Yashodhara, Yashas-dhara, Yaśodharā, Yaśodhara: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Yashodhara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Yaśodharā and Yaśodhara can be transliterated into English as Yasodhara or Yashodhara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Yaśodhara (यशोधर).—Son of Durmukha, who fought on the side of the Pāṇḍavas against the Kauravas. (Mahābhārata, Droṇa Parva, Chapter 184, Verse 5).
2) Yaśodhara (यशोधर).—A son of Śrī Kṛṣṇa by Rukmiṇīdevī. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 14, Verse 33).
3) Yaśodharā (यशोधरा).—Daughter of King Trigarta. She was married by Hasti, King of the Pūru dynasty and they a had a son named Vikaṇṭha. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 95, Verse 35).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Yaśodharā (यशोधरा).—The wife Kanakapīṭha.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 11. 35.
1b) A daughter of Virocana and wife of Tvaṣṭā.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 187.
1c) A daughter of Devaka and one of the seven wives of Vasudeva.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 44. 73.
Yaśodharā (यशोधरा) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.90.37). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Yaśodharā) 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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Yaśodharā (यशोधरा) is the wife of Priyadarśana and mother of Kanakavarṣa according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 55. Accordingly, “... in that city [Kanakapura] there dwelt in old time a glorious king, named Kanakavarṣa, who was born to Priyadarśana, the son of Vāsuki, king of the snakes, by the Princess Yaśodharā. Though he bore the weight of the whole earth, he was adorned with innumerable virtues; he longed for glory, not for wealth; he feared sin, not his enemy”.
2) Yaśodhara (यशोधर) is one of the two twin-sons of Śrīdhara: a Brāhman from Mālava, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 63. Accordingly, “... there was a famous Brāhman in Mālava, named Śrīdhara, and twin sons, of like feature, were born to him. The elder was named Yaśodhara, and his younger brother was Lakṣmīdhara. And when they grew up, the two brothers set out together for a foreign country to study, with the approval of their father...”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Yaśodharā, 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’.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Yasodhara. A king of fifty five kappas ago; a previous birth of Ukkhepakatavaccha (Ekatthambhika) Thera. ThagA.i.148; Ap.i.56.
2. Yasodhara. There were once seventy seven kings of this name, all previous births of Sona Kolivisa. ThagA.i.546; Ap.i.94.
3. Yasodhara. A brahmin, father of Subhadda, who became one of the chief disciples of Kondanna Buddha. BuA.110.
4. Yasodhara. A preacher in the time of Kassapa Buddha (SA.i.148). See Andhavana.
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1. Yasodhara. See Rahulamata.
2. Yasodhara. The daughter of the Treasurer of Sunandagama; she offered a meal of milk rice to Kondanna Buddha. BuA.108.
3. Yasodhara. Wife of the khattiya Yasava and mother of Anomadussi Buddha. J.i.36; DhA.i.105; Bu.viii.17; AA.i.85.
4. Yasodhara. Daughter of King Jayasena. She married Anjana the Sakiyan, and their children were Maya and Pajapati and Dandapani and Suppabuddha (Mhv.ii.16ff).
Yasodhara was the sister of Sihahanu. MT. 35; see also Mtu.i.355.
5. Yasodhara. Daughter of Vijayabahu I. and Lilavati. She married Viravamma and had two daughters, Lilavati and Sugala (Cv.lix.26). She was later raised to the rank of rajini (? queen) by Vijayabahu, and erected a massive building, called Pasadapada, in the Kappuramulayatana. Cv.lx.83.
6. Yasodhara. One of the chief women supporters of Sumedha Buddha. Bu.xii.25.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraYaśodharā (यशोधरा) is one of the two wifes of the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXVIII). Accordingly, “the Bodhisattva Śākyamuni had two wives: the first was called K’iu p’i ye (Gopiya or Gopā), the second Ye chou t’o lo (Yaśodharā) or Ye chou t’o lo heou lo mou (Yaśodharā Rāhulamātā). Gopā, being sterile (bandhya), had no children. Yaśodharā knew she was pregnant (garbhiṇī) the same night that the Bodhisattva left home (pravrajita). After his departure, the Bodhisattva practiced asceticism (duṣkaracaryā) for six years; Yaśodharā was pregnant also for six years without giving birth”.
