Shishupala, Sisupala, Śiśupāla, Shishu-pala, Śiṣupāla: 17 definitions

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Introduction:

Shishupala 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 terms Śiśupāla and Śiṣupāla can be transliterated into English as Sisupala or Shishupala, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल).—A king who was an enemy of Kṛṣṇa. The son of Damaghoṣa and King of Cedi. He was an incarnation of Jaya, a gatekeeper of Vaikuṇṭha. He was killed by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa during the Rājasūya sacrifice.

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल) refers to “a demon in Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Śiṣupāla (शिषुपाल) refers to:—A demon killed by Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (see Jaya and Vijaya). (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

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’).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल).—King of Cedi. Previous birth. Jaya and Vijaya, gate-keepers at Vaikuṇṭha were born thrice in asura womb as a result of the curse by munis like Sanaka. They were first born as Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu, next as Rāvaṇa and Kumbhakarṇa and the third time as Śiśupāla and Dantavaktra. (See under Jayavijayas). (See full article at Story of Śiśupāla from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल).—A son of Śrutaśravas and Damaghoṣa; in previous births, Hiraṇyakaśipu killed by Narasimha and Rāvaṇa (Daśagrīva) killed by Rāma; a hater of Hari but was shown grace by Kṛṣṇa;¹ attacked the northern gate of Mathurā and Gomanta when they were besieged by Jarāsandha;² engaged by Bhīṣmaka for his daughter Rukmiṇī under the influence of Rukmin, his eldest son; defeated by Kṛṣṇa who carried off Rukmiṇī; consoled by his friends that Time was not in his favour he returned to his city.³ Protested against the place of honour being given to Kṛṣṇa when Brahmaṛṣis and Rājaṛṣis were available. He vilified him as a cowherd given to drinking and not an observer of Varṇadharma. While the Pāṇḍavas drew their swords, Kṛṣṇa cut off his head.⁴ His friend was Śālva who summoned a conference at Kuṇḍina to which Śiśupāla went.⁵ As he died remembering the Lord, he attained mokṣa;⁶ (see Caidya). Maitreya asked Parāśara how it was that though he was killed by the Lords Narasimha and Rāma, Hiraṇyakaśipu did not attain salvation but was reborn as Śisupāla, and how he attained it when killed by Kṛṣṇa; Parāśara replied that neither Hiraṇyakaśipu nor Rāvaṇa knew that Narasimha or Rāma were the avatārs of Viṣṇu; Śiśupāla knew in his heart of hearts that Kṛṣṇa was God Viṣṇu and welcomed death at his hands. Hence his salvation.⁷

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 40; VII. 1. 17; X. 60. 18; 29. 13; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa 71. 158-59; Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 157-58.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 50. 11 [7]; 52. 11 [15].
3) Ib. X. 53 (whole); 54. 9-17; Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 26. 3 and 7.
4) Ib. X. 74 (whole).
5) Ib. X. 57. 19; 76. 2 [10]; 78. [5]; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 14. 45. 52.
6) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VII. 10. 38; XI. 5. 48; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 29. 122.
7) Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 15. 1-15.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.5) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Śiśupāla) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल) is the name of a daitya chief, presiding over Nitala, according to the Parākhyatantra 5.44-45. Nitala refers to one of the seven pātālas (‘subterranean paradise’). The word pātāla in this tantra refers to subterranean paradises for seekers of otherworldly pleasures and each the seven pātālas is occupied by a regent of the daityas, nāgas and rākṣasas.

The Parākhyatantra is an old Śaiva-siddhānta tantra dating from before the 10th century.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Sisupala was born in the line of the king of Chedi with three eyes and four hands. Just when their parents wanted to abonden them a voice said:

"This thy son, O king, that hath been born will become both fortunate and superior in strength. Therefore thou hast no fear from him. Indeed cherish the child without anxiety. "

(Mahabharata, 2nd book, section xlii)

He was also called 'Sunitha' (Mahabharata, 2nd book, section xxxviii).

