Vishvakarma, Viśvakarmā, Viśvakarma, Vishvakarman, Viśvakarman, Vishva-karman: 27 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
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Introduction:

Vishvakarma means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. 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 terms Viśvakarmā and Viśvakarma and Viśvakarman can be transliterated into English as Visvakarma or Vishvakarma or Visvakarman or Vishvakarman, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: humindian: 108 names of Lord Krishna

One of the 108 names of Krishna; Meaning: "Creator Of The Universe"

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा).—The architect of the devas or demigods. He built the city of Indraprastha for the Pāṇḍavas at the request of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा).—The architect of the Devas. Birth. Viśvakarmā is the son of Prabhāsa, the eighth of the Eight Vasus. Varastrī, the sister of Bṛhaspati, a celibate woman who had attained Yogasiddhi (union with the Universal Soul) and travelled all over the world was the wife of Prabhāsa. Prajāpati Viśvakarmā was born to Prabhāsa by Varastrī. This Viśvakarmā was the inventor of innumerable kinds of handicrafts, the architect of the gods, maker of all kinds of ornaments, and the most famous sculptor. He was the maker of all the aerial chariots of the Devas. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Aṃśa 1, Chapter 15). (See full article at Story of Viśvakarmā from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्) refers to the “great architect”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.25. Accordingly as Rāma narrated to Satī:—“[...] O Goddess, formerly once, Śiva, the creator supreme, called Viśvakarman to His highest region. He made him erect a large hall of great beauty in His cowshed, and an exquisite throne there. Śiva, caused Viśvakarman to make an excellent, divine, wonderful umbrella for warding off obstacles. He invited Indra and other gods, the Siddhas, Gandharvas, Nāgas, Upadeśas and Āgamas, Brahmā with his sons, the sages and the celestial goddesses and nymphs who came there with various articles”.

Note: In the Purāṇas Viśvakarman is invested with the powers and offices of the Vedic Tvaṣṭṛ. He is the great architect, executor of handicrafts, the builder of great cities He is the son of Prabhāsa, the eighth Vasu, by his wife Yogasiddhā.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा).—A Prajāpati. His daughter Barhiṣmatī was the wife of Priyavrata.¹ A son of Vāstu and Āṅgirasī; wife was Kṛti (Akṛti, Bhāgavata-purāṇa). Father of Manu Cākṣuṣa.² The divine architect skilled in making weapons. Made vajra of Dadhīci's body and built Indra's abode and erected Sutalam.³ Fought with Maya in Devāsura war. Two more daughters of his were Samjñā and Chāyā who were married to the Sun god.⁴ Was ordered by Kṛṣṇa to build a city for the Pāṇḍavas;⁵ built Garuḍa's abode;⁶ an author on architecture;⁷ father of four sons; originator of all śilpas, arts and crafts;⁸ presented Śrī with jewels.⁹

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 1. 24.
2) Ib. VI. 6. 15.
3) Ib. VI. 9. 54: 10. 13. VII. 4. 8; VIII. 15. 15; 22. 32. Matsya-purāṇa 5. 27-8; 58. 33.
4) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 10. 29; 13. 8. Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 2. 2, 8, 10-12.
5) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 58. 24.
6) Matsya-purāṇa 163. 68: 203. 7.
7) Ib. 252. 2; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 31. 6-7.
8) Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 15. 119-20; III. 2. 11.
9) Ib. I. 9. 104; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 9. 81; 14. 4; 15. 20; 20. 46; 29. 84.

1b) A son of Tvaṣṭā and Yaśodharā; father of Maya, and his daughter was Sureṇu; originator of arts and crafts.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 2. 19; 5. 27. III. 1. 87. 7. 195; 32. 7: 59. 17-21: Vāyu-purāṇa 65. 85.

1c) Divided the earth into seven islands, oceans and hills, bhūḥ and other worlds; created the people as in the previous kalpas; but the whole was clouded in smoke, in five forms like a light enveloped by a pot; finding no light and all in their place (Nyāsa) was pondering over when a cross current passed that way and resulted in a second universe.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 6. 33-45. 109. 4.

1d) One of the seven important rays of the sun on the south; helps the growth of the Budha planet.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 24. 66-69.

