Vishnukumara, Viṣṇukumāra, Vishnu-kumara: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Vishnukumara means something in 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.

The Sanskrit term Viṣṇukumāra can be transliterated into English as Visnukumara or Vishnukumara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Kavya (poetry)

[«previous next»] — Vishnukumara in Kavya glossary
Source: OpenEdition books: Vividhatīrthakalpaḥ (Kāvya)

Viṣṇukumāra (विष्णुकुमार) in Sanskrit (or Viṇhukumārain Prakrit) is the brother of Padma, king of Hastināpura, as mentioned in the Vividhatīrthakalpa by Jinaprabhasūri (13th century A.D.): an ancient text devoted to various Jaina holy places (tīrthas).—Accordingly, “Because of an old resentment against the jaina, Namuci, minister of Padma, king of Hastināpura, threatens the community with death if they stay in the city for more than seven days (instead of the four months of the rainy season). The monks appeal to the extraordinary ascetic, Viṣṇukumāra, brother of Padma. [...]”.

Cf. Vasudevahiṇḍi 128.18-132.3; Harivaṃśapurāṇa 20.1-65; Uttarapurāṇa 70.274-300; Bṛhatkathākośa 11 p. 18-22; Mahāpurāṇa LXXXIII 14-20; Uttarādhyayana a. 14-a.2; Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra VI.8. v. 148-203: Johnson IV p. 99-102;.—See Jain 1981 p. 193-194: Vasudevahiṇḍi, Uttarādhyayana and Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra represent the Śvetāmbara tradition, the others, the Digambara tradition.

Kavya book cover
context information

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’.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Vishnukumara in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Viṣṇukumāra (विष्णुकुमार) is the son of Padmottara and Jvālā, according to chapter 6.8 [śrī-mahāpadma-cakrin-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:—“Now in Bharatakṣetra of Jambūdvīpa there is a city Hāstinapura which resembles a city of the gods. Its king was named Padmottara, who belonged to the Ikṣvāku-family, like a lotus in the great lake Padma, the abode of Padmā. His chief-queen was named Jvālā who had shining virtues, the ornament of the harem, surpassing goddesses in beauty. Her first son, indicated by a dream of a lion, was born like a young god in beauty, named Viṣṇukumāra”.

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

Viṣṇukumāra (विष्णुकुमार) or Viṣṇukumārakathā refers to one of the 157 stories embedded in the Kathāmahodadhi by Somacandra (narrating stories from Jain literature, based on the Karpūraprakara), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The Kathāmahodadhi represents a repository of 157 stories [e.g., Viṣṇukumāra-kathā] written in prose Sanskrit, although each of them is preceded by a verse. Together, they stage a large number of Jain characters (including early teachers). [...]

General definition book cover
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.

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