Srivatsa
Encyclopedia
The Śrīvatsa, Shrivatsa, or Sri Vatsa (Devanagari: श्रीवत्स) is a figure of South Asian symbology. Shrivatsa was married to Rudrani
. Chandra et al.. (1902: p. 69) state that it denotes "...the auspicious mark represented by a curled noose emblematical of love...".
Shrivatsa is an ancient auspicious symbol in India. It is a mark on the chest of Vishnu
where His consort Sri Lakshmi
resides. It is said that the 10th avatar of Vishnu, Kalki
will be bearer of the Srivatsa mark on his chest. Srivatsa is also another name of Vishnu and is mentioned in the Vishnu Sahasranam.
In Buddhism, the Srivatsa is said to be a feature of the tutelary deity (Skt: ishtadevata; Tib: yidam) Manjusri
the Youth (Skt: Manjusrikumarabhuta).
In Jainism
, it often marks the chest of the Tirthankara statue. It is one of the ashtamangala
. It can look somewhat like a fleur-de-lis
, an endless knot
, a flower or diamond shaped symbol.
means family, race or lineage that are patriarchal groups. The Brahmin subcastes are grouped under various gotras. Srivatsa is a commonly used surname
in Hindu names. Lord Parasurama an avatar of Vishnu
was born in this Gotra. Sri-Vatsa is a gotra derived from the existing Vatsa gotra. Srivatsa gotra has 5 pravara rishis (sages) Bhrigu, Chyavana
, apnavAna, Aurava
and Jamadagni
; in other words, people of the srivatsa or vatsa gotra claim to being descent from these sages. Thus, during abhivAdana, one acknowledges the bhArgava chyAvAna, ApnavAna, aurva, jAmadagnya pravaras. Surnames in this Gotra are many and include: Rayabharam, Damaraju, Aarya, Chennapragada, chemakuri, Devulapalli
, Garudadri,Gunturi, Sastry, Shastry, Shastri, Iyer , Maalaraju, Machiraju, Mudumbai
, Munnangi
, Raachavelpula, Saatha, Samavedam
, Kothapally
, Vundi, Tangirala, Tenneti
, Yarramilli, Bhamidipati, Chakravarthy
, Gollapinni
and Bollapinni.
The srivatsa is the symbol of Rakhine State
and the Arakanese people of Myanmar
.
Rudrani
The Shakti of Rudra, considered to preside over blood sacrifice in the Vedic Period. She later came to be identified as an incarnation of Durga.Rudrani is the divine will and sacrifice related to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.- Marriage :...
. Chandra et al.. (1902: p. 69) state that it denotes "...the auspicious mark represented by a curled noose emblematical of love...".
Shrivatsa is an ancient auspicious symbol in India. It is a mark on the chest of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
where His consort Sri Lakshmi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
resides. It is said that the 10th avatar of Vishnu, Kalki
Kalki
In Hinduism, Kalki is the tenth and final Maha Avatar of Vishnu who will come to end the present age of darkness and destruction known as Kali Yuga. The name Kalki is often a metaphor for eternity or time...
will be bearer of the Srivatsa mark on his chest. Srivatsa is also another name of Vishnu and is mentioned in the Vishnu Sahasranam.
In Buddhism, the Srivatsa is said to be a feature of the tutelary deity (Skt: ishtadevata; Tib: yidam) Manjusri
Manjusri
Mañjuśrī is a bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom in Mahāyāna Buddhism. In Esoteric Buddhism he is also taken as a meditational deity. The Sanskrit name Mañjuśrī can be translated as "Gentle Glory"...
the Youth (Skt: Manjusrikumarabhuta).
As a Jain symbol
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
, it often marks the chest of the Tirthankara statue. It is one of the ashtamangala
Ashtamangala
Ashtamangala or Zhaxi Daggyai are a sacred suite of Eight Auspicious Signs endemic to a number of Dharmic Traditions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The symbols or 'symbolic attributes' are yidam and teaching tools...
. It can look somewhat like a fleur-de-lis
Fleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
, an endless knot
Endless knot
The endless knot or eternal knot is a symbolic knot and one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. It is an important cultural marker in places significantly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism such as Tibet, Mongolia, Tuva, Kalmykia, and Buryatia...
, a flower or diamond shaped symbol.
