Shvetahastin, Śvetahastin, Shveta-hastin: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Shvetahastin means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Śvetahastin can be transliterated into English as Svetahastin or Shvetahastin, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraŚvetahastin (श्वेतहस्तिन्) refers to a “white elephant”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 22, v2).—Accordingly, “In all his births, the Bodhisattva is born apparitionally.—(a) According to some, the Bodhisattva mounted on a white elephant (śvetahastin-abhirūḍha), surrounded, venerated, respected, esteemed and served by innumerable Tuṣita gods, penetrated along with them into the belly of his mother.—(b) According to others, the Bodhisattva’s mother, possessing the concentration like a magic show caused her belly to expand inordinately; all the Bodhisattvas of the trisāhasramahāsāhasradlokadhātu, the Devas, Nāgas and Asuras were able to enter into it and come out. In this belly there is a palace and a platform. The deities set a bed there, hung banners, spread it with flowers and burned incense; all this was the result of the meritorious actions of the Bodhisattva. Next the Bodhisattva comes down and takes his place there and, by the power of his concentration, enters into the womb while staying as previously in the heaven of the Tuṣita gods”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚvetahastin (श्वेतहस्तिन्).—m. Airāvata, Indra's elephant.
Śvetahastin is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śveta and hastin (हस्तिन्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚvetahastin (श्वेतहस्तिन्).—m. (-stī) 1. A white elephant. 2. The elephant of Indra. E. śveta white, and hastin an elephant.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śvetahastin (श्वेतहस्तिन्):—[=śveta-hastin] [from śveta > śvit] m. a wh° elephant, [Horace H. Wilson]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of Airāvata (el° of Indra), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚvetahastin (श्वेतहस्तिन्):—[śveta-hastin] (stī) 5. m. The elephant of Indra.
[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.
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