Tanahun, Kaski);
- Gorkha District (Gorkha, Lamjung, Manang);
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Gaṇḍakī (गण्डकी).—
1) Name of a river flowing into the Ganges.
2) A female rhinoceros.
Gaṇḍakī (गण्डकी):—[from gaṇḍaka > gaṇḍ] f. Name of a river in the northern part of India, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] etc.
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.
Nepali dictionary
Gaṇḍakī (गण्डकी):—n. Gandaki river in Nepal;
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 (+0): Gandakibhujangastotra, Gandakika, Gandakimahatmya, Gandakinadi, Gandakiputra, Gandakishila, Gandakishilamahatmya.
Full-text (+51): Gandaka, Gandasahvaya, Citravana, Shaligrama, Shalagrama, Gandakishila, Gandki, Gandakiputra, Gandakavati, Cakranadi, Gandakimahatmya, Shalagrama-shila, Vaishali, Gandakinadi, Manag, Gandakam, Shalagrami, Narayana, Shaligram, Came.
Relevant text
Search found 62 books and stories containing Gandaki, Gaṇḍakī; (plurals include: Gandakis, Gaṇḍakīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rivers in Ancient India (study) (by Archana Sarma)
8. The river Gomatī in the Purāṇas < [Chapter 5 - Rivers in the Purāṇic Literature]
10. Various other rivers in the Purāṇas < [Chapter 5 - Rivers in the Purāṇic Literature]
11. Descriptions of the rivers in the Jambudvīpa < [Chapter 5 - Rivers in the Purāṇic Literature]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Studies in the Cult of Jagannatha (by K. C. Mishra)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 8.13.58 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 20 - The Importance of Gaṇḍakī < [Section 5 - Pātāla-Khaṇḍa (Section on the Nether World)]
Chapter 110 - The Story of Jaya and Vijaya < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]
Chapter 75 - The Greatness of Gaṇḍikā < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]