In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van Svayambhūdeva’s Paümacariu

Ghanavāhana (घनवाहन) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Ghanavāhana] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1) Ghanavāhana (घनवाहन) or Meghavāhana is the son of the Pūrṇamegha (king of Rathanūpura), according to chapter 2.4 [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:—“[...] At that time on Mount Vaitāḍhya Sahasraḍrś, recalling with anger his father’s murder, slew Pūrṇamegha, like a Garuḍa a snake. Pūrṇamegha’s son, Ghanavāhana, escaped from him and came to the samavasaraṇa. After he had circumambulated the Blessed One three times and had bowed to him, he sat down at his feet like a traveler at the foot of a tree. [...]”.

2) Ghanavāhana (घनवाहन) is the name of a Rākṣasa, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.1 [origin of the rākṣasavaṃśa and vānaravaṃśa].—Accordingly:—“At the time that the Arhat Ajita was wandering (over the earth), Ghanavāhana was the bulb of the Rakṣas-line in Laṅkā on the Rakṣodvīpa in this same Bharata. He, very wise, settled his kingdom on his son, Mahārakṣas, became a mendicant at the feet of Ajita Svāmin, and attained emancipation. After he had enjoyed the kingdom for a long time, Mahārakṣas also bestowed it on his son, Devarakṣas, became a mendicant, and attained emancipation. [...]”.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ghanavāhana (घनवाहन).—m.

(-naḥ) 1. A name of Siva. 2. A name of Indra. E. ghana a cloud and vāhana a vehicle; who rides in the clouds. ghana iva śubhraṃ vāhanamasya . śive . ghano megho vāhanamasya . indre vā .

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

1) Ghanavāhana (घनवाहन):—[=ghana-vāhana] [from ghana] m. ‘riding on clouds’, Śiva, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) [v.s. ...] Indra (cf. megha-v), [Horace H. Wilson]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ghanavāhana (घनवाहन):—[ghana-vāhana] (naḥ) 1. m. Name of Shiva, of Indra. a. Cloud-riding.

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ghanavāhana (घनवाहन)—1) Śiva. 2) Indra.

[Sanskrit to German]

Ghanavahana 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ghana, Vahana.

Full-text: Abdavahana, Maharakshas, Devarakshas, Rambhaka, Meghavahana, Avali, Trikuta, Kancanapura, Rakshasadvipa, Rakshodvipa, Lanka, Sasin, Kirtidhavala, Patalalanka, Rativallabha, Vidyuddamshtra.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Ghanavahana, Ghanavāhana, Ghana-vāhana, Ghana-vahana; (plurals include: Ghanavahanas, Ghanavāhanas, vāhanas, vahanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 1: Origin of hostility between Pūrṇamegha and Sulocana < [Chapter V - Life and death of the sons of Sagara]

Part 2: Story of Meghavāhana < [Chapter V - Life and death of the sons of Sagara]

Part 2: Rāvaṇa’s lineage (vaṃśa) < [Chapter I - Origin of the Rākṣasavaṃśa and Vānaravaṃśa]

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The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 26 - Greatness of Gandharveśvara (Gandharva-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]

Chapter 27 - Greatness of Gandharvaseneśvara (Gandharvasenā-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]

Chapter 24 - Importance of Somavāra Vrata < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]

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