Kaurava: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Kaurava means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Kaurav.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Kaurava (कौरव).—The descendants of King Kuru who fought against the Pāṇḍavas in the Battle of Kurukṣetra.
Kaurava (कौरव) refers to “some of the descendants of King Kuru who fought on the one side at Kurukṣetra”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Kaurava (कौरव) refers to:—A descendant of King Kuru; although in reality all were descendants of Kuru, the name is used to differentiate the sons of Dhṛtarāṣtra from the sons of Pāṇḍu. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Vastushastra (architecture)
Kaurava (मागध) refers to a variety of prāsāda (upper storey of any building), according to the Śilparatna (32.3), the Mayamata (18.10) and the Kamikāgama (57.4).
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Kaurava (कौरव).—General Information. Those who were born in the family of the famous King Kuru. Descended in the following order from Vīṣṇu:—Brahmā—Atri—Candra Budha—Purūravas—Āyus—Nahuṣa—Yayāti—Pūru—Janamejaya—Prācinvān—Pravīra—Namasyu—Vītabhaya—Śuṇḍu—Bahuvidha—Saṃyāti—Rahovādī—Raudrāśva—Matināra—Santurodha—Duṣyanta—Bharata—Suhotra—Suhotā—Gala—Garda—Suketu—Bṛhatkṣetra—Hasti—Ajamīḍha—Ṛkṣa—Saṃvaraṇa—Kuru. This is the genealogy of Kuru. From Kuru the genealogy continues as follows:—Jahnu—Suratha—Viḍūratha—Sārvabhauma—Jayatsena—Ravaya—Bhāvuka—Cakroddhata—Devātithi—Ṛkṣa—Bharata—Pratīca—Śantanu. Śantanu had two wives Gaṅgā and Satyavatī. Bhīṣma was born of Gaṅgā. Vyāsa was born to Satyavatī before her marriage. from the hermit Parāśara. After the marriage, from Śantanu, two sons Citrāṅgada and Vicitravīrya were born to her. A Gandharva killed Citrāṅgada. Bhīṣma brought the three daughters of the King of Kāśī, Ambā, Ambikā and Ambālikā as wives of Vicitravīrya, but on the way knowing that Ambā was in love with the King of Śālva, she was sent back. Ambikā and Ambālikā became the wives of Vicitravīrya. Shortly Vicitravīrya also died. With a view to continue the royal family, Satyavatī sent for Vyāsa, so that he might beget children of Ambikā and Ambālikā. At the time of coition Ambīkā closed her eyes to avoid seeing the uncouth face of Vyāsa. So she got as son Dhṛtarāṣṭra who was blind from birth. Seeing the ugly figure of Vyāsa Ambālikā turned pale and so the son born to her was pale in colour. He was called Pāṇḍu. From Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Duryodhana and his brothers were born and from Pāṇḍu were born the Pāṇḍavas. All members born in the family of Kuru were known as Kauravas. But later, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra came to be known by the name 'Kauravas'. (See full article at Story of Kaurava from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Kaurava (कौरव) [=Kuru] is the name of an ancient kingdom identified with Delhi, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 4), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If Jupiter should be eclipsed by the lunar disc the men of Gāndhāra, of Sauvīraka, of Sindhu and of Kīra (Kāśmīra) the rulers of the Draviḍa countries and Brāhmins as well as food grains and mountains will suffer for ten months. If Mars should be so eclipsed the rulers of Traigarta (Lāhora) and of Mālavā, with their fighting men in their cars, the chiefs of Kulinda, the rulers of Śibi, of Audha, of Kuru (Delhi), of Matsya and of Śukti will suffer for six months”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Kaurava (कौरव) is the name of a country classified as Kādi (a type of Tantrik division), according to the 13th century Sammoha-tantra (fol. 7).—There are ample evidences to prove that the zone of heterodox Tantras went far beyond the natural limits of India. [...] The zones in the Sammoha-tantra [viz., Kaurava] are here fixed according to two different Tantrik modes, known as Kādi and Hādi.
Kaurava (कौरव) is a Sanskrit term, that means a descendant of Kuru, alternate name of sons of Dhritarashtra.
The Kauravas are the hundred sons of Dhritharashtra, a king of the Kuru dynasty. They had a sister named Dushala. They are cousins to the Pandavas. The eldest of the Kauravas is Duryodhana. They cheated their cousins of their rightful share of the kingdom and tricked them in a game of dice. According to the conditions of the wager, the Pandavas were forced to go into exile for thirteen years.
After the exile, the Pandavas came back to reclaim their kingdom. The Kauravas refused and this resulted in the epic battle of Kurukshetra, where the Kauravas were comprehensively defeated and were all killed by Bheema, who fulfilled an oath by doing so.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Kaurava (कौरव) is the name of a Vākchomā (‘verbal secrect sign’) which has its meaning defined as ‘māraṇa’ according to chapter 8 of the 9th-century Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja, a scripture belonging to the Buddhist Cakrasaṃvara (or Saṃvara) scriptural cycle. These Vākchomās (viz., kaurava) are meant for verbal communication and can be regarded as popular signs, since they can be found in the three biggest works of the Cakrasaṃvara literature.
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
kaurava (कौरव).—m (S) The patronymic of the descendents of kurū, but usually applied to the sons of dhṛtarāṣṭra. Their war with the pāṇḍava forms the principal subject of the mahābhārata.
