Kaustubha: 27 definitions

Introduction:

Kaustubha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Wisdom Library: Pāñcarātra

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ, “crest jewel”):—One of the nine symbols representing the cosmic principles of the universe, according to the Pāñcarātra literature. These nine weapons and ornaments symbolize the principles which they represent as the presiding deity. The chest jewel (kaustubha) represent the Jīvas (‘individual living beings’).

Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 5

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) or Kaustubhamudrā is the name of a mudrā described in the Īśvarasaṃhitā 24.25-27.—Accordingly, “O brahmin! the middle, ring and little fingers are to (be bent) so as to each the middle of the palm like fists. There will be two fists in the two hands (when they are joined together). The two index fingers are to be joined together with the slit being the same and stretched. Then the tip shall be joined with the tip of the thumb, in between the index fingers on a mutual basis.”. Mūdra (eg., Kaustubha-mudrā) is so called as it gives joy to the tattvas in the form of karman for those who offer spotless worship, drive out the defects which move about within and without and sealing up of what is done.

Source: SriMatham: Vaiṣṇava Iconology based on Pañcarātra Āgama

Chest Jewel (kaustubha):—Upon the chest of Lord Vishnu there is a priceless gem called kaustubha which means treasure-of-the-ocean.

yena sūryāgni vāk candra tejas āsvasvarūpiṇā |
vartate kaustubhākhyaṃ taṃ pravadantīśamāninaḥ ||

That by which the Sun, fire, speech and moon shine in their particular forms That is the form of consciousness known as the gem Kaustubha. (G.u.t.Up 54.)

ātmānamasya jagato nirlepamaguṇāmalam |
bibhartti kaustubhamaṇi svarūpaṃ bhagavān hariḥ ||

The Glorious Hari wears the pure soul of the world, immaculate and free of negative qualities as the Kaustubha gem. (V.P. 1;22;67.)

kaustubha avyapadeśena svātmajyotir bibharyajaḥ |

What He wears as the jewel Kaustubha is the pure Jiva-consciousness. (S.B. 12.11.10)

This total consciousness which is the “World-Soul” known in Vedānta as hiraṇyagarbha (golden matrix) pure, subtle and unstained is the chest-jewel named Kaustubha. This gem is comprised of the totality of the consciousness of all living beings, born from the causal ocean, and it is the enjoyer of material creation.

Pancaratra book cover
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Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Kaustubha in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ).—A brilliant precious stone. It is mentioned in Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 3; Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa Bālakāṇḍa Sarga 45, Stanza 39 and Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva that this precious stone floated up at the time of the churning of the sea of Milk. This jewel which originated from the ghee in the sea of Milk, was worn on the breast by Viṣṇu. "This divine jewel called Kaustubha came up in the middle of ghee and stayed in the breast of Viṣṇu, spreading its rays everywhere." (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 18, Stanza 37).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ).—Of Hari;1 the festival that came out of the churning of the milk ocean.2

  • 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa II. 2. 10; VIII. 4. 19; X. 3. 9; XI. 14. 40; 27. 27; XII. 11. 10.
  • 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 9. 73; Matsya-purāṇa 250. 4; 251. 3.
Purana book cover
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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.

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Kaustubha (“stone”) refers to one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The other miscellaneous articles found as attributes in the hands of the deities are, for example, Kaustubha.

Source: Shodhganga: Vaisnava Agamas And Visnu Images

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) refers to a type of “ornament” (bhūṣaṇa), as defined in treatises such as the Pāñcarātra, Pādmasaṃhitā and Vaikhānasa-āgamas, extensively dealing with the technical features of temple art, iconography and architecture in Vaishnavism.—Kaustubha, also known as kaustubhamaṇi, is a very special jewel characterized by the five gems (pearl, emerald, sapphire, ruby and diamond) probably representing the five gross elements or Pañcamahābhūtas (earth, water, fire, air, ether). According to the myth of Samudramanchana, Kaustubha emerged during the churning of the milk ocean and was worn by Viṣṇu, becoming thereafter an essential symbol associated to his icon. In some icons, it is represented as an ornament with five gems, which is worn either as a pendant, hanging on a graiveyaka, or as a special feature adorning the long Vanamālā of Viṣṇu.

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) refers to a kind of Gem which associated with Viṣṇu, whose iconography is described in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—According to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa as well as the Bṛhatsaṃhitā, the image of Viṣṇu should be adorned with kaustubha and a vanamālā. Kaustubha is a kind of celebrated gem which is obtained with thirteen other jewels during the churning of ocean. In the Garuḍapurāṇa, the image of Viṣṇu is prescribed as adorned with kaustubha and vanamālā. In the Raghuvaṃśa of Kālidāsa also, we find the reference of Kṛṣṇa’s use of kaustubha. Thus it is clear that the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa offers a great field of knowledge regarding the nuances of Indian art of Image making [e.g., the kaustubha gem] during 10th–11th century A.D.

