Alambayana, Ālambāyana: 6 definitions

Introduction:

Alambayana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Alambayana in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Ālambāyana (आलम्बायन).—A comrade of Indra. (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 13, Verse 15).

Purana book cover
context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Alambayana in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

Originally the name of a spell taught to an ascetic by a Garuda king who had unwittingly torn up by its roots a banyan tree which grew at the end of the ascetics walk. The ascetic taught it to a poor brahmin of Benares who had gone into the forest to escape his creditors and who ministered to the ascetic.

The brahmin became known as Alambayana after he learnt the spell. Having learnt it he left the forest and was walking along the banks of the Yamuna, when he came across a host of Nagas, sitting, after their sports, round the Naga gem which grants all desires. The Nagas, hearing the man repeat the charm, fled in terror, believing him to be the Garuda, and he took possession of their jewel. Soon after, Alambayana met an outcast brahmin with his son, Somadatta, and on their agreeing to show him the Naga King, Bhuridatta, he gave them the jewel.

With the help of his spell Alambayana tamed Bhuridatta and went about giving exhibitions of the Nagas skill. Bhuridatta was finally rescued by his brother Sudassana and his sister Accimukhi. In the contest of skill which Alambayana had with Sudassana, Accimukhi assumed the form of a frog and let drip three drops of poison on her brothers hand, and these were allowed to fall into a hole specially prepared and filled with cow dung. A flame burst out and Alambayana was smitten with the heat. His skin changed colour and he became a white leper.

The story is told in the Bhuridatta Jataka (J.vi.179-97).

The name Alambayana appears also as Alambana and as Alamba.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Alambayana in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Ālambāyana (आलम्बायन) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—an ancient physician. Quoted by Vāgbhaṭa in Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā, Uttarasthāna 6, 40.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Ālambāyana (आलम्बायन):—[from ā-lamb] mf(ī)n. a descendant of Ālamba

2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a man, [Mahābhārata]

[Sanskrit to German]

Alambayana in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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