Suvrata, Suvratā, Su-vrata: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Suvrata means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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.
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In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanySuvratā (सुव्रता) is another name (synonym) for Śaṭī, which is a Sanskrit name for the plant Hedychium spicatum (spiked ginger lily). This synonym was identified by Narahari in his 13th-century Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 6.226-227), which is an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Suvrata (सुव्रत).—A King of Bharata dynasty. He was the son of Kṣema and father of Viśvajit, (Bhāgavata, Skandha 1).
2) Suvrata (सुव्रत).—A King of the Aṅga royal dynasty. He was the son of King Uśīnara who begot of his wife Nṛgā the son called Nṛga, Nara by his wife, Narā; Kṛmi by the wife Kṛmī; Daśa by the wife Suvratā and Śibi by his wife Dṛṣadvatī. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 277).
3) Suvrata (सुव्रत).—Son of the brahmin Somaśarman. (For details see under Dharmāṅgada).
4) Suvrata (सुव्रत).—A muni of ancient days who lived in North India. He was extraordinarily effulgent and reputed. (Vana Parva, Chapter 90, Verse 12).
5) Suvrata (सुव्रत).—One of the two attendants given to Subrahmaṇya by Mitradeva, the other one being Satyasandha. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 41)
6) Suvrata (सुव्रत).—One of the two attendants given to Subrahmaṇya by Vidhātā, the other one being Sukarman. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 42).
7) Suvratā (सुव्रता).—Daughter of Dakṣaprajāpati by Vīraṇī. She had four sons one each from Dakṣa, Dharma, Brahmā and Rudra. They were respectively Dakṣasāvarṇi. Dharmasāvarṇi, Brahmasāvarṇi and Rudrasāvarṇi. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, 41, 39-59).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationSuvratā (सुव्रता) refers to a “lady of good rites” and is used to describe Pārvatī (i.e., Goddess Śivā), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.8.—Accordingly, Nārada said to Himavat:—“[..] O lord of mountains, she will be the wife of Śiva and will remain his favourite always. She will be a chaste lady of good rites [i.e., suvratā]. She will increase the pleasure of her parents. Performing a penance she will fascinate Śiva’s mind towards herself. He too will marry none else except her. A love akin to this pair will not be found anywhere. Never in the past was it seen nor will it occur in future. Nor it is current now. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Suvrata (सुव्रत).—A son of Kṣema (Kṣemya, Viṣṇu-purāṇa) and father of Dhamasūtra (Dharma, Viṣṇu-purāṇa).*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 48; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 23. 6.
1b) A son of Śveta and a Vānara chief.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 180.
1c) A son of Darvā (Darśa, Matsya-purāṇa) and Uśīnara; chief of the Ambaṣṭa Kingdom;1 ruled for 38 years.2
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 74. 20, 22; Matsya-purāṇa 48. 18, 21; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 20, 22.
- 2) Ib. 99. 304.
1d) A Bṛhadratha; ruled for 64 years.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 74. 116.
1e) A maṇṭapa with 60 pillars.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 270. 3 and 7.
2) Suvratā (सुव्रता).—A daughter of Dakṣa and mother of four Manus;1 got four sons through Brahmā, and they became the originators of four castes, hence Savarnas.2
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesSuvrata (सुव्रत) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.37) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Suvrata) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Suvratā also refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.59.49, I.65).
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraSuvrata (सुव्रत) refers to a variety of maṇḍapa (halls attached to the temple), according to the Matsya-purāṇa (verses 270.1-30). The suvrata-maṇḍapa is to be built with 60 pillars (stambha). The Matsyapurāṇa is one of the eighteen major purāṇas dating from the 1st-millennium BCE.
Accordingly (verse 270.15-17), “These maṇḍapas (e.g., suvrata) should be either made triangular, circular, octagonal or with 16 sides or they are square. They promote kingdoms, victory, longevity, sons, wife and nourishment respecitvely. Temples of other shape than these are inauspicious.”
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraSuvrata (सुव्रत) refers to “devout men”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 15) (“On the nakṣatras—‘asterisms’”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Those who are born on the lunar day of Kṛttikā will delight in white flowers, will perform sacrificial rites, will be Brāhmins, potters, priests or astronomers. Those who are born on the lunar day of Rohiṇī will be devout men [i.e., suvrata], merchants, rulers, rich men, Yogis, drivers, or men possessed of cows, cattle and the animals of water, farmers and men possessed of wealth derived from mountain produce”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramSuvrata (सुव्रत) refers to “good vows”, according to the Kularatnoddyota verse 2.12-20.—Accordingly, “O one of good vows (suvrata), I have talked about Ādinātha and the goddess who originates from his body. When he had enacted this most excellent union with her and externalized all the Kramamaṇḍala from his body, the lord of the gods worshipped it. (He did so) along with the mantras and Vidyās and (their) limbs with heaps of the aforementioned sacrificial substances as divine offerings and with lamps of many forms fed by the Great Clarified Butter (made from human fat). (He also made) food offerings born from the energy of his will, (with many kinds of) human flesh, divine offerings of flowers and tasty food, (each offered) separately”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraSuvrata (सुव्रत) refers to a “strict religious observance”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 6.15cd-18]—“[...] Someone with a diminished body quickly becomes nourished through an oblation of chick-pea sized pellets of the resin of the guggula tree [that have been] oiled three times in strict religious observance (suvrata). When a man is seen to be afflicted with 100 diseases [and] weak, [he] is released [when the Mantrin] envelops his name [with the mṛtyuñjaya mantra] and recites [it]”.
