Vikarala, Vikarāla: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Vikarala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Vikaral.
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚaivismVikarāla (विकराल) is the name of a teacher to whom the Kāpālika doctrine was revelead, mentioned in the Śābaratantra. The disciple of Vikarāla is mentioned as being Gorakṣa. The Śābara-tantra is an early tantra of the Kāpālika sect containing important information about the evolution of the Nātha sect. It also lists the twelve original Kāpālika teachers (eg.,Vikarāla). Several of these names appear in the Nātha lists of eighty-four Siddhas and nine Nāthas.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraVikarālā (विकराला) refers to “she who is dreadful” and is used to describe Bhairavi, 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 10.7cd-17ab, while describing the worship of Bhairavī and Bhairava]—“[Bhairavī] has the appearance of vermillion or lac. [She has] erect hair, a large body and is dreadful (vikarālā) and very terrifying. [She has the medicinal plant] śatavārī, is five-faced, and adorned with three eyes. [Her hands bear] curved talons curved [She has] eyes like the hollow of a tree and wears a garland of severed heads. [Ten-]armed, like Bhairava [she also] bears Bhairava’s weapons [of an axe and hatched]. [...]”.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationVikarāla (विकराल) refers to the “terrific” and is used to describe Gaṇeśa , according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.16 (“The head of Gaṇeśa is chopped off”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] O sage, after fighting for a long time along with the army and seeing him terrific (vikarāla), even Śiva was greatly surprised. Thinking within himself ‘He has to be killed only by deception and not otherwise’ he stayed in the midst of the army. When lord Śiva who though devoid of attributes had assumed the attributive form was seen in the battle, when Viṣṇu too had come thither, the gods and Gaṇas of Śiva were highly delighted. They joined together and became jubilant. [...]”.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesVikarāla (विकराल) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.94) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vikarāla) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramVikarāla (विकराल) refers to one of the eight Guardians (kṣetrapāla-aṣṭaka) associated with Candrapīṭha (or Candrapīṭhapura), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight Guardians (kṣetrapālāṣṭaka): Niśānta, Nigraha, Dhanañjaya, Dhaneśvara, Karāla, Vaḍavāmukha, Vikarāla, Sugrīva.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryvikarāla (विकराल).—a (S) pop. vikarāḷa a Formidable, frightful, hideous.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishvikarāla (विकराल) [-ḷa, -ळ].—a Formidable, frightful.
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 dictionaryVikarāla (विकराल).—a. Very dreadful or formidable, frightful; घृतप्रेमा बाहुर्विकचविकरालोल्वणरसः (ghṛtapremā bāhurvikacavikarālolvaṇarasaḥ) Uttararāmacarita 5.26.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryVikarāla (विकराल).—name of a piśāca-prince: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 45.23.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryVikarāla (विकराल).—mfn.
(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) Formidable, frightful. E. vi intensitive, karāla frightful.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryVikarāla (विकराल).—adj. Formidable.
Vikarāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms vi and karāla (कराल).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vikarāla (विकराल):—[=vi-karāla] [from vi] mf(ā)n. very formidable or dreadful, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
2) Vikarālā (विकराला):—[=vi-karālā] [from vi-karāla > vi] f. Name of Durgā, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
3) [v.s. ...] of a courtezan, [Kuṭṭanīmata]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryVikarāla (विकराल):—[vi-karāla] (laḥ-lā-laṃ) a. Frightful.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Vikarāla (विकराल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vigarāla.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryVikarāla (विकराल) [Also spelled vikaral]:—(a) horrible, dreadful, frightful; hideous, monstrous; formidable; hence ~[tā] (nf).
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Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusVikarāla (ವಿಕರಾಲ):—[adjective] = ವಿಕರಾಳ [vikarala]1.
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Vikarāla (ವಿಕರಾಲ):—[noun] = ವಿಕರಾಳ [vikarala]2.
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Vikarāḷa (ವಿಕರಾಳ):—[adjective] horrible to see, hear, etc.; very ugly or revolting; dreadful; hideous.
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Vikarāḷa (ವಿಕರಾಳ):—[noun] the quality of being very ugly, dreadful; hideousness.
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)
Starts with: Vikaralaloka, Vikaralamukha, Vikaralata.
Ends with: Akaralavikarala.
Full-text: Vikaralata, Vikaralamukha, Akarala, Bikarala, Vikrala, Vikri, Vigarala, Vikaral, Nishanta, Dhaneshvara, Vadavamukha, Sugriva, Dhananjaya, Uttala, Shabaratantra, Karala, Goraksha, Vi, Nigraha.
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Search found 9 books and stories containing Vikarala, Vikarāla, Vi-karala, Vi-karāla, Vikarālā, Vi-karālā, Vikarāḷa; (plurals include: Vikaralas, Vikarālas, karalas, karālas, Vikarālās, karālās, Vikarāḷas). 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 5.24.54 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]
Verse 6.10.5 < [Chapter 10 - In the Description of the Gomatī River, the Glories of Cakra-tīrtha]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Chapter 252 - The mode of wielding the swords, maces etc.
Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice) (by Geetika Kaw Kher)
Pasupata History (Introduction) < [Chapter 1 - The Historical Context]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 8 - Description of the Hell (naraka) < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)