Heramba: 7 definitions
Introduction
Heramba means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-purana1) Heramba (हेरम्ब) is the name of a gaṇa (attendant of Śiva), mentioned in the Skandapurāṇa 4.2.53. In this chapter, Śiva (Giriśa) summons his attendants (gaṇas) and ask them to venture towards the city Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) in order to find out what the yoginīs, the sun-god, Vidhi (Brahmā) were doing there. While the gaṇas such as Heramba were staying at Kāśī, they were desirous but unable of finding a weakness in king Divodaśa who was ruling there. Kāśī is described as a fascinating place beyond the range of Giriśa’s vision, and as a place where yoginīs become ayoginīs, after having come in contact with it. Kāśī is described as having both the power to destroy great delusion, as well as creating it.
The Skandapurāṇa narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is the largest Mahāpurāṇa composed of over 81,000 metrical verses, with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.
2) Heramba (हेरम्ब, “boastful hero”) refers to one of the fifty-six vināyakas located at Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), and forms part of a sacred pilgrimage (yātrā), described in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa (Skanda-purāṇa 4.2.57). He is also known as Herambavināyaka, Herambagaṇeśa and Herambavighneśa. These fifty-six vināyakas are positioned at the eight cardinal points in seven concentric circles (8x7). They center around a deity named Ḍhuṇḍhirāja (or Ḍhuṇḍhi-vināyaka) positioned near the Viśvanātha temple, which lies at the heart of Kāśī, near the Gaṅges. This arrangement symbolises the interconnecting relationship of the macrocosmos, the mesocosmos and the microcosmos.
Heramba is positioned in the North-Western corner of the third circle of the kāśī-maṇḍala. According to Rana Singh (source), his shrine is located at “Maldahia, Valmiki Tila, C 21 / 14”. Worshippers of Heramba will benefit from his quality, which is defined as “the fulfiller of th edesires of Kāśī-dwellers”. His coordinates are: Lat. 25.19432, Lon. 82.59851 (or, 25°11'39.6"N, 82°35'54.6"E) (Google maps)
Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is a holy city in India and represents the personified form of the universe deluded by the Māyā of Viṣṇu. It is described as a fascinating city which is beyond the range of vision of Giriśa (Śiva) having both the power to destroy great delusion, as well as creating it.
Heramba, and the other vināyakas, are described in the Skandapurāṇa (the largest of the eighteen mahāpurāṇas). This book narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is composed of over 81,000 metrical verses with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Heramba (हेरम्ब).—A name of Vināyaka.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 42. 8.
1b) A group of seven crores of divinities with Mahāgaṇapati as their lord.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 27. 82.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryHeramba (हेरम्ब).—[he śive rambati ramb-ac aluk samā° Tv.]
1) Name of Gaṇeśa; जेता हेरम्बभृङ्गिप्रमुखगणचमूचक्रिणस्तारकारेः (jetā herambabhṛṅgipramukhagaṇacamūcakriṇastārakāreḥ) Mv. 2.17; हे हेरम्ब, किमम्ब, रोदिषि कथं, कर्णौ लुठत्यग्निभूः (he heramba, kimamba, rodiṣi kathaṃ, karṇau luṭhatyagnibhūḥ) Subhāṣ.
2) A buffalo.
3) A boastful hero.
Derivable forms: herambaḥ (हेरम्बः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryHeramba (हेरम्ब).—m.
(-mbaḥ) 1. Ganesa. 2. A buffalo. 3. A hero inflated with his own valour and prowess. 4. A Bud'dha or Baud'dha deity. E. he calling or defying, ravi to sound, aff. ac.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryHeramba (हेरम्ब).—m. 1. Gaṇeśa, [Mālatīmādhava, (ed. Calc.)] 144, 21. 2. A buffalo. 3. A proud hero.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Heramba (हेरम्ब):—n. Name of Gaṇeśa, [Mahābhārata; Kathāsaritsāgara] etc. ([Religious Thought and Life in India 218])
2) a buffalo, [Mālatīmādhava]
3) a boastful hero, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) a [particular] Buddha (= heruka), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Sanskrit, 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Herambaganesha, Herambahatta, Herambajanani, Herambakam, Herambakananamahatmya, Herambamantra, Herambapala, Herambasena, Herambavighnesha, Herambavinayaka, Herambopanishad.
Full-text: Herambajanani, Herambahatta, Herambamantra, Herambakananamahatmya, Herambapala, Cakrasamvara, Nishumbhin, Hairamba, Herambavighnesha, Herambaganesha, Herambavinayaka, Rudradeva, Vinayaka.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Heramba; (plurals include: Herambas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 65 - The Slaying of Kālakeya < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Chapter 63 - A Hymn to Gaṇapati < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Chapter 74 - The Slaying of Tripura’s Son < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Bhagavad-gita Mahatmya (by N.A. Deshpande)
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 42 - The narrative of Bhārgava Paraśurāma (f) < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 30 - The Kāmya rites of the followers of Śiva < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
Chapter 31 - The Hymn of lord Śiva < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
Lalitopakhyana (Lalita Mahatmya) (by G.V. Tagare)
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 2 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 18 - Āyurveda Literature < [Chapter XIII - Speculations in the Medical Schools]