Gotra
In Sanskrit, gotraGotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
means family, race or lineage that are patriarchal groups. The Brahmin subcastes are grouped under various gotras. Srivatsa is a commonly used surname
Surname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
in Hindu names. Lord Parasurama an avatar of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
was born in this Gotra. Sri-Vatsa is a gotra derived from the existing Vatsa gotra. Srivatsa gotra has 5 pravara rishis (sages) Bhrigu, Chyavana
Chyavana
Chyavana was a maharshi in Hindu mythology. He was son of sage Bhrigu and known for his rejuvenation after penances for several years. According to the Mahabharata, he was powerful enough to oppose the Vajra of Indra and was responsible for the Ashvins getting their share of the sacrificial...
, apnavAna, Aurava
Aurava
Aurava is a fierce sage descending in order from Vishnu, Brahma, Bhrigu, Chyavana, Apnuvana. He was born during a bloody feud between the Kshatriyas and the descendents of Bhrigu. He was the grandson of Vatsa, after whom the Srivatsa gotra is named. His son was Ruchika and Ruchika’s son was...
and Jamadagni
Jamadagni
Jamadagni is one of the Saptarishis in the seventh, i.e. the present Manvantara. He was a descendant of the sage Bhrigu, one of the Prajapatis created by Brahma, the God of Creation...
; in other words, people of the srivatsa or vatsa gotra claim to being descent from these sages. Thus, during abhivAdana, one acknowledges the bhArgava chyAvAna, ApnavAna, aurva, jAmadagnya pravaras. Surnames in this Gotra are many and include: Rayabharam, Damaraju, Aarya, Chennapragada, chemakuri, Devulapalli
Devulapalli
Devulapalli is one of the Indian surnames.* Devulapalli Amar is an Indian journalist.* Devulapalli Krishnasastri was a Telugu poet He is famously known as Andhra .* Devulapalli Subbaraya Sastry, was famous Telugu poet....
, Garudadri,Gunturi, Sastry, Shastry, Shastri, Iyer , Maalaraju, Machiraju, Mudumbai
Mudumbai
Mudumbai, Mudumbi, Mudumby, Mudumbye, Mudumbe, Mudumbaiyer, Mudumbaiyar, also called Mudumbai Chakravarthi's or Mudumbaiyers, are, by heritage, a sub-sect of South Indian Brahmins known as Sri Vaishnavas or Iyengars. Their mother tongue is typically Telugu, Tamil or, infrequently, Kannada...
, Munnangi
Munnangi
Munnangi, also known as Muni-koti-puram, is a major village in Kollipara mandal in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, South India.- Geography :Munnangi lies on the east side of the river Krishna in Guntur District and about southwest from Vijayawada...
, Raachavelpula, Saatha, Samavedam
Samavedam
This page is related to the Telugu Brahmin Surname : Samavedam.If you want to know about Samavedam as in 1 of the 4 Vedas, please refer to SamavedaSurname : SamavedamGotra : SrivatsaRishi's : Bhargava, Chyavana, Apnava, Aurava, Jamadagni...
, Kothapally
Kothapally
Kothapally in Telugu:,in Devanagari: is one of the villages in Balkonda mandal which is in the Nizamabad District in Andhra Pradesh State in India....
, Vundi, Tangirala, Tenneti
Tenneti
Tenneti is one of the Indian family names.* Tenneti Hemalata, popularly known as Lata, was an Indian Woman writer.* Tenneti Viswanadham was an Indian Politician from Visakhapatnam....
, Yarramilli, Bhamidipati, Chakravarthy
Chakravarthy
Chakravarthy is a surname in India. It means King of Kings or Lord of Kings. It is a family name mostly found amongst Bengali people but also known in other parts of India.-In other states:...
, Gollapinni
Gollapinni
Wiesner గొల్లాపిన్ని) is one of the Indian surnames.* Gollapinni Sundara Sarma , Ghattu Well known pandit and Purohit* Gollapinni Sunil Sastry, Chembakur* Gollapinni Mallikarjuna Sastry* Gollapinni Ramachandra Sastry...
and Bollapinni.
Other uses
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
and the Arakanese people of Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
.
Further reading
- Sutton, Nicholas (200). Religious doctrines in the Mahābhārata p. 153.
- T P Sundara RajanT P Sundara RajanTrivandrum Padmanabha Iyengar Sundara Rajan was a former IPS Officer and Supreme Court lawyer. He was a bachelor and preferred to be known as "a humble supplicant of the great Lord Sri Padmanabha". He had indepth knowledge of Hindu scriptures...