Images (photo gallery)

(+11 more images available)

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy

Svāhā (स्वाहा):—The consort of Paśupati (aspect of Śiva, as in, one of the eight names of Rudra) according to the Pādma-purāṇa. (according to the Viṣṇu-purāṇa she is called Vikesī)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)

Svāhā (स्वाहा) is the wife of Agni, whose iconography is described in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—Goddess Svāhā is the wife of Agni. In the Svāhopākhyāna of Prakṛtikhaṇḍa of the Brahmavaivarttapurāṇa, the role of Svāhā is considered to be very important in delivering the offerings to the deities. In the Brahmavaivarttapurāṇa, Svāhā is believed as the burning power of Agni as she is his wife and it is stated here that without her, Agni cannot burn anything. So it can be assumed that Svāhā and Agni, both need to be together for the accomplishment of the duty of Agni. Taking this concept from earlier Purāṇas, the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa seems to instruct to place the idol of Svāhā on the left lap of her husband. This book says that she should hold a vessel of jewelry in her hand. In the Śilparatna, no description of the wife of Agni is found.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śāktism

Svāhā (स्वाहा):—Name of one of the goddesses to be worshipped during Āvaraṇapūjā (“Worship of the Circuit of Goddesses”), according to the Durgāpūjātattva (“The truth concerning Durgā’s ritual”). They should be worshipped with either the five upācāras or perfume and flowers.

Her mantra is as follows:

ह्रीं ओं स्वाहायै नमः
hrīṃ oṃ svāhāyai namaḥ

Source: Kamakoti Mandali: The Yoginis of Narasimha Vyuha

Svāhā (स्वाहा) is the name of a Mātṛkā-Śakti created by Mahārudra in order to control the plague of demons created by Andhakāsura.—Accordingly, Andhaka-Asura tried to kidnap Umā (Devī Pārvatī), and was fiercely attacked by Mahārudra who shot arrows at him from his mahāpināka. when the arrows pierced the body of Andhakāsura, drops of blood fell to earth and from those drops, thousands of Andhakas arose. To control this plague of demons, Mahārudra created Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Svāhā] and ordered them to drink the blood of the demons and drain them dry.

Source: Kamakoti Mandali: Nrisimha matrika-mandala

Svāhā (स्वाहा) refers to one of the various Mātṛkā-Śaktis created by Rudra in order to destroy the clones that spawned from Andhaka’s body.—Accordingly, [...] Andhakāsura attempted to abduct Girājanandinī (Pārvatī) and thus ensued a fierce battle between Andhakāsura and the great Rudra, the Lord of Umā. Like raktabīja, every drop of blood that fell from the body of Andhaka created another Asura like him and in no time, the entire world was filled with Andhakas. To destroy the growing number of Andhakas, Rudra created innumerable Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Svāhā]. These Śaktis of immense power at once began to drink every drop of blood that flowed from the body of Andhaka, but they could still not effectively contain the emergence of more and more demons.

context information

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: The Matsya-purāṇa

Svāhā (स्वाहा) is the name of a mind-born ‘divine mother’ (mātṛ), created for the purpose of drinking the blood of the Andhaka demons, according to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.8. The Andhaka demons spawned out of every drop of blood spilled from the original Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon). According to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.35, “Most terrible they (e.g., Svāhā) all drank the blood of those Andhakas and become exceedingly satiated.”

The Matsyapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 20,000 metrical verses, dating from the 1st-millennium BCE. The narrator is Matsya, one of the ten major avatars of Viṣṇu.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Svāhā (स्वाहा).—A daughter of Bṛhaspati. This Svāhā who was always angry had a son named Kāma. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 219, Verse 22).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Svāhā (स्वाहा) is one of the twenty-four daughters of Dakṣa by Prasūti: one of the three daughters of Svāyambhuvamanu and Śatarūpā, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.16:—“Dakṣa begot twenty-four daughters. The eleven younger daughters were [... Svāhā,...]. The great aspirants [Vahni] and others took the hands of these famous daughters (e.g., Svāhā married the fire-god/Vahni). Thereupon the entire universe consisting of three worlds, mobile and immobile was filled (with progeny). Thus according to their own actions and at the bidding of Śiva innumerable famous Brahmins were born out of the various living beings”.

2) Svāhā (स्वाहा) refers to one of the sixteen celestial ladies (Divyanārī), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.50 (“Description of fun and frolic”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] Then the sixteen celestial ladies arrived there and saw the couple [i.e., Śiva and Pārvatī] with great respect. They were Sarasvatī, Lakṣmī, Sāvitrī, Jāhnavī, Aditi, Śacī, Lopāmudrā, Arundhatī, Ahalyā, Tulasī, Svāhā, Rohiṇī, Vasundharā, Śatarūpā, Saṃjñā and Rati. There were several virgins of the gods, Nāgas, and the sages. They were charming and attractive. Who can enumerate them? [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1) Svāha (स्वाह).—A son of Vṛjinīvān.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 44. 16.

