Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी).—A daughter of Varuṇa and Śunādevī.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 59. 6; Vāyu-purāṇa 84. 6.

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: academia.edu: Yakṣiṇī-sādhana in the Kakṣapuṭa tantra

Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी) is the name of one of the thirty-two Yakṣiṇīs mentioned in the Kakṣapuṭatantra. In the yakṣiṇī-sādhana, the Yakṣiṇī is regarded as the guardian spirit who provides worldly benefits to the practitioner. The Yakṣiṇī (e.g., Surasundarī) provides, inter alia, daily food, clothing and money, tells the future, and bestows a long life, but she seldom becomes a partner in sexual practices.

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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

1) Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी) is the name of a Yakṣiṇī mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Surasundarī).

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी) refers to a “beautiful goddess”, according to the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi [i.e., Cakrasamvara Meditation] ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “By the form of a skull cup, and by the letter Māṃ, Vāruṇī, Eighteen arms, one face, red color, and three eyes, A sword, arrow and hook, on the right, a skull cup, ax and banner, Thus a mace, thus a bell, and in the ninth, granting wishes, A two-headed drum, a bow and noose, a staff and a water pot, A trident, hammer and lute, and thus a number, in the upper hand, A young adolescent beauty, a great beauty, a beautiful goddess (surasundarī)”.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

1) Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी) refers to one of the “sixteen virtuous Jain women”, according to the “Sola satyā” (dealing with the lives of Jain female heroes), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—There is a list of sixteen virtuous Jain women. [...] These women [e.g., Surasundarī] are virtuous because they uphold Jain values and could stand to them even in adverse circumstances. Reciting their names is often part of the morning ritual. Behind names are eventful stories that have been told by several writers and read or listened to by Jain followers.

2) Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी) is the daughter of king Ripumardana from Campā, according to the Surasundarīcarita by Nayasundara.—Accordingly, “In Campā reigned king Ripumardana, whose daughter was Surasundarī. In this city there was a businessman whose son was Amarakumāra (116v). The knot of the story is a childhood episode. [...]”.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी).—

1) a celestial woman; ऊरूद्भवा नरसखस्य मुनेः सुरस्त्री (ūrūdbhavā narasakhasya muneḥ surastrī) V.1.3.

2) Name of Durgā.

Surasundarī is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms sura and sundarī (सुन्दरी). See also (synonyms): surastrī.

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

Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी).—name of a yakṣiṇī: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 567.12; 571.23 (here text °daryāyā, read doubtless °daryā, gen., mantraḥ; prose).

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

Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी).—f. (-rī) 1. An Apsara or courtezan of heaven. 2. A name of Durga. E. sura a deity, sundarī a beauty.

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

Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी).—[feminine] = surayuvati.

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

1) Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी):—[=sura-sundarī] [from sura-sundara > sura > sur] f. a lovely celestial female, Apsaras (-jana m. [plural]), [ib.; Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of Durgā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] of a fairy, [ib.]

4) [v.s. ...] of a woman, [Vetāla-pañcaviṃśatikā]

5) [v.s. ...] a [particular] Yoginī, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

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

Surasundarī (सुरसुन्दरी):—[sura-sundarī] (rī) f. A courtezan of heaven; Durgā.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Sundari, Sura.

Starts with: Surasundaricarita, Surasundarijana.

Full-text: Surasundarijana, Sunadevi, Stuta, Surastri, Vimalayashas, Ripumardana, Amarakumara, Amara, Surasundaricarita, Varuna.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Surasundari, Sura-sundari, Sura-sundarī, Surasundarī; (plurals include: Surasundaris, sundaris, sundarīs, Surasundarīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Triveni Journal

World Perspective of Indian Art < [October - December 1973]

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