Nagadanta, Nāgadanta, Naga-danta: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Nagadanta means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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.
In Hinduism
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraNāgadanta (नागदन्त) is a Sanskrit technical term translating to a “bracket” (a structural or decorative member of an architectural element.). It is used throughout Vāstuśāstra literature.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationNāgadanta (नागदन्त) refers to a “ivory casket”, which is mentioned as an item of wealth in order to demonstrate the wicked nature of gambling (durodara), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.17.—Accordingly, “[...] O mistress! where is that gambling rogue of a son, Guṇanidhi? Or let it be. Why should I ask for him? [...] Where is that bell metal pot made in the South? Where is that copper pot made in Bengal? Where is that ivory casket (nāgadanta-maya) intended for curios (kautuka) and trinkets? [...]”.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesNāgadanta (नागदन्त) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.108.11) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Nāgadanta) 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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of SriharsaNāgadanta (नागदन्त) refers to a “peg in the wall”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 18.15 (here a perch).—Cāṇḍūpaṇḍita explains the word [nāgadanta] as “ghoḍalaka”.
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 Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismNāgadantā (नागदन्ता) is the name of Vidyārājñī (i.e., “wisdom queen”) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Nāgadantā).
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarynāgadanta : (nt.) an ivory peg; a peg on a wall.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryNāgadanta refers to: an ivory peg or pin, also used as a hook on a wall Vin. II, 117 (°ka Vin. II, 114, 152); J. VI, 382;
Note: nāgadanta is a Pali compound consisting of the words nāga and danta.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNāgadanta (नागदन्त).—
1) ivory.
2) a peg or bracket projecting from a wall and used to hang things upon; N.18.15.
Derivable forms: nāgadantaḥ (नागदन्तः).
Nāgadanta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nāga and danta (दन्त). See also (synonyms): nāgadantaka.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNāgadanta (नागदन्त).—m.
(-ntaḥ) 1. Elephant's tooth or ivory; also the tooth of the elephant. 2. A shelf, a pin or bracket projecting from a wall, and used to hang things upon. f. (-ntī) 1. A sort of sun-flower, (Heliotropium Indicum.) 2. A whore. E. nāga an elephant, and danta a tooth.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNāgadanta (नागदन्त).—I. m. 1. ivory, Mahābhārata 12, 3630. 2. a pin projecting from a wall, and used to hang things upon, [Pañcatantra] 116, 19. Ii. f. tā, the name of an Apsaras, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 91, 17. Iii. f. tī, a plant, Tiaridium indicum Lehm., [Suśruta] 1, 138, 12.
Nāgadanta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nāga and danta (दन्त).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNāgadanta (नागदन्त).—[masculine] an elephant’s tooth or tusk, ivory; a peg to hang things on.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nāgadanta (नागदन्त):—[=nāga-danta] [from nāga] m. elephant’s tusk or ivory, [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] a peg in the wall to hang things upon, [Pañcatantra; Kathāsaritsāgara]
3) Nāgadantā (नागदन्ता):—[=nāga-dantā] [from nāga-danta > nāga] f. Name of an Apsaras, [Rāmāyaṇa] ([varia lectio] -dattā)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNāgadanta (नागदन्त):—[nāga-danta] (ntaḥ) 1. m. Elephant’s tooth or ivory; a bracket or wooden peg. (tī) f. Sun-flower; a whore.
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Nagadantaka, Nagadantamaya, Nagadantamayi.
Full-text: Nagadantamaya, Nagadatta, Nagadanti, Nakatantam, Naganiryuha, Nirvyuha, Nagadantaka, Nagadantika, Dantaka, Gajadanta, Indrakoshtha, Indrakoshaka, Indrakosha, Naga, Apsaras.
Relevant text
Search found 9 books and stories containing Nagadanta, Nāgadanta, Naga-danta, Nāga-danta, Nāgadantā, Nāga-dantā; (plurals include: Nagadantas, Nāgadantas, dantas, Nāgadantās, dantās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Vastu-shastra (4): Palace Architecture (by D. N. Shukla)
Vinaya (3): The Cullavagga (by T. W. Rhys Davids)
Cullavagga, Khandaka 5, Chapter 1 < [Khandaka 5 - On the Daily Life of the Bhikkhus]
Samarangana-sutradhara (Summary) (by D. N. Shukla)
Vinaya Pitaka (1): Bhikkhu-vibhanga (the analysis of Monks’ rules) (by I. B. Horner)
Monks’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 18
Monks’ Expulsion (Pārājika) 2: Permutations < [Monks’ Expulsion (Pārājika) 2]
Bhagavad-gita Mahatmya (by N.A. Deshpande)