Note: The wife of the Buddha, mother of Rāhula, is called called in the Pāli sources Rāhulamātā, Bhaddakaccā (Bhaddakaccānā) (Buddhavaṃsa XXVI.15; Mahāvaṃsa II.24), Yasodharā (Buddhavaṃsa Comm., p. 245), Bimbādevī (Jātaka II, p. 392; Sumaṅgala II, p. 422) and Bimbāsundarī (Jātaka VI, p. 478). She was born on the same day as the Buddha (Jātaka I, p. 54) and married him at the age of sixteen (Jātaka I, p. 58).
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismYaśodharā (यशोधरा) refers to one of the female Śrāvakas mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Yaśodharā).
Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist IconographyMahīdharā (महीधरा) is the (Mortal) Buddhaśakti associated with Śākyasiṃha: one of the seven mortal Buddhas (mānuṣī) whose names appear last in the list of thirty-two Buddhas in Mahāyāna Buddhism.—The last seven Tathāgatas are well-known, and are designated by the Mahāyānist as Mānuṣī or “Mortal Buddhas”. When represented, the last seven Mortal Buddhas appear all alike; they are of one colour and one form, usually sitting cross-legged,with the right hand disposed in the Bhūmisparśa-mudrā (earth-touching attitute), which is the mudrā peculiar to Akṣobhya. [...] In paintings, the Mortal Buddhas [viz., Śākyasiṃha and Yaśodharā] have usually a yellow or golden complexion. [...] Sometimes they are represented as standing, in which case the appear under a distinguishing Bodhi Tree and with a distinguishing mudrā.
Yaśodharā and Śākyasiṃha together bring into existence the (Mortal) Bodhisattva named Ānanda.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Buddhist Door: Glossarythe wife of Siddhartha Goutama. She later became a Bhikhuni.In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismYaśodharā (यशोधरा) is the wife of Sīmandhara, who is a kulakara (law-giver) according to Digambara sources. The kulakaras (similair to the manus of the Brahmanical tradition) figure as important characters protecting and guiding humanity towards prosperity during ancient times of distress, whenever the kalpavṛkṣa (wishing tree) failed to provide the proper service.
These law-givers and their wifes (e.g., Yaśodharā) are listed in various Jain sources, such as the Bhagavatīsūtra and Jambūdvīpaprajñapti in Śvetāmbara, or the Tiloyapaṇṇatti and Ādipurāṇa in the Digambara tradition.
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1) Yaśodharā (यशोधरा) refers to one of the eight Dikkumārīs living on the southern Rucaka mountains (in the Rucakadvīpa continent), according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-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, “[...] Eight Dikkumārīs [viz., Yaśodharā], living on the southern Rucaka Mountains, came there, impelled by joy like a whip. Having bowed to the Ford of Jinas and his mother and having introduced themselves as before, they stood on the right, singing, with pitchers in their hands. [...].”.
Note: In the continent Rucakadvīpa is a circular mountain-ranges Rucaka. On this in the four directions are 4 temples, and on both sides of each temple are 4 mountain peaks, making 8 peaks in each direction. Each peak is inhabited by a Dikkumārī [viz., Yaśodharā].—(cf. ‘Die Kosmographie der Inder’ pp. 257f).
2) Yaśodharā (यशोधरा) is the wife of king Śukladanta from Śulkapura, according to chapter 5.3 [śāntinātha-caritra].—Accordingly, as one Vidyādhara said to king Vajrāyudha:—“[...] There is a mountain Vaitāḍhya in the province Sukaccha, the ornament of Videhakṣetra in this same Jambūdvīpa. On top of the mountain [i.e., Vaitāḍhya] is situated a city as crest-jewel of the row of cities, Śulkapura, like a tax on the wealth of the heavens. There lived a Vidyādhara-king Śukladanta, and his wife, Yaśodharā, maintaining the glory of two families. I am their son, Pavanavega, and I attained youth and acquired the collection of arts gradually. [...]”.
