Introduction

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Harikāntā (हरिकान्ता) is the name of a river mentioned as flowing through Hari together with the Harit river. Hari is one of the seven regions (kṣetra) of Jambūdvīpa according to Jaina cosmology. Jambūdvīpa sits at the centre of madhyaloka (‘middle world’) is the most important of all continents and it is here where human beings reside.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Harikāntā (हरिकान्ता) and Harit are two great rivers situated in the Harivarṣa (Harivarṣaka) zone of Jambūdvīpa which is situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.

Accordingly:—“In Bharatakṣetra there are the great rivers, Gaṅgā and Sindhu; in the zone named Haimavata, Rohitā and Rohitāṃśā; in the Harivarṣaka zone, the rivers Harit and Harikāntā; in the Mahāvidehas the best rivers Śītā and Śītodā Narakāntā and Narīkāntā in the zone Ramyaka; Svarṇakūlā and Rūpyakūlā in the zone Hairaṇyavata; Raktā and Raktodā in the zone Airāvata. The first of each pair (i.e., Harit) flows to the east and the second (i.e., Harikāntā) to the west. The great rivers Gaṅgā and Sindhu are each attended by 14,000 best rivers. Each pair of the others is attended by twice as many rivers as the preceding pair up to Śītā and Śītodā. The northern rivers (north of Videha) are equal to the southern. Śītā and Śītodā, however, are attended by 532,000 rivers each”.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 3: The Lower and middle worlds

Harikāntā (हरिकान्ता ) is the name of a river that, coupled with the Harit river, separates the Harivarṣa region. Harivarṣa refers to one of the regions of Jambūdvīpa: the first continent of the Madhya-loka (middle-word), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.10. The Harikāntā river flows westwards. The Harit and Harikāntā rivers have 56000 tributaries.

Jambūdvīpa (where flows the Harikāntā  river) is in the centre of all continents and oceans; all continents and oceans are concentric circles with Jambūdvīpa in the centre. Like the navel is in the centre of the body, Jambūdvīpa is in the centre of all continents and oceans. Sumeru Mount is in the centre of Jambūdvīpa. It is also called Mount Sudarśana.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 4: The celestial beings (deva)

Harikānta (हरिकान्त) refers to one of the two Indras (lords) of the Vidyutakumāra (lightning youths) class of “residential celestial beings” (bhavanavāsin), itself a main division of devas (celestial beings) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.3. The Vidyutakumāras are luminous like an electric. Hariṣeṇa and Harikānta are the two lords in the Fiendish-youths residential celestial beings.

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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Harikānta (हरिकान्त).—a.

1) dear to Indra.

2) beautiful as a lion.

Harikānta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms hari and kānta (कान्त).

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

Harikānta (हरिकान्त).—Adj. 1. Dear to Indra. 2. Beautiful as a lion.

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

1) Harikānta (हरिकान्त):—[=hari-kānta] [from hari] mfn. beloved by Indra, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

2) [v.s. ...] beautiful as a lion, [ib.]

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: Hari, Kanta, Harit.

Full-text: Harit, Hari, Harivarsha, Harishena, Vidyutkumara, Jambudvipa, Harivarshaka, Ganga, Svarnakula, Shitoda, Suvarnakula, Rohita, Rupyakula, Narikanta, Rohitamsha, Rakta, Narakanta, Raktoda, Sindhu, Sita.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Harikanta, Harikānta, Harit-kanta, Harikāntā, Harit-kāntā, Harit-kānta, Hari-kanta, Hari-kānta; (plurals include: Harikantas, Harikāntas, kantas, Harikāntās, kāntās, kāntas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)

Part 5 - Nāga-king Dharaṇendra < [Chapter 1]

Chapter 8: Indras < [Book 3]

show preview

Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 23: Description of Jambūdvīpa < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]

Part 2: Former births of Rāvaṇa, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa, Sugrīva, Bhāmaṇḍala, Lavaṇa and Aṅkuśa < [Chapter X - Rāma’s mokṣa (emancipation)]

Part 5: Further exploits of Rāvaṇa < [Chapter II - Rāvaṇa’s expedition of Conquest]

show preview

Śrī Rādhā Sahasra-nāma Stotra

Read Contents

show preview