शिशुमार

{ śiśumāra }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

ŚIŚUMĀRA I   A Ṛṣi. This Ṛṣi used to live in water in the form of a crocodile. There is a story about him in the [Pañcaviṁśa Brāhmaṇa] . Once all the Ṛṣis joined together in praising Indra. Śiśumāra alone remained silent without taking part in it. Seeing this, Devendra ordered Śiśumāra to praise him. The sage answered proudly that he had no time for it and that he would praise Indra for as much time as was needed to throw the water upwards. Accordingly he started praising Indra. The sage to whom Indra's praise was at first disagreeable, subsequently felt that he could not do it too much. By his austerity he acquired “Sāmavidyā”. He even composed a “Sāma” (a hymn) in praise of Indra. In later times it became famous as “Śārkarasāma”.
ŚIŚUMĀRA II   A constellation so called because it is in the form of a Śiśumāra (Crocodile). It is said to be the starry form of Viṣṇu. At the tail-end of it is Dhruva, which automatically rotates and also makes planets like the Sun and the moon to rotate. Stars follow the self-rotating Dhruva and rotate like a wheel. The Sun and the moon along with stars and planets are bound by the cord of atmosphere to Dhruva. The basis and support of this constellation of Śiśumāra is Mahāviṣṇu, who is the support of all light and effulgence. Dhruva, son of Uttānapāda came to be installed at the tail-end of Śiśumāra as he had worshipped Viṣṇu. Śiśumāra is dependent upon Viṣṇu, the Lord of all, and Dhruva is dependent upon Śiśumāra. Sūrya is dependent on Dhruva. [Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part 2, Chapter 9] .

प्राचीन चरित्रकोश

शिशुमार n.  एक ऋषि, जो पानी में ग्राह का रूप धारण कर रहा था [पं. ब्रा. १४.५.१५] । ‘शिशुमार’ का शब्दशः अर्थ ‘ग्राह’ ही है । इसे ‘सिशुमार’ नामांतर भी प्राप्त था । इसका सही नाम शर्कर था । एक बार सृष्टि के समस्त ऋषियों ने इंद्र की स्तुति की, किंतु यह मौन ही रहा। इंद्र के द्वारा स्तुति करने की आज्ञा होने पर, इसने औद्धत्य से कहा, ‘तुम्हारी स्तुति करने के लिए मेरे पास समय नहीं है । फिर भी एक बार पानी उछालने के कार्य में जितना समय व्यतीत होगा, उतने ही समय तुम्हारी स्तुति करूँगा’। किंतु इंद्र की स्तुति प्रारंभ करने पर इसे पता चला कि, इंद्र की जितनी स्तुति की जये, उतनी ही कम है । फिर इसने तपश्र्चर्या कर सामविद्या प्राप्त की, जो आगे चल कर इसीके नाम के कारण ‘शार्कर-साम’ नाम से सुविख्यात हुआ [पं. ब्रा. १४.५.१५] ।
शिशुमार II. n.  स्वायंभुव मन्वंतर का एक प्रजापति, जिसकी भ्रमी नामक कन्या का विवाह ध्रुव से हुआ था [भा. ४.१०.११] ।
शिशुमार III. n.  भगवान् विष्णु का एक अवतार, जो दोष वसु एवं शर्वरी का पुत्र था [भा. ६.६.१४] ।

A Sanskrit English Dictionary

शिशु—मार  m.  m. ‘child-killer’, the Gangetic porpoise or dolphin, Delphinus Gangeticus, [VS.] &c. &c.

ROOTS:

शिशु मार

an alligator, [Suśr.]
a collection of stars supposed to resemble a dolphin (and held to be a form of विष्णु; also personified as a son of दोष and शर्वरी, or as father of भ्रमि, wife of ध्रुव), [MBh.]; [Pur.]

Shabda-Sagara

शिशुमार  m.  ( -रः)
1. The Gangetic porpoise, (Delphinus gangeticus.)
2. The heavenly porpoise, or collection of the stars and planets.
3. A name or form of VISHṆU.
E. शिशु child, and मार what kills.

ROOTS:

शिशु मार