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 BuddhismSuvrata (सुव्रत) is the name of a Tathāgata (Buddha) 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 Suvrata).
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: Wisdom Library: JainismSuvratā (सुव्रता) is the mother of Dharmanātha, the fifteenth of twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras in Janism, according to the Ācāradinakara (14th century work on Jain conduct written by Vardhamāna Sūri). A Tīrthaṅkara is an enlightened being who has conquered saṃsāra (cycle of birth and death), leaving behind him a path for others to follow.
The husband of Suvratā is Bhānu. It is an ancient Jain practice to worship the Tīrthaṅkara’s parents in various rites, such as the pratiṣṭhāvidhi.
Source: archive.org: The Jaina IconographySuvratā (सुव्रता) is the mother of Dharmanātha: the fifteenth of twenty-four Tīrthaṃkaras or Jinas, commonly depicted in Jaina iconography.—Dharmanātha’s father’s name was Bhānu Rāja and his mother’s name Suvratā. He was born at Ratnapura. He obtained the name of Dharmanātha because he saved mankind from miseries. There is tradition also that the Jina’s mother performed many acts of religion while bearing him in the womb. Hence the name of the child as Dharmanātha.
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1a) Suvrata (सुव्रत) or Munisuvrata refers to the twentieth of the twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras praised in the first book (ādīśvara-caritra) [chapter 1] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Suvrata is the son of Padmā and Sumitra, according to chapter 1.6, “[...] In Bharata there will be twenty-three other Arhats and eleven other Cakrins. [...] The son of Padmā and Sumitra, Suvrata, in Rājagṛha, black, aged thirty thousand years, twenty bows tall, will have the vow for seven thousand five hundred years, and the interval between Jinas will be fifty-four lacs of years”.
1b) Suvrata (सुव्रत) is the name of an ancient Ācārya, according to chapter 4.3 [vimalanātha-caritra].—Accordingly:—“Now in this Jambūdvīpa in the East Videhas in the city Ānandakarī, there was a king, Nandisumitra. [...] One day, he abandoned the kingdom already abandoned in mind and became a mendicant under Ācārya Suvrata. Observing many private vows, practicing penance hard to perform, he fasted, died, and became a god in Anuttara. [...]”.
1c) Suvrata (सुव्रत) is the son of Munisuvrata and Prabhāvatī, according to chapter 6.7 [śrī-munisuvratanātha-caritra].—Accordingly:—“ [...] Though his soul was purified by the three kinds of knowledge, pretending lack of knowledge to the people by childish play, the Lord gradually grew up. When he had become a young man, twenty bows tall, he married princesses, Prabhāvatī, and others. Then Queen Prabhāvatī bore a son, named Suvrata, to Lord Munisuvrata, like the east the moon. When seven and a half thousand years had passed, the Lord assumed the burden of the kingdom imposed by his father”.
2a) Suvratā (सुव्रता) is the wife of king king Bhānu from Ratnapura, according to chapter 4.5 [dharmanātha-caritra].—Accordingly:—“Bhānu’s wife was named Suvratā, an unusually virtuous wife, excelling the bees in attendance on his lotus-feet. Surely her low speech had been taught by the cuckoos, her skill in walking by the haṃsas, her glances by the deer. Modesty was her companion, a wealth of good conduct her maid, good-breeding her chamberlain. This was her natural retinue. [...] At that time Dṛḍharatha’s soul, living in Vaijayanta, immersed in pleasure, completed its maximum life-period. The soul fell on the seventh day of the bright half of Rādha, the moon being in Puṣpa, and entered Lady Suvratā’s womb. [...]”.
2b) Suvratā (सुव्रता) is name of an ancient Nun, according to chapter 5.3 [śāntinātha-caritra].—Accordingly, as king Vajrāyudha said to the Vidyādhara Pavanavega:—“[...] Queen Prabhaṅkarā, upright and fair by nature, practiced the moon-penance at the side of the nun Suvratā. As the fruit of that penance, even without right-belief, et cetera, after death she became your daughter Śāntimatī. Datta’s soul became the Vidyādhara, Ajitasena, and he kidnaped her because of his former love. [...]”.
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 dictionarySuvrata (सुव्रत).—a. strict in the observance of religious vows, strictly virtuous or religious.
-taḥ a religious student. (-tā) 1 a virtuous wife.
Suvrata is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and vrata (व्रत).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySuvrata (सुव्रत).—name of a śreṣṭhin's son: Gaṇḍavyūha 51.21.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySuvrata (सुव्रत).—mfn.