2a) Svāhā (स्वाहा).—A daughter of Dakṣa and the mother of Pāvaka, Pavamāna and Śucī through Paśupati-Agni; from these three have sprung up forty-five agnis. All of them form a group of 49 agnis.¹ Mode of offering in invoking devas while svadhā for invoking Pitṛs.²

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IV. 1. 60-61; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 1. 62; II. 9. 52, 56; 10. 81. 12. 3; Vāyu-purāṇa 1. 76; 10. 28, 32; 27. 53; 29. 1; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 7. 25, 27; 8. 8; 10. 14-15.
• 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 3. 25; 11. 18 and 116.

2b) A god of one of the ten branches of the Harita gaṇa.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 1. 85; Vāyu-purāṇa 100. 89.

2c) The goddess enshrined at Māheśvarapura.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 13. 42.

2d) A mind-born mother.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 179. 20.

2e) For karmas associated with Devas and yajñas like svadhā for Pitṛs.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 75. 77.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Svāhā (स्वाहा) refers to one of the daughters of Dakṣa and Prasūti: one of the two daughters of Manu-svāyaṃbhuva and Śatarūpā, according to the Vaṃśa (‘genealogical description’) of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, Ākūti was married to Ruci and Prasūti to Dakṣa. Dakṣa produced in Prasūti twenty-four daughters. [...] [Svāhā was given to Agni.] Agni and Svāhā had three sons—Pāvaka, Pavamāna and Vaidyuta-Pāvaka.

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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Svāhā (स्वाहा) or Svāhāmudrā refers to one of the Mudrās (gestures) discussed in chapter 31 of the Mārkaṇḍeyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2200 Sanskrit verses mainly dealing with temple-building, iconography, pūjā (worship procedures), utsava (festivities) and prāyaścitta (expiatory measures).—Description of chapter [mudrā-vidhāna]: As a part of worship [pūjāṅga], it is ordained in the śāstras that certain mudrā-gestures be done to please the gods (1). The ones listed and described are [e.g., Svāhā-mudrā] [...]. When some of these are to be used in the worship of God is given (49b-58).

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Svāhā (स्वाहा, “invocation-at-offering”):—She is the wife of Agni, one of the most important Vedic gods representing divine illumination. Together they have three sons:

1. Pāvaka,
2. Pāvamāna
3. and Śuci.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

1) In Hinduism and Buddhism, svāhā is an interjection, approximately "hail!" in mantras indicating the end of the mantra. In the Tibetan language, "svaha" is translated as "so be it" and is often pronounced and orthographically represented as "soha". Whenever fire sacrifices are made, svāhā is chanted. Etymologically, the term is probably from su "well" and the root ah "to call".

etymology: svāhā (Romanized Sanskrit transcription; Devanagari: स्वाहा, chi. 薩婆訶 sà pó hē, jp. sowaka, tib. སྭཱཧཱ་ soha)

2) As a feminine noun, svāhā in the Rigveda may also mean "oblation" (to Agni or Indra).

3) As oblation personified, Svāhā is a minor goddess, and the wife of Agni. She was originally a nymph but became immortal after marrying Agni. In some versions, she is one of the many divine mothers of Kartikeya. She is also the mother of Aagneya (Aagneya) - the daughter of Agni. She is considered to be a daughter of Daksha. She is thought to preside over burnt offerings. Her body is said to consist of the four Vedas and her six limbs are the six Angas of the Vedas.It is said that the gods to whom offerings are being made through yagna refuse the offerings unless the word 'svaha' is uttered during the sacrifice.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: The Jaina Iconography

Svāhā (स्वाहा) is the wife of Agni, one of the Dikpāla or “guardians of the quarters”, a class of deities within Jainism commonly depicted in Jaina art and iconography.—[...] Agni’s wife is Svāhā and he has the charge of the south-eastern regions.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Svāhā (स्वाहा) is the wife of Dhūmakeśa: chaplain of king Cakradhvaja from Cakrapura, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4 [Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “[...] Devoted to pleasures, Kayāna wandered through the forest of existence for a long time and became the son, Piṅgala, of King Cakradhvaja’s chaplain, Dhūmakeśa by name, by his wife Svāhā, in the city Cakrapura. Piṅgala studied under one teacher with Atisundari, King Cakradhvaja’s daughter. As time passed, they became attached to each other; and Piṅgala seized her by a trick and went to the city Vidagdha. Packing in any skilled knowledge, he earned his living there by selling straw, wood, et cetera. For that is suitable for a worthless person”.

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

Svāhā (स्वाहा).—

1) An oblation or offering made to all gods indiscriminately.

2) Name of the wife of Agni; स्वाहा चैव विभावसोः (svāhā caiva vibhāvasoḥ) (patidevatā) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 13.146.5. -ind.An exclamation used in offering oblation to the gods (with dat.); इन्द्राय स्वाहा (indrāya svāhā); अग्नये स्वाहा (agnaye svāhā) &c.

