Vidyutprabha, Vidyutprabhā: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Vidyutprabha 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.
In Hinduism
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Vidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा) is the eldest of the thousand granddaughters of Bali, who told her story to Śrīdatta, in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 10. Śrīdatta was the son of Kālanemi, who was the son of Yajñasoma, a Brāhman from the country of Mālava. Bali is the King of the Daityas who was imprisoned by Viṣṇu after being slain in a wrestling match.
2) Vidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा) is the name of a Yakṣī and the daughter of king Ratnavarṣa, as mentioned in the story “Devadatta the gambler”, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 26. Accordingly, as Vidyutprabhā said to Devadatta: “illustrious sir, I am the maiden daughter of a king of the Yakṣas, named Ratnavarṣa, and I am known by the name of Vidyutprabhā; and this great ascetic Jālapāda was endeavouring to gain my favour; to him I will give the attainment of his ends, but you are the lord of my life. So, as you see my affection, marry me”.
3) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ) is the name of a Vidyādhara king who fought on Śrutaśarman’s side but was slain by Prabhāsa, who participated in the war against Sūryaprabha, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 48. Accordingly: “... then [after the slaying of Kālakampana] a king of the Vidyādharas, named Vidyutprabha, lord of the hill of Kālañjara, in wrath attacked Prabhāsa. When he was fighting with Prabhāsa, Prabhāsa first cut asunder his banner, and then kept cutting his bows in two, as fast as he took them up”.
4) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ) is the name of a Daitya who is the father of Vidyuddhvaja, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 115. Accordingly, “once on a time there was a king of the Daityas named Vidyutprabha, hard for gods to conquer. He, desiring a son, went to the bank of the Ganges, and with his wife performed asceticism for a hundred years to propitiate Brahmā. And by the favour of Brahmā, who was pleased with his asceticism [of Vidyutprabha], that enemy of the gods obtained a son named Vidyuddhvaja, who was invulnerable at their hands”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Vidyutprabhā, 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’.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇaVidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा) is the name of a beautiful damsel (kanyā), with black curly hair and red lips, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 92. Vidyutprabhā (and other innumerable ladies) arose out of the agitation of Vaiṣṇavī while she was doing penance at Viśālā. For these young women, Vaiṣṇavī created the city Devīpura, containing numerous mansions with golden balconies, crystal stairs and water fountains, with jewelled windows and gardens.
Vaiṣṇavī is the form of Trikalā having a red body representing the energy of Viṣṇu. Trikalā is the name of a Goddess born from the combined looks of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara (Śiva).
The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century. It is composed of two parts and Sūta is the main narrator.
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ).—See under Muktāphalaketu.
2) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ).—A hermit. (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 125).
3) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ).—A Dānava (Asura). This asura pleased Rudradeva by penance and acquired from him the control of all the three worlds for one lakh of years, the recognition as a follower of Śiva and the kingdom of Kuśadvīpa, as boons. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 14).
4) Vidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा).—Ten celestial maids of Northern quarter. (Mahābhārata Udyoga Parva, Chapter 111, Stanza 21).
5) Vidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा).—Grand-daughter of Mahābali. (See under Śrīdatta).
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: LokottaravādaVidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ) is the name of a Buddha under whom Śākyamuni (or Gautama, ‘the historical Buddha’) acquired merit along the first through nine bhūmis, according to the Mahāvastu. There are in total ten bhūmis representing the ten stages of the Bodhisattva’s path towards enlightenment.
Vidyutprabha is but one among the 500 Buddhas enumerated in the Mahāvastu during a conversation between Mahākātyāyana and Mahākāśyapa, both principle disciples of Gautama Buddha. The Mahāvastu is an important text of the Lokottaravāda school of buddhism, dating from the 2nd century BCE.
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāVidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा) refers to a “flash of lightening”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as Bodhisattva Gaganagañja explains to Bodhisattva Ratnaśrī what kind of concentration should be purified: “[...] (40) [when the Bodhisattvas attain] the concentration called ‘Flash of lightening’ (vidyutprabhā), they will examine the destruction of a moment of thought; (41) [when the Bodhisattvas attain] the concentration called ‘Victory of proper accomplishment’, all good qualities will be fulfilled; (42) [when the Bodhisattvas attain] the concentration called ‘Purification’, all bad qualities will be eliminated; [...]”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismVidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ) is the name of a mountain situated to the south of mount Meru and north of mount Niṣadha. To the east of Vidyutprabha lies mount Saumanasa and in between these two mountains are the bhogabhūmis (enjoyment-lands) known as Devakuru in which the mountains Citrakūṭa and Vicitrakūṭa stand along the east and west banks of the river Sitodā. On top of these mountains stand the temples of the Jinas.
Niṣadha is one of the seven mountain ranges (varṣadharaparvata) of Jambūdvīpa according to Jaina cosmology. Jambūdvīpa sits at the centre of madhyaloka (‘middle world’) is the most important of all continents and it is here where human beings reside.
