Shrikantha, Śrīkaṇṭha, Shri-kantha, Shrikamtha: 26 definitions

Introduction:

Shrikantha 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 Śrīkaṇṭha can be transliterated into English as Srikantha or Shrikantha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy

1) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—Eighth of the twelve emanations of Rudra, according to the Rūpamaṇḍana. He should be clad in embroidered clothes (chitravastra), and ornamented with all ornaments including an yajñopavīta of superior workmanship (chitra-yajñopavīta) and must be very good looking. He has four arms and only one face. In his hands he should be carrying the khaḍga, the dhanus, the bāṇa and kheṭaka.

2) According to the Aṃśumadbhedāgama, Śrīkaṇṭha (7th class Vidyeśvara) has also four arms in two of which he carries the śūla and the ṭaṅka and holds the others in the varada and abhaya poses (just like Sūkṣma). And he is standing upon a padmapīṭha and is draped in red garments.

Shilpashastra book cover
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Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Shrikantha in Shaivism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

1) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ), one of the fifty Rudras according to the Caryāpāda section of the Makuṭāgama (one of the 28 Saiva Siddhanta Agamas).

2) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) refers to one of the “eight embodiments” (mūrtyaṣṭaka) of Śiva according to the Svacchandatantra 10.1161–1162 where they are identical with the eight vidyeśvaras (lords of knowledge). The eight embodiments are also mentioned in a copper-plate inscription found in Malhar, Chhattisgarh, written around 650 CE.

All these manifestations of Śiva (e.g., Śrīkaṇṭha) appear at the borders of various divisions of the universe according to the Lākula system.

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is the Sanskrit name of a deity presiding over Vimaleśvara, one of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, which is one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas. The list of sixty-eight svāyambhuvaliṅgas and presiding deities (e.g., Śrīkaṇṭha) is found in the commentary on the Jirṇoddhāra-daśaka by Nigamajñānadeva. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is the name of a teacher to whom the Kāpālika doctrine was revelead, mentioned in the Śābaratantra. The disciple of Śrīkaṇṭha is mentioned as being Malayārjuna. The Śābara-tantra is an early tantra of the Kāpālika sect containing important information about the evolution of the Nātha sect. It also lists the twelve original Kāpālika teachers (eg., Śrīkaṇṭha). Several of these names appear in the Nātha lists of eighty-four Siddhas and nine Nāthas.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) refers to one of the eighteen teachers of Āgama digests (paddhati) according to a theory where the sacred knowledge emanated from Śiva is said to have taught by Nandin to Sanaka, Sanātana, Sanandana and Sanatkumāra. Out of the four mutts established by them on the slopes of Himalayas, other eighteen mutts are established by Āgamic seers (e.g., Śrīkaṇṭha), who authored the manuals named after their respective founders. The śaivāgama digests are termed as paddhati: manuals compiled by the teachers who have condensed the subject matter from the śloka-based Mūlāgamasand and presented them in the form of prayoga.

Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the Āgamas

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is a manifestation of Śiva who appeared on mount Kailāsa in order to spread the Śaivśāstras, according to a commentary on the Tantrāloka.—Of these sixty-four Śaiva-śāstras most disappeared with the growing influence of the Kali age and with the gradual disappearance of the Ṛṣis who, having learnt the Śāstras, were the repositories of their knowledge. As, thus, with the disappearance of the Śāstras the world became engrossed in spiritual darkness, Śiva,—as the Deity is called,—took pity on men and, appearing on the Kailāsa mountain in the form of Śrīkaṇṭha, commanded the Sage Durvāsas to spread in the world the knowledge of these Śāstras again.

Shaivism book cover
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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.

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Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—The Sanskrit name for a classification of a ‘temple’, according to the Agnipurāṇa, featuring a list of 45 temple types. It is listed under the group named Triviṣṭapa, featuring octagonal-shaped temples. This list represents the classification of temples in North-India.

Vastushastra book cover
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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.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Shrikantha in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) refers to an epithet of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.41.—Accordingly, as Viṣṇu and others eulogized Śiva:—“[...] obeisance to Vīra, Vīrabhadra, the protector of heroes, the trident-holder, the great lord of mankind. Obeisance to Him of the heroic soul of perfect learning, Śrīkaṇṭha, Pinākin, the endless, the subtle, the one whose anger is the cause of death”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ).—See Śiva.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 24. 63; 25. 19; IV. 30. 40.
Purana book cover
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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.