Shilpashastra book cover
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Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd Edition

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) refers to:—The gem worn on the chest of Viṣṇu. (cf. Glossary page from Arcana-dīpikā).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) refers to:—A prominent jewel on the chest of the Lord. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

Vaishnavism book cover
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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’).

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Kaustubha in Shaktism glossary
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) refers to a type of jewel, and is used to visualize Bhairava, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “He has eight faces and, very powerful, shines like a white lotus. He is mightily proud and has sharp teeth and great body. He is terrible and fierce and his face is deformed. O Śambhu, he has twenty arms and the goddess sits on his lap. He holds a sword, mallet and noose, a double-headed drum, a dagger, the Kaustubha jewel, a rosary, a skull bowl full of fruit and the like and a piece of human flesh. [...]”.

2) Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) refers to one of the eight Heroes (nāyaka-aṣṭaka) associated with Candrapīṭha (or Candrapīṭhapura), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—[...] The eight Heroes (nāyakāṣṭaka): Vibhūti, Varavīreśa, Sarvajñakamala, Kāmeśa, Kaustubha, Kāmārta, Tripurāntaka, Anaṅga.

Shaktism book cover
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Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Kaustubha in Hinduism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) is a Sanskrit word referring to a jewel worn by Lord Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa, on His chest.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Kaustubha in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) refers to a jewel and represents one of the nine gifts of the Gods given to Tripṛṣṭha, according to chapter 4.1 [śreyāṃsanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly:—“[...] The Vidyādharas, Jvalanajaṭin and others, mounted their chariots like lions a mountain-plateau. Then drawn by merit, the Gods gave Tripṛṣṭha a divine bow named Śārṅga, a club Kaumodakī, a conch Pāñcajanya, and a jewel named Kaustubha, a sword Nandaka, and a garland Vanamālā. They gave Balabhadra a plough named Saṃvartaka, a pestle named Saumanda, and a club named Candrikā. [...]”.

General definition book cover
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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.

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India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Kaustubha.—(CII 3, etc.), a jewel worn on the breast of Viṣṇu. Note: kaustubha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kaustubha in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kaustubha (कौस्तुभ).—m S One of the fourteen precious things obtained from the ocean on churning it. The jewel of kṛṣṇa suspended on his breast.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

kaustubha (कौस्तुभ).—m The jewel of kṛṣṇa suspended on his breast.

context information

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kaustubha in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ).—[kustubho jaladhistatra bhavaḥ aṇ]

1) Name of a celebrated gem obtained with 13 other jewels at the churning of the ocean and worn by Viṣṇu on his breast; सकौस्तुभं ह्रेपयतीव कृष्णम् (sakaustubhaṃ hrepayatīva kṛṣṇam) R.6.49;1.1.

2) A kind of oil.

3) A manner of joining the fingers.

4) A twist of hair on a horse's neck; कौस्तुभः स्याद्देवमणौ कण्ठा- वर्तेऽपि वाजिनाम् (kaustubhaḥ syāddevamaṇau kaṇṭhā- varte'pi vājinām) Nm.

Derivable forms: kaustubhaḥ (कौस्तुभः).

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

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ).—m.

(-bhaḥ) The jewel of Krishna suspended on his breast. E. kustubha a name of Vishnu or Krishna, and aṇ aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ).—i. e. ku-stubh + a, m. and n. A jewel worn by Viṣṇu, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 45, 39.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ).—[masculine] [neuter] [Name] of a celebrated jewel, the ornament of Viṣṇu.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—in law, see Tattvakaustubha, Dānakaustubha, Nirṇayakaustubha, Rājakaustubha, Saṃskārakaustubha, Smṛtikaustubha.

2) Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ):—in vedānta and grammar, see Vedāntakaustubha, Śabdakaustubha.

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

1) Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ):—mn. (cf. kust), Name of a celebrated jewel (obtained with thirteen other precious things at the churning of the ocean and suspended on the breast of Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

2) m. a manner of joining the fingers, [Tantrasāra]

3) = kiṃtughna, [Atharva-veda; Jyotiṣa]

4) n. a kind of oil (sarṣapodbhava), [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra i, 8, 37 [Scholiast or Commentator]]

5) Name of [work]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ):—(bhaḥ) 1. m. The jewel of Krishna suspended on his breast.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kuḥthuha, Kotthubha, Kotthuha, Kothubha.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kaustubha in German

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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Kaustubha in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Kaustubha (ಕೌಸ್ತುಭ):—

1) [noun] name of a celebrated gem worn by Viṣṇu on his chest.

2) [noun] a necklace inset with a gem used to adorn the idol of a deity with, in a temple.

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Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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