Agnimān (Agniman) is a form of Agni or Fire. If the Agni in the labour room come in contact with the perpetual sacred fire or agnihotra, it is then necessary to perform a ritual by offering the oblation of caru (charu; porridge of rice and milk boiled together) from eight flat earthen pots to the Agnimān Fire. 

Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) eulogises this place of pilgrimage as the city of Agni’s own — agneḥ pure naraḥ snātvā agnikanyāpure vaset.  Scholars identify this place with the city of Māhiṣmatī (Mahishmati). The place called Choli Maheshwar lying sixty- four miles away from the modern day city of Indore is considered to be the site of the […]

Agniśira (Agnishira) is a place of pilgrimage located on the bank of the river Yamunā (Yamuna). Sahadeva of the Sṛṅjaya (Srinjaya) lineage [that is Pāñcāla-Sṛṅjaya (Panchala-Srinjaya)] had measured a plot of land at this place with a stick of the Śamī(Shami)-wood [which is called śamyā (shamya) in Sanskrit] and performed a yajña (yajna) here. Maybe […]

Before killing Jarāsandha (Jarasandha) in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Bhīma (Bhima) boasted, “Krṣṇa (Krishna) is well-versed in diplomacy, I am endowed with physical might and Arjuna is an expert warrior. We three are like the three forms of Agni” — māgadhaṃ sādhayiṣyāma iṣṭiṁ traya ivāgnayaḥ The tasks enjoined in the Vedas required three forms of Agni — Gārhapatya […]

Agniveśya (Agniveshya) has been directly referred to as Agni’s son in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). He was a sage — agnestu jātaḥ sa muniḥ. He was trained in martial arts by the famous sage Agastya, and later, it appears, from the great sage Bharadvāja (Bharadwaja) as well. Bharadvāja had presented Agniveśa with āgneya astra (agneya astra) or the […]

Agniveśya (Agniveshya) was one of the many provinces and her people who have been mentioned to have joined the Pāṇdava (Pandava) camp in Bhīṣmaparva (Bhishmaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). The army from Agniveśya was strategically placed on the left of the Krauñca formation under the command of Nakula. 

Agniyoni was one of those sages who were followers of the traditional dharma mentioned in the Vedas and founded by Brahmā (Brahma). 

The ritual of agnyādhāna (agnyadhana) is also known as agnyādheya (agnyadheya). This ritual used to be held grandly from the Vedic age to the age of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). This ritual saw the gathering of araṇi (arani; firewood) from a few days before the ritual. After that, the yajamāna (yajamana; the host of the worshipping ritual) […]

A distinct form and name of Agni. Agraha is the one in honour of whom the sacrificial ghee is prepared for oblation during the Cāturmāsya (Chaturmasya) yajña (yajna). The Agni named Tapa had two sons, Manu and Bhānu (Bhanu) (or Vṛhadbhānu) (Vrihadbhanu). Bhānu had two wives, Suprajā (Supraja) and Vṛhadbhāsā (Vrihadbhasa). Bhānu had six sons […]

The word agrahāra (agrahara) occurs in at least two places in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). The first time is in Vanaparva when Bhīma (Bhima), the king of Vidarbha sent a group of brāhmaṇas (brahmanas) to bring him news about his son-in-law and daughter, the destitute King Nala and his wife, Damayantī (Damayanti). To appease the brāhmaṇas, Bhīma had said, “I […]

One of the thousand names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu). Śaṅkarācārya (Shankaracharya), while explaining the meaning of this name, says — agre jāyata iti agrajaḥ. Upaniṣadas (Upanishadas) have conceived parameśvara (parameshwara) or the Supreme Being, as one without a form. At the beginning of Creation, the Almighty, in order to create the Universe, first assumed an incarnate […]

One among the thousand names of Viṣṇu (Vishnu). It is not possible for ordinary people to comprehend or realise within themselves the true nature of God, be it through their physical being or rigorous meditation and penance. God is not perceptible (grāhya) by means of sensual experiences. Thus He is agrāhya or imperceptible —karmendriyairna gṛhyate iti […]

