In the third Manvantara, when Uttama Manu was the ruler of the Manvantara, gods were divided in several gaṇa(s) (gana; genus). Pratardana is one of these gaṇa. Avarati was one of the gods belonging to this gaṇa.

Avarīyāna (Avariyana) is one of the sons of Sāvarṇi (Savarni) Manu, ruler of Bhaviṣyat (Bhavishyat; Future) Manvantara.

Avarodhana is the youngest of the three sons born of the womb of Gayantī (Gayanti), and sired by King Gaya, in the genealogical line of king Priyavrata.

When God Brahmā(Brahma) got into a state of sensuous arousal, seeing Satī (Sati), daughter of Dakṣa(Daksa), Brahma’s bright and burning genital fluid fell upon the ground. From that Brahmavīrya (Brahmavirya; semen of Brahmā), emerged the great-sounding clouds called Āvarta (Avarta). When this cloud, roaring, pervaded the sky, Mahādeva (Mahadeva) got attracted to Satī(Sati) and felt […]

Āvartamānebhyovapuḥ (Avartamanebhyavapuh) is one of the Thousand and Eight Names of Śiva. In Śivasahasranāmastotra (Sivasahasranamastotra) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), while the other editions maintain the reading ‘vapurāvartamānebhyaḥ‘ , the edition by Haridāsa Siddhāntavāgiśa (Haridasa Siddhantabagisa) maintains the reading ‘vasudhā vartamānejyo‘. So, Siddhāntavāgiśa has considered the two names, Vasudhā and Vartamānejya, instead of ‘Āvrtamānebhyo vapuḥ’. Here we are […]

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Āvartana (Avartana) is one of the upadvīpas (updwipas; peninsular islands) of Jamvidvīpa (Jamvudvipa) — namely, Svarṇaprastha (Swarnaprastha), Ramaṇaka (Ramanaka), Pāñcajanya (Panchajanya) and so on. These peninsular islands were created while the sons of King Sagara digged up four corners of the earth, in order to search for the lost yajñīya aśva […]

One of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu) mentioned in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra;The Hymn of Thousand Names of Vishnu)

The Haihaya race got divided into five communities. Āvartaya (Avartaya) is one of those five communities.

Āvasathya agni is mentioned in Mahābhārata , while describing different types of Agni. Āvasathya agni is the fire contained in a small oven that used be required in Vedic yajña. This triangular oven would be of 25 fingers in length, and fire was brought to this oven from Gārhapatya agni. Āvasathya agni was placed towards […]

In Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), there is a list of the names of Śrutarśi (Srutarshi, those seers who are well-versed in Sruti or the Vedas) and the mantradrṣṭā (mantradrashta; seer of sacred hymns) sages. Sage Avaśāvadha (Avasavadha) is one of them.

A region mentioned in Vanaparva of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). Karṇa (Karna) won this land belonging to the eastern part of the country.

Avasphūrya (Avasphurya) is one kind of Agni (Fire). This is also known as Vivasvāna (Vivaswana) or Āsthāna(Asthana) agni.

Avaṭanirodhana(Avatanirodhana) is one of the twenty eight naraka(s) (twenty eight kinds of hell).

The primary meaning of the term Avatāra is derived from avataraṇa, that is, to come down. God comes down to earth, assuming a different form, from his celestial abode — this is the avatāra or avataraṇa (incarnation) of God. The huge gap between the worldly abode of mankind and the distant antarīkṣaloka seems to be […]

Avaṭauda is a kind of narakakuṇḍa (narakakunda; hell-pit), about 400 hands in depth. The burnt-bodied sinners, chased by the messengers of Yama, stay here. As soon as sinners fall in this naraka, they suffer from all kinds of diseases.

According to Brahmāṇdapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Āvatī(Avati) is a disciple of Yājñavalka (Yajnavalka) . He is one of the exponents of Śukla-Yajurveda (Sukla-Yajurveda).

