ChyavanaChyavana (Sanskrit: च्यवन, Cyavana) was a Rishi. He was the son of Bhrigu. According to the Mahabharata, he was powerful enough to oppose the Vajra of Indra and was responsible for the Ashvins getting their share of the sacrificial offerings. He created a demon, Mada, to achieve it.Chyavana is mentioned in the Rigveda as Chyavāna (च्यवान). He is described as an aged and…
BrahmanaBrahmana (ब्राह्मण) is a Varna (class, caste) in Hinduism specialising as priests, teachers (Acharya) and protectors of sacred learning across generations.The earliest inferred reference to “Brahmana” as a possible social class is in the Rigveda, occurs once, and the hymn is called Purusha Sukta. According to this hymn in Mandala 10, Brahmanas are described as having…
Brahma Brahma – the creator Brahma (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मा, IAST: Brahmā) is a creator god in Hinduism. He has four faces. Brahma is also known as Svayambhu (self-born), Vāgīśa (Lord of Speech), and the creator of the four Vedas, one from each of his mouths. Brahma is sometimes identified with the Vedic god Prajapati, as well as linked to Hiranyagarbha (the cosmic egg). He is…
AsuraAsuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are lord beings in the Hindu scriptures who compete for power with the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras). Asuras are described as powerful superhuman demigods or demons with good or bad qualities. Monier-Williams traces the etymological roots of Asura (असुर) to Asu (असु), which means life of the spiritual world or departed spirits. In the…
Amrita Amrita (Sanskrit: अमृत, IAST: amṛta), or Amrith, is a word that literally means “immortality” and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word’s earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda, where it is one of several synonyms for soma, the drink of the Devas. Not only Amrita gives immortality to the Devas, but also by…
Ananta Anant is a Sanskrit term which means ‘endless’ or ‘limitless’, also means ‘eternal’ or ‘infinity’, in other words, it also means infinitude or an unending expansion or without limit. It is one of the many names of Lord Vishnu. Anant is the Shesha-Naga, the celestial snake, on which Lord Vishnu reclines. In the Mahabharata, Anant or…
Aruna Aruna literally means “red, ruddy, tawny”, and is the name of the charioteer of Surya. He is the personification of the reddish glow of the rising Sun. Aruna is the brother of Garuda, born of Rishi Kashyapa and Vinata. He was born prematurely and partially developed from an egg. Kashyapa’s wives – Vinata and Kadru…
AstikaAstika was an ancient Rishi, and both his parents had the same name – Jaratkaru. The father was Rishi Jaratkaru and the mother was Naga Jaratkaru, (also known as the serpent goddess Manasa), a sister of a great Naga Vasuki. Astika was born to release the virtuous snakes from extinction due to the curse…
Ganga presenting son Devavrata to ShantanuBhishma taking the terrrible oath Bhishma kidnapping the Kashi girlsBhishma fights ArjunaKrishna wields a weapon against Bhishma against hiw own oathBhishma revealing to the Pandavas how he can be killed in the battle Bhishma on a bed of arrowsDeath of Bhishma BhishmaIn the epic Mahabharata, Devavrata also known…
SanjayaSanjaya (Sanskrit: संजय, meaning “victory”) or Sanjaya Gavalgani is a character from the epic Mahabharata. In Mahabharata—an epic poem of war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas—the blind king Dhritarashtra is the father of the principals of the Kaurava side. Sanjaya, equal to sage was born from the portions of…