Lekha, Lekhā: 27 definitions
Introduction:
Lekha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Lekh.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaLekha (लेख).—A deva-gaṇa (set of celestial beings) of Raivata Manvantara. In this set there are eight Devas named Dhruva, Dhruvakṣiti, Praghāsa, Pracetas, Bṛhaspati, Manojava. Mahāyaśas and Yuvanas. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, 2, 36, 76).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Lekha (लेख).—Eight groups of Gods of the Cākṣuṣa epoch;1 Manojava, Praghāsa, Pracetas, Vāta, Dhruvakṣiti, Adbhuta, Avana and Bṛhaspati.2
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 67, 76; Matsya-purāṇa 9. 23; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 1. 27.
- 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 62. 63-4.
1b) A class of Pitṛs propitiated on every New Moon day.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 56. 21.
2a) Lekhā (लेखा).—The sun standing above this, results in the end of the five year Yuga.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 124. 64; 141. 35.
2b) Of the earth; on account of this the sun is seen above though at a height of 1000 Yojanas.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 110.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraLekha (लेख, “letter”) refers to one of the twenty-one sandhyantara, or “distinct characteristics of segments (sandhi)” according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 21. The segments are divisions of the plot (itivṛtta or vastu) of a dramatic play (nāṭaka) and consist of sixty-four limbs, known collectively as the sandhyaṅga.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarLekhā (लेखा).—One of the varieties or developments of the क्रमपाठ (kramapāṭha) or the artificial recitation of the separate words of the Samhitā.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of SriharsaLekha (लेख) (used in plural) refers to “gods”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 13.49.—Cf. Lekhaprabhu (verse 22.118); Lekhānujīvin (verse 11.56).
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraLekha (लेख) [=Lekhaka] refers to “writers”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If there should be both lunar and solar eclipses in one month, princes will suffer both from dissensions among their own army and from wars. [...] If the eclipses should fall in the lunar month of Caitra painters, writers [i.e., lekha], singers, prostitutes, men learned in the Vedas and dealers in gold, the people of Pauṇḍra, of Auḍra, of Kekaya and of Āśmaka will suffer distress and there will be good rain throughout the land”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Source: archive.org: Hindu MathematicsLekhā (लेखा) refers to the “alphabets” (reading and writing), which represented an important subject in the subject of Mathematics in Hindu Education.—The elementary stage in Hindu education lasted from the age of five till the age of twelve. This period slightly differed in the case of sons of kings and noblemen. The main subjects of study were lipi or lekhā (alphabets, reading and writing), rūpa (drawing and geometry) and gaṇanā (arithmetic). It is said in the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya (400 B.C.) that having undergone the ceremony of tonsure, the student shall learn the alphabets (lipi) and arithmetic (saṃkhyāna). We find in the Hathigumpha Inscription that king Kharavela (163 B.C.) of Kalinga spent nine years (from the age of sixteen to the age of 25) in learning lekhā, rūpa and gaṇanā. Prince Gautama began his education when he was eight years of age “firstly (with) writing and then arithmetic as the most important of the 72 sciences and arts”. Mention of lekhā, rūpa and gaṇanā is also found in the Jaina canonical works.
Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)Lekhā (लेखा) refers to “marks” (i.e., defining characteristics found in the feathers of a bird), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the yellow-eyed division of hawks]: “The Vājas are of five kinds. Their descriptions are given separately. [...] Mahārāvaṇa, the king of Vājas, is that in whose tail and feathers are to be found marks (lekhā) like the Aśvatha or pipal leaf. Only one who has heaped up much religious merit becomes the possessor of such a pleasure-giving bird. It is called Mahārāvaṇa because it makes other birds cry in fear on its approach”.
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryLekha.—(LP), official letter; cf. likhita, a private letter. Note: lekha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Lekha in Philippines is the name of a plant defined with Andrographis paniculata in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Justicia paniculata Forssk. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Flora Indica (1768)
· Contributions from the United States National Herbarium (1895)
· Plantae Asiaticae Rariores (Wallich) (1832)
· Ethnobotanical Leaflets (2008)
· Journal of the Indian Botanical Society (1986)
· Natural Product Research (2005)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Lekha, for example extract dosage, side effects, chemical composition, health benefits, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarylekhā : (f.) writing; a letter; an inscription; a line; the art of writing.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryLekha, (fr. likh, cp. Sk. lekha & lekhā) 1. writing, inscription, letter, epistle J. VI, 595 (silā° inscription on rock); Mhvs 5, 177 (lekhe sutvā); 27, 6; 33, 40 (°ṃ vissajjayi); Dāvs 5, 67 (cāritta°); Miln. 42; SnA 164 (°vācāka reciting), 577.—2. chips, shavings Vin. II, 110 (v. l. likha). (Page 585)
— or —
Lekhā, (f.) (fr. likh; Vedic lekhā. See also rekhā & lekha) 1. streak, line VvA. 277 (=rāji); canda° crescent moon (cp. Epic candralekhā Mbh 3, 1831) Vism. 168; DhsA. 151.—2. a scratch, line A. I, 283; Pug. 32; J. VI, 56 (lekhaṃ kaḍḍhati).—3. writing, inscription, letter Vin. III, 76 (°ṃ chindati destroy the letter); J. I, 451 (on a phalaka); Miln. 349 (°ācariya teacher of writing); PvA. 20 (°paṇṇa, letter so read for likhā°).—4. the art of writing or drawing (=lipi Hemacandra), writing as an art. It is classed as a respectable (ukkaṭṭha) profession (sippa) Vin. IV, 7; and mentioned by the side of muddā and gaṇanā Vin. IV, 7, 128=I. 77; cp. Vin. IV, 305. (Page 586)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarylēkha (लेख).—m (S) A writing; a thing written; an epistle, a bill, a document. 2 Handwriting. 3 n A column of the multiplication table.