3) Yaśodhara (यशोधर) is the name of an ancient Muni, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4 [Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa].—Accordingly, as Muni Satyabhūti said to king Daśaratha (son of king Anaraṇya): “[...] In the city Puṣkalā in the province Puṣkalāvatī you were born Nandivardhana, the son of King Nandighoṣa and Queen Pṛthvī. Nandighoṣa installed you, his son Nandivardhana, on the throne, was initiated by Muni Yaśodhara, and went to Graiveyaka. You, Nandivardhana, guarded your layman’s duties, died, became a god in Brahmaloka, and then fell”.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 4: The celestial beings (deva)Yaśodhara (यशोधर) is one of the nine graiveyakas: a subclasses of kalpātītas (born beyond heaven), itself a division of empyrean celestial beings (vaimānika) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.19. The living beings residing in the vimānas are called the empyrean gods (vaimānika) and represents one of the four classes of Devas.
The nava-graiveyakas (e.g., Yaśodhara) are the three layered residences above the sixteenth heaven (kalpa) where Ahamindra deities reside. Which thought-colourations are there in Graivaiyaka, Anudiśa and Anuttara gods? They have pure white thought-colouration.
Source: HereNow4u: Jain Dharma ka Maulika Itihasa (2)Yaśodharā (यशोधरा) was the mother of Vārisena.—[...] The ‘Śrī Pāsanāha Cariyaṃ’ gives the following description of Lord Pārśvanātha’s Gaṇadharas (principal disciples).—“[...] Vārisena is the seventh Gaṇadhara of Lord Pārśvanātha, Vārisena was the resident of Mithilā. Yaśodharā and Namirājā were his parents. His values of the past birth were so strong that since his childhood his mind was attracted towards mendicancy. With the permission of his parents he went to Lord Pārśvanātha's Samavaśaraṇa with other prince friends of his and impressed by the sermon, took initiation and became a Gaṇadhara. .”.
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.
India history and geography
Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature (history)Yaśodhara (यशोधर) is the father of Ramāpati Upādhyāya (before 1704 C.E.): author of the Vṛttasāra and an auto commentary called Āloka on it. Ramāpati was the disciple and the son of Yaśodhara and grandson of Śrīharīśa. He tells the magnanimity of his father and grandfather that his grandfather was a famous scholar in Kāśī and he was entrusted with the title Pājjikāmbhoja. His father, Yaśodhara, was described as the crest of gem of scholars (paṇḍitaśekhara) on the earth and also was adorned with the title of pāñjikārāja. He mentions in the beginning of the text that he was the disciple of Yaśodhara and at the end introduces himself as the son of Yaśodhara. Therefore Yaśodhara was his preceptor as well as father. He beautifully presents the nobility of his family.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryyasodhara : (adj.) famous.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryYaśodhara (यशोधर).—a. (yaśodhara) keeping up or preserving glory.
Yaśodhara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms yaśas and dhara (धर).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryYaśodharā (यशोधरा).—(1) (= Pali Yaso°) name of the wife of Śākyamuni as Bodhisattva (see also Yaśovatī, Yaśavatī, Gopā): Mahāvyutpatti 1070; Mahāvastu ii.25.12 (birth); 48.7 (meets the Bodhisattva); 69.2 ff. (rejects Devadatta); 72.18 ff. (coquets with the Bodhisattva); 73.5 ff. (requested in marriage; her father first refuses); 135.13 (her dream); previous incarna- tions, Mahāvastu i.128.13; ii.64.4; 67.11, 16 (other refs. in Mahāvastu, see Index); Divyāvadāna 253.26; enlightenment predicted Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 269.6 ff.; mentioned also Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 2.10; (2) name of a devakumārikā in the south: Mahāvastu iii.307.8 = Lalitavistara 389.7.
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Yaśodharā (यशोधरा) or Yaśovatī.—1, Śākyamuni's wife: Lalitavistara 95.9 (prose, no v.l.). Cf. also Yaśavatī (m.c.?).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Yaśodhara (यशोधर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Jayamaṅgalā, a
—[commentary] on Vātsyāyana’s Kāmasūtra.
2) Yaśodhara (यशोधर):—Nibandhacūḍāmaṇi.
