Pushpadanta, Puṣpadanta, Pushpa-danta, Pushpadamta: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Pushpadanta means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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.
The Sanskrit term Puṣpadanta can be transliterated into English as Puspadanta or Pushpadanta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—One of the Aṣṭadiggajas. (The eight elephants of the quarters).
2) Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—One of the three soldiers given to Subrahmaṇya by Pārvatī. The other two were Unmāda and Śaṅkukarṇa. (Śloka 51, Chapter 45, Śalya Parva).
3) Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—One of the attendants of Śiva. Due to a curse Puṣpadanta was born on earth as Vararuci. (See under Vararuci). There was another curse also on him. (See under Jambukeśvara).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—Attacked the Asura followers of Bali.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 21. 17.
1b) A Yakṣa; a son of Devajanī.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 128.
1c) The elephant of the sāma fold (Bṛhatsāma) with six tusks; his sons are Tāmraparṇa and others roaming in groups.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 337; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 221.
1d) A Kādraveya nāga; a serpent.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 71.
1e) To be worshipped before the commencement of house and palace building operations.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 253. 26; 255. 9; 268. 15.
Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.47) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Puṣpadanta) 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: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त) is the name of a subordinate of Śiva, who overheard him narrating the adventures of the seven Vidyādharas to Pārvatī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara. Initially, he was denied entrance by Nandin, but through his magic power, became invisible, sneaked inside and overheard the story. Puṣpadanta narrated the story to his wife Jayā, who in turn, recited it in the presence of Pārvatī. She caused Puṣpadanta to be summoned and cursed him, together with Mālyavān (a gaṇa, who intervened and recommended for mercy) to become mortals.
Pārvatī uttered the curse as follows: “A Yakṣa named Supratīka, who has been made a Piśāca by the curse of Kuvera, is residing in the Vindhya forest under the name of Kāṇabhūti. When thou shalt see him, and calling to mind thy origin, tell him this tale; then, Puṣpadanta, thou shalt be released from this curse. And when Mālyavān shall hear this tale from Kāṇabhūti, then Kāṇabhūti shall be released, and thou, Mālyavān, when thou hast published it abroad, shalt be free also.”
When asked by Pārvatī what happened to these cursed gaṇas (servants), Śiva answered: “My beloved, Puṣpadanta has been born under the name of Vararuci in that great city which is called Kauśāmbī. Moreover Mālyavān also has been born in the splendid city called Supratiṣṭhita under the name of Guṇāḍhya. This, O goddess, is what has befallen them.” (Note, besides Vararuci, he also goes by the name Kātyāyana.)
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Puṣpadanta, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
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’.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚāktismPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त) refers to one of the 53 gods to be worshipped in the western quarter and given pāyasa (rice boiled in milk) according to the Vāstuyāga rite in Śaktism (cf. Śāradātilaka-tantra III-V). The worship of these 53 gods happens after assigning them to one of the 64 compartment while constructing a Balimaṇḍapa. Vāstu is the name of a prodigious demon, who was killed by 53 gods (e.g., Puṣpadanta).
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त) (or Puṣpadantaka) refers to one of the deities to be installed in the ground plan for the construction of houses, according to the Bṛhatkālottara, chapter 112 (the vāstuyāga-paṭala).—The plan for the construction is always in the form of a square. That square is divided into a grid of cells (padas). [...] Once these padas have been laid out, deities [e.g., Puṣpadanta] are installed in them. In the most common pattern 45 deities are installed.
Puṣpadanta as a doorway deity is associated with the Nakṣatra called Uttaraphālgunī and the consequence is vṛddhida. [...] The Mayasaṃgraha (verse 5.156-187) describes a design for a 9-by-9-part pura, a residential complex for a community and its lead figure. [...] This record lists a place for food storage at Sugrīva, Puṣpadanta and Pracetas.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त) is the name of a Yakṣa appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Bayana, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of Jambudvīpa [e.g., the Yakṣa Puṣpadanta in Bayana], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त):—The ninth Tīrthaṅkara (Janism recognizes 24 such teachers or Siddhas). He is also known as Puṣpadantanātha, Suvidhi or Suvidhinātha. His colour is white (śveta), according to Aparājitapṛcchā (221.5-7). His height is 100 dhanuṣa (a single dhanuṣa (or, ‘bow’) equals 6 ft), thus, roughly corresponding to 183 meters. His emblem, or symbol, is a Crocodile or Makara.
Puṣpadanta’s father is Sugrīva and his mother is Rāmā. It is an ancient Jain practice to worship the Tīrthaṅkara’s parents in various rites, such as the pratiṣṭhāvidhi, according to the Ācāradinakara (14th century work on Jain conduct written by Vardhamāna Sūri).
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त) or Suvidhi refers to the ninth of the twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras praised in the first book (ādīśvara-caritra) [chapter 1] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly, “[...] we worship the Arhats, who at all times and all places purify the people of the three worlds by their name, representation, substance, and actual existence. [...] May Suvidhi, who considers the universe as plain as a myrobalan lying in the hand by means of his wealth of omniscience, the depository of inconceivable power, be for your enlightenment”.
Suvidhi is the son of Sugrīva and Rāmā, according to chapter 3.7, “[...] Because his mother became expert in all religious rites, while he was in the womb, and because a tooth appeared from a pregnancy-whim for flowers, his parents gave the Lord two names, Suvidhi and Puṣpadanta, at a great festival on any auspicious day. Showing great difference (in characteristics) from birth, the Master grew gradually like the day increasing after the passage of the sun into Aries. [...]”.
