Shonitapura, Shonita-pura, Śoṇitapura, Sonitpur: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Shonitapura means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Śoṇitapura can be transliterated into English as Sonitapura or Shonitapura, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर).—The capital city of Bāṇāsura. This city was protected by Śiva, Kārttikeya, Bhadrakālī, Agni and other divinities. In the battle between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Bāṇa, the former defeated all the sentries and entered the city through the northern gate. Within the fort, Bāṇa was defeated. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Dākṣinātya Pāṭha, Chapter 38 mentions that Śrī Kṛṣṇa released Aniruddha and Uṣā from their prison.
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर) or simply Śoṇita is the name of an ancient town, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.15 (“The penance and reign of Tārakāsura”).—Accordingly, after Tāraka requested boons from Brahmā: “O excellent sage, thus requested by that demon, I granted him two boons and hastened back to my abode. Securing the excellent boon in accordance with his cherished desire, the demon was very glad and went to the town Śoṇita [i.e., śoṇitapura—śoṇitākhyapuraṃ]. That great demon was crowned the king of the three worlds with the permission of Śukra, the preceptor of the demons. [...]”.
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर).—Built by Maya at the command of Bhaṇḍa; a city of Bāṇa; visit of Jarāsandha to: Aniruddha taken to; besieged by the Vṛṣṇis when Bāṇa had imprisoned Aniruddha, and Nārada reported it to them. Bāṇa's army beaten back into the city.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 12. 4; Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. [5. (v) 1], [21 & 65]; 62. 4 and 23; 63. 2-4; Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 33. 11.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर) is a synonym of Koṭivarṣa according to both Hemacandra (Abhidānacintāmaṇi 390) and Puruṣottama (Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 32). Koṭivarṣa is a viṣaya mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions that seems to have comprised the southern part of the Dinajpur district.
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.
India history and geography
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर) was the capital of Bāṇāsura, the ruler of Tripura. Dey identifies it with the town of that name on the bank of the river Kedāra Gaṅgā. Avasthi identifies it with Bānagarh in the Dinajapura district of East Bengal. The above identifications are merely tentative, for Bāṇa is said to have ruled in Tripuri (Mod. Tewar) on the Narmadā river in Madhya Pradeśa, far away from the locus suggested by the scholars.
Sonitpur is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters is located at Tezpur. The name “Sonitpur” is derived from a story found in Hindu epics specifically the Bhāgavata-purāṇa and in the locally composed Kālikā-purāṇa by the Brahmin Pandits where the city was established by Bāṇāsura the eldest son of Bali who did great penance or tapasya to Lord Śiva who promised to look over the city. The Sanskrit word “śoṇita” means blood. The etymology of Tezpur, the headquarter of this district is also based on the story.
According to Tibetan chronicles, the ruler of Darrang (now Sonitpur district) used to pay tribute to Wongme Palder the ruler of Thembang (now West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh) who was a descendant of an exiled Tibetan prince named Lhase Tsangma, brother of Tibetan ruler Ralpacan in the 9th century. [...] In the 16th century, the eastern part of the district, up to the Kameng river, was conquered by the Ahoms. [...] Starting in the 16th century, under the reign of Nara Narayan, the Koch kingdom expanded to a great extent. [...] In 1615, a Mughal army advanced as far as the Kameng, but was soon defeated on both land and water. In 1637, the Mughals defeated and killed Bali Narayan and in the treaty that followed, the entirety of Sonitpur came into Ahom possession. [...] In 1818, the Burmese invaded to restore their preferred monarch on the throne, and forced out the Ahom king and took over his land. [...] In 1826, the British declared war on Myanmar and defeated them in the first Anglo-Burmese War. In the subsequent Treaty of Yandabo, the territory came under British control. Darrang, including present-day Sonitpur district, became a separate district in 1833, and the capital was shifted to Tezpur in 1835.
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
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर).—Name of the city of the demon Bāṇa.
Derivable forms: śoṇitapuram (शोणितपुरम्).
Śoṇitapura is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śoṇita and pura (पुर).
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर).—n.
(-raṃ) The city of Vanasura. E. śoṇita red, and pura city.
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर):—[=śoṇita-pura] [from śoṇita > śoṇ] n. Name of the city of the Asura Bāṇa, [Harivaṃśa; Purāṇa]
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर):—[śoṇita-pura] (raṃ) 1. n. The city of Bānāsur.
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर):—n. Nomen proprium der Stadt des Asura Bāṇa [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 1, 17.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 977.] [Harivaṃśa 3135. 9793. 9824.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa 593.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 62, 23.] umschrieben śoṇitākhyaṃ puram 4. puraṃ sāhvayam [Harivaṃśa 9825]; vgl. rudhire pure [9823.]
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.
Nepali dictionary
Śoṇitapura (शोणितपुर):—n. 1. Mythol. name of the city of the demon Bana; 2. name of the village located near Thankot, Kathmandu;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Shonita, Pur, Pura.
Full-text (+0): Banapura, Devikota, Shonitpur, Umavana, Aniruddha, Subrahmanya, Mahabalipura, Conitapuram, Shonita, Kotivarsha, Citralekha, Bana, Kumbhanda, Gana, Rudhira, Agneya, Bhadra.
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Search found 31 books and stories containing Shonitapura, Shonita-pura, Sonit-pur, Śoṇita-pura, Sonita-pura, Śoṇitapura, Sonitapura, Sonitpur; (plurals include: Shonitapuras, puras, purs, Śoṇitapuras, Sonitapuras, Sonitpurs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Ushaharana Kavya of Trivikrama Pandita (Study) (by Pranesh R. Archak)
Canto 7 - Encounter between Krishna and Shiva < [Chapter 2 - Summary of the Ushaharana-kavya]
Part 1 - The story of Usha and Aniruddha in the Bhagavata Purana < [Chapter 3 - Sources of the Ushaharana-kavya]
Canto 5 - The Meeting of Usha and Aniruddha < [Chapter 2 - Summary of the Ushaharana-kavya]
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 50(b) - The Third Siege of Mathura: Jarāsandha’s defeat < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]
Chapter 62 - Aniruddha taken captive by Bāṇāsura < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]
Chapter 63 - Bāṇa Vanquished—Aniruddha brought to Dvārakā < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]
Festivals and Ceremonies of the Nepalese of Assam (by Monmi Kakati)
Part 6 - Area of the study < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Part 4 - Significance and Importance of the Study < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Part 7 - Economic Condition (of the Nepalese of Assam) < [Chapter 2 - Society and Religion]
Lalitopakhyana (Lalita Mahatmya) (by G.V. Tagare)
Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)
Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)