Nagendra, Nāgendra, Nāgendrā, Naga-indra: 11 definitions

Introduction:

Nagendra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: Vajrayogini

Nāgendra (नागेन्द्र) is another name for Varuṇa: protector deity of the western cremation ground.—Varuṇa is a prominent god in the Vedas; his later association is as lord of the waters. Hence, he is listed as Nāgendra (Saṃvarodayatantra 17.39) and is described in the Adbhutaśmaśānālaṃkāra as mounted on a makara. He is red in color and brandishes a lasso and skull cup.

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Nāgendra (नागेन्द्र) refers to the “serpent kings” (associated with the guṇacakra or ‘merit circle’), according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, [while describing the Merit Circle (guṇacakra)]: “[...] In addition, there are trees, the guardians of direction, serpent kings (nāgendra), and cloud kings in order—[...] [The Serpent kings are] (1) Vāsuki, (2) Takṣaka, (3) Karkoṭa, (4) Padma, (5) Mahāpadma, (6) Huluhulu, (7) Kulika, and (8) Śaṅkhapāla. [...] All is here in the charnel grounds; he should give a wreath of vajras [to them] All is also to be done in this same [charnel ground]. [All is] taught to be both external and internal. The Merit Circle, the third, is thus [taught]”.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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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.

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Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Nāgendra (नागेन्द्र) refers to “Nāga Lords”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, “Now the Bhagavān was residing in the abode of Brahmā. Many Deva multitudes assembled with a great assembly, multitudes of Bodhisattvas assembled; Śakra, the Lord of the Devas, Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara, Nāga Lords (nāgendra) of great supernatural power, they all assembled. [...]”.

Mahayana book cover
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Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Nāgendra (नागेन्द्र) refers to the “lord of snakes”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Yama’s noose, which cannot be resisted even by the chiefs of gods, demons, men and the lord of snakes [com.—by the chiefs of the gods, demons, humans and the lord of snakes (devāsuramanuṣyanāgendranāyakaiḥ)], in half a moment binds the world of living souls. Yama is clearly the one and only chief conqueror of the three worlds [and] by the mere wish of whom do the 30 gods die”.

Synonyms: Ahīndra.

General definition book cover
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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.

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India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: India History

Nagendra (or, Nāgendrā) refers to one of the 84 castes (gaccha) in the Jain community according to local Gujarat tradition. The Jain caste and sub-caste system was a comparatively later development within their community, and it may have arisen from the ancient classification of Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. Before distinction of these classes (such as Nagendra), the society was not divided into distinct separate sections, but all were considered as different ways of life and utmost importance was attached to individual chartacter and mode of behaviour.

According to Dr. Vilas Adinath Sangava, “Jainism does not recognise castes (viz., Nagendra) as such and at the same time the Jaina books do not specifically obstruct the observance of caste rules by the members of the Jaina community. The attitude of Jainism towards caste is that it is one of the social practices, unconnected with religion, observed by people; and it was none of its business to regulate the working of the caste system” (source).

The legendary account of the origin of these 84 Jain castes (e.g., Nagendra) relate that once a rich Jain invited members of the Jain community in order to establish a vaiśya-mahāsabhā (i.e. Central Association of Traders). In response, 84 representatives came from different places, and they were later seen as the progenitors of these castes. Various sources however mention differences in the list.

India history book cover
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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Nagendra (नगेन्द्र).—

1) Himālaya (the lord of mountains); रश्मिष्विवादाय नगेन्द्रसक्तां निवर्तयामास नृपस्य दृष्टिम् (raśmiṣvivādāya nagendrasaktāṃ nivartayāmāsa nṛpasya dṛṣṭim) R.2.28.

2) the Sumeru mountain.

Derivable forms: nagendraḥ (नगेन्द्रः).

Nagendra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms naga and indra (इन्द्र). See also (synonyms): nagādhipa, nagādhirāja.

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Nāgendra (नागेन्द्र).—1 a lordly or superior elephant; नागेन्द्रहस्तास्त्वचि कर्कशत्वात (nāgendrahastāstvaci karkaśatvāta)... कदलीविशेषाः (kadalīviśeṣāḥ) Ku.

1) 36.

2) Airāvata, Indra's elephant; कुथेन नागेन्द्रमिवेन्द्रवाहनम् (kuthena nāgendramivendravāhanam) Śi.

3) an epithet of Śeṣa.

Derivable forms: nāgendraḥ (नागेन्द्रः).

Nāgendra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nāga and indra (इन्द्र).

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

Nagendra (नगेन्द्र).—[masculine] king of mountains, the Himālaya, Kailāsa, etc.

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Nāgendra (नागेन्द्र).—[masculine] = nāgarāja.

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

1) Nagendra (नगेन्द्र):—[from na-ga] m. ‘m°-lord’, Name of Himālaya, [Raghuvaṃśa ii, 28]

2) [v.s. ...] of Kailāsa, [Meghadūta 63]

3) [v.s. ...] of Niṣadha, [Raghuvaṃśa xviii, 1.]

4) Nāgendra (नागेन्द्र):—[from nāga] m. serpent-chief, [Mahābhārata; Suśruta]

5) [v.s. ...] a large or noble elephant, [Kāvya literature]

6) [v.s. ...] (ī), Name of a river, [Śatruṃjaya-māhātmya]

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

Nagendra (नगेन्द्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇagiṃda, Ṇāgiṃda.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nagendra 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.

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