Avaṭodā (Avatoda) is a river-pilgrimage. By uttering the name of this river, one becomes purified.

See Tapasvī (Tapaswi).

See Tapasvī (Tapaswi).

Ap means water. Ṛṣi(s) (Rishi; Sages) belonging to a certain order, who perform strict austerity of ascetic life, and live by drinking water only, are known as ‘Avbhakṣa’ (one who lives on water). Used in plural number, this term denotes a particular order of sages.

Avdurga means a fortress abound in ap (water). That fortress will be beyond the reach of the enemies. This can be done by taking advantage of a natural river, or by creating an artificial canyon around the fortress, so that such water-animals as crocodiles can stay there. In his commentary, Rāghavācārya (Raghavacharya) has written — […]

Āvedanīya(Avedaniya) is one of the names of Śiva-Mahādeva (Siva-Mahadeva), uttered in Śivasahasranāmastotra (Sivasahasranamastotra; The Hymn of Thousand Names of Siva). ‘Āvedana’ (Avedana) means ‘to pray’ or ‘to make supplication’ or ‘to complain’. Āvedanīya is the One to whom one can pray, or appeal, or express a complaint. This name of Āvedanīya confirms His role as […]

It is said in Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), that Āveśaka(Avesaka) is one of the gaṇas (gana, genus) of the Yakṣas (Yaksa; a kind of demi-gods).

See Avīchi (Avichi).

Avidheya is one of the underworld Naraka(s) (Hell).

Avighnatīrtha (Avighnatirtha) is a sacred site of pilgrimage located towards the north of Gautamī Gaṅgā (Gautami Ganga) or Godāvarī (Godavari). Once the gods started performing a yajña(yajna; a  ritual involving fire-sacrifice ) on the north bank of Gautamī Gaṅgā, but the yajña was not successful due to hazards created by the primary god Ganeśa (Ganesa). […]

Avijñātā (Avijnata) is one of the Sahasranāma (Sahasranama) of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu).

Avijñātagati (Avijnatagati) is the son of Vāyudevatā (Vayudevata; god of wind), or Anila, one of the Aṣṭavasu (Ashtavasu; the eight Vasus). [See Aṣṭavasu ]

While slaying Andhakāsura (Andhakasura), Mahādeva (Mahadeva)created a number of Mātṛkā (Matrika; an order of lesser female deities) from his own body. Avikārā (Avikara) was one of those Mātṛkā.

Āvikṣi (Avikshi) is the son of Karandhama, in the genealogical line of Nābhāgariṣṭa (Nabhagarista), son of Vaivasvata Manu.

Avīkṣita (Avikshita)was the son of the pious king Karandhama, born in the lineage of Nābhāga (Nabhaga), son of Vaivasvata Manu. He was equal to Indra in valour, respectful of yajña(s) (yajna), and religious. He became a samraṭ (samrat; emperor), by virtue of his own qualities. He performed one hundred Aśvamedha yajña(s), and Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great […]

A son called Aśvavāṇa (Aswavana) was born of the womb of Vāhinī (Vahini), queen of King Kuru of Bharatavaṃśa (Bharatavamsa; the royal lineage of Bharata). This Aśvavāṇa (Aswavana) is also known as Avīkṣita (Avikshita). He had eight sons.

One king Karandhama is mentioned in the genealogical line of Turvasu, son of Yayāti (Yayati). According to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), Avīkṣita (Avikshita)was the son of this Karandhama. Marutta is the son of Avīkṣita.

