Shvetadvipa, Śvetadvīpa, Śvetadvipa, Shveta-dvipa: 13 definitions

Introduction:

Shvetadvipa 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 terms Śvetadvīpa and Śvetadvipa can be transliterated into English as Svetadvipa or Shvetadvipa, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

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

Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—An island. It was on this island that Mahāviṣṇu performed his austere tapas for obtaining "Brahma Vidyā". It is situated on the northern side of the ocean of milk. It is 32,000 miles above Meru mountain. The inhabitants of Śvetadvīpa are without the sense organs. They do not take food They are rich in "Jñāna" (knowledge). Their bodies give out perpetual fragrance. These sinless people are of white complexion. Their bodies and bones are as hard as Vajrāyudha. Their heads are as broad and flat as umbrellas and their voice as loud as thunder. Each of them has four arms and sixty teeth. All of them worship Śiva. (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Dākṣiṇātya Pāṭha, Chapter 335).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप) or “white island” is the name of an ancient region (dvīpa), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.2.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] once the three sisters (i.e., Menā, Dhanyā and Kalāvatī) went to Śvetadvīpa (white island) in the world of Viṣṇu for sightseeing purpose. After bowing to and eulogising Viṣṇu with great devotion they halted there at his bidding. A great concourse of people was held there. O sage, at the same time, Siddhas, sons of Brahmā—Sanaka and others came there. They bowed to and lauded Viṣṇu and stayed there at his bidding”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—Sacred to Hari, visited by Nārada.*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 4. 18; X. 6. 24; 87. 10; XI. 15. 18.
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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Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

[«previous next»] — Shvetadvipa in Vaishnavism glossary
Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप) refers to:—The abode of Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu in the material creation. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

Vaishnavism book cover
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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’).

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Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

[«previous next»] — Shvetadvipa in Pancaratra glossary
Source: Google Books: Pauskara-samhita (Vaishnava canonical text)

Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप) or “white island” is a recommended shape for creating parks for devotees, according to the 3rd century Pauṣkarasaṃhitā verse 4.199 (chapter entitled Yāgamaṇḍapa: “characteristics of pendal for maṇḍala worship”).—Accordingly, “ thereafter the ground of the pandal and its entrances should be fumigated with several herbs and various fragrant substances along with the mantras invoking auspicious day, O Twice-born. One may thereafter prepare an excellent park for the sake of the mantric idol of triangular shape or of the shape of white island (i.e., śvetadvīpa), for he residence of the devotees. Thereafter one may accomplish the ritual ending in the ablution ceremony and all other rituals [...]”.

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

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shvetadvipa in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

śvētadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—m S The white dvīpa, the name of an island or a minor continent of the earth. Supposed by Wilford to be Britain (Albion).

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shvetadvipa in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śvetadvipa (श्वेतद्विप).—

1) a white elephant.

2) the elephant of Indra.

Derivable forms: śvetadvipaḥ (श्वेतद्विपः).

Śvetadvipa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śveta and dvipa (द्विप). See also (synonyms): śvetagaja.

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Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—Name of one of the eighteen minor divisions of the known continent; °पतिः (patiḥ) Viṣṇu; श्वेतद्वीपपतिश्चित्तं मनो योगेश्वरोऽवतु (śvetadvīpapatiścittaṃ mano yogeśvaro'vatu) Bhāgavata 1.6.24; श्वेतद्वीपपतौ चित्तं शुद्धे धर्ममये मयि (śvetadvīpapatau cittaṃ śuddhe dharmamaye mayi) Bhāgavata 11.15.18.

Derivable forms: śvetadvīpaḥ (श्वेतद्वीपः).

Śvetadvīpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śveta and dvīpa (द्वीप).

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

Śvetadvipa (श्वेतद्विप).—m.

(-paḥ) 1. A White elephant. 2. Indra'S elephant. E. śveta white, and dvipa an elephant.

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Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—m.

(-paḥ) The white Island, or a minor division of the universe so called; also termed Chandra-Dwipa, and supposed by Wil- Ford to be Britain. E. śveta white, and dvīpa an island; also śveta q. v.

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

Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप).—[masculine] [neuter] [Name] of a sacred place & a myth. island.

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

1) Śvetadvipa (श्वेतद्विप):—[=śveta-dvipa] [from śveta > śvit] m. a white elephant or Indra’s el° Airāvata, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप):—[=śveta-dvīpa] [from śveta > śvit] mn. ‘wh° island’, Name of a mythical abode of the blessed, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature] etc. (cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 126 n. 1])

3) [v.s. ...] of a sacred place near Kāśī, [Catalogue(s)]

4) [v.s. ...] m. England, [Horace H. Wilson]

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

1) Śvetadvipa (श्वेतद्विप):—[śveta-dvipa] (paḥ) 1. m. Indra's elephant.

2) Śvetadvīpa (श्वेतद्वीप):—[śveta-dvīpa] (paḥ) 1. m. White island, a minor division of the universe.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shvetadvipa 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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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shvetadvipa in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śvētadvīpa (ಶ್ವೇತದ್ವೀಪ):—[noun] Vaikuṇṭha, abode of Viṣṇu.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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