Shvetadvipa, Shveta-dvipa, Śvetadvīpa, Śvetadvipa: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Shvetadvipa means something in 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 terms Śvetadvīpa and Śvetadvipa can be transliterated into English as Svetadvipa or Shvetadvipa, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—An island. It was on this island that Mahāviṣṇu performed his austere tapas for obtaining "Brahma Vidyā". It is situated on the northern side of the ocean of milk. It is 32,000 miles above Meru mountain. The inhabitants of Śvetadvīpa are without the sense organs. They do not take food They are rich in "Jñāna" (knowledge). Their bodies give out perpetual fragrance. These sinless people are of white complexion. Their bodies and bones are as hard as Vajrāyudha. Their heads are as broad and flat as umbrellas and their voice as loud as thunder. Each of them has four arms and sixty teeth. All of them worship Śiva. (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Dākṣiṇātya Pāṭha, Chapter 335).
Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप) or “white island” is the name of an ancient region (dvīpa), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.2.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] once the three sisters (i.e., Menā, Dhanyā and Kalāvatī) went to Śvetadvīpa (white island) in the world of Viṣṇu for sightseeing purpose. After bowing to and eulogising Viṣṇu with great devotion they halted there at his bidding. A great concourse of people was held there. O sage, at the same time, Siddhas, sons of Brahmā—Sanaka and others came there. They bowed to and lauded Viṣṇu and stayed there at his bidding”.
Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—Sacred to Hari, visited by Nārada.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 4. 18; X. 6. 24; 87. 10; XI. 15. 18.
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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप) refers to:—The abode of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu in the material creation. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप) or “white island” is a recommended shape for creating parks for devotees, according to the 3rd century Pauṣkarasaṃhitā verse 4.199 (chapter entitled Yāgamaṇḍapa: “characteristics of pendal for maṇḍala worship”).—Accordingly, “ thereafter the ground of the pandal and its entrances should be fumigated with several herbs and various fragrant substances along with the mantras invoking auspicious day, O Twice-born. One may thereafter prepare an excellent park for the sake of the mantric idol of triangular shape or of the shape of white island (i.e., śvetadvīpa), for he residence of the devotees. Thereafter one may accomplish the ritual ending in the ablution ceremony and all other rituals [...]”.
Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप) is the name of a cosmic realm, as discussed in chapter 2 of the (third section of the) Bṛhadbrahmasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text containing over 4600 Sanskrit verses dealing primarily with Vaiṣṇava theology and practical matters concerning the Śrī-Vaiṣṇava community but also discussing aspects of Viśiṣṭādvaita philosophy.—Description of the chapter [ūrdhvaloka-varṇana]: In goloka, in their assigned places, will be found Vāsudeva, Saṇkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha with their consorts and attendants (65-77). The remainder of the chapter turns to the realms which are increasingly sublime, and describes those aspects of deity which are to be found there—Vaikuṇṭha (79-95), Viṣṇuloka (96-110a), Śvetadvīpa (110b-135) and the Milk Ocean (136-151).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
śvētadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—m S The white dvīpa, the name of an island or a minor continent of the earth. Supposed by Wilford to be Britain (Albion).
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Śvetadvipa (श्वेतद्विप).—
1) a white elephant.
2) the elephant of Indra.
Derivable forms: śvetadvipaḥ (श्वेतद्विपः).
Śvetadvipa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śveta and dvipa (द्विप). See also (synonyms): śvetagaja.
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Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—Name of one of the eighteen minor divisions of the known continent; °पतिः (patiḥ) Viṣṇu; श्वेतद्वीपपतिश्चित्तं मनो योगेश्वरोऽवतु (śvetadvīpapatiścittaṃ mano yogeśvaro'vatu) Bhāgavata 1.6.24; श्वेतद्वीपपतौ चित्तं शुद्धे धर्ममये मयि (śvetadvīpapatau cittaṃ śuddhe dharmamaye mayi) Bhāgavata 11.15.18.
