Vighna: 20 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Shaivism
3. Shaktism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Vighna means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Vighn.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Vighna (विघ्न) refers to “hindrances”, as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 1.18.—Accordingly, “[...] an intelligent man must worship all deities in order to ward off all sorts of hindrances (vighna)”.

There are three types of hindrances (vighna):—

Ādhyātmika (ailment of the body),
Ādhibhautika (extraneous one of a physical nature),
Ādhidaivika (divine calamities).

“In order to ward off these hindrances and on occasions when one touches a corpse, a cāṇḍāla or a fallen man and goes inside without bathing, Śānti Yajña shall be performed to remove the evil effects”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Vighna (विघ्न).—A son of the Rākṣasa Vadha.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 94; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 130.

1b) A son of Kali: a cannibal. Had no head: Ayomukhī was his wife.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 59. 10; Vāyu-purāṇa 84. 10, 11, 13.

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: Shodhganga: Temple management in the Āgamas

Vighna (विघ्न) refers to three types of “obstacles”, to be removed before pūjā (ritualistic worship) according to the Arcanāvidhipaṭala of Kāmikāgama.—At the beginning of śivapūjā, the Ācārya has to remove three types of vighna—

caused by those resident in Devaloka (divya-vighna),
caused by those resident in the sky (nabhogata-vighna),
caused by those resident on earth (bhūgata-vighna).

This he does by first washing his hands, legs and feet. Divya-vighna are removed by the Ācārya’s jñānadṛṣṭi, nabhogata-vighna are removed by offering flowers and bhūgata-vighna are removed by stamping one’s heel thrice before entering the temple.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Vighna (विघ्न) refers to “obstacles”, according to the Kiraṇatantra chapter 49 (dealing with vratacaryā).—Accordingly, “Garuḍa spoke: ‘You have taught me, O great Lord, the activities of the Neophyte, the Putraka and the Ācārya. Tell me those of the Sādhaka’. The Lord spoke: ‘The excellent Sādhaka [should be] full of sattva, firm, capable of endurance, his mind fixed on [his] mantra, unassailable, of great wisdom, looking impartially on mud, stones and gold engaged, regular in [the performance of] oblations, always devoted to recitation and meditation, dexterous in the dispelling of obstacles (vighna-protsāraṇa), firm in [the practice of his] religious observance, calm, pure. [...]’”.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Vighna (विघ्न) refers to “obstacles”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “The man of knowledge should mark the sacred fields located in the towns. [...] Now listen (to how it is) in the home. [...] Starting with the dish in due order, one should not touch these with one's feet, if one wants the best for oneself. One should stay far away from a broom and the wind produced by a winnowing fan. Obstacles (vighna), Siddhas and Yoginīs that have penetrated the wind enter the adept having identified (his) weak spot, and lay hold of the best (within him) for no reason. (The adept) abides in (each) place in the (eight) sacred fields, (namely) Gaṇikā, Śiras, Kālī, Kāla, Ālaya, Śiva, Kāliñjara, and Mahākāla”.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)

Vighna (विघ्न) refers to “obstacles”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] I approach the great temple of goddess Mṛḍānī that opens to the west. It is guarded outside by Indra and the other [gods who guard the directions], and shines beautifully with utmost richness. I venerate the young elephant-faced master of Śiva’s gaṇas, the destroyer of obstacles (vighna-chida). His lotus-hands are decorated with a noose, goad, fruit, and lotus. [...]

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Vighna (विघ्न) is the name of a class of rākṣasas according to the Śvetāmbara tradition, while the Digambara does not recognize this class. The rākṣasas refer to a category of vyantaras gods which represents one of the four classes of celestial beings (devas). The rākṣasas are black and their caitya-vṛkṣas (sacred-tree) is Kaṇṭaka according to the Digambara They are white and have a fierce appearance according to Śvetāmbara.

