Mrigavati, Mṛgāvatī: 11 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Kavya
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Mrigavati means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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 Mṛgāvatī can be transliterated into English as Mrgavati or Mrigavati, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती).—See under Udayana.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती).—A Goddess enshrined at Yamunā.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 13. 40.

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.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती) is the daughter of King Kṛtavarman, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 9. Mṛgāvatī is an incarnation of the apsara named Alambuṣā, who got cursed by Indra to be born as a mortal human being, after falling in love with a vasu named Vidhūma. Mṛgāvatī became the wife of Sahasrānīka, and she gave birth to a son named Udayana, while staying in the hermitage of Jamadagni.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Mṛgāvatī, 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

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती) is the mother of Tripṛṣṭha: the first Vāsudeva (“violent heroes”) according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Since they enjoy half the power of a Cakravartin (universal monarch) they are also known as Ardhacakrins. Jain legends describe nine such Vāsudevas usually appearing together with their “gentler” twins known as the Baladevas. The legends of these twin-heroes usually involve their antagonistic counterpart known as the Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes).

The stories of queen Mṛgāvatī, king Prajāpati and their son, Tripṛṣṭha are related in texts such as the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1) Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती) is the mother of Tripṛṣṭha: one of the nine black Vāsudevas, according to chapter 1.6 [ādīśvara-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: “[...] There will be nine black Vāsudevas, enjoyers of three parts of the earth, with half so much power as the Cakrins. [...] Of these, Tripṛṣṭha Keśava, the son of Prajāpati and Mṛgāvatī in the city Potana, eighty bows tall, living for eighty-four lacs of years while the best of Jinas, Śreyāṃsa, is wandering over the earth, will go to the lowest hell”.

2) Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती) is the wife of Hiraṇyagarbha (son of Citramālā and Sukośala), according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4 [Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa].—Accordingly, “Now Citramālā, King Sukośala’s wife, bore a son, Hiraṇyagarbha, the joy of the family. When he, who had been king from the time he was in the womb, grew up, gazelle-eyed Mṛgāvatī became his wife. Mṛgāvatī bore King Hiraṇyagarbha a son named Naghuṣa, like another (Naghuṣa) in form. One day, Hiraṇyagarbha saw a gray hair on his head, which was like a pledge of approaching old age. Feeling disgust with existence immediately, the king installed his son Naghuṣa on the throne and took the vow under Muni Vimala. [...]”.

Source: JAINpedia: Women in the Jain tradition: Soḷ satī

Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती) refers to one of the 16 Satīs mentioned in the Brāhmī Candanbālikā.—In Jain contexts “Satī” revolves around fidelity to the Jain religion. Although Jains call many virtuous Jain women satīs, among Śvetāmbara Jains there is a group of satīs called the soḷ satī or 16 Satīs (i.e., Mṛgāvatī). These Jain Satīs are revered as role models for women and their stories are widely known. Even though the general group of Satī grows over time, the group of 16 Satīs is unchanging.

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

1) Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती) or Mṛgāvatīkathā refers to one of the 157 stories embedded in the Kathāmahodadhi by Somacandra (narrating stories from Jain literature, based on the Karpūraprakara), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The Kathāmahodadhi represents a repository of 157 stories [e.g., Mṛgāvatī-kathā] written in prose Sanskrit, although each of them is preceded by a verse. Together, they stage a large number of Jain characters (including early teachers). [...]

2) Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती) refers to one of the “sixteen virtuous Jain women”, according to the “Sola satyā” (dealing with the lives of Jain female heroes).—There is a list of sixteen virtuous Jain women. [...] These women [e.g., Mṛgāvatī] are virtuous because they uphold Jain values and could stand to them even in adverse circumstances. Reciting their names is often part of the morning ritual. Behind names are eventful stories that have been told by several writers and read or listened to by Jain followers.

3) Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती) wife of Śatānīka at Kosambī, according to the Mṛgāvatīcaritra (dealing with the lives of Jain female heroes).—The author narrates the Mṛgāvatī-caritra story because it illustrates the fundamental importance of śīla, which is stated at the outset of the work. [...] Mṛgāvatī was the wife of Śatānīka at Kosambī. During her pregnancy she had the desire (dohada) to bathe in a well of blood. When she came out, she was carried away by a bhāraṇḍa bird who thought she was a piece of flesh. Thanks to a bracelet that two unknown people had brought to the king, the latter was finally able to find her, and their son Udayana, in an ascetic grove.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती).—i. e. mṛga + vanī + ī, f. A proper name, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 283.

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

1) Mṛgavatī (मृगवती):—[=mṛga-vatī] [from mṛga > mṛg] f. Name of the mythical progenitress of bears and Sṛmaras, [Rāmāyaṇa]

2) Mṛgāvatī (मृगावती):—[=mṛgā-vatī] [from mṛga > mṛg] f. Name of Dākṣāyaṇī on the Yamunā, [Catalogue(s)]; of sub voce princesses, [Kathāsaritsāgara; Rājataraṅgiṇī; Inscriptions]

[Sanskrit to German]

Mrigavati 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 7 books and stories containing Mrigavati, Mṛgāvatī, Mrgavati, Mṛgavatī, Mriga-vati, Mṛga-vatī, Mrga-vati, Mṛgā-vatī; (plurals include: Mrigavatis, Mṛgāvatīs, Mrgavatis, Mṛgavatīs, vatis, vatīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 14: Story of Mṛgāvatī < [Chapter I - Śreyāṃsanāthacaritra]

Part 6: Vīra’s special vow < [Chapter IV - Mahāvīra’s second period of more than six years]

Part 4: Mṛgāvatī and Pradyota < [Chapter VIII - Initiation of ṛṣabhadatta and devānandā]

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Story of Alambuṣā

Story of Udayana

Story of Abhimanyu

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Chapter IX < [Book II - Kathāmukha]

Note on the magical properties of blood < [Notes]

Chapter XXX < [Book VI - Madanamañcukā]

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