Source: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van Svayambhūdeva’s PaümacariuVidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Vidyutprabha] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1a) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ) is the name of a mountain range in Jambūdvīpa which is situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“To the north of the Niṣadha Mountains and to the south of Meru are the Vidyutprabha Mountains and the Saumanasa Mountains in the west and east. They have the shape of an elephant’s tusk, almost touching Meru at the end. Between them are the Bhogabhumis, the Devakurus, 11,842 yojanas wide. In them, at each side of the five lakes divided by Śītodā, are ten mountains of gold, making a total of 100. There on the east and west banks of Śītodā are the mountains Vicitrakūṭa and Citrakūṭa. They are 1000 yojanas in height and the same in diameter at the base. The diameter at the top is half of that”.
1b) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ) is the son of king Meghavana and Meghamālinī, according to chapter 4.1 [śreyāṃsanātha-caritra].—Accordingly, as minister Sumati said to king Jvalanajaṭin “[... ] On this mountain there is a city Prabhaṅkarā, the sole abode of many wonders, which has reached the first place in the necklace of the north row. [...] They (i.e., Meghavana and Meghamālinī) have a son, Vidyutprabha, by whom all kings are surpassed, with unrivaled beauty like Kandarpa. [...]”.
1c) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ) is the son of Sumanas and Vidyādhara King Hiraṇyābha, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.2 [Rāvaṇa’s expedition of conquest].—Accordingly, “[...] At Mahendra’s instructions the ministers had accurate pictures made on canvas of each one and brought them and showed them to him. Among these one day the minister showed Mahendra the portrait of Vidyutprabha, the son of the Vidyādhara-lord, Hiraṇyābha, and his wife, Sumanas, and the handsome portrait of Pavanañjaya, the son of Prahlāda. [...]”;
2) Vidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा) is the name of a Khecara-maiden and daughter of Kanaka and Sandhyā, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.1 [origin of the rākṣasavaṃśa and vānaravaṃśa].—Accordingly, “One day Rāvaṇa went for amusement to the mountain Megharava which has wings, as it were, with layers of Clouds clinging to its sides. He saw six thousand Khecara-maidens bathing in a pool there like Apsarases in the Ocean of Milk. Desiring a husband, they looked at him with affection, their lotus-eyes wide-open, like day-blooming lotuses looking at the sun. Casting aside modesty at once, afflicted by strong love, they themselves asked him, ‘Be our husband.’ Among these was [e.g., Vidyutprabhā, daughter of Kanaka and Sandhyā, ...]”.
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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryVidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ).—(1) name of a former Buddha: Mahāvastu i.136.14; (2) name of a samādhi: Mahāvyutpatti 612 (not in Śatasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā); (3) name of a mountain (also in Jain Sanskrit and Prakrit Vijjuppa- bha, Kirfel, [Kosmographie der Inder] 233, 245): Mahā-Māyūrī 253.35; (4) m. (or nt.), vidyu-pr°, a kind of gem: Mahāvastu ii.317.9; compare next but one.
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Vidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा).—name of a nāga maid: Kāraṇḍavvūha 4.1.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vidyutprabha (विद्युत्प्रभ):—[=vidyut-prabha] [from vidyut > vi-dyut] mfn. flashing like lightning, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a Ṛṣi, [Mahābhārata]
3) [v.s. ...] of a king of the Daityas, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
4) Vidyutprabhā (विद्युत्प्रभा):—[=vidyut-prabhā] [from vidyut-prabha > vidyut > vi-dyut] f. Name of a granddaughter of the Daitya Bali, [ib.]
5) [v.s. ...] of the daughter of a king of the Rākṣasas, [ib.]
6) [v.s. ...] of the d° of a king of the Yakṣas, [ib.]
7) [v.s. ...] of a Surāṅganā, [Siṃhāsana-dvātriṃśikā or vikramāditya-caritra, jaina recension]
8) [v.s. ...] of a serpent-maiden, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha]
9) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a class of Apsarasas, [Mahābhārata]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Vidyut, Prabha.
Starts with: Vidyutprabhasa.
Ends with: Mahavidyutprabha, Suryavidyutprabha.
Full-text (+33): Mahavidyutprabha, Prabha, Ratnavarsha, Mriganka, Sandhya, Kalanjara, Devakuru, Kanaka, Pita, Saumanasa, Ketumati, Meghavana, Pavana, Hiranyabha, Pavananjaya, Vatsaka, Supadma, Mangalavat, Mahavapra, Gandhilavati.
Relevant text
Search found 9 books and stories containing Vidyutprabha, Vidyutprabhā, Vidyut-prabha, Vidyut-prabhā; (plurals include: Vidyutprabhas, Vidyutprabhās, prabhas, prabhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 9 - Redemption of Sudarśana and Sukarṇa < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]
Chapter 45 - The Arrival of Sixty-four Yoginīs < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]
Chapter 11 - The World of Vahni (Fire-God) < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 2: Story of Pavanañjaya and Añjanasundarī < [Chapter III - Hanumat’s birth and Varuṇa’s subjection]
Part 2: Rāvaṇa’s marriage < [Chapter II - Rāvaṇa’s expedition of Conquest]
Part 23: Description of Jambūdvīpa < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter XXVI < [Book V - Caturdārikā]
Chapter XLVIII < [Book VIII - Sūryaprabha]
Chapter CXV < [Book XVII - Padmāvatī]
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter XV - The eighth Bhūmi < [Volume I]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section CXI < [Bhagavat-Yana Parva]
Section CXXV < [Anusasanika Parva]
Section XIV < [Anusasanika Parva]