1e) A Vaṃśavartin god; a son of Prabhāta and Bhuvanā; Lord of Prajāpatis.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 29; III. 3. 29.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. III.114.17) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Viśvakarmā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्) refers to the son of Prabhāsa: one of the eight Vasus who are the sons of Vasu, according to one account of Vaṃśa (‘genealogical description’) of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, the ten wives of Dharma are [viz., Vasu]. The Vasus were born from Vasu. The eight Vasus are Āpa, Nala, Soma, Dhruva, Anila, Anala, Pratyuṣa and Prabhāsa. Viśvakarman is the Son of Prabhāsa.

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.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: archive.org: Bharatiya vastu-sastra

Viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा) refers to the “Heavenly Architect”.—Prabhāsa (eminently shining) Vasu had married the sister of Bhṛgu and through her a son named Viśvakarmā was born to him. This Viśvakarmā was endowed with consummate skill in fine arts, architecture, sculpture, painting, including both their constructive as well as decorative aspects. He was an excellent craftsman as he had constructed conveyances moving on land, sea and air. He was an expert in designing weapons of various kinds to minister to the comforts, convenience and safety of men. These and other qualities have rightly won for him the epithet commonly attributed to him-viz. the architect of gods. [...]

Source: McGill: The architectural theory of the Mānasāra

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्).—According to the Mānasāra II.2-4, the proper name of the deity is Viśvakarman (which means “forger of the universe”), of which lokakṛt, meaning “world-maker,” is a synonym. There is great respect reserved in the text for this deity, evident from the adjective mahat, “great,” that is prefixed to this name.

References to the deity Viśvakarman are found from the Ṛgveda onwards, usually in connection with cosmogony. He was the “patron” of manual labor and the mechanical arts and, therefore, worshipped with great reverence by guilds of artisans. Next, the text mentions that Viśvakarman is also known as Īśvara, “Lord”. The notion of “lordship” of the deity belongs ta a devotional religiosity that implies a personal relationship between deity and devotee. Thus, Viśvakarman is not only maker of the world, but a1so personal lord of devotees.

Viśvakarman is said to he born with four faces. Each face has a name that signifies a particular role which seems to be an attempt ta further delineate the different aspects of the grand process of cosmic generation. Thus, the eastern face is called viśvabhū, literally, “the world-born one”, here to mean the one who grants the world its existence; the southern face, viśvavid, “the world-knowing one”; the northern face, viśvastha, “the world-establishing one”; and the western face, viśvasraṣṭā, “the one who is maker of the world”.

From the eastern face of Viśvakarman was born (also) Viśvakarman; from the southern face, Maya; from the northern face, Tvaṣṭṛ; and from the western face, Manu. The four members of the builder’s guild, namely sthapati, “master-builder”, sūtragrāhin, “cord-bearer”, vardhaki, “stone-cutter”, and takṣaka, “carpenter”, are said to he sons of Viśvakarman, Maya, Tvaṣṭṛr and Manu respectively.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्) is the name of a deity described in 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 13.17-25ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Viśvakarman]—“Furthermore, [I shall describe] Viśvakarman, the Lord of the world. [He] is bright as a ray of light, risen alone [i.e., from itself]. [Viśvakarman] has [either] two or four arms. [When he has four hands he] bears a stone cutter’s chisel and a book with [his] beautiful right hand. [In the left he holds] a clamp and a cord. [...]”.

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Vishwakarma is the architect of the Devas. His chief rival in architectural prowess is Maya the architect of the Asuras. He has a daughter named Sangya, who is married to Surya.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

1) Viśwákarma is the personified Omnipotence and the abstract form of the creator God according to the Rigveda. He is the presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects. He is believed to be the "Principal Architect of the Universe ", and the root concept of the later Upanishadic Brahman / Purusha.

2) Viśvákarma is the Hindu presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects. He is believed by Hindus to be the "Principal Universal Architect", the architect who fabricated and designed the divine architecture of the Universe, the Lord of Creation. Vishwakarma is known as the divine engineer of the world. As a mark of reverence he is not only worshipped by the engineering and architectural community but also by all professionals. It is customary for craftsmen to worship their tools in his name.