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Kavya (poetry)

[«previous next»] — Shrikantha in Kavya glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

1) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is the name of a kingdom whose king is mentioned as being Ādityaprabha, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 20. His story was told by Yaugandharāyaṇa to king Udayana in order to demonstrate that a sensible man will not injure one who treats him well, for whoever does, will find that it turns out unfortunately for himself.

2) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is the name of a Brāhman from Vārāṇasī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 74. Accordingly, as a Nīlakaṇṭha said to Bhīmabhaṭa: “... I am Nīlakaṇṭha, the son of a Brāhman named Śrīkaṇṭha, who lived at Vārāṇasī; and after all the ceremonies had been performed for me, and I had learnt knowledge in the family of my spiritual preceptor, I returned home and found all my relations dead...”.

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

Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara

Śrikaṇṭha (श्रिकण्ठ) is the name of an important person (viz., an Ācārya or Kavi) mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—Another name of Lord Śiva. Who first time instructed Vaikuṇṭha and sixty-four disciples in the discipline of Kāvyavidyā.

Source: academia.edu: Gleanings from Atula’s Musikavamsa

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is the patron of Atula, the author of the Mūṣikavaṃśa, an historical poem.—From the work, it can also be gathered that the author was a court poet of the Mūṣika king, Śrīkaṇṭha, alias Rājadharma. with whose description the existing version of the poem comes to an end. [...] In view of the fact that the king Śrīkaṇṭha, contemporary of Atula, is referred to by the term Kartṝṇāṃ, which could signify kāri also, M.G.S. Narayanan identifies him with Kandan Kāri of the Eramam—Chalapuram inscription belonging to AD 1020 and maintains that the work has to be assigned to the first half of the 11th century.

Kavya book cover
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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’.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

[«previous next»] — Shrikantha in Ayurveda glossary

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgraha

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is another name for “Candana” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning śrīkaṇṭha] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

Ayurveda book cover
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Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Shrikantha in Shaktism glossary
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) or Śrīkaṇṭhanātha is the name of the Siddha associated with the sacred seat of Kāmarūpa, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.

2) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) refers to one of the eight Bhairavas (bhairava-aṣṭaka) associated with Tisrapīṭha (located in the ‘end of sound’—nādānta), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—[...] The eight Bhairavas (bhairavāṣṭaka): Candragarbha, Arghīśa, Mahānanda, Kāmāri, Pralamba, Viśveśvara, Śrīkaṇṭha, Vilamba.

3) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) also refers to one of the Siddhas of the Tradition of the Eastern House (pūrvagṛha-āmnāya), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.

Shaktism book cover
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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.

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Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is mentioned as a Vedānta teacher in chapter 15 of the (fourth part of the) Śāṇḍilyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 3600 Sanskrit verses dealing with devotion towards Kṛṣṇa who is identified with the Supreme, as well as ethical behavior and pious practices to be observed by devotees (bhaktas).—Description of the chapter [bhaviṣyadācārya-nirūpaṇa]: A more detailed prediction is made concerning the (tempting) avatāras God will take as Buddha (1-8). [...] Those who appear to counter-argue the Buddhists and Jains number among themselves such names as: Vyāsa [...]. Then come Vedānta teachers and expounders of Vyāsa’s system, Gauḍapāda, Govinda, Devadarśana, Śrīkaṇṭha, Kumāra, et. al. (17-23). [...]

Pancaratra book cover
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Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Shrikantha in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) is the wife of Śrīmatī and Vidyādhara-king Atīndra from Meghapura, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.1 [origin of the rākṣasavaṃśa and vānaravaṃśa] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly:—“[...] After innumerable lords of Rakṣodvīpa had come and gone thus, Kīrtidhavala was lord of the Rākṣasas in the congregation of Śreyāṃsa. At that time there was a renowned king of Vidyādharas, Atīndra, in the city Meghapura on Mount Vaitāḍhya. By his wife, Śrīmatī, he had a son, Śrīkaṇṭha, and a daughter, Devī, like a goddess in beauty. The Vidyādhara-lord, Puṣpottara, lord of Ratnapura, asked the fair-eyed maiden in marriage for his son Padmottara. By the decree of fate, Atīndra did not give her to him, though he was meritorious and distinguished, but he gave her to Kīrtidhavala. [...]”.