Marathi 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 dictionary
Kaurava (कौरव).—a. (-vī f.) [कुरोरपत्यं, तद्देशस्य राजा तेषु भवो वा, कुरु अण् (kurorapatyaṃ, taddeśasya rājā teṣu bhavo vā, kuru aṇ)] Relating to the Kurus; क्षेत्रं क्षत्रप्रधनपिशुनं कौरवं तद् भजेथाः (kṣetraṃ kṣatrapradhanapiśunaṃ kauravaṃ tad bhajethāḥ) Meghadūta 5.
-vaḥ 1 A descendant of Kuru; मथ्नामि कौरव- शतं समरे न कोपात् (mathnāmi kaurava- śataṃ samare na kopāt) Ve.1.15; Chāṇ.5.
2) A ruler of the Kurus. (so kauravaka, kauravāyaṇi and kauraveya).
Kaurava (कौरव).—m.
(-vaḥ) A Kaurava, a descendant of Kuru. E. kuru, and aṇ affix; also with vuñ affix kauravaka.
Kaurava (कौरव).—i. e. kuru + a, adj., f. vī 1. Belonging to the Kurus, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 49; consisting of Kurus, Mahābhārata 1, 5457. 2. patron. A descendant of Kuru, [Nala] 14, 26; Mahābhārata 1, 5457.
Kaurava (कौरव).—[feminine] ī belonging to the Kurus; [masculine] a descendant of Kuru.
1) Kaurava (कौरव):—mf(ī)n. (= vaka, [Pāṇini 4-2, 130]; [gana] utsādi and kacchādi) relating or belonging to the Kurus, [Mahābhārata; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
2) (kṣetra = kuru-kṣ), [Meghadūta]
3) m. [patronymic] [from] Kuru, descendant of Kuru (generally used in [plural]), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] etc. (ifc. f(ā). , [Mahābhārata i, 7961])
Kaurava (कौरव):—(vaḥ) 1. m. Kaurava, of a Kuru.
Kaurava (कौरव):—(von kuru)
1) adj. = kauravaka [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 2, 130.] kaurava gaṇa utsādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 86.] kaurava gaṇa kacchādi zu [4, 2, 133.] den Kuru gehörig u.s.w.: kauravīṃ camūm [Mahābhārata 1, 5457. 4, 1972.] kauravaṃ kṣetram = kurukṣetram [Meghadūta 49.] —
2) patron. von Kuru [Nalopākhyāna 14, 25.] pl. [Mahābhārata 1, 5457. 3, 311.] [Harivaṃśa 1801.] [Cāṇakya 50.] kauravavaṃśaja [Mahābhārata 1, 1664.] kauravendra [Benfey’ Chrestomathie aus Sanskritwerken 36, 17. 60, 29.] kauravanandana [41, 1. 63, 68.] Am Ende eines adj. comp. f. āḥ adya niṣkauravāmekaḥ kariṣyāmi vasuṃdharām [Mahābhārata 1, 7961.]
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Kaurava (कौरव):—
1) [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 4, 24. fg.]
Kaurava (कौरव):——
1) Adj. (f. ī) zu den Kuru in Beziehung stehend , ihnen gehörig. kṣetra. n. = kurukṣetra. —
2) m. Patron. von kuru. Gewöhnlich Pl. Am Ende eines adj. Comp. f. ā —
3) *f. ī Trigonella_foenum graecum [Galano's Wörterbuch]
Kaurava (कौरव) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kauraa, Kaurava.
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.
Hindi dictionary
Kaurava (कौरव) [Also spelled kaurav]:—(nm) the descendants of king Kuru, representing the vanquished party amongst the belligerents in the great Indian war —Mahabharat.
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Prakrit-English dictionary
Kaurava (कौरव) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kaurava.
Kaurava has the following synonyms: Kauraa.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Kaurava (ಕೌರವ):—[adjective] of or belonging to the lineage of Kuru, in the epic Mahābhārata.
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Kaurava (ಕೌರವ):—
1) [noun] a descendant of Kuru, a prince of lunar dynasty, esp. any of the two warring parties in the epic Mahābhārata.
2) [noun] Duryōdhana, the anti-hero in the same epic.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Kaurava (कौरव):—n. Mythol. sons of Dhritarashtra; headed by Duryodhan; who fought against their cousins; the Pandavas; in the Mahabharata war;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: The, The, Kaurava, Te.
Starts with: Kauravaka, Kauravam, Kauravapandaviya, Kauravar, Kauravayani, Kauvararosha.
Full-text (+322): Duryodhana, Nishkaurava, Bhishma, Kurukshetra, Drona, Gandhari, Shakuni, Bhurisravas, Kauravapandaviya, Abhimanyu, Shalya, Sakaurava, Hastinapura, Mahabharata, Jayadratha, Kritavarman, Jayarata, Bhuminjaya, Susarma, Kirupacariyan.
Relevant text
Search found 135 books and stories containing Kaurava, Kauravas, The kauravas; (plurals include: Kauravas, Kauravases, The kauravases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata tribes (by Laxman Burdak)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section 81 < [Karna Parva]
Section IV < [Dronabhisheka Parva]
Section CLXXIX < [Ghatotkacha-badha Parva]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.9.47 < [Chapter 9 - The Happiness of the Yadus]
Verse 8.13.52 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
Verse 5.24.81 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 68 - Hastināpura dragged by Balarāma < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]
Chapter 1 - Meeting of Vidura and Uddhava < [Book 3 - Third Skandha]
Chapter 52(a) - Kṛtavarmā Deputed to Hastināpura < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]
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