He was noted as a "Principal Kshatriya" (Mahabharata, 2nd book, section iv)

According to the Mahabharata, 2nd book, section xxxiii:

"(and) ...king Sisupala endued with great energy and invincible in battle... (all) ...came to the sacrifice of the son of Pandu"

And (Mahabharata, 2nd book, xxxix)

"Vishnu hath been desirous of taking back unto himself the energy that existeth in this Sisupala"

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Shishupala was son of Damaghosha, king of Chedi, by Srutadeva, sister of Vasudeva. Therefore he was not only cousin of Krishna, but also Krishna's implacable foe, because Krishna had carried off Rukmini, his intended wife. He was slain by Krishna at the great sacrifice of Yudhishthira in punishment of opprobrious abuse.

The Mahabharata states that Sisupala was born with three eyes and four arms. His parents were inclined to cast him out, but were warned by a voice not to do so, as his time was not come. It also foretold that his superfluous members should disappear when a certain person took the child into his lap, and that he would eventually die by the hands of that same person. Krishna placed the child on his knees and the extra eye and arms disappeared indicating Shishupala's death was destined at the hands of Krishna.

Shishupala or Sisupala (Sanskrit: शिशुपाल, IAST: Śiśupāla);

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Shishupala was the King of Chedi Kingdom. He was born with three eyes and four hands. As soon as he was born, he screamed and brayed like an ass. His parents and relatives were struck with fear on account of these ill omens. An incorporeal voice from the heavens said, "This boy will be a great warrior. If you place this child in the lap of his slayer, its excess arms and eye will fall off!".

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल).—Name of of a king of the Chedis and son of Damaghoṣa. [According to the Viṣṇu Purāṇa this monarch was, in a previous existence, the unrighteous Hiraṇyakaśipu, king of the Asuras who was killed by Viṣṇu in the form of Narasiṃha. He was next born as the ten-headed Rāvaṇa who was killed by Rāma. Then he was born as the son of Damaghoṣa, and continued his enmity to Kṛṣṇa, the eighth incarnation of Viṣṇu, with even greater implacability; see Śiśupālavadha 1. He denounced Kṛṣṇa when they met at the Rājasūya sacrifice of Yudhiṣṭhira, but his head was cut off by Kṛṣṇa with his discus. His death forms the subject of a celebrated poem by Māgha.] °हन् (han) m. an epithet of Kṛṣṇa.

Derivable forms: śiśupālaḥ (शिशुपालः).

Śiśupāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śiśu and pāla (पाल).

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

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल).—m.

(-laḥ) The sovereign of a country in the central part of India or Chedi, opposed to Krishna and slain by him: his death forms the subject of one of the Hindu epic poems, thence named Siśupala-Badha, by Magha. E. śiśu a child, pāla who cherishes.

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

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल).—m. the name of a king.

Śiśupāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śiśu and pāla (पाल).

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

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल).—[masculine] [Name] of a king slain by Kṛṣṇa.

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

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल):—[=śiśu-pāla] [from śiśu] m. ‘child-protector’, Name of the king of the Cedis inhabiting a country in central India, probably the same as Bundelkhand (See cedi; he was son of Dama-ghoṣa, and is also called Sunītha; his impiety in opposing the worship of Kṛṣṇa is described in the Sabhā-parvan of the Mahā-bhārata; when Yudhi-ṣṭhira was about to perform a Rājasūya sacrifice, numerous princes attended, and Bhīṣma proposed that especial honour should be paid to Kṛṣṇa, who was also present, but Śiśu-pāla objected, and after denouncing Kṛṣṇa as a contemptible person challenged him to fight, whereupon Kṛṣṇa struck off his head with his discus; the Viṣṇu-Purāṇa identifies this impious monarch with the demons Hiraṇya-kaśipu and Rāvaṇa; his death forms the subject of Māgha’s celebrated poem called Śiśupāla-vadha)

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

Śiśupāla (शिशुपाल):—[śiśu-pāla] (laḥ) 1. m. A king of India killed by Krishna.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shishupala 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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