Shikhandini, Śikhaṇḍinī: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Shikhandini means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. 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 Śikhaṇḍinī can be transliterated into English as Sikhandini or Shikhandini, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaŚikhaṇḍinī (शिखण्डिनी).—(ii) Wife of Antardhāna born in the dynasty of emperor Pṛthu. The emperor had two sons called Antardhāna and Vādī. To Antardhāna was born of Śikhaṇḍinī a son called Havirdhāna, who married Dhiṣaṇā born in the dynasty of Agni, and the couple had six sons called Prācīnabarhis, Śukra, Gaya, Kṛṣṇa, Vraja and Ajina. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Chapter 14, Part 1).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Śikhaṇḍinī (शिखण्डिनी).—The queen of Vijitāśva and mother of three sons.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IV. 24. 3.
1b) (Śikhaṇḍī-m.p.); the wife of Antardhāna, [Antardhi (Antardhana, Vāyu-purāṇa), (Antarddhi-vi. p.)] and mother of Havirdhāna.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 37. 23; Matsya-purāṇa 4. 45; Vāyu-purāṇa 63. 22; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 14. 1.
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: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Śikhaṇḍinī (शिखण्डिनी) refers to a “peacock feather” and represents a symbol of Kālarātri, according to the Mahābhārata 10.8.64–68.—Accordingly, “Good sir, they saw her, Kālarātri, standing, smiling, alone, blue-black in hue, with red mouth and eyes, garlands and unguents of crimson, red robes, a noose in one hand, a peacock feather (śikhaṇḍinī) [in her hair], binding men, horses and elephants with her horrifying fetters while she stood, capturing many headless ghosts trapped in her noose, leading those asleep in their dreams to other Nights. And at all times the best soldiers saw the son of Droṇa slaughtering. From the time when the battle between the Kuru and Pāṇḍava armies began, they saw [both] that evil spirit and the son of Droṇa. The son of Droṇa later felled those who had first been struck by this divinity [Kālarātri], terrorizing all creatures while shouting out ferocious bellows”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Shikhandini in India is the name of a plant defined with Abrus precatorius in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Abrus cyaneus R. Vig. (among others).
2) Shikhandini is also identified with Jasminum officinale It has the synonym Jasminum officinale var. aureovariegatum Weston (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Contributions from the United States National Herbarium (1905)
· I. Invest. Stud. Nat. (1992)
· Species Plantarum.
· Botanica Macaronesica (1980)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1995)
· Revue de zoologie et de botanique africaines (1932)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Shikhandini, for example pregnancy safety, chemical composition, health benefits, diet and recipes, extract dosage, side effects, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚikhaṇḍinī (शिखण्डिनी).—
1) A pea-hen; बर्हाणामपरशिखण्डिनीं भरेण । आलोक्य व्यवदधतं पुरो मयूरम् (barhāṇāmaparaśikhaṇḍinīṃ bhareṇa | ālokya vyavadadhataṃ puro mayūram) || Śi. 8.11.
2) A kind of jasmine.
3) Name of the daughter of Drupada; see शिखण्डिन् (śikhaṇḍin) above.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śikhaṇḍinī (शिखण्डिनी):—[from śikhaṇḍin > śikhaṇḍa] f. a pea-hen, [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] the shrub Abrus Precatorius, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a daughter of Drupada (afterwards changed to a male; See above), [Mahābhārata]
4) [v.s. ...] of the wife of Antardhāna, [Harivaṃśa; Purāṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] of two Apsaras (daughters of Kaśyapa and regarded as the authoresses of [Ṛg-veda ix, 104]), [Anukramaṇikā]
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)
Full-text: Shikhandi, Cikantikai, Havirdhana, Antardhana, Vrija, Ajina, Vijitashva, Pracetas, Pavamana, Drupada, Dasharna, Bana, Pavaka, Amba, Shukra, Pracinabarhis, Kuru, Shuci, Apsaras.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Shikhandini, Śikhaṇḍinī, Sikhandini; (plurals include: Shikhandinis, Śikhaṇḍinīs, Sikhandinis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section CXCIV < [Uluka Dutagamana Parva]
Section CXCV < [Uluka Dutagamana Parva]
Section XCIX < [Bhagavat-Gita Parva]
Mahabharata (English Summary) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section CXCIV - Sikhandini Seeks the Yaksha's Help to Save Her Family < [Uluka Dutagamana Parva]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 222 < [Volume 23 (1918)]
Devi Tantra, Mantra, Yantra (study) (by Srider Basudevan Iyer)
Description of Goddesses Ratri < [Chapter 3 - Minor Goddesses]
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
Lineages of Manu < [Chapter 6 - Human history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]