Bhishana, Bhīsana, īṣaṇa, Bhisana: 33 definitions
Introduction:
Bhishana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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 īṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Bhisana or Bhishana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopediaīṣaṇa (भीषण).—Son of Baka. From the day his father was killed by Bhīma Bhīṣana was impatiently waiting for revenge. When the Pṇḍavas began the Aśvamedha yajña he obstructed it at a place near Ekacakra. Arjuna fought and killed him. (Jaimini Aśvamedha Parva, Chapter 22).
: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translationīṣaṇ� (भीषण�) refer to a “terrifying deity�, according to the Śivapurṇa 2.5.20 (“The fight between the Gaṇas and the Asuras�).—Accordingly, as Jalandhara laid siege to Kailsa: “[...] On hearing it, lord Śiva became terribly furious. He became terrific blazing the quarters as it were. A terrible (īīṣaṇ�) Kṛty came out of Rudra’s mouth. Her calves were as stout as Palmyra trees. Her mouth was huge and deep like mountain caverns. With her breasts she crushed huge trees. O excellent sage, she rushed immediately to the battle ground. The terrible Kṛty roamed the battleground devouring the great Asuras. [...]�.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) īṣaṇa (भीषण).—A Vnara born of Pulaha.*
- * Brahmṇḍa-purṇa III. 7. 179.
1b) A son of Hṛdīka.*
- * Matsya-purṇa 44. 82.

The Purana (पुरा�, purṇas) 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: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śstraīṣaṇa (भीषण) is the Sanskrit name of a form of Bhairava. According to the ܻ峾, there are eight main forms of Bhairava who control the eight directions of this universe. The term is used throughout Ś貹śٰ literature.
īṣaṇa has the following eight manifestations:
- īṣaṇa,
- Bhayahara,
- ñ,
- 岵Ծ,
- Ѳܻ,
- ٲṣiṇa,
- Mukhara,
- Asthira.
All these have a red color and should carry in their hands the ṇḍ, the ṭa첹, the parigha (a kind of club) and ṇḍ.

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśstra) 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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathsaritsgaraīṣaṇa (भीषण) is the name of a warrior who fought on Sūryaprabha’s side but was slain by Klakampana, who participated in the war on Śrutaśarman side, according to the Kathsaritsgara, chapter 47. Accordingly: �... and again [after slaying many warriors] he [Klakampana] slew five others that met him in fight, Bhīma, īṣaṇa, Kumīra, Vikaṭa and Vilocana.�.
The story of īṣaṇa was narrated by the Vidydhara king Vajraprabha to prince Naravhanadatta in order to relate how “Sūryaprabha, being a man, obtain of old time the sovereignty over the Vidydharas�.
The Kathsaritsgara (‘ocean of streams of story�), mentioning īṣaṇa, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇḍhya’s Bṛhatkath consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)īṣaṇ� (भीषण�) refers to “horrific�, according to Bṇa’s Kdambarī (p. 224-228).—Accordingly, “[Going ahead a little, he then sees that the Goddess Caṇḍik] was enclosed by a door made from the ivory of wild elephants, as yellowish-white as fragments of ٲī filaments, and an iron architrave bearing an ornamental garland of black iron mirrors surrounded by a row of red yak tail whisks resembling a garland of Śabara heads horrific with tawny hair (첹辱-ś-īṣaṇ�)�.

Kavya (काव्�, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry� and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry�.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical studyīṣaṇa (भीषण) (lit. “one who is terrifying�) is a synonym (another name) for the Pigeon (Kapota), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds� by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) īṣaṇa (भीषण) refers to the “frightening�, according to the Jayadrathaymala verse 2.19.27-29.—Accordingly, “Having gone to a place where there are no people, a mountain peak, the bank of a river, a frightening cremation ground [i.e., īṣaṇa�śśԲ� īṣaṇa�], a beautiful deserted forest or a secluded part of the house at night or wherever (else) one pleases, or having reached (that) great place which is a sacred seat of Yoginīs and levelled the ground, extract the Vidy�.
2) īṣaṇa (भीषण) refers to “fearsome (waves)� (washing against the shore), according to the Ṣaṭshasrasaṃhit, an expansion of the Kubjikmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjik cult.—Accordingly, �(Jlandhara) is in the southern corner of (Kailśa). It shines (like) the moon and has the moon’s radiant lustre. Its form is that of the city of the Half Moon. It has deep lakes and rivers full of waves [i.e., Ჹ-첹DZ-ī]. It contains the ocean of the six planes, and is fearsome (with the many great) waves that wash against its shores [i.e., vīcī-taraṅga-kallola-taṭa-sphlana-īṣaṇa]. That city of the Supreme Lord is on top of the lord of the principles. It is adorned with snow (white) moonstones and varied enclosing walls, archways, and palaces (ṭṭ). It possesses many qualities and wonders. [...]�.

