Ketumala, Ketu-mala, Ketumāla, Ketumālā: 14 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Natyashastra
3. Shaivism
4. Jyotisha
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Ketumala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali. 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: Varāha-purāṇa

Ketumāla (केतुमाल) is the name of a region situated on the western side of mount Meru, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 75. Meru is one of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, which is ruled over by Āgnīdhra, a grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

According to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 82, “this region is Ketumāla with mighty men black in complexion and beautiful women lotus-like in complexion. There we get big jack trees. The son of Brahmā is the lord there. The people here drink water, are free from decay and disease and live for ten thousand years.”

The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century. It is composed of two parts and Sūta is the main narrator.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Ketumāla (केतुमाल).—The grandson of Priyavrata, the son of Manu. Agnīdhra, a son of Priyavrata married Pūrvacitti. Nine sons were born to Agnīdhra of his wife Pūrvacitti. Ketumāla was one of them. His brothers were Nābhi, Kimpuruṣa, Hari, Ilāvṛta, Ramyaka, Hiraṇmaya. Kuru and Bhadrāśva.

In old age Agnīdhra divided his kingdom among his sons. Later, the portion given to Ketumāla came to be known as Ketumāla. (Bhāgavata, Skandha 5).

2) Ketumāla (केतुमाल).—A holy place in Jambūdvīpa. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 89).

3) Ketumāla (केतुमाल).—(See under Ketumāla I). Ketumāla is the ninth division of Jambūdvīpa. The people of this part of the earth are equal to gods (Devas). The women are very beautiful. In Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva it is stated that Arjuna conquered this land. Ketumāla is situated on the east of Mount Meru. In Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 6, there is the description of Ketumāla.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Ketumāla (केतुमाल).—A son of Āgnidhra, and Pūrvacitti;¹ Lord of Gandhamādana varṣa.²

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 2. 19; Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 40; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 1. 17.
2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 47 and 52; Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 45. Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 1. 23.

1b) A continent bounded on one side by Mālyavat, and traversed by the stream Cakṣus. Viṣṇu reveals himself here as Kāmadeva when Lakṣmī praises his glory.¹ Conquered by Parīkṣit.² Adjacent to Meru and noted for panasa tree;³ of Mlecchas;⁴ māla, thrown by Indra during the churning of the ocean, struck on a tree there and hence the name; description of;⁵ Viṣṇu in the form of Varāha.⁶

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 16. 10; 17. 7; 18. 15-23; Matsya-purāṇa 83. 33; 113. 44, 49-50; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 2. 24.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 16. 13.
3) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 15. 50-4; Vāyu-purāṇa 34. 57.
4) Vāyu-purāṇa 42. 47.
5) Vāyu-purāṇa 35. 36-40; 41. 85; 43. 1-4; 44. 1-25.
6) Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 2. 50.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Ketumāla (केतुमाल) refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. III.87.12). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Ketumāla) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Ketumāla (केतुमाल) is the name of a region, the inhabitants thereof should be represented with a blue color (nīla) when painting the limbs (aṅgaracanā), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. The painting is a component of nepathya (costumes and make-up) and is to be done in accordance with the science of āhāryābhinaya (extraneous representation).

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Ketumāla (केतुमाल) refers to one of the seven regions (navakhaṇḍa) situated within Jambūdvīpa, according to Parākhyatantra 5.61. It is also known as Ketumālakhaṇḍa. Jambūdvīpa is one of the seven continents situated within the world of the earth (pṛthivī). These continents are located above the seven pātālas and may contain even more sub-continents within them, are round in shape, and are encircled within seven concentric oceans.

According to the Parākhyatantra, “when the fierce onset of a battle between the gods and asuras began, there appeared there suddenly from nowhere garlands (mālā) of comets (ketu); seeing these the gods were frightened: that is why it is known as Ketumāla”.

In the middle of these nine regions (e.g., Ketumāla) is situated the golden mountain named Meru which rises above the surface of the earth by 84,000 yojanas while it penetrates the circle of the earth to a depth of sixteen yojanas.

The Parākhyatantra is an old Śaiva-siddhānta tantra dating from before the 10th century.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jyotiṣa

Ketumālā (केतुमाला) refers to the “line of Ketu” and is the name of the seventh chapter of the Gārgīyajyotiṣa. It is similar to the 11th chapter of Vārahamihira’s work known as the Bṛhatsaṃhitā. The Gārgīyajyotiṣa is one of the most comprehensive of Garga’s texts and written in the form of a dialogue between Krauṣṭuki (Ṛṣiputra) and Garga discussing astral and other omens, comprising a total of sixty-two chapters (viz., ketu-mālā), known as aṅgas and summarized in the Aṅgasamuddiśa (“enumeration of the divisions”, introductory portion).

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ketumāla (केतुमाल).—one of the nine great divisions of the known world (the western portion of jambudvīpa.)

Derivable forms: ketumālaḥ (केतुमालः), ketumālam (केतुमालम्).

Ketumāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ketu and māla (माल).

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

Ketumāla (केतुमाल).—n.

(-laṃ) One of nine great divisions of the known world, the western portion or Varsha of Jambu Dwipa.

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

Ketumāla (केतुमाल).—I. m. 1. pl. the name of a people, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 8227. 2. the name of a varṣa or division of the earth, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 5, 2, 19. Ii. f. lā, the name of a holy place, Mahābhārata 3, 8368.

Ketumāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ketu and māla (माल).

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

1) Ketumāla (केतुमाल):—[=ketu-māla] [from ketu] m. Name of a son of Āgnīdhra, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] of a boar, [Rāmāyaṇa v, 9, 66; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] Name of a people, [Harivaṃśa 8227 and 8654]

4) [v.s. ...] mn. one of the nine great divisions of the known world (the western portion or Varṣa of Jambū-dvīpa, called after Ketu-māla), [Sūryasiddhānta; Viṣṇu-purāṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

5) Ketumālā (केतुमाला):—[=ketu-mālā] [from ketu-māla > ketu] f. Name of a Tīrtha, [Mahābhārata iii, 8368 ff.]

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

Ketumāla (केतुमाल):—[ketu-māla] (laṃ) 1. n. One of the nine great divisions of the world.

[Sanskrit to German]

Ketumala 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 36 books and stories containing Ketumala, Ketu-mala, Ketu-mālā, Ketu-māla, Ketumāla, Ketumālā, Ketumalas; (plurals include: Ketumalas, malas, mālās, mālas, Ketumālas, Ketumālās, Ketumalases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The concept of Saptadvīpa (seven islands) < [Chapter 4 - Geographical history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]

The concept of Bhāratavarṣa < [Chapter 4 - Geographical history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]

Saptadvīpa (1): Jambudvīpa (Introduction) < [Chapter 4 - Geographical history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]

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2. Brahma-purana: World Geography < [Chapter 9 - Geography]

3. Visnu And Other Gods < [Mythology]

Appendix 8 - Geographical and Ethnic Data

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Chapter 2 - Jambūdvīpa, ‘Land of the Rose-Apple Tree’ < [Book Two: The Word]

Chapter 1 - Priyavrata distributes the continents < [Book Two: The Word]

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Chapter 16 - Seven Continents (sapta-dvīpa)