Meghavahana, Meghavāhana, Megha-vahana: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Meghavahana 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaMeghavāhana (मेघवाहन).—A King. He was a dependant of Jarāsandha. (Śloka 13, Chapter 14, Sabhā Parva).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMeghavāhana (मेघवाहन).—The twenty-second kalpa where Viṣṇu became Meghī.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 21. 50.
Meghavāhana (मेघवाहन) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.13.12) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Meghavāhana) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1) Meghavāhana (मेघवाहन) or Ghanavāhana is the son of the Pūrṇamegha (king of Rathanūpura), according to chapter 2.4 [ajitanātha-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:—“[...] At that time on Mount Vaitāḍhya Sahasraḍrś, recalling with anger his father’s murder, slew Pūrṇamegha, like a Garuḍa a snake. Pūrṇamegha’s son, Ghanavāhana, escaped from him and came to the samavasaraṇa. After he had circumambulated the Blessed One three times and had bowed to him, he sat down at his feet like a traveler at the foot of a tree. [...]”.
2) Meghavāhana (मेघवाहन) (or Meghavana?) is the name of an ancient Vidyādhara-king from Gaganavallabha, according to chapter 5.2 [śāntinātha-caritra].
3) Meghavāhana (मेघवाहन) refers to one of the sons of Rāvaṇa, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.2 [Rāvaṇa’s expedition of Conquest].—Accordingly, “[...] Then Queen Mandodarī bore a son, Indrajit, having wonderful strength, equal to Indra in splendor. After some time she bore a second son, Meghavāhana, delighting the eyes like a cloud. After they had heard of the hostility between their fathers, Kumbhakarṇa and Bibhīṣaṇa were always attacking Laṅkā ruled over by Vaiśravaṇa. [...]”.
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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMeghavāhana (मेघवाहन).—
1) an epithet of Indra; श्रयति स्म मेघमिव मेघवाहनः (śrayati sma meghamiva meghavāhanaḥ) Śiśupālavadha 13.18.
2) an epithet of Śiva.
Derivable forms: meghavāhanaḥ (मेघवाहनः).
Meghavāhana is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms megha and vāhana (वाहन).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMeghavāhana (मेघवाहन).—m.
(-naḥ) 1. A name of Indra. 2. Siva. E. megha a cloud, vāhana vehicle.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMeghavāhana (मेघवाहन).—m. 1. Indra. 2. Śiva. 3. a proper name, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 64.
Meghavāhana is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms megha and vāhana (वाहन).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Meghavāhana (मेघवाहन):—[=megha-vāhana] [from megha] m. ‘having cl° for a vehicle’, Name of Indra, [Śiśupāla-vadha]
2) [v.s. ...] of Śiva, [Horace H. Wilson]
3) [v.s. ...] of various kings, [Mahābhārata; Rājataraṅgiṇī]
4) [v.s. ...] of the 22nd Kalpa, [Catalogue(s)]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMeghavāhana (मेघवाहन):—[megha-vāhana] (naḥ) 1. m. Indra; Shiva.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMēghavāhana (ಮೇಘವಾಹನ):—
1) [noun] Indra, the chief of gods, whose vehicle is clouds.
2) [noun] Śiva.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Megha, Vahana.
Starts with: Meghavahanakalpa.
Full-text (+19): Indradevi, Meghavahanakalpa, Mekavakanan, Khadana, Meghavana, Ghanavahana, Meghamatha, Kamalabhrit, Ailavila, Meghanada, Pashcima, Vibuddhanagara, Jimutavahana, Culavamsa, Mukilurtiannal, Vaishravana, Vishravas, Vibuddha, Indra, Bhavadatta.
Relevant text
Search found 9 books and stories containing Meghavahana, Meghavāhana, Megha-vahana, Megha-vāhana, Mēghavāhana, Mēgha-vāhana; (plurals include: Meghavahanas, Meghavāhanas, vahanas, vāhanas, Mēghavāhanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 2: Story of Meghavāhana < [Chapter V - Life and death of the sons of Sagara]
Part 2: Previous births of Indrajit and Meghavāhana < [Chapter VIII - The abandonment of Sītā]
Part 1: Rāvaṇa’s funeral < [Chapter VIII - The abandonment of Sītā]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 8 - The eight-syllabled Mantra < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Chapter 37 - Grant of boons to Brahmā < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Chapter 2 - Index of Content < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 84 - Greatness of Ādinārāyaṇa < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 93 - Greatness of Gomukha Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 4 - The Extent of Prabhāsa Kṣetra < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 19 - The friendship of Śiva and Kubera < [Section 2.1 - Rudra-saṃhitā (1): Sṛśṭi-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 13 - The creation of Brahmā and Viṣṇu < [Section 7.1 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (1)]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section XIV < [Rajasuyarambha Parva]