Through the four yugas (aeons of Hindu mythology), he had built several towns and palaces for the gods. Among them were, in chronological order,

Svarga (Heaven) in the Satya Yuga,
Lanka in the Treta Yuga,
and Dwarka (Krishna's capital) in the Dwapara Yuga.

Viswakarma is also supposed to have built Dwarka, the capital of Lord Krishna. During the time of the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna is said to have lived in Dwarka, and made it his "Karma Bhoomi" or center of operation. That is why this place in western India (today's Gujarat) has become a well known pilgrimage for the Hindus.

etymology: Viśwákarma (Sanskrit: विश्वकर्मा "all-accomplishing, maker of all," "all doer"; Tamil: (விசுவகர்மன்) Vicuvakaruman; Thai: Witsawakam ;Telugu: విశ్వకర్మ ; Kannada: ವಿಶ್ವಕರ್ಮ )

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्) is the name of a yakṣa of olden times subdued by the Buddha mentioned in order to demonstrate the fearlessness of the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XL.1.4. Accordingly, “Great yakṣas such as Pi-cho-kia (Viśvakarman?), etc., submitted and took refuge in him”.

If this transcription is correct, this would be Viśvakarman, in Pāli Vissakamma, the architect apponted by the Devas: cf. Akanuma, p. 774.

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Viśvakarma (विश्वकर्म) is the name of a Devaputra appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Cīnasthāna, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of Jambudvīpa [e.g., the Devaputra Viśvakarma in Cīnasthāna], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: academia.edu: The Chronological History of Ancient Sri Lanka

Vishvakarma of Pulastya gotra was the earliest civil engineer of Rig Vedic period. His descendants were also known as Vishvakarma. They were also great scientists. Vishvakarma, the contemporary of Vaishravana and Ravana made a flying chariot named as Pushpaka Vimana. In all probability, Pushpaka Vimana was like a hot air balloon carrying a specially designed chariot. Rama along with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman boarded the Pushpaka Vimana and returned to Ayodhya from Sri Lanka.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Viśvakarman.—(LL), an architect. Note: viśvakarman is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा).—m (S) The son of Brahma and the artist of the gods. 2 Applied, appellatively, to an ingenious mechanic or artist.

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

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्).—m.

1) Name of the architect of gods; cf. त्वष्टृ (tvaṣṭṛ).

2) an epithet of the sun.

3) one of the seven principal rays of the sun.

4) a great saint.

5) the Supreme Being. °जा, °सुता (jā, °sutā) an epithet of संज्ञा (saṃjñā), one of the wives of the sun.

Viśvakarman is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms viśva and karman (कर्मन्).

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

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्).—m. 1. the sun. 2. a son of Brahman, the artist of the gods. 3. a saint. Ṣaṭkº, i. e.

Viśvakarman is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms viśva and karman (कर्मन्).

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

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्).—[adjective] all-doing, all-creating; [masculine] [Name] of a world-creating genius (similar to & often identified with Prajāpati), in [later language] the architect or artist of the gods.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[+viśvakarman] Vāstuprakāśa, Vāstuvidhi, Vāstuśāstra, Vāstusamuccaya, Aparājitavāstuśāstra, Āyatattva. See Viśvakarmīya.

2) Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्):—Mīmāṃsāsāra.

3) Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्):—son of Dāmodara, grandson of Bhīma: Dharmaviveka.

4) Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्):—Kṣīrārṇava śilpa.

5) Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्):—Yativallabhā. Vidhānamālā.

6) Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्):—Dharmaviveka.

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

1) Viśvakarma (विश्वकर्म):—[=viśva-karma] [from viśva] a See p. 994, col. 2.

2) [=viśva-karma] [from viśva] 1. viśva-karma mfn. accomplishing everything, all-working, [Ṛg-veda x, 166, 4.]

3) [v.s. ...] 2. viśva-karma in [compound] for viśva-karman

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

1) Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्):—[=viśva-karman] [from viśva] a See p. 994, col. 2.