A special name and form of Agni, the Fire-god. Agraṇī (Agrani) was the fifth son born of Manu to his third wife, Niśā (Nisha). Agni, to which the first offering of ghee used for oblation at various rites of a yajña (yajna) is made, is known as Agraṇī. In Yāska’s (Yaska) Nirukta, the word agni etymologically stems from […]

One of the thousand names of Viṣṇu (Vishnu). According to dictionaries agra means ‘the upper part’ or the first part’. At the same time, the word is also used to convey a sense of excellence. When the verbal root nī (ni) if first added to the word agra, and then further joined with the inflection –kvip (kwip), the […]

One of the one thousand and eight names of Śiva-Mahādeva (Shiva-Mahadeva). The annotator Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), to explain the meaning of the word agravara, has said— agravaraḥ agre bṛṇoti yajñabhāgādikamityagravaraḥ. Agravara is the god of gods, and thus, he is superior in both greatness and dignity compared to the other gods. During the age of Purāṇas (Puranas), the […]

– ‘Agre’ means ‘in the beginning’. And the meaning of Ayana is motion or journey, shelter or the way of duty. Yajña is another meaning of ‘Ayana’. So, the yajña (yajna)performed before the cultivation of crops, is called Āgrayana (Agrayana). In his dictionary , Pandit Haricharan Bandyopadhyay has said that this yāga(ritual) is performed in […]

One of the one hundred sons borne of Dhṛtarāṣtra (Dhritarashtra) to Gāndhārī (Gandhari). It is likely that Agrayāyī (Agrayayi) was also known by the name Anuyāyī (Anuyayi).

Aha is one of the names of God Śiva (Siva) as described in Śivasahasranāmastotra (Sivasahasranamastotra; The Hymn of Thousand Names of Siva). In this śloka (sloka; verse) of Śivasahasranamastotra, such  names of Śiva as Lava,Kalā (Kala), Kāṣṭhā (Kastha), Muhūrta (Muhurta), Mātrā (Matra)  — have been uttered all together. God Śiva is the manifestation of Kāla (Kala; the […]

Ahaḥ or Ahan is a sacred place mentioned in Mahābhārta (Mahabharata). One may attain Sūryaloka (Suryaloka; the divine abode of the Sun-god), by having a bath in the water of this place.

Ahaḥ(Ahah) is one of the Sahasranāma (Sahasranama; Thousand Names) of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu).

Ahaḥ (Ahah) is one of the Aṣṭavasu (Ashtavasu; the eight Vasus), born in the womb of Ratā (Rata), and sired by Dharma. Ahaḥ had four sons — Jyoti, Śama (Sama), Śānta(Santa) and Muni. This Vasu named Ahaḥ is found to be present during the abhiṣeka (abhisheka; corronation) of Skanda-Kārtikeya (Kartikeya).

Ahaḥsaṁvartaka(Ahahsamvartaka) is one of the Sahasranāma (Sahasranama; Thousand Names) of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu).

After creating prajā (praja; people), the divine grandsire Brahmā (Brahma) found that there were no distinguishing attributes in them — nor in appearance , nor in qualities. So, collecting all beauty and charms from all other people, and combined them to create a beautiful woman, and she was Ahalyā (Ahalya) — yad yat prajānāṃ pratyaṅgaṃ […]

Ahalyāhrada (Ahalyahrada) is a sacred water-reservoir mentioned in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). This is also called Ahalyā-kuṇḍatīrtha (Ahalya-kundatirtha). It is heard that the hermitage of Maharṣi (Maharshi ; great sage)Gautama was situated in this site, located in the Dvarbhanga district of Bihar. According to legends, Indra, the king of gods, soiled the chastity of Gautama’s wife Ahalyā […]

