Astadiggaja

English

Etymology

From Sanskrit अष्ट (aṣṭa, “eight”) + दिक् (dik, “direction”) + गज (gaja, “elephant”).

Proper noun

Astadiggaja (plural Astadiggajas)

1. (Hinduism) A term applied to the eight male elephants standing guard over the eight zones.
2. (historical) (plural only) A collective term given to eight Telugu poets in the court of emperor Sri Krishna Deva Raya in the 16th century.

Translations

eight elephants

• Telugu: అష్టదిగ్గజాలు (te) pl (aṣṭadiggajālu)

References

1. Puranic Encyclopedia: a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature, Vettam Mani, Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 1975, p. 62.