Keshin, Keśin: 13 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Ayurveda
3. Shaktism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also
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Introduction:

Keshin 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.

The Sanskrit term Keśin can be transliterated into English as Kesin or Keshin, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Keśin (केशिन्).—A son of Vasudeva and Kauśalya; the family of.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 48.

1b) An asura friend of Kaṃsā. Set up by him, Keśin appeared in Vraja as a huge horse and attacked Kṛṣṇa with his feet. Being thrown off by Kṛṣṇa, he fell at a distance. Recovering his consciousness, he once again attacked Kṛṣṇa when the latter thrust his arm into his mouth until he was suffocated to death.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 2. 1; 36. 20; 37. 1-8, 25; 43. 25; II. 7. 34; Vāyu-purāṇa 98. 100; Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 1. 24; 4. 1-2; 12. 21.

1c) A Dānava king;¹ defeated and slain by Purūravas when he was forcibly taking away Citralekhā and Urvaśī. The latter was handed over to Indra.²

1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 29. 124.
2) Matsya-purāṇa 24. 12, 23-5.

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.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study

Keśin (केशिन्) (lit. “one who has fine or long hair”) is a synonym (another name) for either the Lion (Siṃha) or the Horse (Aśva), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Keśin (केशिन्) refers to an “ascetic”.—The famous hymn to the ascetic (keśin) in the late tenth section (maṇḍala) of the Ṛgveda is one of the earliest references to ascetics in India. Noteworthy is that many characteristics of Śaiva ascetics recognizable centuries later are already attributed to him. He is associated with Rudra, whom he imitates. He wears ochre clothes and has long unkempt hair. Most interesting is a feature that became cardinal to that of the liberated state for all Kaula and related Tantric traditions: he flies. [...]

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Keśin (केशिन्).—m. [keśa-ini]

1) A lion.

2) Name of a Rākṣasa slain by Kṛṣṇa.

3) Name of another Rākṣasa who carried Devasenā and who was slain by Inrda.

4) An epithet of Kṛṣṇa.

5) One having fine hair.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Keśin (केशिन्).—name of the supernatural horse (the Bodhisattva) who saves shipwrecked persons from the island of ogresses (story of Jātaka (Pali) 196, Valāhassa-J.): Mahāvastu iii.72.18; 75.11, 17 f.; 77.1. This name occurs only in Mahāvastu and only in the prose version; in the verse he is called Valāha or Vālāha, qq.v., as in other [Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit] and Pali versions.

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

Keśin (केशिन्).—mfn. (-śī-śinī-śi) Having fine hair. m. (-śī) 1. A name of Vishnu or Krishna. 2. The name of a Daitya or demon killed by Krishna. 3. A lion. f. (-śinī) 1. A kind of grass, (Andropogon aculeatum.) 2. Spikenard, (Valeriana jatamansi.) E. keśa hair, ini aff.

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

Keśin (केशिन्).—i. e. keśa + in, I. m. The name of an Asura or demon, etc., Mahābhārata 1, 2531; [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 9, 24, 47. Ii. f. inī, The name of an Apsaras, etc., Mahābhārata 1, 2558; [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 39, 3.

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

Keśin (केशिन्).—[adjective] = keśavant; [masculine] [Name] of an Asura & [several] men. [feminine] keśinī [Epithet] of Durgā etc., a woman’s name; [plural] cert. mythical beings.

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

1) Keśin (केशिन्):—[from keśa] mfn. ([Pāṇini 5-2, 109]) having fine or long hair (said of Rudra cf. kapardin, of his female attendants, of female demons, and of men), [Atharva-veda xi, 2, 18] (cf. [Ṛg-veda x, 136, 1 ff.]), [ and 31; xii, 5, 48; xiv, 2, 59]

2) [v.s. ...] having a mane (as Indra’s and Agni’s horses), [Ṛg-veda]

3) [v.s. ...] having tips (as rays or flames), [Ṛg-veda i, 140, 8 and 151, 6]

4) [v.s. ...] m. ‘Name of Rudra’ (See before)

5) [v.s. ...] of Viṣṇu, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) [v.s. ...] ‘a horse’ (See before)

7) [v.s. ...] a lion, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) [v.s. ...] Name of an Asura slain by Kṛṣṇa, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] etc.

9) [v.s. ...] of a son of Vasu-deva and Kauśalyā, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa ix, 24, 47]

10) [v.s. ...] ([Pāṇini 6-4, 165]) Name of Dārbhya or Dālbhya

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

Keśin (केशिन्):—[(śī-śinī-śi) a.] Having fine hair. m. Vishnu; a lion; a demon. f. A kind of grass; spikenard.

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

Keśin (केशिन्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Kesi.

[Sanskrit to German]

Keshin 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.

Relevant text

Search found 19 books and stories containing Keshin, Keśin, Kesin; (plurals include: Keshins, Keśins, Kesins). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Kāṇḍa XI, adhyāya 8, brāhmaṇa 4 < [Eleventh Kāṇḍa]

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Chapter XVI - Slaughter demon Keshin < [Book V]

Chapter IV - Freedom from imprisonment < [Book V]

Chapter XV - Kansa sent Akrura to invite Krishna < [Book V]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

Section CCXXII < [Markandeya-Samasya Parva]

Section CCXXIII < [Markandeya-Samasya Parva]

Section LXVIII < [Anugita Parva]

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Chapter 82 - Keśin is slain

Chapter 74 - Kaṃsa takes steps to ward off his danger