Rupadhara, Rūpadhara, Rūpadharā, Rupa-dhara: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Rupadhara means something in 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
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraRūpadhara (रूपधर) is the name of an ancient king from Muktipura, according to in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 51. Accordingly, as two Buddhist hermits said to king Pṛthvīrūpa: “... king, we have travelled through the world and we have nowhere seen a man or woman equal to you in beauty, except the daughter of King Rūpadhara and Queen Hemalatā, in the isle of Muktipura, Rūpalatā by name, and that maiden alone is a match for you, and you alone are a match for her; if you were to be united in marriage it would be well.”.
The story of Rūpadhara was narrated by the Gomukha to Naravāhanadatta in order to amuse him through the night and to demonstrate that “the resolute endure painful separation for a long time”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Rūpadhara, 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’.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-puranaRūpadhara (रूपधर) refers to “one who assumes a (particular) form”, according to the Skandapurāṇa 4.1.31 (“The Manifestation of Bhairava”).—Accordingly, as Praṇava (Praṇavātman—‘the Soul in the form of Oṃkāra’) said: “Never does this Lord Rudra, Hara, assuming a sportive form [i.e., līlā-rūpadhara] divert himself with the Śakti who is not different and distinct from him. This Īśa is the great lord, self-luminous and eternal. Śivā, bliss personified, is his eternal Śakti (and not adventitious). Although this was (clearly) stated, the ignorance of Makhamūrti (Nārāyaṇa, embodiment of Yajña) and Aja (Brahmā) did not perish because of the Māyā of Śrīkaṇṭha (Śiva). [...]”.
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationRūpadhara (रूपधर) refers to “one who assumes a particular form”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.8.—Accordingly, Nārada said to Himavat:—“O lord of mountains, listen to my words with affability. They are true. They cannot be false. The lines in the palm are the lines of Brahmā. They cannot be untrue. O lord of mountains, there is no doubt that her husband will be such a person. You now hear what you have to do whereby you will be happy. There is a bridegroom like that. He is lord Śiva who has sportively assumed a physical form [i.e., śambhulīlā-rūpadhara]. In Him all bad characteristics are equal to good characteristics. [...]”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraRūpadharā (रूपधरा) refers to “she who has a particular form”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 10.7cd-17ab, while describing the worship of Bhairavī and Bhairava]—“[Bhairavī] has the appearance of vermillion or lac. [...] [She is] called Icchāśakti [and she] moves toward union with one’s own will. Having celebrated this form (rūpadharā—vikhyātāmetadrūpadharāṃ), [the Mantrin] thinks of her as Aghoreśī. In all Tantras [this] is taught and secret. It is not made clear. My abode is visible by anyone on earth, [but] difficult to obtain. [...]”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryRūpadhara (रूपधर).—a. of the form of, disguised as; जुगोप गोरूपधरामिवोर्वीम् (jugopa gorūpadharāmivorvīm) R.2.3.
Rūpadhara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms rūpa and dhara (धर).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryRūpadhara (रूपधर).—[adjective] having the colour, shape, or form of (—°).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Rūpadhara (रूपधर):—[=rūpa-dhara] [from rūpa > rūp] mfn. having the form or shape of, being of the colour of (ifc.; e.g. go-r, cow-shaped; cf. kāma-r), [Raghuvaṃśa; Viṣṇu-purāṇa] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a king, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
[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)
Ends with: Balarupadhara, Divyarupadhara, Kamarupadhara, Lilarupadhara, Nanarupadhara, Nirupadhara, Vajirupadhara, Vishvarupadhara, Yathajatarupadhara, Yogirupadhara.
Full-text: Nata-rupatarai, Vishvarupadhara, Yathajatarupadhara, Kamarupadhara, Kamarupadharatva, Balarupadhara, Shambhulila, Mangalaghata, Kumaridatta, Rupalata, Hemalata, Muktipura.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Rupadhara, Rūpadhara, Rūpadharā, Rupa-dhara, Rūpa-dhara, Rūpa-dharā; (plurals include: Rupadharas, Rūpadharas, Rūpadharās, dharas, dharās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.1.73-74 < [Chapter 1 - Bhauma (the earthly plane)]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter LI < [Book IX - Alaṅkāravatī]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.19.182 < [Chapter 19 - The Lord’s Pastimes in Advaita’s House]
Verse 3.9.174 < [Chapter 9 - The Glories of Advaita]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.11.73 < [Chapter 11 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s Birth]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 11 - The Greatness of Vidyādhara Tirtha < [Section 1 - Avantīkṣetra-māhātmya]