aṇḍa kaṭāha

 "Aṇḍa kaṭāha" in Sanskrit refers to the shell of the cosmic or mundane egg, symbolizing the encompassing structure of the universe.

Literal Meaning

The term aṇḍa kaṭāha is a compound of aṇḍa (अण्ड), meaning “egg,” 

and kaṭāha (कटाह), which denotes a “shell” or “covering, often s

emi-spherical” 

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. Literally, it translates to 

“the shell of an egg”, and in Sanskrit cosmology, it specifically 

refers to the covering surrounding the cosmic egg, known 

as Brahmāṇḍa (universe).

Cosmological Context

In Hindu cosmological texts such as the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and 

Bhāgavata Purāṇa, aṇḍa kaṭāha denotes the outer shell or 

covering layer of the universe 

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. The cosmic 

egg contains the fourteen worlds: Bhūloka, Bhuvarloka, Svarloka, 

Maharloka, Janarloka, Tapoloka, Satyaloka, Pātāla, Rasātala,

Mahātala, Talātala, Sutala, Vitala, and Atala, with the shell 

encompassing and protecting all these realms 

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.

The concept also carries symbolic significance, representing the 

boundary or encasing structure of existence and often associated 

with the cosmic order. In some interpretations, the shell is portrayed 

as multi-layered, with regions of water, fire, air, and other elements 

surrounding it, forming a protective and organizing structure 

for the universe 

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.

Usage in Literature

The term appears in references like the Viṣṇu Purāṇa and other 

Purāṇas as a descriptor for the “mundane egg” (Brahmāṇḍa), 

emphasizing the universal shell or “covering” 

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.

It can also be encountered in Sanskrit dictionaries noting its literal 

sense as “shell” while specifying its cosmological import.

In summary, aṇḍa kaṭāha is both a literal term for an egg’s shell 

and a symbolic term in Hindu cosmology representing the 

encompassing barrier or shell of the universe as a 

cosmic egg 

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.