Shakta (शाक्�, śkta) or Shaktism (śktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantraīṣaṇa (भीषण) or īṣaṇasvana refers to a “terrible (noise)�, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Prvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 10.1-7ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Bhairava]—“Now, at this moment, I shall explain the distinct appearance of Bhairava, [who] resembles an ointment [that clears the eye]. He has a nature that burns up and dissolves all things. Five-faced, atop a corpse, ten-armed [and] terrible, he resembles troops with demon mouths. He rumbles, [producing] a terrible noise (īṣaṇa-svana�garjanta� īṣaṇasvanam), speaks with a gaping mouth [adorned with] with large tusks, [his face] bent in a frown. [...] Having worshipped Bhairava, [the Mantrin] remembers being joined in union [with] him, [in the same way as] dissolution in fire�.

Shaiva (शै�, 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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nryaṇa)
: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (p)īṣaṇa (भीषण) refers to a “fierce (weapon)�, according to the second chapter of the Kśyapa Saṃhit: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pñcartra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikits (Toxicology).—The Kśyapasaṃhit describes the different forms of Garuḍa in the five ūٲ-ṇḍ on which the aspirant has to meditate upon to cure the snake-bite victim from the poison which could have killed him. In the Vyu-maṇḍala, meditating on Garuḍa, the vhana of Viṣṇu, seated in the eight-petalled lotus, with eight shoulders, holding in his hands, the conch, discus, nectar, snake, and ṣṭ, the fierce (īṣaṇa) 岹ṇḍܻ decimate the poison and its spread.

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pñcartra) 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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhismīṣaṇa (भीषण) is the name of a Rkṣasa mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriy Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śkyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including īṣaṇa).
: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍalaīṣaṇa (भीषण) refers to one of the eight charnel grounds (śśԲ) of the ⲹ, according to the 10th century Ḍkṇa chapter 15. Accordingly, the ⲹ refers to one of the four divisions of the Ծṇa-ṭa (‘emanation layer�), situated in the ܰ첹ṇḍ. īṣaṇa is associated with the tree (ṛkṣa) named Ḍombara and with the hell-guardian (Բ첹) named Ḍombarī.
: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi1) īṣaṇa (भीषण) refers to “horrible (gigantic fangs)�, according to the ҳܰ-ṇḍ-Բ [i.e., “Guru Mandala Worship]� ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samdhi, which refers to the primary ū and practice of Newah Mahyna-Vajrayna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “Standing on top of Mahbhairava and Klirtrī, embracing Vajravrhī, With both arms holding a vajra and bell, adorned by a crest of dreadlocks, Decorated by a crown of skulls, holding a half moon on top of the head, Topped by the form of the Viśva Vajra, a fierce face, horrible gigantic fangs (daṃṣṭrotkaṭa-īṣaṇa), Possessing the emotions beginning with the erotic, putting on a tiger skin, Wearing a garland of half a hundred human heads together, Possessing the six seals, adorned with a necklace, bracelets, Ear-rings, girdle, a crest jewel, (and) covered in ashes�.
2) īṣaṇa (भीषण) is the name of a Bhairava deity [i.e., o� īṣaṇabhairavya svh], according to the Vruṇ� Pūj [i.e., Varuni Worship].
: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroesīṣaṇ� (भीषण�) refers to a “terrifying� (deity), according to the 10th-century Ḍkṇa-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[...] [Standing on] Bhairava and Klartri on fire on the sun [disk] on the pericarp [of the lotus], [Heruka] is dancing. [He should visualize Heruka] [...] always having [his] mouth open [and showing] large fangs from the right and left [parts of the mouth]. [Three faces looking to the south, west, and north are colored] yellow, red, and in sequence (viz., green), [respectively,] and the other [fourteen] faces are colored like a black bee [He should meditate on Heruka, who] *is greatly awful and laughs loudly and* is grinning and terrifying (īṣaṇ�). [...]�.

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (Բ) are collected indepently.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van ⲹūdeva’s Paümacariuīṣaṇa (भीषण) participated in the war between 峾 and 屹ṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in ⲹūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or 峾ⲹṇapurṇa) chapter 57ff. ⲹū or ⲹūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular 峾 story as known from the older work 峾ⲹṇa (written by ī쾱). Various chapters [mentioning īṣaṇa] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as ṣaܳṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryīsana : (adj.) dreadful; horrible.
: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryBhīsana, (adj.) =ṃsԲ (q. v.) Pv IV. 35 (v. l. in PvA. 251), explained by bhayajanana PvA. 251, where C. reading also īsana. (Page 506)

