Hamsavati, Haṃsavatī, Hamsavatī: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Hamsavati means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Haṃsavatī (हंसवती) is the name of a river mentioned in a list of rivers, flowing from the five great mountains (Śailavarṇa, Mālākhya, Korajaska, Triparṇa and Nīla), according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 82. Those who drink the waters of these rivers live for ten thousand years and become devotees of Rudra and Umā.
One of the five mountains situated near Bhadrāśva, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 82. The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, a type of Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, instructions for religious ceremonies and a whole range of topics concerning the various arts and sciences. The original text is said to have been composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century.
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.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Hamsavati 1. The City of birth of Padumuttara Buddha (J.i.37; Bu.xi.19, etc.). It existed in the time of Tissa Buddha also, for he preached to Brahmadeva and Udayana of Hamsavati (BuA.189).
The river Bhagirathi flowed by the city. Ap.ii.343.
Hamsavati 2. The Pali name for the city of Pegu in Burma. Bode, op. cit., 36.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
India history and geography
Haṃsāvatī (हंसावती) is the name of a locality as recorded in the Pāli Buddhist texts (detailing the geography of ancient India as it was known in to Early Buddhism).—Some of the Therīs whose verses are preserved in the Therīgāthā were born in the city of Haṃsāvatī. The names of those Therīs are: Dhammadinnā, Ubbiriyā and Selā. It is dificult to identify Haṃsāvatī with any known locality in India though it is generally known that there was a place somewhere in India. There was also a city of this name in Lower Burma, and the city is said to be identical with Pegu.
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
Haṃsavatī (हंसवती).—f. (-tī) A creeper, (Cissus pedata.) E. haṃsa a goose, (its foot,) and matup aff.
1) Haṃsavatī (हंसवती):—[=haṃsa-vatī] [from haṃsa-vat > haṃsa] f. a verse containing the word haṃsa (applied to, [Ṛg-veda iv, 40, 5], in which the sun in the form of Dadhi-krā, here called Haṃsa, is identified with Para-brahman or the Supreme Being; this verse is also found in [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā x, 24; xii, 14 etc.]), [Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra]
2) [v.s. ...] Cissus Pedata, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of the first wife of Duṣyanta ([varia lectio] for -padikā), [Śakuntalā]
4) [v.s. ...] of the murderess of Vīra-sena, [Harṣacarita]
5) [v.s. ...] of a town and district (= Pegu), [Buddhist literature]
6) Haṃsāvatī (हंसावती):—[from haṃsa] f. Name of a woman, [Daśakumāra-carita]
7) [v.s. ...] of Pegu, [Inscriptions]
Haṃsavatī (हंसवती):—(tī) 3. f. A creeper, Cissus pedata.
[Sanskrit to German]
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)
Full-text (+18): Hamsapadika, Hamsarama, Madhusaratthadipani, Saddhammalankara, Mahasuvannadipa, Apheggusara, Anuvindaka, Apheggusaradipani, Mahananda, Chalanga, Ekapattadayaka, Ekadussadayaka, Jatukanni, Ukkhittapadumiya, Uttareyyadayaka, Bhagirathi, Antarena, Arindama, Sucintita, Vedeha.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Hamsavati, Hamsa-vati, Haṃsa-vatī, Haṃsavatī, Hamsavatī, Haṃsāvatī; (plurals include: Hamsavatis, vatis, vatīs, Haṃsavatīs, Hamsavatīs, Haṃsāvatīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)
Verse 23 < [Section 4]
Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)
Commentary on the Biography of the thera Upasena, the son of Vaṅganta < [Chapter 2 - Sīhāsaniyavagga (lion-throne section)]
Commentary on the Biography of the thera Subhūti < [Chapter 3 - Subhūtivagga (section on Subhūti)]
Commentary on the Biography of the thera Pilinda vaccha < [Chapter 2 - Sīhāsaniyavagga (lion-throne section)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 70 < [Volume 6 (1882)]
Kathasaritsagara (cultural study) (by S. W. Chitale)
Women and Learning in ancient India < [Chapter 4 - Social Conditions]
Chamberss in the Palace < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
Arts and Sciences—Introduction < [Chapter 3 - Economic Conditions]
Maha Buddhavamsa—The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Biography (29): Mahā Koṭṭhita Mahāthera < [Chapter 43 - Forty-one Arahat-Mahatheras and their Respective Etadagga titles]
Biography (6): Princess Suppavāsa, the Koliyan < [Chapter 45b - Life Stories of Female Lay Disciples]
Biography (4): Hatthakālavaka of Uposatha Habit < [Chapter 45a - The Life Stories of Male Lay Disciples]
Harsha-charita (by E. B. Cowell)