3) Yaśodhara (यशोधर):—Rasaprakāśasudhākara med.
4) Yaśodhara (यशोधर):—son of Padmanābha: Rasaprakāśasudhākara med.
5) Yaśodhara (यशोधर):—son of Kaṃsāri, wrote in 1567, by order of king Arajānī, son of Kālidāsa, son of Nāthamalla of the Maravāha line: Mantrārādhanadīpikā.
6) Yaśodhara (यशोधर):—Mantradīpikā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Yaśodhara (यशोधर):—[=yaśo-dhara] [from yaśo > yaśas] mfn. maintaining or preserving glory, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of the fifth day of the civil month, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] of a son of Kṛṣṇa by Rukmiṇī, [Mahābhārata] ([varia lectio] yaśo-vara)
4) [v.s. ...] (with Jainas) of the 18th Arhat of the preceding and of the 19th of the future Utsarpiṇī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] of various other men, [Kathāsaritsāgara; Rājataraṅgiṇī]
6) [v.s. ...] (also with bhaṭṭa and miśra) of various authors, [Catalogue(s)]
7) Yaśodharā (यशोधरा):—[=yaśo-dharā] [from yaśo-dhara > yaśo > yaśas] f. Name of the fourth night of the civil month, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) [v.s. ...] of the mother of Rāhula, [Buddhist literature]
9) [v.s. ...] of several other women, [Mahābhārata; Kathāsaritsāgara; Purāṇa]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Yaśodhara (यशोधर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Jasahara.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusYaśōdhara (ಯಶೋಧರ):—
1) [noun] a man of repute.
2) [noun] a man of wealth.
3) [noun] a successful man.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryYaśodharā (यशोधरा):—n. the wife of Gautam Buddha;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Yaso, Yashas, Dhara, Tara.
Starts with: Yashodhara bhatta, Yashodhara mishra.
Full-text (+83): Yashodhara bhatta, Yashodhara mishra, Rasaprakashasudhakara, Yashovara, Yashodhareya, Yacotarakaviyam, Ramapati, Kamadeva, Gopa, Vrittasara, Yashovati, Yashastilakacampu, Jayamangala, Jasahara, Mantraradhanadipika, Pasadapasada, Gopiya, Sharatapallidoshashanti, Apratima, Kanakapitha.
Relevant text
Search found 73 books and stories containing Yashodhara, Yaśas-dhara, Yasas-dhara, Yashas-dhara, Yasho-dhara, Yaśo-dhara, Yaśo-dharā, Yaso-dhara, Yaśodharā, Yaśodhara, Yasodhara, Yaśōdhara, Yaṣōdhara; (plurals include: Yashodharas, dharas, dharās, Yaśodharās, Yaśodharas, Yasodharas, Yaśōdharas, Yaṣōdharas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
The story of Yaśodharā < [Part 2 - Means of acquiring meditation]
II. Being the assistant of the Buddha < [Part 3 - Acquiring precedence, etc.]
Appendix 7 - The Buddha’s assistants (upasthāyaka) < [Chapter XLI - The Eighteen Special Attributes of the Buddha]
Yasastilaka and Indian culture (Study) (by Krishna Kanta Jandiqui)
Chapter 3.3 - Popularity of the story of Yashodhara
Chapter 2.4 - Summary of Yasastilaka, Book 4
Lotus Sutra (by Tsugunari Kubo)
Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology (by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri)
Marriage of Siddhārtha < [Chapter 3 - Amarāvatī and the Formative Stage of the Buddhist Art]
Rāhula asks his inheritance < [Chapter 3 - Amarāvatī and the Formative Stage of the Buddhist Art]
Birth of Rāhula < [Chapter 3 - Amarāvatī and the Formative Stage of the Buddhist Art]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Kamashastra Discourse (Life in Ancient India) (by Nidheesh Kannan B.)
2. Commentaries on the Kāmasūtra < [Chapter 3 - A Thematic Analysis of Vātsyāyanakāmasūtra]
2. Works on Kāmaśāstra (a): Ratirahasya < [Chapter 2 - An Appraisal of Kāmaśāstra Works in Sanskrit]