Gridhra, aka: Gṛdhra, Gṛdhrā; 11 Definition(s)
Introduction
Gridhra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
The Sanskrit terms Gṛdhra and Gṛdhrā can be transliterated into English as Grdhra or Gridhra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Gṛdhra (गृध्र) is a Sanskrit word referring to the animal “vulture”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Āyurvedic literature. The animal Gṛdhra is part of the sub-group named prasaha, refering to animals “who take their food by snatching”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Āyurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyGṛdhra (गृध्र)—Sanskrit word for a bird corresponding to “vulture”. This animal is from the group called Prasaha (‘carnivorous birds’). Prasaha itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Jāṅghala (living in high ground and in a jungle).
Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume I
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Gṛdhra (गृध्र).—A son of Kṛṣṇa and Mitravindā.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 61. 16.
Gṛdhra (गृध्र) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.60.55) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Gṛdhra) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Gridhra is the name of a Saptarishi (fifth of the seven) of the Fourteenth Manvantara (where Bhautya is Manu and Suchi is Indra) of the Śveta-vārāha Kalpa.
Source: Wisdom Library: HinduismIn Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Gṛdhra (गृध्र, “vulture”) represents an incarnation destination of the tiryaggati (animal realm) according to the “world of transmigration” section in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXVII).—The Bodhisattva sees the animals (tiryak) undergoing all the torments: they are made to gallop by blows of the whip or stick; they are made to make long journeys carrying burdens; their harness is damaged; they are branded with hot iron. As a result of shamelessness (anapatrāpya), lack of self-respect (āhrīkya) and gluttony (gṛddhitva), they take the form of a bird such as [for example], a vulture (gṛdhra).
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Gṛdhrā (गृध्रा) is the name of a Ḍākinī who, together with the Vīra (hero) named Gṛdhra forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Vāyucakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the vāyucakra refers to one of the three divisions of the dharma-puṭa (‘dharma layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs [viz., Gṛdhrā] and Vīras are dark blue in color; they each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
gṛdhra (गृध्र).—m (S) A vulture. In Sanskrit, and sometimes in Prakrit, this term is applicable to Kite.
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarygṛdhra (गृध्र).—m A vulture.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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.
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Gṛdhra (गृध्र).—a. [gṛdh-kran] Greedy, covetous.
-dhraḥ, -dhram A vulture; मार्जारस्य हि दोषेण हतो गृध्रो जरद्गवः (mārjārasya hi doṣeṇa hato gṛdhro jaradgavaḥ) H.1.53; R. 12.5,54.
-dhrī The female vulture; Y.3.256.
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryGṛdhra (गृध्र).—mfn.
(-dhraḥ-dhrā-dhraṃ) Desirous, greedy, covetous. m.
(-dhraḥ) A vulture. E. gṛdh to desire, and kran Unadi affix; it may also written gṛddhra.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Starts with: Gridhrakuta, Gridhrakutaparvata, Gridhrana, Gridhranakhi, Gridhrapati, Gridhraraja, Gridhrasi, Gridhravaja, Gridhravajita, Gridhravaktra, Gridhravalinaka, Gridhravata.
Ends with: Agridhra.
Full-text (+10): Gridhraraja, Kulala, Gidhada, Gida, Garddhya, Gridhrakuta, Dandanetri, Griddha, Prasaha, Gridhrasi, Gridhravaja, Gridhravajita, Gridhranakhi, Gridhravata, Gridhrapati, Gijjha, Vayucakra, Garddha, Jatayu, Ucchishta.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Gridhra, Gṛdhra, Grdhra, Gṛdhrā; (plurals include: Gridhras, Gṛdhras, Grdhras, Gṛdhrās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms (by Fa-Hien)
Chapter XXIX - Gridhra-kuta Hill, And Legends
Chapter XXVII - Pataliputtra Or Patna, In Magadha
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 3 - Why is it called Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata (vulture peak mountain) < [Chapter V - Rājagṛha]
The beings of the threefold world (traidhātuka) < [The world of transmigration]
I. Surpassing the stage of Śrāvaka and Pratyekabuddha < [X. Surpassing the lower vehicles and acceding to the irreversible ground]
The Bhagavata Purana (by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Chapter 61 - Lord Balarama Slays Rukmi < [Canto X - The Summum Bonum]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Kautilya Arthashastra (by R. Shamasastry)
Chapter 2 - Wonderful and Delusive Contrivances < [Book 14 - Secret Means]