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Nivatakavachas
The nivatakavachas ( sa, निवातकवच, lit=the impenetrable armoured ones, translit=Nivātakavaca) are a sect of daityas, the children of Kashyapa and Diti, classified under the race of asuras in Hindu mythology. They are best known for their battles against Ravana and Arjuna, the latter of which caused their annihilation. Thirty million nivatakavachas were born in the daitya clan. Allied with the kalakeyas, they triumphed over the devas in battle. They are described to have been skilled in magic and warfare, wielding powerful weapons to defeat their foes. Literature Ramayana The nivatakavachas are said to have terrorised the world, living deep beneath the ocean, and residing in the city of Maṇimatī after securing boons from Brahma. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravaṇa with his sons Meghanada, Atikaya, and with his army attacked these daityas, but found himself unable to defeat the sect after centuries of battle. The two sides finally formed an alliance after Brahma i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ravana
Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He abducted Prince Rama's wife Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her in the Ashoka Vatika. Later, Rama, with the support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanaras, launched an invasion against Ravana in Lanka. Ravana was subsequently slain and Rama rescued his beloved wife Sita. Ravana is widely portrayed to be an evil character, though he also has many qualities that make him a learned scholar. He was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas. Ravana is also considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva. Images of Ravana are seen associated with Shiva at some temples. He also appears in the Buddhist Mahayana text '' Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra'', in Buddhist Ramayanas and Jatakas, as well as in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rāvaṇa
Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He abducted Prince Rama's wife Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her in the Ashoka Vatika. Later, Rama, with the support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanaras, launched an invasion against Ravana in Lanka. Ravana was subsequently slain and Rama rescued his beloved wife Sita. Ravana is widely portrayed to be an evil character, though he also has many qualities that make him a learned scholar. He was well-versed in the six shastras and the four Vedas. Ravana is also considered to be the most revered devotee of Shiva. Images of Ravana are seen associated with Shiva at some temples. He also appears in the Buddhist Mahayana text ''Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra'', in Buddhist Ramayanas and Jatakas, as well as in Jain Ramayan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arjuna Riding His Chariot, Which Is Driven By The Charioteer Matali And Drawn By A Horse, Has Shot An Arrow Into The Mouth Of The Demon Niwatakawaca, Who Stands In The Chariot
Arjuna (Sanskrit: अर्जुन, ), also known as Partha and Dhananjaya, is a character in several ancient Hindu texts, and specifically one of the major characters of the Indian epic Mahabharata. In the epic, he is the third among Pandavas, the five sons of Pandu. The family formed part of the royal line of the Kuru Kingdom. In the Mahabharata War, Arjuna was a key warrior from the Pandava side and slew many warriors including Karna and Bhisma. Before the beginning of the war, his mentor, Krishna, gave him the supreme knowledge of Bhagavad Gita to overcome his moral dilemmas. Arjuna was born when Indra, the god of rain, blessed Kunti and Pandu with a son. From childhood, Arjuna was a brilliant student and was favoured by his beloved teacher, Drona. Arjuna is depicted as a skilled archer, winning the hands of Draupadi, who married the five brothers because of Kunti's misunderstanding and Mahadeva boons. Arjuna is twice exiled, first for breaking a pact with his brothe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Indra
Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref> Indra's myths and powers are similar to other Indo-European deities such as Jupiter, Perun, Perkūnas, Zalmoxis, Taranis, Zeus, and Thor, part of the greater Proto-Indo-European mythology. Indra is the most referred deity in the '' Rigveda''. He is celebrated for his powers, and as the one who killed the great evil (a malevolent type of asura) named Vritra, who obstructed human prosperity and happiness. Indra destroys Vritra and his "deceiving forces", and thereby brings rains and sunshine as the saviour of mankind. He is also an important deity worshipped by the Kalash people, indicating his prominence in ancient Hinduism. Indra's significance diminishes in the post-Vedic Indian literature, but he still plays an important role in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
List Of Asuras
Asuras ( sa, असुर) are a class of beings or power-seeking clans, related to the more benevolent devas (also known as ''suras'') in Hinduism. Clans The two major clans of the asuras are the daityas and the danavas. * Daitya - a clan of asuras * Dānava - a clan of asuras (Known as Dānaveghasā in Buddhism) * Rakshasa - a class of beings sometimes categorised as synonymous with asuras A * Adi ॐ * Aghāsura ॐ * anthkashur ॐ * Anuhlāda - Son of Hiraṇyakaśipu * Apasmāra ॐ☸ * Aśva - Son of Diti ॐ * Āyu - Son of Hiranyakaśipu ('' Harivaṃśa'') ॐ * Alāmbāsa - A powerful asura in the Hindu epic Mahabharata ॐ * Alāmvūshā - A powerful asura from the Mahabharata ॐ * Alāyūdhā - A powerful asura from the epic Mahabharata ॐ B * Bhandāsura - asura slain by Tripura Sundari * Bali - An king of vanar sena ॐ☸卐 * Bāṇāsura - warred against Krishna ॐ * Bhasmāsura ॐ * Bakāsura - slain by Bhima ॐ * Bakasura - slain by Krishna ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kalakeyas
The kalakeyas ( sa, कालकेय, translit=Kālakeya) or kalakhanjas ( sa, कालखञ्ज; Pali: kālakañjā) are a sect of danavas in Hindu mythology, referring to the children of Kashyapa and Kala. Sixty-thousand kalakeyas are said to exist, and they are described to fight under the asura banner, under Vritra, as well as other rulers. Hinduism Mahabharata In the Tirtha-yatra Parva of the Mahabharata, the devas requested Sage Agastya to drink the ocean where the kalakeyas resided, so that they may be defeated in battle. After the sage had completed this extraordinary feat, the devas assailed their foes, and were able to vanquish them in battle. The survivors of the sect sought refuge in Patala, the netherworld. In the Vana Parva, the kalakeyas, allied with the nivatakavachas, waged war on the devas, attacking Devaloka. They were able to inflict a defeat on their enemies. In retaliation, Indra tasked his son, Arjuna, with the mission of destroying the nivatakavac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Danava (Hinduism)
In Hindu mythology, the danavas are a race descending from Kashyapa and his wife Danu, a daughter of the progenitor god, Daksha. It is mentioned that there are one hundred danavas. Origin The danavas are a mythological race of demigods, the half-brothers to the devas and daityas that are found in a range of Hindu texts. The danavas are a part of a larger group of the asuras, and are typically portrayed as opposed to the Hindu deities. However, historically, their role in Hinduism is varied and at times, the distinction between the danavas and Hindu deities is complex and they are difficult to distinguish from one another. Etymology The name ''danavas'' stems from the mother's name: Danu. Both danavas and Danu are derived from the Vedic word ''Da'' meaning 'to give.' Ananda Coomaraswamy suggests this word connotes generosity. Another interpretation of their name is associated with Danu's relationship with her first son (and demon), Vritra. In Indian mythology, in an att ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Asuras
Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhist context, the word is sometimes translated "titan", "demigod", or "antigod". According to Hindu scriptures, the asuras are in constant battle with the devas. Asuras are described in Indian texts as powerful superhuman demigods with good or bad qualities. In early Vedic literature, the good Asuras are called '' Adityas'' and are led by Varuna, while the malevolent ones are called ''Danavas'' and are led by Vritra. In the earliest layer of Vedic texts Agni, Indra and other gods are also called Asuras, in the sense of their being "lords" of their respective domains, knowledge and abilities. In later Vedic and post-Vedic texts, the benevolent gods are called ''Devas'', while malevolent Asuras compete against these Devas and are considered "enemy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apsara