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

Svāhā (स्वाहा).—Ind. An exclamation uttered at the time of making an offering to the gods, (used with a noun in the dative.) f.

(-hā) 1. A personification of the preceding, as the wife of fire, and goddess presiding over burnt offerings. 2. An oblation made to Gods indiscriminately. 3. A female divinity, peculiar to the Baud'dhas. E. su well, auspiciously, āṅ before hveñ to call, to invoke, (the gods,) and ḍā aff.; or svād to taste, aff. ā, and da changed to ha .

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

Svāhā (स्वाहा).—I. indecl. An exclamation on offering to the gods. Ii. f. A personification of the preceding as the wife of fire, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 1, 56.

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

Svāhā (स्वाहा).—an exclam, used in making oblations = hail to ([dative]), or at the end of an invocation = Amen; as [feminine] a personification of the daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Agni.

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

1) Svāhā (स्वाहा):—[=sv-āhā] ind. ([probably] [from] 5. su and √ah; cf. dur-āhā) hail! hail to! may a blessing rest on! (with [dative case]; an exclamation used in making oblations to the gods; with √kṛ [indeclinable participle] -kāram, or -kṛtya and [accusative] ‘to pronounce the exclamation Svāhā over’), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

2) [v.s. ...] f. an oblation (offered to Agni, Indra etc.) or Oblation personified (as a daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Agni; she is thought to preside over burnt-offerings; her body is said to consist of the four Vedas, and her limbs are the six Aṅgas or members of the Veda; she is represented also as a wife of the Rudra Paśu-pati), [Ṛg-veda]; etc.

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

Svāhā (स्वाहा):—adv. Exclamation on offering to the gods. f. Wife of fire, goddess of the Buddhists.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Svāhā (स्वाहा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sāhā, Suvāhā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Svaha 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Svāhā (स्वाहा) [Also spelled swaha]:—(ind) a word uttered while offering oblation to sacrificial fire; burnt; —[karanā] to ruin/destory, to burn to ashes, —[honā] to be burnt to ashes, to be ruined/destroyed.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Svāhā (ಸ್ವಾಹಾ):—

1) [noun] an exclamation used in making oblations to the gods.

2) [noun] the act of devouring.

3) [noun] (fig.) a swindling of otherś or public money, property, etc.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Tamil dictionary

Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil Lexicon

Svāhā (ஸ்வாஹா) noun < Svāhā. See சுவாகா. [suvaga.]

context information

Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Svāhā (स्वाहा):—interj. word used when making an offering to a Vedic deity;

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Sv, Aaha, Aha.

Starts with (+6): Shvahana, Svaha Karanem, Svahabhuj, Svahakara, Svahakarana, Svahakaravashatkara, Svahakri, Svahakrit, Svahakrita, Svahakriti, Svahara, Svaharha, Svahashana, Svahastagata, Svahastakshara, Svahastaracita, Svahastasvastikastani, Svahastena, Svahastiki, Svahastita.

Full-text (+463): Svahakara, Svahapati, Svahabhuj, Svahapriya, Svahakriti, Svahakrit, Svahavallabha, Svahakarana, Svahavana, Svahasudhakara, Svahakrita, Svahya, Svahashana, Svahakaravashatkara, Svahapannu, Pavamana, Svaheya, Svaharha, Pavaka, Vahnivadhu.

Relevant text

Search found 170 books and stories containing Svaha, Sv-aha, Sv-āhā, Svaahaa, Svāhā, Svāha; (plurals include: Svahas, ahas, āhās, Svaahaas, Svāhās, Svāhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)

Verse 8.10.18 < [Chapter 10 - The Paddhati and Paṭala of Lord Balarāma]

Verse 4.18.10 < [Chapter 18 - The Names and Worship of Srī Yamunā]

show preview

A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)

Page 304 < [Volume 7 (1909)]

Page 102 < [Volume 13 (1912)]

Page 81 < [Volume 11 (1911)]

+ 820 more chapters / show preview

Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)

Kanda III, adhyaya 8, brahmana 2 < [Third Kanda]

Kanda XI, adhyaya 4, brahmana 3 < [Eleventh Kanda]

Kanda I, adhyaya 5, brahmana 3 < [First Kanda]

+ 57 more chapters / show preview

Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)

Commentary on Biography of the thera Pañcasīlasamādāniya < [Chapter 3 - Subhūtivagga (section on Subhūti)]

show preview

Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)

Chapter 38 - The Prayer by Dakṣa

Chapter 109 - Gift of food the best of all charitable acts

Chapter 73 - The nativity of Śrīkṛṣṇa

+ 3 more chapters / show preview

Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study) (by Arpita Chakraborty)

2. Method of preparing Bhasma < [Chapter 2 - Greatness of Bhasma and Dhāraṇa]

14. Method of Preparation of Holy Ash (Bhasma) < [Chapter 2 - Greatness of Bhasma and Dhāraṇa]

show preview

 

Click here for all 170 books

Related products

A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism

Info Buy now