Gadā
Gadā · gadā, “the mace”
Grammar: feminine noun: “a mace, a club”.
Meaning: the mace, a weapon of the devas; the divine gadā held by Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa and by Kubera.
In the scriptures: in the mantras of the Brahma Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa, Kubera is greeted as mace in hand, “bearing gadā and paṭṭiśa”, with namaskāra (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 136).
The Pratisarga Parva describes the gadā in two darśanas of Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa. In Vishṇuloka, Nārada had his darśana, adorned with śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, padma and vanamālā (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 2, Chapter 24). To Śatānanda he appeared as Purushottama, blue like clouds, with śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma in his four beautiful arms (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 2, Chapter 25).
Related terms: Śaṅkha · Cakra · Padma · Kaumodakī · Paṭṭiśa
Other meanings
Gadā has more than one meaning in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Besides the meaning above, it names those listed here, each with where it is told.
- Kaumodakī: the divine gadā of Bhagavān Vishṇu. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 8, Chapter 20; Skandha 10, Chapter 89
- Gadā-yuddha: mace combat, a form of one-to-one fighting among the warriors of the Mahābhārata. Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Gadā Parva, Chapters 55–60; Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 252
- Gada, the Vṛshṇi Hero: a hero of the Vṛshṇi line, younger brother of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, who fell in the slaughter at Prabhāsa. Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 157; Mahābhārata, Mausala Parva, Chapter 3; Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 318
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 136; Pratisarga Parva, Khaṇḍa 2, Chapters 24–25