Devaki, Devakī: 15 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
See also
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Introduction:

Devaki means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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.

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Devakī (देवकी).—Mother of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Genealogy. Descended from Viṣṇu thus:—Brahmā -Atri—Candra—Budha—Purūravas—Āyus—Nahuṣa—Yayāti—Yadu—Sahasrajit—Śatajit—Hehaya—Dharman—Kuṇi—Bhadrasena—Dhanaka -Kṛtavīrya—Kārtavīryārjuna—Madhu—Vṛṣṇi—Yudhājit—Śini—Satyaka—Sātyaki—Yuyudhāna—Jaya—Kuṇi—Anamitra—Pṛśni—Citraratha—Kukura—Vahni—Vilomā—Kapotaromā—Tumburu—Dundubhi—Daridra—Vasu—Nāhuka—Āhuka—Devaka—Devāpa—Devakī. (See full article at Story of Devakī from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Devakī (देवकी).—(Devakabhojaputrī Sunāmā) a Bhoja princess; a daughter of Devaka, one of the wives of Vasudeva and mother of eight sons of whom Kṛṣṇa was one, all of them comparable to the eight Vasus;¹ oppressed by Kaṃsa and relieved by Kṛṣṇa; was about to be murdered by Kaṃsa who heard a divine voice that her eighth child would be the cause of his end; on Vasudeva's assurance to give up the babies as they were born she was allowed to go. Her first child Kīrtimat was taken to Kaṃsa who returned the baby. She was imprisoned with Vasudeva to watch over the birth of her sons. During her seventh pregnancy the dhāma of Hari in her womb was transferred by Yogamāyā to that of Rohiṇī and it was said that Devakī aborted. Then the aṃśa of Hari entered her womb and she grew beautiful every day. Brahmā, Śiva and other Gods waited on her on the eve of Kṛṣṇa's birth and said that her son was to kill Kaṃsa: addressed the new-born Kṛṣṇa. In the Svāyambhuva epoch she was Pṛśni and Vasudeva was Sutapa. In another epoch she was Aditi and Vasudeva was Kaśyapa. Yaśodā's daughter exchanged for Devakī's son and Kaṃsa was told of the birth of a girl; was released from prison along with Vasudeva; forgave and advised Kaṃsa; was saluted by Kṛṣṇa and Rāma.² Yudhiṣṭhira asked Arjuna about her welfare.³ Kṛṣṇa's respects to, after his return from Indra's abode.⁴ Devakī came to Rukmiṇī's palace with Vasudeva and Kṛṣṇa;⁵ felt concerned at Kṛṣṇa not returning from the cave of Jāmbavān and aided by others prayed to Durgā for Kṛṣṇa's return;⁶ wondered at the discourses between Nimi and the sages, sons of Ṛṣabha;⁷ embraced Yaśodā at Syamantapañcaka and enquired after her welfare;⁸ praised Kṛṣṇa and Rāma and desired to see her sons who had been killed by Kaṃsa; saw them with joy when taken back from Sutala by Kṛṣṇa; in her presence they left for heaven.⁹ Her grief at the decease of Rāma, Kṛṣṇa and others; entered fire.¹⁰

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 1. 12; III. 1. 33; 2. 25; IX. 24. 23, 45, 53; X. 1. 8 and 29; 36. 17; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 1. 125; Matsya-purāṇa 44. 73; 46. 13-15; 47. 2; Vāyu-purāṇa 1. 148; 96. 163, 172-4; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 14. 18; 15. 18. 26-30.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. Chh. 1-4; 44. 50-51; 45. 1-12; Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 8. 23. 33; 11. 28; X. 36. 20; 43. 24. Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 2. 2; 4. 14; 18. 7-8.
3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 14. 27.
4) Ib. X. [67 (V) 48].
5) Ib. X. 55. 35.
6) Ib. X. 56. 34-5.
7) Ib. XI. 5. 51.
8) Ib. X. 82. 37.
9) Ib. X. 85. 27-33, 52, 56-70.
10) Ib. XI. 31. 18; Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 38. 4.

1b) A goddess enshrined at Mathurā.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 13. 39.

