Vrishabha, aka: Vṛṣabha; 9 Definition(s)
Vrishabha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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 term Vṛṣabha can be transliterated into English as Vrsabha or Vrishabha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
1) Vṛṣabha (वृषभ) refers to a type of temple (prāsāda) classified under the group named Sāndhāra, according to Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 56. The Sāndhāra group contains twenty-five out of a sixty-four total prāsādas (temples) classified under four groups in this chapter. The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra is an 11th-century encyclopedia dealing with various topics from the Vāstuśāstra.
Vṛṣabha is also listed in the Agnipurāṇa which features a list of 45 temple types. It is listed under the group named Maṇika, featuring oval-shaped temples. This list represents a classification of temples in Nort-India.
2) Vṛṣabhā (वृषभा, “cow”) refers to the fifth of eight yoni (womb), according to the Mānasāra. Yoni is the fourth of the āyādiṣaḍvarga, or “six principles” that constitute the “horoscope” of an architectural or iconographic object. Their application is intended to “verify” the measurements of the architectural and iconographic object against the dictates of astrology that lay out the conditions of auspiciousness.
The particular yoni (eg., vṛṣabhā) and rāśi (eg., vṛṣabha) of all architectural and iconographic objects (settlement, building, image) must be calculated and ascertained. This process is based on the principle of the remainder. An arithmetical formula to be used in each case is stipulated, which engages one of the basic dimensions of the object (breadth, length, or perimeter/circumference).
The first, third, fifth and seventh yonis are considered auspicious and therefore to be preferred, and the rest, inauspicious and to be avoided. All twelve rāśis, except the eighth (vṛścika) are auspicious.(Source): Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
1) Vṛṣabha (वृषभ).—Son of Subala, the King of Gāndhāra. He was the brother of Śakuni. In the battle of Bhārata, this Vṛṣabha, with his five brothers, attacked Irāvān, who killed the five brothers. Vṛṣabha alone escaped death. (Mahābhārata Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 90, Stanza 33).
2) Vṛṣabha (वृषभ).—An asura. Ariṣṭa was another name of this asura (See under Ariṣṭa).
3) Vṛṣabha (वृषभ).—A Yādava King who was the son of Anamitra. This Vṛṣabha married Jayantī, the daughter of the King of Kāśī. (Matsya Purāṇa, 45, 25-26).
4) Vṛṣabha (वृषभ).—A mountain near Girivraja, the capital city of Magadha. (Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 21, Stanza 2).(Source): archive.org: Puranic Encyclopaedia
1a) Vṛṣabha (वृषभ).—A son of Kārtavīryārjuna.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 23. 27.
1b) A playmate of Kṛṣṇa. Being a victor in a game was carried on his back by Bhadrasena.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 18. 23-24.
1c) A son of Sṛṣṭi and Chāyā.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 98.
1d) The Asura vanquished by Kṛṣṇa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 36. 37; 73. 100; Vāyu-purāṇa 98. 100.
1e) A god of the Sukarmāṇa group.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 1. 88; Vāyu-purāṇa 100. 92.
1f) A son of Anamitra, married Jayanti the daughter of the Kāśirāja.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 45. 25-6.
1g) A son of Kuśāgra and father of Punyavān (Puspavān, Viṣṇu-purāṇa).*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 50. 29; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 19. 82.
1h) The Lord of cattle: dedication of a dark Vṛṣa is equal to going to Gayā for Śrāddha.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 8. 8; 22. 6.
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.
Itihasa (narrative history)
Vṛṣabhā (वृषभा) refers to the name of a River mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.10.31). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vṛṣabhā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.(Source): JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places
Itihasa (इतिहास, itihāsa) refers to ‘epic history’ and represents a branch of Sanskrit literature which popularly includes 1) the eighteen major Puranas, 2) the Mahabharata and 3) the Ramayana. It is a branch of Vedic Hinduism categorised as smriti literature (‘that which is remembered’) as opposed to shruti literature (‘that which is transmitted verbally’).
Katha (narrative stories)
Vṛṣabha (वृषभ) or Vṛṣabhaparvata is the name of a mountain situated on the island Nārikela, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 54. Accordingly, as four heavenly figures said to Naravāhanadatta: “... there is in the midst of the great sea a great, prosperous and splendid island, which is called the island of Nārikela, and is renowned in the world for its beauty. And in it there are four mountains with splendid expanses of land, named Maināka, Vṛṣabha, Cakra and Balāhaka; in those four we four live”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Vṛṣabha, 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.(Source): Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara
Katha (कथा, kathā) refers to narrative Sanskrit literature often inspired from epic legendry (itihasa) and poetry (mahākāvya). Some Kathas reflect socio-political instructions for the King while others remind the reader of important historical event and exploits of the Gods, Heroes and Sages.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Vṛṣabha (वृषभ) regularly denotes a ‘bull’ in the Rigveda, but usually in a metaphorical sense.(Source): archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects
Languages of India and abroad
vṛṣabha (वृषभ).—m (S) A bull. 2 The sign Taurus.(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary
vṛṣabha (वृषभ).—m A bull. The sign Taurus.(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Vṛṣabha (वृषभ).—[vṛṣ-abhac kicca Uṇ.3.112]
1) A bull.
