Vedashiras, Vedaśiras: 5 definitions

Introduction:

Vedashiras means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Vedaśiras can be transliterated into English as Vedasiras or Vedashiras, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Vedashiras in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Vedaśiras (वेदशिरस्).—A hermit born in the clan of Bhṛgu. He was born to the hermit Mārkaṇḍeya by his wife Mūrdhanyā otherwise called Dhūmrā. Pīvarī was the wife of Vedaśiras. (Brahma: 2, 11, 7; Vāyu Purāṇa 28: 6).

While Vedaśiras was doing penance once, a celestial maid named Śuci came to make him deviate from penance. A daughter was born to him by her. Yamadharma wished to kidnap that daughter. Vedaśiras cursed Yamadharma to become a river. (Skanda Purāṇa, 4: 259).

2) Vedaśiras (वेदशिरस्).—A hermit. He was the son born to Kṛśāśva by his wife Dhiṣaṇā. Vedaśiras learned Viṣṇu Purāṇa from the Nāgas (serpents) in Pātāla (underworld) and taught it to his disciple Pramati. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, 6: 8: 47).

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Vedaśiras (वेदशिरस्) is the son of Prāṇa who was born from Āyati (son of Meru) and Dhātā: one of the three daughters of Bhṛgu and Khyāti, according to the Vaṃśa (‘genealogical description’) of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, Dhātā and Vidhātā became the Sons-in-law of Meru marrying Āyati and Niyati respectively. Prāṇa was born form Dhātā and Mṛkaṇḍu was born from Vidhātā. Prāṇa had a son named Vedaśiras and the son of Mṛkaṇḍu was Mārkaṇḍeya.

Purana book cover
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.

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Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Vedaśiras (वेदशिरस्) refers to one of the four sages who visited Ekata at Mount Meru, as discussed in chapter 1 of the Śrīpraśnasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 5500 Sanskrit verses covering a number of subjects ranging from selecting a temple site through building and furnishing it to sanctifying and maintaining worship in the sacred complex.—Description of the chapter [śāstrāvataraṇa]: [...] Ekata tells the assembled Ṛṣis that once Śrī finished her instruction to him, Viṣṇu warned him that the holy teaching should be given only to those who are qualified to receive it. Thereupon the Lord and His consort disappeared, he asks them their credentials of name and where they came from. He is then introduced to them one-by-one: Vedaśiras, Bhārgava, Marīcipa and Kavaṣa. These men represent the Bharadvāja, Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra and Kauṇḍinya gotras (44-50). Having had garbhadīkṣā, they say, this explains their eagerness to learn how to worship the Lord; therefore they request Ekata to tell them what he learned from Śrī so that they, by adopting it, might achieve salvation (51-54).

Pancaratra book cover
context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Vedashiras in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Vedaśiras (वेदशिरस्):—[=veda-śiras] [from veda] 1. veda-śiras n. (for 2. See under 3. veda) ‘head of the Veda’, Name of a mythical weapon, [Catalogue(s)]

2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a Ṛṣi (son of Mārkaṇḍeya and Mūrdhanyā, progenitor of the Bhārgava Brāhmans), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Purāṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] of a son of Prāṇa, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

4) [v.s. ...] of a son of Kṛśāśva (cf. -śira), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa] ([Bombay edition])

5) [=veda-śiras] [from veda] 2. veda-śiras n. (for 1. See p. 1016, col. 2) the head or broom end of the V° (cf. [preceding]), [Āśvalāyana-śrauta-sūtra]

[Sanskrit to German]

Vedashiras in German

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.

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