Ghora, aka: Ghorā; 15 Definition(s)

Introduction

Ghora 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

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

1) Ghorā (घोरा):—One of the twelve guṇas associated with Dhvaja, the fourth seat of the Svādhiṣṭhāna-chakra. According to tantric sources such as the Śrīmatottara-tantra and the Gorakṣasaṃhitā (Kādiprakaraṇa), these twelve guṇas are represented as female deities. According to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā however, they are explained as particular syllables. They (eg. Ghorā) only seem to play an minor role with regard to the interpretation of the Devīcakra (first of five chakras, as taught in the Kubjikāmata-tantra).

2) Ghorā (घोरा):—Sanskrit name of one of the thirty-two female deities of the Somamaṇḍala (second maṇḍala of the Khecarīcakra) according to the kubjikāmata-tantra. These goddesses are situated on a ring of sixteen petals and represent the thirty-two syllables of the Aghoramantra. Each deity (including Ghorā) is small, plump and large-bellied. They can assume any form at will, have sixteen arms each, and are all mounted on a different animal.

Ghora (घोर) or Ghorāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of the Niśvāsāgama which is one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu. The purpose of revealing upāgamas (eg., Ghora Āgama) is to explain more elaborately than that of mūlāgamas (eg., Niśvāsa-āgama) and to include any new idea if not dealt in mūlāgamas.

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.

Purana

Ghora (घोर).—A son of sage Aṅgiras. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 85, Verse 131).

Ghora (घोर).—The 25th kalpa.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 290. 9.

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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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Ghora (घोर) refers to an aspect of nṛsiṃha (‘man-lion’), according to the Vihagendra-saṃhitā 4.17, which mentions seventy-four forms (inlcuding twenty forms of vyūha). He is also known as Ghoranṛsiṃha or Ghoranarasiṃha. Nṛsiṃha is a Tantric deity and refers to the furious (ugra) incarnation of Viṣṇu.

The 15th-century Vihagendra-saṃhīta is a canonical text of the Pāñcarātra corpus and, in twenty-four chapters, deals primarely with meditation on mantras and sacrificial oblations.

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Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

Itihasa (narrative history)

Ghora (घोर) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIV.8.28, XIV.8) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Ghora) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Ghora (घोर) or Ghoratantra refers to one of the thirty-three Dakṣiṇatantras, belonging to the Śāktāgama (or Śāktatantra) division of the Āgama tradition. The Śāktāgamas represent the wisdom imparted by Devī to Īśvara and convey the idea that the worship of Śakti is the means to attain liberation. According to the Pratiṣṭhālakṣaṇasamuccaya of Vairocana, the Śāktatantras are divided into to four parts, the Ghora-tantra belonging to the Dakṣiṇa class.

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Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Ghorā (घोरा) is another name for Jīmūtaka, a medicinal plant identified with Luffa echinata (bitter sponge gourd or bitter luffa) from the Cucurbitaceae or “gourd family” of flowering plants, according to verse 3.58-60 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The third chapter (guḍūcyādi-varga) of this book contains climbers and creepers (vīrudh). Together with the names Ghorā and Jīmūtaka, there are a total of nineteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

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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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Ghora (घोर) is the name of a cloud (megha) associated with Karaṅkaka: the western cremation ground (śmaśāna) according to the Vajravārāhī-sādhana by Umāpatideva as found in te Guhyasamayasādhanamālā. As a part of this sādhana, the practicioner is to visualize a suitable dwelling place for the goddess inside the circle of protection which takes the form of eight cremation grounds.

These clouds (eg., Ghora) are known as cloud-kings (megharāja) and have names that are associated with the loud noises of thunderclouds and the noise of rain, according to the Guhyasamayasādhanamālā 11.77. Their presence in the cremation grounds may be connected with the nāgas, for they are known to be responsible for the rain.