In Kapila-Āsuri Saṃvāda in Mahābhārata, it is said that– viriñco’bhimāninī aviveka īrṣyā kāmaḥ krodho lobho mado darpo ma makāraścaitānyahaṃkāraparyāyanāmāni bhavanti evamāha– ahaṃkartetyāhaṃkrtā sasṛje viśvamīśvaraḥ. tritīyamenaṃ puruṣamabhimānaguṇaṃ viduḥ. The significance of these śloka(s) uttered by Kapila lies in the notion that Brahmā, in the form of Viriñci is the tritīya tattva of prakṛti, one of whose […]

Ahaṁyāti (Ahamyati) is the son of king Saṁyāti (Samyati), belonging to Puruvaṁśa (Puruvamsa; the genealogical line of Puru). In Mahabhārata (Mahabharata) it is said that Ahaṁyāti was born of the womb of Varāṅgī (Varangi), daughter of king Dṛśadvān (Drisadwan), and wife of Saṁyāti. Bhānumatī, daughter of king Kṛtavīrya(Kritavirya) was the wife of Ahaṁyāti. A son […]

The sons born of the womb of Danu, daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), and sired by Kaśyapa (Kasyapa)Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people), were known as Dānava (Danava; one kind of demon). Ahara was one of them.  

Ahaścara is one of the names of God Śiva , described in Śivasahasranāmastotra (Sivasahasranamastotra; The Hymn of the Thousand Names of Siva). There Śiva (Siva) is called both Ahaścara (Ahaschara) and Naktañcara (Naktanchara). In course of explaining the name, Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the commentator, has said — ahaścara devādiḥ naktañcaro rākṣasādistadu bhayarūpaḥ. Here Aha means day, […]

Ahicchatra was the capital of the undivided land of Pañcāla (Panchala), in ancient times. Earlier insulted by Drupada, Droṇācārya (Dronacharya)took him captive with the help of Arjuna and other Pāṇḍava(s) (Pandava). As a condition for his release, the Pāñcāla kingdom was divided, and Droṇācārya got hold of the northern portion of Pāñcāla. Ahicchatra, belonging to […]

Children born of a Kṣatriya (Kshatriya) woman, sired by a Vaiśya (Vaisya) man, are known as Niṣāda (Nishada). Children born of a Brāhmaṇa(Brahmana) woman, sired by a Vaiśya man, are called Vaideha. And children born of a Vaideha woman, sired by a Niṣāda man, are referred to as Āhiṇdaka (Ahindaka). They used to collect their […]

In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), when the term Ahirvudhnya is used for the first time, it is referred to as one of the several yajñasthāna(s) (yajnasthana; place of fire-sacrifice). It is said that Ahirvudhnya is the name of gṛhapti (grihapati)agni or gārhapatya agnisthāna (garhapatya agnisthana, a ritual fireplace considered sacred for the life of a householder). Ahirvudhnya […]

Ahirvudhnya is one of the Aṣṭottara Sahasranāma (Ashtottara Sahasranama; Thousand and eight names)) of Śiva-Mahādeva (Siva-Mahadeva). In Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture), Ahirvudhnya denotes gṛhapti (grihapati) agni or gārhapatya agnisthāna (garhapatya agnisthana, a ritual fireplace considered sacred for the life of a householder). Again, Ahirvudhnya is one of the eleven Rudra(s) born of the womb of […]

A name of the river which was mentioned in the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata, the epic). Sanjay mentioned this river while describing the geography of Bhāratbarṣa (Bharatbarsha, now India).

Ahorātra (Ahoratra) is one of the names of Śiva-Mahādeva (Siva-Mahadeva). [See Aha]

Ahovīrya (Ahovirya) was a ṛṣi (rishi; sge). He was one of those sages, who, in Dvāparayuga (the Dwapara era), who ascended to svarga (swarga; heaven)by following Vānaprastha (Vanaprastha) dharma (the code of living in the forest, leading the life of an ascetic).