2) [=viśva-karman] [from viśva] b n. (only [in the beginning of a compound]) every action, [Maitrī-upaniṣad; Vāsavadattā]

3) [v.s. ...] mfn. accomplishing or creating everything, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa]

4) [v.s. ...] m. ‘all-doer, all-creator, all-maker’, Name of the divine creative architect or artist (said to be son of Brahmā, and in the later mythology sometimes identified with Tvaṣṭṛ q.v., he is said to have revealed the Sthāpatyaveda q.v., or fourth Upa-veda, and to preside over all manual labours as well as the sixty-four mechanical arts [whence he is worshipped by Kārus or artisans]; in the Vedic mythology, however, the office of Indian Vulcan is assigned to Tvaṣṭṛ as a distinct deity, Viśva-karman being rather identified with Prajā-pati [Brahmā] himself as the creator of all things and architect of the universe; in the hymns, [Ṛg-veda x, 81; 82] he is represented as the universal Father and Generator, the one all-seeing God, who has on every side eyes, faces, arms, and feet; in [Nirukta, by Yāska x, 26] and elsewhere in the Brāhmaṇas he is called a son of Bhuvana, and Viśva-karman Bhauvana is described as the author of the two hymns mentioned above; in the [Mahābhārata] and, [Harivaṃśa] he is a son of the Vasu Prabhāsa and Yoga-siddhā; in the Purāṇas a son of Vāstu, and the father of Barhiṣmatī and Saṃjñā; [according to] to other authorities he is the husband of Ghṛtācī; moreover, a doubtful legend is told of his having offered up all beings, including himself, in sacrifice; the Rāmāyaṇa represents him as having built the city of Laṅkā for the Rākṣasas, and as having generated the ape Nala, who made Rāma’s bridge from the continent to the island; the name Viśva-karman, meaning ‘doing all acts’, appears to be sometimes applicable as an epithet to any great divinity), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

5) [v.s. ...] Name of Sūrya or the Sun, [Vāsavadattā; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

6) [v.s. ...] of one of the seven principal rays of the sun (supposed to supply heat to the planet Mercury), [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

7) [v.s. ...] of the wind, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xv, 16] ([Mahīdhara])

8) [v.s. ...] Name of a Muni, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) [v.s. ...] (also with śāstrin) Name of various authors, [Catalogue(s)]

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

Viśvakarman (विश्वकर्मन्):—[viśva-karman] (rmmā) 5. m. The sun; son of Brahmā, artist of the gods; a sage.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vishvakarma 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Viśvakarma (ವಿಶ್ವಕರ್ಮ):—

1) [noun] = ವಿಶ್ವಕರ್ತೃ [vishvakartri].

2) [noun] the celestial architect or the artist of the gods.

3) [noun] Brahma.

4) [noun] Śiva.

5) [noun] aminister; a counsellor; an advisor.

6) [noun] the Sun-God.

7) [noun] Yama, the God of Dharma (Righteousness).

8) [noun] the three vital airs, prāṇa, apāna and samāna.

9) [noun] a cluster of stars.

10) [noun] a man belonging to the caste of goldsmiths.

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 78 books and stories containing Vishvakarma, Viśvakarmā, Viśvakarma, Visvakarma, Vishvakarman, Viśvakarman, Visvakarman, Vishva-karman, Viśva-karman, Visva-karman, Vishva-karma, Viśva-karma, Visva-karma; (plurals include: Vishvakarmas, Viśvakarmās, Viśvakarmas, Visvakarmas, Vishvakarmans, Viśvakarmans, Visvakarmans, karmans, karmas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

(iv) Other Ācāryas (chief preceptors) of Vastuśāstra < [Chapter 4 - An outline History of Hindu Architecture]

(v,11) Vāstu in the Śilpa-texts < [Chapter 4 - An outline History of Hindu Architecture]

(ii) Rise of the Śāstra and the place of Viśvakarmā < [Chapter 4 - An outline History of Hindu Architecture]

+ 21 more chapters / show preview

Rig Veda 10.81.6 < [Sukta 81]

Rig Veda 10.81.5 < [Sukta 81]

Rig Veda 10.82.2 < [Sukta 82]

+ 14 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 99 - The Celestial Architect Builds Dvaraka < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]

Chapter 59 - The Laying Out of Dvarka < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]

Chapter 100 - Krishna’s Entrance Into Dvaraka and Reception < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]

+ 7 more chapters / show preview