Puranapurusha, Purāṇapuruṣa, Purana-purusha: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Puranapurusha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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 Purāṇapuruṣa can be transliterated into English as Puranapurusa or Puranapurusha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Purāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष) refers to the “ancient Puruṣa” and is used as an epithet for Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.41.—Accordingly, as Viṣṇu and others eulogized Śiva:—“[...] obeisance to Vāma, Vāmarūpa, Vāmanetra, Aghora, the great lord and the Vikaṭa. Obeisance to Tatpuruṣa, to Nātha, the ancient Puruṣa (i.e., Purāṇapuruṣa), the bestower of the four aims of life, Vratin, and Parameṣṭhin. Obeisance to you, Īśānas, Īśvara, Brahman, of the form of Brahman, the Supreme Soul”.
2) Purāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष) refers to the “primordial Puruṣa” and is used to describe Viṣṇu, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.3 (“The virtues of the three cities—Tripura).—Accordingly, after the Gods spoke to Viṣṇu: “[...] Immediately on being thought upon by Viṣṇu all the sacrifices came where Viṣṇu was stationed. With palms joined in reverence they bowed to and eulogised Viṣṇu, the lord of sacrifices and the primordial Puruṣa (purāṇapuruṣa) [purāṇaṃ puruṣaṃ harim]. The eternal lord Viṣṇu saw the eternal sacrifices and told them looking at the gods too including Indra. [...]”
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexPurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष).—The Supreme Being or Viśvātmā, revealed the Purāṇas;1 is Nārāyaṇa;2 is Kumāra.3
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: academia.edu: The Śāradātilakatantra on YogaPurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष) refers to “eternal being” and is explained by Lakṣmaṇadeśika in his 11th-century Śaradātilaka verse 25.60.—“The blessed ones behold the eternal being (purāṇapuruṣa), whose feet are praised by the Vedas, who is dark like a [rain] cloud, who holds the śrīvatsa, the kaustubha, the mace, the lotus, the conch and the wheel, whose abode is the lotus of the heart, [and] who is the single root of the worlds”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsPurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष) refers to the “men of olden times”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Fools mourn for relations experiencing the results of their own actions [but] because of the confusion of [their] intelligence [they do] not [mourn for] themselves situated in Yama’s fangs.—[com.—Next he speaks about the power (vaśitvaṃ) of death (mṛtyoḥ) even over the three times (traikālye) for the men of old (purāṇapuruṣāṇām)]—In this forest that is the cycle of rebirth dwelt in by Yama the serpent-king, the men of olden times (purāṇapuruṣa), who were eternal previously, have come to an end”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष).—m (S purāṇa Ancient, puruṣa Man or male) A title of God, Ancient of days. Dan. vii. 9.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishpurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष).—m A title of God.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष).—
1) an epithet of Viṣṇu.
2) an old man; यद् वदन्ति चपलेत्यपवादं तन्न दूषणमहो चपलायाः । दोष एष जलधेः पितुरस्या यत् पुराणपुरुषाय ददौ ताम् (yad vadanti capaletyapavādaṃ tanna dūṣaṇamaho capalāyāḥ | doṣa eṣa jaladheḥ piturasyā yat purāṇapuruṣāya dadau tām) Subhāṣ.; (where both senses are intended).
Derivable forms: purāṇapuruṣaḥ (पुराणपुरुषः).
Purāṇapuruṣa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms purāṇa and puruṣa (पुरुष).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष).—m.
(-ṣaḥ) Vishnu. E. purāṇa old or primeval, and puruṣa man.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryPurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष):—[=purāṇa-puruṣa] [from purāṇa > pur] m. ‘primeval male’, Name of Viṣṇu, [Siṃhāsana-dvātriṃśikā or vikramāditya-caritra, jaina recension]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPurāṇapuruṣa (पुराणपुरुष):—[purāṇa-puruṣa] (ṣaḥ) 1. m. Vishnu.
[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 corpusPurāṇapuruṣa (ಪುರಾಣಪುರುಷ):—
1) [noun] a very old man.
2) [noun] Viṣṇu (or Křṣṇa) as the person who has no beginning.
3) [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: Purusha, Purana, Puraana.
Full-text: Puratanapurusha, Jivhara, Vyakti, Yoga, Samsarakantara, Purana, Puratana, Kumara.
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Search found 10 books and stories containing Puranapurusha, Purāṇa-puruṣa, Purana-purusa, Purana-purusha, Purāṇapuruṣa, Puranapurusa; (plurals include: Puranapurushas, puruṣas, purusas, purushas, Purāṇapuruṣas, Puranapurusas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation (by S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar)
Pasuram 6.3.5 < [Section 3 - Third Tiruvaymoli (Nalkuravum, Celvum)]
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Text 26 < [Chapter 6 - Ṣaṣṭha-yāma-sādhana (Sāyaṃ-kālīya-bhajana–bhāva)]
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The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 231 - The Number of Tīrthas Enumerated < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 3 - Brahmā’s Expiation < [Section 1 - Avantīkṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 32 - Vaḍavānala Outwitted < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)