The Guhyasamayasādhanamālā by Umāptideva is a 12th century ritualistic manual including forty-six Buddhist tantric sādhanas. The term sādhana refers to “rites” for the contemplation of a divinity.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Ghora (घोर) refers to “conquering afflictions” and represents one of the seven types of extraordinary powers of austerity (tapas), which itself is a subclass of the eight ṛddhis (extraordinary powers). These powers can be obtained by the Ārya (civilized people) in order to produce worldly miracles. The Āryas represent one of the two classes of human beings according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.46, the other being Mleccha (barbarians).

What is meant by extraordinary power to conquer afflictions (ghora-riddhi)? It is the extraordinary power to conquer afflictions while meditating in solitary places like cremation grounds etc.

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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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

ghora : (adj.) terrible; awful.

Ghora, (adj.) (Vedic ghora, orig. meaning, wailing, howling, lamenting, to *gher, *ger, see note on gala & cp. ghuru. A root ghur is given by Dhtp 487 in meaning of “bhīma, ” i.e. horrible.—Rel. to Goth. gaurs, sad; Ohg. gōrag, miserable; & perhaps Lat. funus, funeral. See Walde, Lat. Wtb. s. v.) terrible, frightful, awful Vin.II, 147. Freq. as attr. of niraya (syn. with dāruṇa; PvA.87, 159, 206) Pv.I, 10¹²; IV, 1⁸. Of an oath (sapatha) Pv.I, 6⁸; II, 12¹⁶.—ghorassara of a terrible cry (Ep. of an ass) Miln.363, 365. (Page 258)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

ghōra (घोर).—m (S) The base (the chord or the sound) of a musical instrument. 2 Anxiety, apprehension, inquietude, solicitude. v kara, lāga. 3 The dying rattles. 4 Longing and pining after an absent person. v ghē g. of o. Ex. pōrānēṃ āīcā ghōra ghētalā. 5 C Loud howling. Ex. tō maratāñca pōrābāḷānnī ēkaca ghōra kēlā: also clamor, hubbub, racket, clatter. Ex. hā kāya majuradārāñcā ghōra paḍalā?

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ghōra (घोर).—a (S) Frightful, horrible, terrific--appearances, sounds, events, business: deep or heavy--sleep: gross, palpable--darkness: thick and gloomy--a forest: furious, fierce--a battle or fighting: huge, prodigious, monstrous--a building, a swollen river, any startling object.

ghōra (घोर).—m The base (the chord or the sound) of a musical instrument. Anxiety, apprehension, inquietude, solicitude. v kara, lāga. The dying rattles. Longing and pining after an absent person. v ghē. Clamour, hubbub, racket, clatter.

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ghōra (घोर).—a Frightful-appearances, sounds, events, business: deep or heavy- sleep: gross, palpable-darkness: thick and gloomy-a forest: furious, fierce-a battle or fighting; huge, prodigious, monstrous-a building, a swollen river, any startling object.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ghora (घोर).—a. [ghar-ac Uṇ.5.64]

1) Terrific, frightful, horrible, awful; शिवाघोरस्वनां पश्चाद्बुबुधे विकृतेति ताम् (śivāghorasvanāṃ paścādbubudhe vikṛteti tām) R.12.39; or तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव (tatkiṃ karmaṇi ghore māṃ niyojayasi keśava) Mb.; घोरं लोके वितत- मयशः (ghoraṃ loke vitata- mayaśaḥ) U.7.6; Ms.1.5;12.54.

2) Violent, vehement.

3) Ved. Venerable, awful, sublime.

4) Unsteady, displeasing; शान्ता घोराश्च मूढाश्च (śāntā ghorāśca mūḍhāśca) Sāṅ. K.38.

-raḥ Name of Śiva.

-rā Night.

-ram 1 Horror, awfulness; अथापि मेऽ- विनीतस्य क्षात्रं घोरमुपेयुषः (athāpi me'- vinītasya kṣātraṃ ghoramupeyuṣaḥ) Bhāg.4.8.36.

2) Poison.

3) Venerableness; Vāj.2.32.

4) Magic formulæ and charms; मा नो घोरेण चरताभि धृष्णु (mā no ghoreṇa caratābhi dhṛṣṇu) Rv.1.34.14.

5) Saffron.

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