The deities such as Vighnas are defined in ancient Jain cosmological texts such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapaṇṇati by Yativṛṣabha (5th century) in the Digambara tradition.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Vighna (विघ्न) refers to one of the Kapis fighting in Rāma’s army, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.7 [The killing of Rāvaṇa] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “[...] When the battle had been going on for a long time, the army of the Rākṣasas was broken by the Vānaras like a forest by winds. [...] [Vighna, ...] and other Kapis fought with Rākṣasas separately, leaping up and falling down, like cocks fighting with cocks. [...] The Rākṣasa Uddāma killed Vighna. [...] Then the soldiers of Rāma and Rāvaṇa returned, purifying their own men, killed and unkilled”.

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

vighna (विघ्न).—n m (S) An obstacle, obstruction, impediment, hinderance. 2 Used in the sense of apamṛtyu and of utpāta q. v.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

vighna (विघ्न).—n m An obstacle, impediment.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vighna (विघ्न).—[vihan-ka] (rarely n.)

1) An obstacle, interruption, impediment, a hindrance; कुतो धर्मक्रियाविघ्नः सतां रक्षितरि त्वयि (kuto dharmakriyāvighnaḥ satāṃ rakṣitari tvayi) Ś.5.14; मूर्तो विघ्नस्तपस इव नः (mūrto vighnastapasa iva naḥ) Ś.1.32; हुंकारेणेव धनुषः स हि विघ्नानपोहति (huṃkāreṇeva dhanuṣaḥ sa hi vighnānapohati) Ś.3.1; Kumārasambhava 3.4.

2) Difficulty, trouble.

Derivable forms: vighnaḥ (विघ्नः).

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

Vighna (विघ्न).—m.

(-ghnaḥ) 1. Obstacle, impediment. 2. Difficulty, trouble. 3. The caronda, (Carissa Carondas.) E. vi before, han to be injured, (by it,) and ka aff.

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

Vighna (विघ्न).—i. e. vi-han + a, m. (n., [Sundopasundopākhyāna] 1, 12), 1. Obstacle, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 35, 19; trouble, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 13. 2. Impediment, [Pañcatantra] 168, 3.

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

Vighna (विघ्न).—[masculine] breaker, destroyer (—°); [masculine] ([neuter]) obstacle, hindrance.

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

1) Vighna (विघ्न):—[=vi-ghna] [from vi-ghana] a m. a breaker, destroyer, [Mahābhārata]

2) [v.s. ...] ([Epic] also n.) an obstacle, impediment, hindrance, opposition, prevention, interruption, any difficulty or trouble, [Kauśika-sūtra; Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] Name of Gaṇeśa, [Upaniṣad]

4) [v.s. ...] Carissa Carandas, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) [=vi-ghna] b etc. See p. 957, col. 3.

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

Vighna (विघ्न):—(ghnaḥ) 1. m. Obstacle, impediment; Caranja.

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

Vighna (विघ्न) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Viggha.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vighna 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

Vighna (विघ्न) [Also spelled vighn]:—(nm) an interruption; interference, meddling; obstacle; disturbance; ~[kara/karttā/kārī] one who or that which interrupts/interferes/obstructs/disturbs; meddlesome; -[vināśaka] one who removes/counters all obstructions; an epic of the deity Ganesh (whose worship is supposed to counter all obstacles).

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Vighna (ವಿಘ್ನ):—[noun] an obstacle, impediment, hindrance; opposition.

context information

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

Relevant text

Search found 26 books and stories containing Vighna, Vi-ghna; (plurals include: Vighnas, ghnas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Figure 140 - Emanations of Akṣobhya: Parṇaśabarī

Figure 131 - Emanations of Akṣobhya: Vighnāntaka

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Verse 2.4.78 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]

Verse 2.1.81 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]

Verse 2.3.173 < [Chapter 3 - Bhajana (loving service)]

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Verse 5.17.15 < [Chapter 17 - The Gopis Describe Their Remembrance of Sri Krsna]

Verse 1.3.19 < [Chapter 3 - Description of the Lord’s Appearance]

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Chapter I - Origin of Drama (nāṭya)

Chapter XXXVI - Descent of Drama on the Earth