An apsaras or apsara ( sa, अप्सरा ' lso ' pi, अक्चरा, translit=accharā) is a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hinduism and Buddhist culture. They figure prominently in the sculpture, dance, literature and painting of many Indian and Southeast Asian cultures. There are two types of apsaras: ''laukika'' (worldly) and ''daivika'' (divine). Urvasi, Menaka, Rambha, Tilottama and Ghritachi are the most famous among them. They are most often depicted in the court and discretion of Indra. Apsaras are widely known as ''Apsara'' ( ) in Khmer, and also called as ''Accharā'' in Pāli, or ''Bidadari'' ( Malay, Maranao), ''Biraddali'' ( Tausug, Sinama), ''Hapsari/Apsari'' or ''Widadari/Widyadari'' ( Javanese), ''Helloi'' ( Meitei) and ''Apsorn'' ( th , อัปสร). English translations of the word "Apsara" include "nymph", "fairy", "celestial nymph", and "celestial maiden". In Hinduism, apsaras are beautiful, supernatural female ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Śakra (Buddhism)
Śakra (Sanskrit: शक्र Śakra; Pali: सक्क Sakka) is the ruler of the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven according to Buddhist cosmology. He is also referred to by the title "Śakra, Lord of the Devas" (Sanskrit: '; Pali: '). The name Śakra ("powerful") as an epithet of Indra is found in several verses of the Rigveda. In East Asian cultural traditions, Śakra is known as ''Dìshìtiān'' (帝釋天) or ''Shìtí Huányīn'' (釋提桓因) in Chinese, as ''Taishakuten'' (帝釈天) in Japanese, as ''Jeseokcheon'' (제석천) in Korean, and as ''Đế Thích Thiên'' (帝釋天) or ''Thích Đề Hoàn Nhân'' (釋提桓因) in Vietnamese. In Chinese Buddhism, Śakra is sometimes identified with the Taoist Jade Emperor (Yùhuáng Dàdì 玉皇大帝, often simplified to Yùhuáng 玉皇); both share a birthday on the ninth day of the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar (usually in February). The Trāyastriṃśa heaven in which Śakra rules is located on the top of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kakawin Ramayana
''Kakawin Ramayana'' is an Old Javanese poem rendering of the Sanskrit Ramayana in ''kakawin'' meter. ''Kakawin Rāmâyaṇa'' is a '' kakawin'', the Javanese form of ''kāvya'', a poem modeled on traditional Sanskrit meters.It is believed to have been written in Central Java (modern Indonesia) in approximately the late ninth or early tenth century, during the era of Mataram Kingdom. According to its latest English translator, Stuart Robson: ″the Old Javanese ''Rāmāyaṇa'' was written between 856 and about 930, with the likelihood that the last section was added in the period 900-930."Robson, Stuart. ''Old Javanese Ramayana''. Tokyo: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 2015. Among the Javanese, ''Kakawin Ramayana'' has always been considered the pinnacle of artistic expression. The large number of preserved manuscripts attest to its popularity and adaptation. It is the lengthiest of all the Old Javanese kakawins of the Hindu-Buddhist period of Java. Divergence The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gandiva
Gandiva ( IAST: Gāṇḍīva; ) is a divine bow of Arjuna, one of the Pandavas from the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata.'' The bow was made by Brahma. How Arjuna got the Gandiva Agni, God of fire, wanted to devour the forest of Khandavaprastha, to regain his power and splendor. He had enlisted the help of the two heroes, Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna was the best warrior and greatest archer of the world & all time and demanded from Agni a bow that would suit his strength, skill and the power of celestial weapons. Agni then requested Varuna to bless the heroes with the desired weapons. Varuna gave the Gandiva bow to Arjuna, as well as two quivers which would provide an inexhaustible number of arrows. The weapon was dreaded by many during the Kurukshetra war, having defeated and killed many great warriors and the gods themselves. Features The Gandiva gives a wielder self confidence, self belief. The bow consisted of 108 celestial string, was endued with great energy and is believ ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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