Shvetavaraha, Śvetavārāha, Shveta-varaha: 5 definitions

Introduction:

Shvetavaraha means something in 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 Śvetavārāha can be transliterated into English as Svetavaraha or Shvetavaraha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

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

1) Śvetavārāha (श्वेतवाराह) is one of the names of Viṣṇu, as explained in the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.7:—“[...] Nārāyaṇa, the soul of the universe too, became white then. His body was ten yojanas wide and a hundred yojanas long, as huge as the mountain Meru. He had white sharp teeth. His brilliance resembled the sun at the time of dissolution. His snort was long and his roar tremendous. His feet were short. His limbs were of diverse colours. His form as the boar was of matchless firmness which assured his eagerness to be victorious, and he went down quickly. For a thousand years his downward course continued. From that time onwards Viṣṇu came to be called ‘Śvetavārāha’ (white Boar) in all the worlds”.

2) Śvetavārāha (श्वेतवाराह) or Śvetavārāhakalpa refers to one of the thirty Kalpas, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.13 (“The birth of Gaṇeśa”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā said to Nārada: “Due to the difference of Kalpas, the story of the birth of Gaṇeśa is told in different ways. According to one account he is born of the great lord. His head looked at by Śani was cut off and an elephant’s head was put on him. Now we narrate the story of the birth of Gaṇeśa in Śvetakalpa [i.e., śvetavārāha] when his head was cut off by the merciful Śiva. [...]”.

Notes: According to the Purāṇas the legends of one Kalpa are repeated in the other. In this process some modifications in the accounts are bound to happen with the changes in the happenings. The legend of Gaṇeśa as recorded in this chapter belongs to Śvetavārāha-kalpa (Śveta-kalpa). It is distinct from the one referred to above.

Purana book cover
context information

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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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Śvetavārāha (श्वेतवाराह).—

1) a particular Kalpa.

2) the first day in the month of Brahmā.

Derivable forms: śvetavārāhaḥ (श्वेतवाराहः).

Śvetavārāha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śveta and vārāha (वाराह).

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

1) Śvetavārāha (श्वेतवाराह):—[=śveta-vārāha] [from śveta > śvit] m. a [particular] Kalpa, the first day in the month of Brahmā (also ha-kalpa m.), [Catalogue(s)]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of [chapter] of the Vāyu-purāṇa

[Sanskrit to German]

Shvetavaraha 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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Nepali dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shvetavaraha in Nepali glossary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Śveta-vārāha (श्वेत-वाराह):—n. 1. the first day of brahma's age; 2. white bore;

context information

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.

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