Āhvāyaka(Ahvayaka) is one class of Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana). Brāhmaṇas who were appointed and paid for dautyakarma (embassy- reraled work),  were known as Āhvāyaka.

It was the other name of Kuvera. Kuvera was called Ailavila many times in Mahābhārata. According to the Kūrma Purāṇa, Kuvera was born in the womb of Ilavilā, the daughter of sage Triṇavindu. Sage Pulastya was the father of Kuvera. As the son of Ilavilā, Kuvera was known as Ailavila. .

Aindra was one of Dināśrita (Dinasrita or the parts of a day) muhūrta (muhurta) which are mentioned in the Vāyu Purāṇa (Vayu Purana). Dināśrita (Dinasrita) muhūrta (muhurta) indicates a certain part of a day. The Aindra muhūrta (muhurta) points out a time around 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 noon. Jyeṣthā Nakṣatra (Jyeshtha Nakshatraor star) rises in […]

The name of Airāvata (Airavata) have been mentioned several times in the epics and the Purāṇas (Puranas) as the king of elephants as well as the best elephant ever. In the Purāṇas (Puranas), the names of four divine elephants (in other opinion, eight divine elephants) are mentioned who surround the earth. Airāvata (Airavata) is a […]

Airāvata (Airavata) was a nāga (naga or a kind of serpent) who was born out of the womb of the womb of Kadrū (Kadru), the daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha). Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) was the father of him. In the Āstīka (Astika) parva of the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Airāvata (Airavata) was mentioned with the other sons of Kadrū […]

Airāvatavarṣa (Airavatavarsha) indicates a varṣa (varsha) or piece of land situated in the northern side of the Himālaya (Himalaya) mountain. In the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it was known as ‘Nānādeśayukta’ (Nanadesayukta) varṣa (varsha) or ‘Nānājanapadāvṛtaṃ’ (Nanajanapadavritam). Airāvatavarṣa (Airavatavarsha) was spread up to the north sea of the Śṛṇgiparvata (Sringiparvata). In the south of the Himālaya (Himalaya), […]

Aiṣākī (Aishaki) was the wife of Suhotra. Being a princess of the Iṣāku (Ishaku)clan, she was known as Aiṣākī. Suhotra’s three sons, Ajamīsha (Ajamidha), Sumīdha (Sumidha)and Purumīdha(Purumidha) were born out of the womb of Aiṣākī.

The one who has never been born, the one who will never be born, and the one who can never be born, the one who takes the form of the immortal soul inherent in all the animal species, is known as aja— nahi jāto na jāyeyaṁ na janiṣye kadācana kṣetrajñaḥ sarvabhūtanaṁ tasmādaham ajaḥ smṛtaḥ The […]

A warrior who fought on behalf of the Pāṇḍavas (Pandavas). Bhīṣma (Bhishma) categorized him with the adjective mahāratha (maharatha). [See Mahāratha]

The sun has been referred to as Aja, perhaps because it is anādinidhana (anadinidhana) or the one without a beginning or an end— gabhastimān ajaḥ kālaḥ.

The name of Brahmā (Brahma), the Creator of the universe.

One of the thousand names of god Viṣṇu (Vishnu). He is free of birth, eternally endless, and is one with the truth of the supreme being, as a result he is known as aja. [See Aja – 1]

Śiva Maheśvara (Shiva Maheshwara). [See Aja-1]

After the annihilation of the kṣatriyas (kshatriya) by Paraśurāma (Parashurama), some kṣatriya escaped his wrath because they were in their mothers’ womb at the time of the great decimation. Later they were also crowned kings. Aja, the son of Jahṇu (Jahnu), was one of them.

One of the famous kings who gave up consumption of unconsecrated meat, especially during the month of Śārada Kaumuda (Sharada Kaumuda), i.e., during the month of Kārtika (Kartika) of Hindu calendar. It may be presumed that he is Aja, the father of Daśaratha (Dasharatha).