Gahanesha, Gahaneśa, Gahana-isha: 1 definition

Introduction:

Gahanesha 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 Gahaneśa can be transliterated into English as Gahanesa or Gahanesha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Gahanesha in Shaivism glossary
Source: academia.edu: Kāpālikas

Gahaneśa (गहनेश) refers to the “lord of the abyss”, according to a copper-plate inscription found in Malhar, Chhattisgarh, written around 650 CE: “Śiva has eight embodiments (mūrtyaṣṭaka) [and eight] lords of divisions (vigraheśvara). The sixty-six Rudras are embodiments of Gahaneśa (“Lord of the Abyss”), they bestow liberation in a different form in each aeon”.

Finally, Gahaneśa or the lord of the abyss is placed lower down in the impure universe but just above the 25 cosmic levels inherited from the Sāṃkhya, which represent the material world.

Shaivism book cover
context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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