Vajradamshtra, Vajra-damshtra, Vajradaṃṣṭra: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Vajradamshtra means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Vajradaṃṣṭra can be transliterated into English as Vajradamstra or Vajradamshtra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र).—A ferocious giant who was a follower of Rāvaṇa. In Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Sarga 54, mention is made that this giant was killed by Aṅgada in the Rāma-Rāvaṇa battle.
2) Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र).—A captain of the army of Tripurāsura. It is stated in Gaṇeśa Purāṇa that Tripurāsura gave his captain clothes, villages etc. as presents, for bringing Pātāla (netherworld) under control.
Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र) is the name of a Gaṇa of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.4 (“Search for Kārttikeya and his conversation with Nandin”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “Urged by the gods, sages and mountains, the lord sent his Gaṇas as his emissaries to the place where his son was staying. O Nārada, he sent [e.g., Vajradaṃṣṭra], [...], and innumerable others of the same exploit as that of Śiva and of hideous features. [...]”.
Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र).—An Asura who took part in the Devāsura war between Bali and Indra;1 helped in the churning of the ocean.2
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र) is the name of a Vidyādhara king, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 65. Accordingly, “... there is on the Himālayas a king of the Vidyādharas, named Vajradaṃṣṭra. His queen gave birth to five daughters in succession. And then the king propitiated Śiva with austerities and obtained a son, named Rajatadaṃṣṭra, whom he valued more than life”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Vajradaṃṣṭra, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings 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 Vajradaṃṣṭra).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र).—a kind of insect.
Derivable forms: vajradaṃṣṭraḥ (वज्रदंष्ट्रः).
Vajradaṃṣṭra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms vajra and daṃṣṭra (दंष्ट्र).
1) Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र):—[=vajra-daṃṣṭra] [from vajra > vaj] mfn. having teeth as hard as adamant, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a Rākṣasa, [Rāmāyaṇa]
3) [v.s. ...] of an Asura, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] of a king of the Vidyā-dharas, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
5) [v.s. ...] of a lion, [Pañcatantra]
6) [v.s. ...] = -kīṭa, [Catalogue(s)]
Vajradaṃṣṭra (वज्रदंष्ट्र):—
1) adj. Spitzzähne von der Härte des Diamanten habend: śvānaḥ [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 5, 26, 27.] narasiṃha [18, 8.] —
2) m. a) = vajrakīṭa [Oxforder Handschriften 24,a, Nalopākhyāna 4.] — b) Nomen proprium α) eines Rākṣasa [Rāmāyaṇa 5, 79, 6. 80, 3. 6, 33, 46. 69, 11.] — β) eines Asura [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 8, 10, 20.] — γ) eines Fürsten der Vidyādhara [Kathāsaritsāgara 65, 72.] — δ) eines Löwen [Pañcatantra 87, 4.]
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: Damshtra, Vajra.
Full-text: Rajatadamshtra, Jin gang ya, Vacciratankittiram, Mo ri luo neng se zha luo, Vajrakita, Jin gang ya pu sa, Jin gang yao cha, Vajra, Somaprabha.
Relevant text
Search found 15 books and stories containing Vajradamshtra, Vajra-damshtra, Vajra-daṃṣṭra, Vajra-damstra, Vajradaṃṣṭra, Vajradamstra; (plurals include: Vajradamshtras, damshtras, daṃṣṭras, damstras, Vajradaṃṣṭras, Vajradamstras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Ramayana of Valmiki (Shastri) (by Hari Prasad Shastri)
Chapter 54 - Angada slays Vajradamshtra < [Book 6 - Yuddha-kanda]
Chapter 53 - Vajradamshtra enters the Lists < [Book 6 - Yuddha-kanda]
Chapter 8 - The boasting of Ravana’s Generals < [Book 6 - Yuddha-kanda]
Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 32 - On the enumeration of various hells for sinners < [Book 9]
Chapter 33 - On the description of the destinies of different sinners in different hells < [Book 9]
Paumacariya (critical study) (by K. R. Chandra)
3. Genealogy of the Vidyadhara Vamsa dynasty < [Chapter 5 - Origin and Genealogy of Various Vamshas]
VIII.3. First casualties in Battle < [Chapter 3 - Comparative study of the Rama-story]
Panchatantra: A reflex of Arthashastra (by M. N. Indrani)
Comaring the stories of the Panchatantra with the Hitopadesha < [Chapter 3 - Contents of the Panchatantra]
Summary of Chapter 1—Mitrabheda (Seperation of Friends) < [Chapter 3 - Contents of the Panchatantra]
Atithi or Guest Reception (study) (by Sarika. P.)
Part 2 - Consequences ascribered to misconduct in Atithi-saparyā < [Chapter 10 - Virtues and Adversities]
Temples and Cult of Shri Rama in Tamil-Nadu (by A. Mohan)
Summary of Ramayana (6), Yuddha-kanda < [Chapter 1 - The Ramayana in Literature]