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण).—a S Frightful, fearful, formidable.
: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishīṣaṇa (भीषण).�a Frightful.
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
: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण).�a. [ī-ṇic-suk lyu] Terrific, formidable, dreadful, horrible, frightening; बिभ्युर्बिडालेक्षणभीषणाभ्य� (bibhyurbiḍlekṣaṇaīṣaṇbhya�) Śiśuplavadha 3.45.
-ṇa� 1 The sentiment of terror (in rhetoric); see भयान� (Բ첹).
2) Name of Śiva.
3) A pigeon, dove.
4) The olibanum tree.
-ṇam 1 Anything that excites terror.
2) Terrifying, causing terror.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण).�(1) name of a yakṣa: (Āⲹ-)Ѳñśīū첹貹 44.3; (2) name of a nga: (Āⲹ-)Ѳñśīū첹貹 454.16; (3) name of a locality: Ѳ-ūī 28.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण).—mfn.
(-ṇa�-ṇ�-ṇa�) 1. Horrible, terrific, formidable. 2. Hard, harsh. 3. Exciting the sentiment of horror, applied to poetical compositions. m.
(-ṇa�) The olibanum tree, (Boswellia thurifera.) 2. A name of Siva. 3. A pigeon. n.
(-ṇa�) 1. Horror, terror the property that excites fear. 2. The sentiment of horror as the object of poetical com position. E. ī to fear, in the causal form, aff. � or yuc, and suk aug.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण).—i. e. bhi, [Causal.], + ana, I. adj., f. ṇ�. 1. Horrible, [ʲñٲԳٰ] 174, 11. 2. Awful, [Uttara 峾carita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 42, 8. Ii. m. 1. The sentiment of horror, as the object of poetical composition. 2. The olibanum tree, Boswellia thurifera. 3. Śiva. Iii. n. 1. Horrer, the property that excites fear. 2. An object of horror, [Բśٰ] 3, 9.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण).—[feminine] & ī terrifying, frightening ([genetive] or —�), awful, horrible.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) īṣaṇa (भीषण):—[from ī] mf( or ī)n. ([from] [Causal]) terrifying, frightening, formidable, horrible (with [genitive case] or ifc.), [Mahbhrata; Kvya literature] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] = gḍha, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] m. ([scilicet] rasa) the sentiment of horror (in [poetry or poetic] composition), [Horace H. Wilson] (cf. Բ첹)
4) [v.s. ...] Name of Śiva, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] a form of Bhairava (= Yama), [Catalogue(s)]
6) [v.s. ...] Boswellia Thurifera, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] Phoenix Paludosa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) [v.s. ...] a pigeon, dove, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] Name of a Rkṣasa, [Catalogue(s)]
10) īṣaṇ� (भीषण�):—[from īṣaṇa > ī] f. Name of a goddess (= Nirṛti), [Varha-mihira’s Yogaytr]
11) īṣaṇa (भीषण):—[from ī] n. the act of terrifying or frightening, [Mahbhrata]
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण):�(Բ�) 1. n. Horror, terror. a. Horrible, terrific; hard, harsh. m. Shiva; the olibanum tree.
: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)īṣaṇa (भीषण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: īṇa, īṇaga, īṇaya, īṇa, ṇa, Bhesaṇ�.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम� (ṃsṛt), 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.
Hindi dictionary
: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण) [Also spelled bhishan]:�(a) fearful, frightening, scaring; awful; tremendous; hence ~[t] (nf).
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryīṇa (भीसण) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: īṣaṇa.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
: Alar: Kannada-English corpusīṣaṇa (ಭೀಷಣ):—[adjective] causing great dread, fear or terror; terrible; dreadful.
--- OR ---
īṣaṇa (ಭೀಷಣ):�
1) [noun] the quality of being dreadful, terrible; dreadfulness; frightfulness.
2) [noun] a man causing dread; a dreadful, terrible man.
3) [noun] Rudra, a terrible form of Śiva.
4) [noun] a small, flat drum that can be hung in front of one’s belly and played with two thin sticks.
5) [noun] (rhet.) the sentiment of horror.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionaryīṣaṇa (भीषण):—adj. terrific; formidable; dreadful; frightening; n. Rhet. the sentiment of terror;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Bhishanabhairava, Bhishanadasa, Bhishanadeva, Bhishanaka, Bhishanakara, Bhishanasvana, Bhishanata, Bhishanatva.
Full-text (+38): Vibhishana, Atibhishana, Bhishanaka, Subhishana, Bhishanatva, Abhishana, Bhimabhishana, Roshabhishana, Bhishanabhairava, Bhishan, Bhesana, Bhairava, Ativabhishana, Paunaruktya, Vajrabhishana, Bhishanadeva, Nayanabhishana, Dama, Vairupya, Bhishanadasa.
Relevant text
Search found 44 books and stories containing Bhishana, Bhīsana, īṣaṇa, Bhisana, īṣaṇ�, īṇa; (plurals include: Bhishanas, Bhīsanas, īṣaṇas, Bhisanas, īṣaṇs, īṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brahma Sutras (Govinda Bhashya) (by Kusakratha das Brahmacari)
Adhikarana 2: The Lord’s Qualities are Described in Many Scriptures < [Adhyaya 3, Pada 3]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.24.30 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]
Verses 5.24.19-21 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvmī)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter XXIV - The worship of Ganapati < [Agastya Samhita]
Chapter CCXXIII - The Tripura Vidya < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Chapter CCXXVII - Different names of the Ayurvedic Drugs < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 165 [Khaṇḍacakra Vivarana Saṃhṛtikrama] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Verse 231-234 [Smṛti Śakti and Nityasiddh] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]