Derivable forms: śvetadvīpaḥ (श्वेतद्वीपः).
Śvetadvīpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śveta and dvīpa (द्वीप).
Śvetadvipa (श्वेतद्विप).—m.
(-paḥ) 1. A White elephant. 2. Indra'S elephant. E. śveta white, and dvipa an elephant.
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Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—m.
(-paḥ) The white Island, or a minor division of the universe so called; also termed Chandra-Dwipa, and supposed by Wil- Ford to be Britain. E. śveta white, and dvīpa an island; also śveta q. v.
Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—[masculine] [neuter] [Name] of a sacred place & a myth. island.
1) Śvetadvipa (श्वेतद्विप):—[=śveta-dvipa] [from śveta > śvit] m. a white elephant or Indra’s el° Airāvata, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप):—[=śveta-dvīpa] [from śveta > śvit] mn. ‘wh° island’, Name of a mythical abode of the blessed, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature] etc. (cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 126 n. 1])
3) [v.s. ...] of a sacred place near Kāśī, [Catalogue(s)]
4) [v.s. ...] m. England, [Horace H. Wilson]
1) Śvetadvipa (श्वेतद्विप):—[śveta-dvipa] (paḥ) 1. m. Indra's elephant.
2) Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप):—[śveta-dvīpa] (paḥ) 1. m. White island, a minor division of the universe.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Śvētadvīpa (ಶ್ವೇತದ್ವೀಪ):—[noun] Vaikuṇṭha, abode of Viṣṇu.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shveta, Dvipa.
Starts with: Shvetadvipaya.
Full-text (+1): Kshirasamudra, Bhaumanavadvipa, Shvetagaja, Susamaja, Darshanahetu, Urdhvaloka, Adhina, Shiveccha, Jnanasiddhi, Rupasiddhi, Gariyas, Pramanasiddhi, Devasiddhi, Shivamaya, Urdhvalokavarnana, Avatarana, Vaikuntha, Prashnaprativacana, Kashmira, Shveta.
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Search found 47 books and stories containing Shvetadvipa, Shveta-dvipa, Śveta-dvipa, Sveta-dvipa, Śveta-dvīpa, Svēta-dvīpa, Śvetadvīpa, Svetadvipa, Śvētadvīpa, Śvetadvipa, Svētadvīpa; (plurals include: Shvetadvipas, dvipas, dvīpas, Śvetadvīpas, Svetadvipas, Śvētadvīpas, Śvetadvipas, Svētadvīpas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.24.36 < [Chapter 24 - The Story of Asuri Muni in the Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Verse 5.17.26 < [Chapter 17 - The Gopis Describe Their Remembrance of Sri Krsna]
Verse 1.15.29 < [Chapter 15 - Revelation of the Universal Form to Nanda’s Wife]
Chandogya Upanishad (Madhva commentary) (by Srisa Chandra Vasu)
Third Adhyaya, Thirteenth Khanda (8 mantras)
Eight Adhyaya, Fifth Khanda (4 mantras)
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 4 - Śveta-Dvīpa < [Section 9 - Vāsudeva-māhātmya]
Chapter 7 - Uparicara Vasu Attains Liberation < [Section 9 - Vāsudeva-māhātmya]
Chapter 18 - Incarnations of Vāsudeva < [Section 9 - Vāsudeva-māhātmya]
Brahma Samhita (Jiva Goswami commentary) (by Srila Narayana Maharaja)
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 3 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 1 - Antiquity of the Pañcarātra < [Chapter XVI - The Pañcarātra]
Part 2 - The Position of the Pañcarātra Literature < [Chapter XVI - The Pañcarātra]
Part 7 - Vanamālī Miśra < [Chapter XXI - The Nimbārka School of Philosophy]
Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 1 - The greatness of Nārāyaṇa < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Chapter 3 - Achievement of the Science of Music by Nārada < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
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