Shankhapala, aka: Sankhapala, Śaṅkhapāla, Saṅkhapāla, Shankha-pala; 10 Definition(s)

Introduction

Shankhapala means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Śaṅkhapāla can be transliterated into English as Sankhapala or Shankhapala, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Śaṅkhapāla (शङ्खपाल).—The Nāga presiding over the month of Nabhasya;¹ a 1000 hooded snake; lives with the sun for a part of a year;² with the sun in Āvaṇi and Puraṭṭāśi;³ with the sun in the Bhādrapada month.⁴

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 11. 38; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 23. 9; IV. 20. 54.
• 2) Matsya-purāṇa 6. 40; 126. 10.
• 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 52. 10.
• 4) Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 10. 10.

context information

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.

Katha (narrative stories)

Śaṅkhapāla (शङ्खपाल) is the name of a Nāga king (nāgarāja), according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 104. Accordingly, as one Brāhman said to another: “... I reached [from the Niṣadha country] in course of time the city of Śaṅkhapura not far from here, where there is a great purifying lake of clear water, sacred to Śaṅkhapāla, King of the Nāgas, and called Śaṅkhahrada”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Śaṅkhapāla, 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.

Śaṅkhapāla (शङ्खपाल).—One of the eight kulas (‘families’) of nāgas mentioned by Soḍḍhala in his Udayasundarīkathā. Śaṅkhapāla, and other nāgas, reside in pātāla (the nether world) and can assume different forms at will. Their movement is unobstructed in the all the worlds and they appear beautiful, divine and strong.

The Udayasundarīkathā is a Sanskrit work in the campū style, narrating the story of the Nāga princess Udayasundarī and Malayavāhana, king of Pratiṣṭhāna. Soḍḍhala is a descendant of Kalāditya (Śilāditya’s brother) whom he praises as an incarnation of a gaṇa (an attendant of Śiva).

Śaṅkhapāla (शङ्खपाल).—Name of a Nāga mentioned by Soḍḍhala.—Śaṅkhapāla seems to be the same as the father of Śaṅkhacūḍa, the serpent who was given protection by Jimūtavāhana, the hero of the drama, Nāgānanda.

context information

Katha (कथा, kathā) refers to narrative Sanskrit literature often inspired from epic legendry (itihasa) and poetry (mahākāvya). Some Kathas reflect socio-political instructions for the King while others remind the reader of important historical event and exploits of the Gods, Heroes and Sages.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

1. Sankhapala. The Bodhisatta born as a Naga king. See the Sankhapala Jataka. Sankhapala is evidently a generic name for the Nagas of that world.

2. Sankhapala. A king of Ekabala. Mahosadha (q.v.), hearing that he was collecting arms and assembling an army, sent a parrot to find out about it. The parrot reported that there was no reason to fear Sankhapala. J.vi.390.

3. Sankhapala. A lake in the Mahimsakarattha. It was the residence of the Naga king, Sankhapala. From the lake rose the river Kannapenna. J.v.162.

4. Sankhapala Thera. A pupil of Buddhadatta, to whom he dedicated his Vinaya Vinicchaya. Gv. 40; P.L.C. 109.

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Śaṅkhapāla (शङ्खपाल) is another name for Śaṅkha: the serpent deity (nāga) of the north-western cremation ground.—Śaṅkha is also listed as Śaṅkhapāla (Guhyasamayasādhanamālā 34). In Śmaśānavidhi 19, there is a very brief descirption of him as yellow, with spots on his hood (kalaṅkita), or a tilaka.

Śaṅkhapāla (शङ्खपाल) refers to one of the eight serpent king (nāgendra) of the Guṇacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the guṇacakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. Śaṅkhapāla is associated with the charnel grounds (śmaśāna) named Kilikilārava; with the tree (vṛkṣa) named Pārthiva; with the direction-guardians (dikpāla) named Vāyu and with the cloud king (meghendra) named Caṇḍa.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

śaṅkhapāḷa (शंखपाळ).—m (śaṅkhapāla S Serpent of Patal.) A creature of the serpent-tribe. 2 m f A kind of lizard.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śaṅkhapāla (शङ्खपाल).—

1) an epithet of the sun.

2) a kind of sweetmeat (Mar. śaṃkarapāḷe).

3) a kind of snake.

Derivable forms: śaṅkhapālaḥ (शङ्खपालः).

Śaṅkhapāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śaṅkha and pāla (पाल).

Śaṅkhapāla (शङ्खपाल).—m.

(-laḥ) 1. The sun. 2. A Naga or serpent of Patala. E. śaṅkha a conch, &c., pāla who nourishes.

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