2) Any male animal.
3) Anything best or eminent of its class (at the end of comp.); द्विजवृषभः (dvijavṛṣabhaḥ) Ratn.1.5; किं नास्ति त्वयि सत्यमात्यवृषभे यस्मिन् करोमि स्पृहाम् (kiṃ nāsti tvayi satyamātyavṛṣabhe yasmin karomi spṛhām) 4.2.
4) The sign Taurus of the zodiac.
5) A kind of drug; cf. ऋषभ (ṛṣabha).
6) An elephant's ear.
7) The orifice or hollow of the ear.
8) Justice (dharma personified); Mb.12.43.8.
-bhā Name of the three lunar mansions (viz. of maghā, pūrva-phalgunī, and uttara-phalgunī).
Derivable forms: vṛṣabhaḥ (वृषभः).(Source): DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Search found 76 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
Vṛṣabhadhvaja (वृषभध्वज).—epithets of Śiva; पुत्रीकृतोऽसौ वृषभध्वजेन (putrīkṛto'sau vṛṣabhadhva...
Vṛṣabhavikrāntagāmī (वृषभविक्रान्तगामी) refers to “gait of a bull” and represents the fourteent...
Vṛṣabhaparvata (वृषभपर्वत) or Vṛṣabha is the name of a mountain situated on the island Nārikela...
Kharavṛṣabha (खरवृषभ).—a jack-ass. Derivable forms: kharavṛṣabhaḥ (खरवृषभः).Kharavṛṣabha is a S...
Vṛṣabhaskandha (वृषभस्कन्ध).—a. broad-shouldered.Vṛṣabhaskandha is a Sanskrit compound consisti...
Vṛṣabhekṣaṇa (वृषभेक्षण).—Another name of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (Mahābhārata Udyoga Parva, Chapter 70, Sta...
Govṛṣabha (गोवृषभ).—an excellent bull; न तां शेकुर्नृपा वोढुमजित्वा सप्त गोवृषान् (na tāṃ śekur...
Vṛṣabhaṣoḍaśā (वृषभषोडशा).—(pl.) fifteen cows and a bull; ज्येष्ठस्तु जातो ज्येष्ठायां हरेद् वृ...
Vṛṣabhagati (वृषभगति).—epithets of Śiva; पुत्रीकृतोऽसौ वृषभध्वजेन (putrīkṛto'sau vṛṣabhadhvajen...
Maṅgalavṛṣabha (मङ्गलवृषभ).—an ox with auspicious signs. Derivable forms: maṅgalavṛṣabhaḥ (मङ्ग...
Vṛṣabhayāna (वृषभयान).—a car drawn by oxen. Derivable forms: vṛṣabhayānam (वृषभयानम्).Vṛṣabhayā...
Vṛṣabhavikrāntagāmitā (वृषभविक्रान्तगामिता) or Vṛṣabhavikrāntagāmi refers to “a gait like that ...
Vṛṣabhaketu (वृषभकेतु).—epithets of Śiva; पुत्रीकृतोऽसौ वृषभध्वजेन (putrīkṛto'sau vṛṣabhadhvaje...
Vṛṣabhamukha (वृषभमुख) is the name of a ‘river mouth’ (mukha) into which the lake Anavatapta fl...
Vṛṣabhalalita (वृषभललित) is the name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) to which Hemacandra (1088-11...
Search found 21 books and stories containing Vrishabha or Vṛṣabha. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Bhagavata Purana (by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Chapter 18 - Lord Balarama Slays the Demon Pralamba < [Canto X - The Summum Bonum]
Chapter 21 - The Movements of the Sun < [Canto V - The Creative Impetus]
Chapter 22 - Krishna Steals the Garments of the Unmarried Gopis < [Canto X - The Summum Bonum]
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.3.32 < [Part 3 - Fraternal Devotion (sakhya-rasa)]
Verse 3.3.114 < [Part 3 - Fraternal Devotion (sakhya-rasa)]
Verse 3.3.31 < [Part 3 - Fraternal Devotion (sakhya-rasa)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī)
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)