1c) The mother of Yaudheya by Yudhiṣṭhira.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 50. 56.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Devakī (देवकी) refers to one of the two wives of Vasudeva: one of the sons of Kroṣṭā, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] The Son of Yadu was Kroṣṭā in whose race the most glorious kings were born. The text only names them as [viz., Vasudeva]. Ugrasena’s daughter was Devakī who married Vasudeva and from them Viṣṇu by the curse of Bhṛgu was born as Kṛṣṇa. From Vasudeva’s other wife Rohiṇī was born Saṃkarṣaṇa.

context information

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.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (śilpa)

Devakī (देवकी) is depicted as a sculpture on the second pillar of the southern half of the maṇḍapa of the temple of Lokeśvara.—At the extreme right end of the bas-relief is shown a fully pregnant lady. Devakī is sitting with an unhappy look on her face. To understand the reason for her anxiety, we have to read this passage in the Bhāgavata: “Devakī, though now the abiding place of the Lord who is the abode of the entire universe, did not shine superbly, as she was then imprisoned in the palace of Kaṃsa, the king of Bhojas” (Bhāgavata purāṇa, chapter X, verse 19). In this scene, the pathetic expression on the face of Devaki induces a flow of karuṇa rasa, compassion.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Devakī (देवकी) refers to:—The mother of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Vasudeva. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Devakī (देवकी): Mother of Lord Krishna.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Devakī (देवकी) is the mother of Kṛṣṇa: the ninth Vāsudeva (“violent heroes”) according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Since they enjoy half the power of a Cakravartin (universal monarch) they are also known as Ardhacakrins. Jain legends describe nine such Vāsudevas usually appearing together with their “gentler” twins known as the Baladevas. The legends of these twin-heroes usually involve their antagonistic counterpart known as the Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes).

The stories of queen Devakī, king Vāsudeva and their son, Kṛṣṇa are related in texts such as the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Devakī (देवकी) is the mother of Kṛṣṇa: one of the nine black Vāsudevas, according to chapter 1.6 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly: “[...] There will be nine black Vāsudevas, enjoyers of three parts of the earth, with half so much power as the Cakrins. [...] Kṛṣṇa, son of Devakī and Vasudeva, in Mathurā, follower of Neminātha, ten bows tall, will live for one thousand years and then will go to the third hell”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions

Devakī (देवकी) is an example of a feminine name mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. In feminine names we notice the terminations svāminī and vatī. We find that the feminine names in our inscriptions generally end in ‘ī’. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Derivation of personal names (e.g., Devakī) during the rule of the Guptas followed patterns such as tribes, places, rivers and mountains.

Devakī is also an example of a Vaiṣṇavite name mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. Classification of personal names according to deities (e.g., from Vaiṣṇavism) were sometimes used by more than one person and somehow seem to have been popular.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

dēvakī (देवकी).—f Business with gods and demons; raising, injecting, ejecting them &c.

--- OR ---

dēvakī (देवकी).—a Proceeding from the gods or demons; pertaining to divining, presaging, soothsaying, auguring. Ex. dēvakī bhākīta, dēvakī pīḍā or bādhā or upadrava, dēvakī kṛtya, dēvakī camatkāra. It is often used in conjunction with and distinction from rājakī, in like manner with asmānī & sulatānī.

context information

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Devakī (देवकी).—Name of a daughter of Devaka and wife of Vasudeva and mother of Kṛṣṇa.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Devakī (देवकी).—f. (-kī) Devaki, the daughter of Devaka, wife of Vasudeva, and mother of Krishna. E. devaka, añ patronymic affix, fem. affix ṅīṣ; also with the vowel changed by the affix, daivakī.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Devakī (देवकी):—[from devaka > deva] a f. See below.

2) [from deva] b f. Name of a daughter of Devaka (See above) who was wife of Vasu-deva and mother of Kṛṣṇa, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Purāṇa] (identified with a-diti, [Harivaṃśa]; with dākṣāyaṇī, [Matsya-purāṇa])

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Devakī (देवकी):—(kī) 3. f. Devakī, daughter of Devaka and mother of Krishna.

2) sūnu (nuḥ) 2. m. Krishna.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Devakī (देवकी) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Devai.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). 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.

Relevant text

Search found 90 books and stories containing Devaki, Devakī, Dēvakī; (plurals include: Devakis, Devakīs, Dēvakīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 1.10.12 < [Chapter 10 - Description of the Birth of Lord Balarāma]

Verse 1.11.61 < [Chapter 11 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s Birth]

Verse 1.11.36 < [Chapter 11 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s Birth]

+ 30 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 50 - The episode of manifestation of Krishna

Chapter 54 - The visit to Vasudeva and Devaki

Chapter 49 - The discussion of Brahma and Bhagavati

+ 4 more chapters / show preview

Strīpratyaya (Feminine affixes) < [Chapter 3 - Vāsudevavijaya—A Grammatical Study]

Theme of the Vāsudevavijaya < [Chapter 2 - Vāsudevavijaya—Authorship and Content Analysis]

Poetic charm in Vāsudevavijaya < [Chapter 4 - Vāsudevavijaya—A Literary Appreciation]

+ 7 more chapters / show preview