Ashvamedha

A1S1H4V4A1M3E1D2H4A1

proper noun

One of the most important Vedic sacrificial rituals related to kings, and name of the Rigvedic hymns 1.162-163 which deal with horse sacrifice.

OriginSanskrit अश्वमेध →
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Ashwamedha

  1. HinduismOne of the most important Vedic sacrificial rituals related to kings, and name of the Rigvedic hymns 1.162-163 which deal with horse sacrifice.

    A peculiar verse in the Yajurvedic Ashvamedha tells us that in the sacrifices that were performed by the devas, Agni was the horse, and he conquered the earth (23/17). The idea of using the Ashvamedha horse for extending the rule to the neighbouring territories arose from this.

    1996, Jayant Gadkari, Society and Religion: From Rugveda to Puranas, page 32

Origin

  1. Sanskritअश्वमेध“horse-sacrifice”
  2. EnglishAshvamedha

Borrowed from Sanskrit अश्वमेध (áśva-medhá, “horse-sacrifice”), an oxytonic tatpuruṣa compound of अश्व (áśva, “horse”) and मेध (médha, “animal sacrifice”).

More words from Sanskrit

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Cite this entry
APA

Ashvamedha. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ashvamedha

MLA

“Ashvamedha.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ashvamedha. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Ashvamedha,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Ashvamedha.

Source: Ashvamedha on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.