Gandhavati, aka: Gandhavatī, Gandha-vati; 7 Definition(s)

Introduction

Gandhavati means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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

Gandhavatī (गन्धवती) is the city city of Vāyu, guardian (dikpāla) of the north-western direction, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 76.

1) Gandhavatī (गन्धवती).—The name Satyavatī (Kālī) was assumed when sage Parāśara had swept away her matsyagandha (fish smell). She got also another name Yojanagandhā. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 63, Verse 80).

2) Gandhavatī (गन्धवती).—The city of Vāyu (the wind God). There are said to be nine cities on top of Mount Mahāmeru: (1) Manovatī of Brahmā at the centre, (2) Just on the eastern side of it Amarāvatī of Indra, (3) Agni’s Tejovatī in the south-eastern corner, (4) Maya’s Saṃyamanī in the south, 5) Nirṛti’s Kṛṣṇāñjanā in thesouth-western corner, (6) Śraddhāvatī of Varuṇa on the west, (7) Gandhavatī of Vāyu in the northwestern corner, (8) Mahodayā of Kubera on the north, and (9) Yaśovatī of Īśāna in the north-eastern corner. (Devībhāgavata, Aṣṭama Skandha).

Gandhavatī (गन्धवती).—The sabhā of Vāyu on the sixth slope of Meru.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 34. 89.

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Gandhavatī (गन्धवती) refers to the city of Vāyu, situated on the north-western lower slope of mount Meru, according to Parākhyatantra 5.66. Meru is the name of a golden mountained situated in the middle of nine landmasses (navakhaṇḍa): Bhārata, Hari, Kimpuruṣa, Ramyaka, Ramaṇa, Kuru, Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla and Ilāvṛta. Together these khaṇḍas make up the continent known as Jambūdvīpa.

Gandhavatī is also known by the name Gandha or Gandhavahā and is mentioned in various other sources, eg., the Svacchanda-tantra 10.132-136, Kiraṇa-āgama 8.51-54, Mṛgendra-āgama vidyāpāda 13.47-54, Sarvajñānottara-tantra adhvaprakaraṇa 34-36 and Mataṅga-āgama vidyāpāda 23.60-63

The Parākhyatantra is an old Śaiva-siddhānta tantra dating from before the 10th century.

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.

Katha (narrative stories)

Gandhavatī (गन्धवती) is the name of a river (nadī), according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 69. Accordingly, as the Muni Vijitāsu said to Puṣkarākṣa: “... she [Lāvaṇyamañjarī] went to the shore of the Gandhavatī and abandoned her life in a holy place, with her thoughts intently fixed on his love”.

Gandhavatī is also mentioned as flowing near Ujjayinī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 102. Accordingly, “... and at last [Mṛgāṅkadatta] came near the city of Ujjayinī. Then he reached the river Gandhavatī, and dispelled his fatigue by bathing in it; and after crossing it, he arrived with his companions in that cemetery of Mahākāla”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Gandhavatī, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Katha (कथा, kathā) refers to narrative Sanskrit literature often inspired from epic legendry (itihasa) and poetry (mahākāvya). Some Kathas reflect socio-political instructions for the King while others remind the reader of important historical event and exploits of the Gods, Heroes and Sages.

In Buddhism

General definition (in Buddhism)

Gandhavatī (गन्धवती).—A city mentioned in the wisdom sutras where Bodhisattva Dharmodgata lived and preached on the perfection of wisdom. According to the Larger Wisdom Sutra, when Sadāprarudita (“ever wailing”) was seeking the teaching of the perfection of wisdom, he heard of Bodhisattva Dharmodgata who was preaching on it in the city of fragrances (Gandhavatī), five hundred yojanas to the east.

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