General definition book cover
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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.

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India history and geography

Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) (identified with Thanesvar) is the name of a country included in an international list of students participating in universities of ancient India, as depicted in the Kathās (narrative poems) such as Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kāvya poetry).—Page 150.17 f. & 151.1-5: There is described an educational institution which included students from [e.g., Śrīkaṇṭha] [...]. The courses of study comprised Vyākaraṇa, Buddhism, Sāṃkhya, Nyāya, Anekānta or Jaina and Lokāyata or Cārvāka philosophies. At another place (151.6-11) the prince came across persons who cultivated the seventy-two arts and sixty-four sciences, [...].

India history book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shrikantha in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ).—an epithet of Śiva; श्रीकण्ठपदलाञ्छनः (śrīkaṇṭhapadalāñchanaḥ) (bhavabhūtiḥ) Mv.1.4/5.

2) of the poet Bhavabhūti; श्रीकण्ठपदलाञ्छनः (śrīkaṇṭhapadalāñchanaḥ) Uttararāmacarita 1. °सखः (sakhaḥ) an epithet of Kubera.

Derivable forms: śrīkaṇṭhaḥ (श्रीकण्ठः).

Śrīkaṇṭha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śrī and kaṇṭha (कण्ठ).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ).—(1) name of some tree or woody plant: (homaṃ cāṣṭasahasraṃ tu khadirendhanavahninā,) pālāśaṃ cāpi śrīkaṇṭhaṃ bilvodumbara cākṣakaṃ (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 136.2 (verse); (2) name of a nāga king: Megh 306.8; Mahā-Māyūrī 246.21.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ).—m.

(-ṇṭhaḥ) 1. Siva. 2. A country N. W. of Delhi, or about Thaneshwar. 3. Bhavabhuti, the author of the Malati-Madhava, a celebrated drama. E. śrī prosperity or eloquence, kaṇṭha the throat.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ).—[masculine] a kind of bird; [Epithet] of Śiva & of Bhavabūti, [Name] of [several] men.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—is often confounded with Śitikaṇṭha.

2) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—father of Lakṣmīdhara (Iṣṭikārikā). W. p. 52.

3) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—younger brother of Maṇḍana, son of Śrīgarbha, a contemporary of Maṅkha. Śrīkaṇṭhacarita 25, 54.

4) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—poet. Śp. p. 93 (mentions a king Śrīmalladeva). [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa]

5) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—Muhūrtamuktāvalī.

6) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—Vṛttaratnākaraṭīkā.

7) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—Vṛndāvanakāvyaṭīkā.

8) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—pupil of Rāmakaṇṭha: Ratnatrayaparīkṣā.

9) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—mentioned as a Śaivāgama teacher by Vedajñāna. Hz. 2 p. 105.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—[=śrī-kaṇṭha] [from śrī] m. ‘beautiful-throated’, a [particular] bird, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of Śiva (cf. nīla-k), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] (with Śaivas) Name of [particular] emancipated spirits, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]

4) [v.s. ...] of the poet Bhavabhūti, [Mālatīmādhava]

5) [v.s. ...] of a [particular] Rāga (in music), [Saṃgīta-sārasaṃgraha]

6) [v.s. ...] of various authors and other men (also with ācārya, dīkṣita, paṇḍita etc.), [Catalogue(s)]

7) [v.s. ...] of an arid district north-west of Delhi, [Vāsavadattā, [Introduction]]

8) [v.s. ...] of a peak in the Himālayas, [Inscriptions]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śrīkaṇṭha (श्रीकण्ठ):—[śrī-kaṇṭha] (ṇṭhaḥ) 1. m. Shiva; a country N. W. of Dihlī.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shrikantha in German

context information

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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shrikantha in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śrīkaṃṭha (ಶ್ರೀಕಂಠ):—

1) [noun] Śiva, the poison-throated.

2) [noun] (mus.) name of a rāga (musical mode).

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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