(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) Virtuous, strict, rigidly observing any religious vow or obligation. m.
(-taḥ) 1. The twentieth Jina of the present age; also named Munisuvrata. 2. One of the Jainas of the future era. 3. The religious student. f.
(-tā) 1. The mother of the fifteenth Jaina of the present age. 2. A cow easily milked, one of a tractable and gentle disposition. 3. A virtuous wife. E. su well, good, vrata a vow.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySuvrata (सुव्रत).—I. adj. rigidly observing any religious vow or obligation, virtuous,
Suvrata is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and vrata (व्रत).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySuvrata (सुव्रत).—[adjective] ruling well; religious, pious, virtuous; [masculine] & [feminine] ā a man’s & woman’s name.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Suvrata (सुव्रत) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—an historian, who was one of the sources of Kalhaṇa. Rājataraṅgiṇī 1, 11.
2) Suvrata (सुव्रत):—poet. [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Suvrata (सुव्रत):—[=su-vrata] [from su > su-yaj] mf(ā)n. ruling well, [Ṛg-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]
2) [v.s. ...] strict in observing religious vows, very religious or virtuous (often in [vocative case]), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] tractable (as a horse or cow), [Mahābhārata]
4) [v.s. ...] m. a religious student, [Horace H. Wilson]
5) [v.s. ...] Name of one of Skanda’s attendants, [Mahābhārata]
6) [v.s. ...] of a Prajā-pati, [Rāmāyaṇa]
7) [v.s. ...] of a son of Manu Raucya, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
8) [v.s. ...] of a son of Nābhāga, [Rāmāyaṇa]
9) [v.s. ...] of a son of Uśīnara, [Harivaṃśa]
10) [v.s. ...] of a son of Kṣemya, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
11) [v.s. ...] of a son of Priya-vrata, [Horace H. Wilson]
12) [v.s. ...] of a scholar, [Colebrooke]
13) [v.s. ...] of a historian, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]
14) [v.s. ...] of a poet, [Catalogue(s)]
15) [v.s. ...] (with Jainas) of the 20th Arhat of the present Avasarpiṇī (also called Munisuvrata) and of the 11th Arhat of the future Utsarpiṇī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
16) Suvratā (सुव्रता):—[=su-vratā] [from su-vrata > su > su-yaj] f. a [particular] fragrant plant, [Bhāvaprakāśa]
17) [v.s. ...] a cow that is easily milked, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
18) [v.s. ...] a virtuous wife, [Horace H. Wilson]
19) [v.s. ...] Name of an Apsaras, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
20) [v.s. ...] of a daughter of Dakṣa, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
21) [v.s. ...] of the mother of the 15th Arhat of the present age, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
22) [v.s. ...] of a princess, [Dharmaśarmābhyudaya]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySuvrata (सुव्रत):—[su-vrata] (taḥ) 1. m. The 20th Jina of this age; one of a future age; a religious student. 1. f. Mother of the 15th Jina; good wife; cow easily milked. a. Vow-observing, virtuous, strict.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Suvrata (सुव्रत) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Suvvaya, Suvvayā.
[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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusSuvrata (ಸುವ್ರತ):—
1) [noun] a right, valuable vow.
2) [noun] a right, correct regulation, rule.
3) [noun] a man who observes customs, religious observances, strictly and regularly.
4) [noun] (jain.) name of the twentieth of the twenty four Jinas.
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: Vrata, Cu, Shu.
Starts with: Suvratadatta, Suvratasvara.
Ends with: Devasuvrata, Munisuvrata, Pashuvrata, Upamshuvrata, Vasuvrata.
Full-text (+54): Munisuvrata, Suvvaya, Suvratadatta, Sauvratya, Suvratasvara, Dharmasutra, Bhanu, Kshemya, Dharmanetra, Dharma, Kshulika, Sumitra, Sunetra, Vriddhaparasharisamhita, Rajagriha, Baladeva, Dharmanatha, Ratnapura, Nishpurana, Anupaskrita.
Relevant text
Search found 66 books and stories containing Suvrata, Su-vrata, Su-vratā, Suvratā; (plurals include: Suvratas, vratas, vratās, Suvratās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Part 3 - On patriarchs < [Chapter 5]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 7: Future Tīrthaṅkaras < [Chapter VI]
Part 4: Birth of Dharmanātha < [Chapter V - Śrī Dharmanāthacaritra]
Part 3: Dharmanātha’s parents (king Bhānu and queen Suvratā) < [Chapter V - Śrī Dharmanāthacaritra]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
2.3. Rudra as Śarva < [Chapter 6a - The Epithets of Rudra-Śiva]
5. Protective or benevolent activities of Śiva < [Chapter 5 - Rudra-Śiva in the Purāṇic Literature]
Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 21 - Suvrata’s Devotion to Viṣṇu < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
Chapter 22 - Dharmāṅgada Born as Suvrata < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
Chapter 31 - The Account of Suvrata < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)