Vārāṇasī (Varanasi), the abode of Śiva-Maheśvara (Siva-Maheswara) is called Avimuktakṣetra (Avimuktaksetra; the space called Avimukta). In Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) while speaking of the greatness of Vārāṇasī, Goddess Pārvatī (Parvati) wanted to know about Avimuktakṣetra. Śiva then said, “Vārāṇasī is my perpetual abode. I have never left this sacred place, nor will I leave it ever in […]

Avimukteśvara is a sacred tīrtha (tirtha; site of pilgrimage) located in Vārāṇasī (Varanasi). After marrying Haimavatī (Haimavati) Umā (Uma), Nīlalohita Śiva, along with the other Śivagaṇa (Sivagana; associates of Siva), came from Himālaya (Himalaya) to Vārāṇasī and manifested himself as Avimukteśvara Liṅga (Avimukteswara Linga), and started residing here — devaḥ purā kṛtodvāhaḥ śankaro nīlalohitaḥ himavacchikharād […]

Avindhya is a brilliant, learned and worthy Rākṣasa (Raksasa). He had been very close to Rāvaṇa (Ravana). Thinking that that the Rākṣasa(s) would by destroyed at the hand of Rāma (Rama), he requested Rāvaṇa to return Sītā (Sita) to Rāma. But Rāvaṇa did not pay heed to him.    

The woman who has neither a husband nor a son, is called Avīrā. Avīrā is of two categories — Dattā (Datta; one who is given)and Adattā (Adatta; one who is not given). Dattā Avīrā is given some importance in comparison with Adattā Avīrā.

Āvirhotra is one of the sons of Ṛṣbhadeva (Rishabhadeva). He was an advisor of Bhāgavata (Bhagavata) dharma, as mentioned in Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana). Āvirhotra advised King Nimi on how one may attain mokṣa (moksa), and being free of sins, may be one with the Paramātman (Paramatman; the Supreme Self).

Aviśiṣṭa (Avisishta) is one of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu), as described in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; The Hymn of the Thousand Names of God Vishnu).

In order to stop the ensuing battle of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra), and to establish peace with their relative-brother Duryodhana, the Pāṇḍava (Pandava) brothers claimed only five villages from them. Avisthala was one of them. According to scholars, the place called Āsandi (Asandi), near Kurukṣetra, was identical with Avisthala.

Āvravantī(Avravanti) is the name of a locality mentioned in Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana). Sugrīva(Sugriva) instructed the Vānara (Vanara), who were sent towards the south in search of Sītā, to visit this place as well, for the said purpose. Scholars consider that Āvravantī (Avravanti) as mentioned in Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana), and the placed named Ākara (Akara), found in Vṛhatsaṁhitā […]

Avyaṅga (Avyanga) is one of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu), as described in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; The Hymn of the Thousand Names of God Vishnu).

According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Tuṣita (Tushita) is one of the gaṇas (gana, genus) of the gods in Svārociṣa (Swarochisha) Manvantara. Āya(Aya) is a god belonging to this gaṇa.

Aya is one of the sons of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Vaśiṣṭha (Vasistha). He was a Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people) during Svārociṣa (Swarochisha) Manvantara.  

Aya was one of the six sons sired by Vasudeva, and born of the womb of Devakī (Devaki), — who were killed by Kaṁsa (Kamsa).

Aya is a ṛṣi (rishi; sage) belonging to Agastyavaṁśa (the genealogical or disciple-wise order of Sage Agastya).

Aya is one of the Aṣṭavasu (Ashtavasu; the eight Vasus) , as per the list provided in  Śivapurana. In other Purāṇa(s) (Putana; Mythological Scriptures), he is referred to as Apa, Āpa and the like. [See Aṣṭavasu]

Ayaḥpāna (Ayahpana) is the name of one kind of naraka (hell). Perhaps in this naraka, sinners used to be tortured by pouring hot, melted iron over them, or thrusting iron into their throat.

Ayaḥśanku(Ayahsanku) is one of the Asura(s) born of the womb of Danu, daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), and sired by the Prime Father Kaśyapa (Kasyapa). In the age of the Pāṇḍava(s) (Pandava) and Kaurava(s), one king of the Kekaya kingdom was born as a partial incarnation of him. In the Upaparva called Aṃśāvataraṇa (Amsavatarana), in Mahābhārata […]

Ayaḥśanku (Ayahsanku) is an Asura warrior, a follower of the Demon-king, Vali.