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 dictionaryPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—
1) Name of an attendant of Śiva.
2) Name of the author of the Mahimnastotra.
3) Name of the elephant presiding over the northwest; शुद्धाक्षमैन्द्रं भल्लाटं पुष्पदन्तं तथैव च (śuddhākṣamaindraṃ bhallāṭaṃ puṣpadantaṃ tathaiva ca) Hariv.
4) the sun and moon (dual).
Derivable forms: puṣpadantaḥ (पुष्पदन्तः).
Puṣpadanta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms puṣpa and danta (दन्त).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—(1) name of a former Buddha: Mahāvastu i.115.9 (here mss. °datta), 16; 116.1; in 116.11 referred to as Puṣpa-sāhvaya; (2) name of a palace belonging to King Udayana: Divyāvadāna 529.1 f.; 535.9, 19; (3) name of a yakṣa: Mahā-Māyūrī 63.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—m.
(-ntaḥ) 1. The elephant presiding over the north-west quarter. 2. A chief of the Gand'harbas or Vidyad'haras, attendant upons Siva, to whom is ascribed the authorship of the “Mahimna Stotra”. 3. One of the Jinas or Jaina teachers. 4. A Naga or serpent of the infernal regions. m. dual. (-ntau) The sun and moon. E. puṣpa flower, and danta a tooth.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—I. m. 1. the name of a Gandharva and other beings. 2. du. the sun and the moon, [Śatruṃjayamāhātmya, (ed. A. Weber.)] 14, 225. Ii. f. tī, the name of a female Rākṣasa. Iii. n. the name of a temple. Rājadº, i. e.
Puṣpadanta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms puṣpa and danta (दन्त).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त).—[masculine] flower-tooth, [Epithet] of Śiva or of an attendant of Śiva.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—putative author of: Mahimnaḥstava or Mahimnaḥstotra.
2) Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त):—Rāghavapāṇḍavīyaṭīkā. Rice. 304.
3) Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त):—Quoted by Abhinavagupta, Catal. Io. p. 840.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Puṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त):—[=puṣpa-danta] [from puṣpa > puṣ] m. ‘f°-toothed’, Name of Śiva, [Rāmāyaṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] of an attendant of Śiva, [Mahābhārata]
3) [v.s. ...] of an attendant of Viṣṇu, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] (also -ka) of a Gandharva (author of the Mahimnaḥ Stavaḥ), [Catalogue(s)]
5) [v.s. ...] of a Vidyā-dhara, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] of a serpent-demon, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] (with Jainas) of the 9th Arhat of present Avasarpiṇī
8) [v.s. ...] of a [particular] being, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]
9) [v.s. ...] of the elephant of the north-west quarter, [ib.]
10) [v.s. ...] of the mountain Śatruṃ-jaya, [Śatruṃjaya-māhātmya]
11) [v.s. ...] ([dual number]) sun and moon, [ib.]
12) [=puṣpa-danta] [from puṣpa > puṣ] n. Name of a temple, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
13) [v.s. ...] of a palace, [Buddhist literature]
14) [v.s. ...] of a gate, [Harivaṃśa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṣpadanta (पुष्पदन्त):—[puṣpa-danta] (ntaḥ) 1. m. Elephant in the N. W. quarter; chief of the Gandharbas; a Jaina; a Nāga. Dual. The sun and moon.
[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 corpusPuṣpadaṃta (ಪುಷ್ಪದಂತ):—
1) [noun] (myth.) the elephant-regent of south-west direction.
2) [noun] a name for referring both the sun and moon.
3) [noun] (jain.) the ninth of the twenty four spiritual teachers of Jainas.
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: Pushpa, Danta.
Starts with: Pushpadantabhid, Pushpadantaka, Pushpadantanatha, Pushpadantanvaya, Pushpadantatirtha, Pushpadantavant, Pushpadantavat.
Full-text (+85): Pushpadantanvaya, Kusumadanta, Pushpadantatirtha, Pushpadantavat, Pushpadantaka, Vararuci, Pushpadantabhid, Amangalya, Pushpadanti, Suvidhi, Malyavan, Putpatantam, Shubhradanti, Pushpadatta, Jaya, Shubhadanti, Sugriva, Shubhadanta, Tamravarni, Shubhradanta.
Relevant text
Search found 41 books and stories containing Pushpadanta, Puṣpadanta, Pushpa-danta, Pushpadamta, Puspadanta, Puṣpa-danta, Puspa-danta, Puṣpadaṃta, Puspadamta; (plurals include: Pushpadantas, Puṣpadantas, dantas, Pushpadamtas, Puspadantas, Puṣpadaṃtas, Puspadamtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 32 - The Emissary is sent < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 32 - Description of Creation (3): The family of Kaśyapa < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 49 - The acquisition of the position of a Gaṇa by Andhaka < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal (by Shubha Majumder)
Images of Tīrthaṅkara Suvidhinātha or Puṣpadanta < [Chapter 6 - Iconographic Study of Jaina Sculptural Remains]
Caubisi type of Ṛṣabhanātha sculptures < [Chapter 6 - Iconographic Study of Jaina Sculptural Remains]
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 12 - Śiva Arrives on the Battlefield < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]
Chapter 13 - Jālandhara Disguised as Śiva Goes to Pārvatī < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]
Chapter 102 - Aśokasundarī is Born < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 77 - Puṣpadanteśvara (puṣpadanta-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Chapter 180 - Greatness of Puṣpadanteśvara (Puṣpadanta-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 23 - Pilgrimage to Mahākāleśvara < [Section 1 - Avantīkṣetra-māhātmya]
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