Huna, aka: Hūṇa; 12 Definition(s)

Introduction

Huna means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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

Purana

Hūṇa (हूण).—A tribe defeated by Bharata; purified of their sin by the worship of Hari;¹ specially created in the war of Lalitā with Bhaṇḍa;² nineteen in number;³ the country of the.⁴

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 20. 30; II. 4. 18.
• 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 29. 131.
• 3) Matsya-purāṇa 273. 19.
• 4) Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 136; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 3. 17.

context information

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.

Katha (narrative stories)

Hūṇa (हूण) is the name of a kingdom that was conquered by Udayana (king of Vatsa) during his campaign to obtain sovereignty over the whole earth, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 19. Accordingly, “His glory, after he had inflicted a defeat on the Hūṇas, made the four quarters resound, and poured down the Himālaya like a second Ganges”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Hūṇa, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Katha (कथा, kathā) refers to narrative Sanskrit literature often inspired from epic legendry (itihasa) and poetry (mahākāvya). Some Kathas reflect socio-political instructions for the King while others remind the reader of important historical event and exploits of the Gods, Heroes and Sages.

Kavya (poetry)

Hūṇa (हूण) is the name a locality mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—The region of north India. The poet Kālidāsa while describing the Digvijaya of Raghu, mentions this country of the Hūṇas in the northern direction. This part may be identified with the country between the modern Waksh and Aksu, the two tributaries of the Oxus.

Itihasa (narrative history)

Hūṇa (हूण) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.47.19, VI.10.64) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Hūṇa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

India history and geogprahy

Huna refers to one of the thirty-six Rajput clans, according to Padmanabha’s 15th-century Kanhadadeprabandha, in which he described the Muslim invasion of Gujarat of 1298 AD. The kingdom or dynasty of the Hunas had their own princes and nobles and were further separated into sub-clans and families. Their name can also be spelled as Hūṇa or Hūna.

The Rajputs are a Hindu race claiming to be descendants of the ancient Kṣatriya-varṇa (warrior caste). Originally, the Rajputs consisted of two principal branches: the Sūryavaṃśa (solar race) and the Candravaṃśa (lunar race), to which later was added the Agnivaṃśa (fire-born race).

Hūṇa (हूण) is the name of a tribe mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. These tribes (eg., the Hūṇas, latin: Hunas) migrated to places other than their original settlemenets and gave their names to the janapadas they settled. They replaced the old Vedic tribes in Punjab and Rajasthan though some of them are deemed as offshoots of the main tribe..

Huna Shahi Kings and Patola Shahi Kings (275 BCE to 340 CE).—Hunas were the original inhabitants of North-western India since pre-Mahabharata era. It appears that the Hunas were the vassals of the Kushano-Sasanian kings and had only the title of “Shahi” (King) and not “Shahanushahi”(King of Kings). Most probably, the Hunas had taken over the kingdom of north-western India after the fall of Kushano-Sasanian empire. They also invaded north India for the first time during the reign of Kumaragupta (241-199 BCE). Huna King Toramana Shahi reigned around 190-160 BCE and his son Mihirakula reigned around 160-130 BCE.

Hunas and Harahunas were Indian tribes of North-western region.—Hunas are mentioned as “Mlecchass” in Mahabharata and Purana. Mahabharata also refers to another trine called “Harahuna”. Sabha parva records that Nakula subdued Hunas, Harahunas, Chinas, Sakas, Ramathas etc. in the west. Hunas were dominating in the west during the lifetime of Kalidasa. It is possible that Kalidasa mistakenly speculated them to be Hunas whom King Raghu subdued. In all probability, Hunas were a clan of Kambojas because the Huna King Toramana calls himself “Shahi” in his coins.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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

Marathi-English dictionary

hūna (हून).—ind From. 2 Than. 3 This particle, assumed by certain prepositions and adverbs attached to or in construction with words in the plural, is, even by the chastest speakers, constantly made to express the sense, not of ablation or procession--the appropriate senses of From,--but of location; as ikaḍūna, tikaḍūna, cahuṅkaḍūna, durūna or lāmbūna, javaḷūna, āntūna, bāhērūna, madhūna, varūna, khālūna &c., meaning simply Here (not hence), there, on all sides, far, near, within, without &c. This use of hūna is intimated also under varūna, where see some examples.

hūna (हून).—ind From; than.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Hūṇa (हूण) or Hūna (हून).—

1) A barbarian, foreigner; सद्यो मण्डितमत्तहूणचिबुकप्रस्पर्धि नारङ्गकम् (sadyo maṇḍitamattahūṇacibukapraspardhi nāraṅgakam); ग्रासं ग्रासं चरतिः कश्चिदेणाङ्कडूणः (grāsaṃ grāsaṃ caratiḥ kaścideṇāṅkaḍūṇaḥ) Rām. ch.6.96.

2) A kind of golden coin, (probably current in the country of the Hūṇas).

-ṇāḥ m. pl. Name of a country or its people; हूणावरोधानाम् (hūṇāvarodhānām) R.4.68.

Derivable forms: hūṇaḥ (हूणः), hūnaḥ (हूनः).

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