Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.789
Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.789
- Language
- English
c9.789.1
ŚAINDHAVA II. Mention is made in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 51, Verse 25, that the inhabitants of the kingdom of Sindhu were called Saindhavas. ŚAINDHAVĀRAṆYA. An ancient holy place of pilgrimage in Bhārata. This holy place is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 89, Verse 15). ŚAINDHAVAYĀṆA. One of Viśvāmitra’s sons, who were expounders of Vedas. (M.B. Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 4, Verse 51). ŚAIṄYANIRYĀṆA PARVA. A sub-section of Udyoga Parva in Mahābhārata. This subsection comprises Chapters 151 to 159 of Udyoga Parva. ŚAIRANDHRĪ. The pseudonym assumed by Pāñcālī, when the Pāṇḍavas lived incognito in the palace of King Virāṭa. (See under Pāñcālī). ŚAIRĪṢAKA. A region in India, celebrated in the Purāṇas. Nakula, in the course of his triumphal march in the western regions, conquered this land also. (M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 6). ŚAIŚAVA. A land famous in the Purāṇas. The Kṣatriya Kings of this country brought presents for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya. (M.B. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 52, Verse 18). ŚAIŚIRĀYAṆA. A maharṣi. The famous Kālayavana was his son, born to him by his wife Gopālī. Śaiśirāyaṇa was the priest of King Trigarta. Once the king ordered the sage to have sexual union with his wife Vṛkādevī to test his virility. (Harivaṃśa, I; 35; 12). ŚAIŚIREYA. An ācārya who was the disciple of Śakalya. "Śaiśiriya Saṃhitā", a work produced by him is considered to be an authoritative treatise on the Śakalya branch of knowledge. ŚAIŚIRINDHRA.
c9.789.2
A country in ancient India. Mention is made about this country in Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 57. ŚAIVACĀPA. Śiva’s bow. It was made by Viśvakarmā. He made a Vaiṣṇavacāpa and a Śaivacāpa for the purpose of a battle which was fought once between Viṣṇu and Śiva. (See the 7th sub para, 7th para under the word Viṣṇu). Long ago when Śiva set out to break up Dakṣayāga, he was armed with this bow. After defeating the enemy and breaking up the yāga, Śiva cooled down and presented the bow to his devotee, the king of Videha. The king took the bow to his palace, kept it in his armoury and used to offer due worship to it. His descendants also continued to worship it. (Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa). ŚAIVĀLA. A town in India. There is a reference to it in Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 52, Verse 18. ŚAKA. A particular sect of caste. The following information about the Śakas is gathered from the Śakas. (i) Śakas were born from the breast of Nandinī, Vasiṣṭha’s cow. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 147, Verse 36). (ii) Bhīmasena, during his triumphal tour of the eastern regions subjugated the Śakas. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 14). (iii) Nakula conquered them. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 14). (iv) King of the Śakas participated in Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 51, Verse 32). (v) The Pāṇḍavas invited them to take part in the great war. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 4, Verse 15).
c9.789.3
(vi) They did along with Sudakṣiṇa, king of Kāmboja, service in Duryodhana’s army. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 19, Verse 21). (vii) Śrī Kṛṣṇa once conquered them. (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 119, Verse 45). (viii) Karṇa once defeated them and conquered their country. (Karṇa Parva, Chapter 8, Verse 18). (ix) Śakas who were originally Kṣatriyas were demoted as Śūdras as they incurred the displeasure and anger of brahmins. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 33, Verse 21). (x) As the Śakas and the Yavanas had helped the Haihaya kings Paraśurāma, Sagara and Bharata defeated them in war and drove them off from the country. (Bhāgavata, Navama Skandha). ŚĀKA. A tree in the Śāka island. The island got the name from this tree. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 11, Verse 23). ŚĀKADVĪPA. One of the Saptadvīpas (seven islands). Sañjaya once gave Dhṛtarāṣṭra a description of this island. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 11). Jambūdvīpa, Plakṣadvīpa, Śālmalidvīpa, Kuśadvīpa, Krauñcadvīpa, Śākadvīpa and Puṣkaradvīpa are the Saptadvīpas. (Devī Bhāgavata, 8th Skandha). ŚĀKALA. A city made famous in the Purāṇas. Once it was the capital of the Madra kingdom. (Sabhā Parva Chapter 32, Verse 14), Modern scholars opine that the modern Siyalkot was the old Śākala. ŚĀKALADVĪPA. An ancient kingdom referred to in the Purāṇas. Prativindhya, king of this kingdom was defeated by Arjuna. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 14). ŚĀKALYA. A maharṣi in the lineage of gurus (preceptors). (See under Guruparamparā). He systematised the Vedasaṃhitās.
c9.789.4
It was Bādarāyaṇakṛṣṇa, who became later famous as Vedavyāsa, who first arranged in systematic order the Vedasaṃhitās. Prominent scholars hold the view that Vyāsa lived between 1300-1500 B.C. The saṃhitā text now popular systematised by Śakalya is called Śakalya śākhā (Śakalya branch). Śakalya is reported to have saved Kaśyapa maharṣi once. When king Parikṣit was cursed that he would die by Takṣaka’s poison Kaśyapa started for his court to save the king from the calamity. But, Takṣaka met him on the way and sent him back laden with presents of gems, ornaments etc. People derided Kaśyapa, who on account of covetousness, retreated from the duty of saving the king’s life and non-cooperated with him in every way. In this contingency Kaśyapa sought the help of Śakalya, who advised the former to bathe in the sacred tīrthas in the rivers Godāvarī and Sarasvatī. Kaśyapa did so and regained his old reputation. ŚĀKAMBHARĪ. A sacred place dear to Devī. He, who fasts for three nights here, will derive the same benefits as of eating lettuce (śāka) for twelve years. (Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Verse 13). ŚAKAṬA. An asura. (See under Kṛṣṇa, Parā 9, Sub Para 2). ŚAKAṬĀLA. An intelligent minister. (For details see under Vararuci). ŚAKAṬĀYANA. A famous grammarian. He lived before Yāska and Pāṇini. He is considered to be the author of the well-known text on grammar called ‘Uṇādisūtrapāṭha’. He is referred to as the foremost among the grammarians in the aṣṭādhyāyī of Pāṇini.
c9.789.5
(Pāṇinisūtra, 1, 4, 86 and 87).