Purushottamakshetra, Puruṣottamakṣetra, Purushottama-kshetra: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Purushottamakshetra means something in 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.
The Sanskrit term Puruṣottamakṣetra can be transliterated into English as Purusottamaksetra or Purushottamakshetra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Puruṣottamakṣetra (पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्र) refers to:—The kingdom of Purusottama Sri Jagannatha. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
Puruṣottamakṣetra (पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्र) is another name for Puri: a sacred site for time immemorial. The Blue Hill (Nīlādri, or Nīlācala, the conch or tortoise-shaped hill and eternal abode of Śrī Jagannātha, Śrī Baladeva, Śrī Subhadrā and Sudarśana-cakra) on which the temple is situated is known as the eternal place, the nityaśāla of Kṛṣṇa. Jagannāth, has been there since the beginning of creation and shall remain for all of time to come. [...]
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
India history and geography
Puruṣottamakṣetra (पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्र) popularly known as Puri, the famous seat of Lord Puruṣottama (Jagannātha), is situated on the shore of the Bay of Bengal in the state of Orissa and also the head quarters of the district bearing the same name. It is exactly located about 59 kms to the south-east of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. The kṣetra is well-known for its historic antiquities and religious sanctuaries in India. Being Lord Puruṣottama is the presiding deity of the kṣetra, this place came to be known as Puruṣottama-kṣetra. This kṣetra is also well-known throughout the world for the celebrated temple of Lord Jagannātha, which stands on a prominent place near the sea-shore. Besides the Jagannātha temple, there are also a number of temples of smaller and medium sizes noticed in the different parts of the kṣetra.
Puruṣottamakṣetra (Puri town) is not only famous as a holy place of India but its surrounding is also treated as grand and splendid in the whole of world. This kṣetra is a coordinating place where all the Hindu gods and goddesses are worshipped. The main Jagannātha temple is situated in the centre of the kṣetra and around it are a number of streets (sāhis). The kṣetra of Purusottama is covered by the traditional seven sāhis, which are mostly inhabited by the priests and other servitors of the temple of Lord Jagannātha.
The Kṣetra of Puruṣottama is mentioned in Purāṇas as Niḷācaḷa [Nīlācala], Nilagiri [Nīlagiri], or Niḷādri [Nīlādri], Śaṅkhakṣetra, Daśāvatāra-kṣetra and Śrīkṣetra. Besides these ancient names, other appellations of the kṣetra, are Caritra, Bhaumakṣetra, Divyakṣetra, Puruṣottamapura, Jagannāthakṣetra, Jekaranat, Jugernaut, Puruṣottamakṣetra, Jaggarnath-pooree, Puruṣottamapurī and lastly Puri. The most ancient name of the kṣetra was Nilacala or “Blue-Hill” given to it to ennoble one of the sand ridges in the centre of the town, barely 20 feet of high, on which the temple of main divinity (Jagannātha) now stands.5 The name Nilacala however, is not now in common use. Thereafter, the kṣetra was called as Nilagiri or Niladri by the local people. The kṣetra of Puruṣottama was often called as Śaṅkhakṣetra. This sacred city is described as resembling the shape of a śaṅkha (conch shell) in the Purāṇas.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Puruṣottamakṣetra (पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्र):—[=puruṣottama-kṣetra] [from puruṣottama > puruṣa] n. ‘district of the Supreme Being’, Name of a district in Orissa sacred to Viṣṇu, [Brahma-purāṇa]
Puruṣottamakṣetra (पुरुषोत्तमक्षेत्र):—n. = puruṣottama 5)a).
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)
Partial matches: Kshetra, Purushottama.
Starts with: Purushottamakshetramahatmya, Purushottamakshetratattva.
Full-text: Purushottamakshetratattva, Purushottamakshetramahatmya, Jagannatha, Mukticintamani, Puri, Purushottama, Jyeshthasnana, Raghunandana bhattacarya, Mahajyaishthi.
Relevant text
Search found 25 books and stories containing Purushottamakshetra, Purushottama-kshetra, Puruṣottama-kṣetra, Purusottama-ksetra, Puruṣottamakṣetra, Purusottamaksetra; (plurals include: Purushottamakshetras, kshetras, kṣetras, ksetras, Puruṣottamakṣetras, Purusottamaksetras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Temples of Purushottama Kshetra Puri (by Ratnakar Mohapatra)
1. Introduction and Extend of Purushottama-kshetra < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
2. Different Names of the Purushottama-kshetra < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
5. References to Purusottama ksetra (Puri) in old Texts < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.1.219 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Verse 2.1.163 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Verse 2.1.159 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Brahma Purana (critical study) (by Surabhi H. Trivedi)
13. Holy places in Orissa < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
14. The Gautami-mahatmya section of the Brahma Purana < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Studies in the Cult of Jagannatha (by K. C. Mishra)
Part 30 - Shri-Purushottama-kshetra-tattva
Part 17 - The visits of Shankara and Ramanuja
Part 29 - Purushottama Jagannatha as reflected in the Bhakti-vaibhava
Mahabhagavata Purana (translation and study) (by Prabir Kumar Nanda Goswami)