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lēkhā (लेखा).—m (lēkha S) Estimation, reckoning, regard, account. See under kimata. 2 A written document.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishlēkha (लेख).—m A writing; an epistle. Hand- writing.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryLekha (लेख).—[likh-bhāve ghañ]
1) A writing, document, written document (of any kind), a letter; लेखोऽयं न ममेति नोत्तर- मिदं मुद्रा मदीया यतः (lekho'yaṃ na mameti nottara- midaṃ mudrā madīyā yataḥ) Mu.5.18; निर्धारितेऽर्थे लेखेन खलूक्त्वा खलु वाचिकम् (nirdhārite'rthe lekhena khalūktvā khalu vācikam) Śiśupālavadha 2.7; अनङ्गलेख (anaṅgalekha) Kumārasambhava 1.7; मन्मथलेख (manmathalekha) Ś3.26.
2) A god, A deity; ईशा दिशां नलभुवं प्रतिपद्य लेखाः (īśā diśāṃ nalabhuvaṃ pratipadya lekhāḥ) N.13.49; रेखा लेखाभिवन्द्याः (rekhā lekhābhivandyāḥ) Viṣṇupāda. S.11.
3) A scratch; cf. लेखाकीर्ण (lekhākīrṇa) (a gem covered with scratches) Kau. A.2.11.
Derivable forms: lekhaḥ (लेखः).
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Lekhā (लेखा).—[likh-a ṭāp]
1) A line, streak; कान्तिर्भ्रुवोरायतलेखयोर्या (kāntirbhruvorāyatalekhayoryā) Kumārasambhava 1.47;7.16; Kirātārjunīya 16.2; Meghadūta 46; विद्युल्लेखा, फेनलेखा, मदलेखा (vidyullekhā, phenalekhā, madalekhā) &c.
2) A stroke, furrow, row, stripe.
3) Writing, drawing lines, delineation, painting; पाणिर्लेखाविधिषु नितरां वर्तते किं करोमि (pāṇirlekhāvidhiṣu nitarāṃ vartate kiṃ karomi) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.35.
4) The moon's crescent, a streak of the moon; लब्धोदया चान्द्रमसीव लेखा (labdhodayā cāndramasīva lekhā) Kumārasambhava 1.25;2.34; Kirātārjunīya 5.44.
5) A figure, likeness, an impression, a mark; उषसि सयावकसव्यपादलेखा (uṣasi sayāvakasavyapādalekhā) Kirātārjunīya 5.4.
6) Hem, border, edge, skirt.
7) The crest.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryLekha (लेख).—m.
(-khaḥ) 1. A letter, an epistle. 2. A god, a deity. f.
(-khā) 1. A line, a mark or row, &c. 2. Writing, hand-writing. 3. Delineation, painting. 4. A likeness, an impression. 5. Hem, border. 6. The moon’s crescent. E. likh to write, aff. ghañ; it is applied to the second sense, because the figures of the gods are written or delineated.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryLekha (लेख).—i. e. likh + a, I. m. 1. A letter, [Hitopadeśa] 120, 10. 2. A god. Ii. f. khā. 1. Writing. 2. A line, [Daśakumāracarita] in
Lekha (लेख).—[masculine] streak, line, writing, letter; [plural] a class of gods (sgl. a god i.[grammar]).
— [feminine] lekhā scratch, streak, line, furrow, row, edge, margin, a faint sickle (of the moon); drawing, likeness, impression.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumLekha (लेख) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. [Subhāshitāvali by Vallabhadeva]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Lekha (लेख):—[from likh] a m. (cf. rekha) a line, stroke, [Mānava-gṛhya-sūtra]
2) [v.s. ...] (also [plural]) a writing, letter, manuscript, written document of any kind, [Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] etc. (cf. kūṭa-l)
3) [v.s. ...] a god, deity, [Śiśupāla-vadha]
4) [v.s. ...] = ābhoga, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] Name of a man [gana] śivādi
6) [v.s. ...] of a poet, [Catalogue(s)]
7) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a class of gods under Manu Cākṣuṣa, [Purāṇa]
8) Lekhā (लेखा):—[from lekha > likh] a f. See below.
9) [from likh] b f. (cf. rekhā) a scratch, streak, line, stroke, stripe, furrow, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc., etc.
10) [v.s. ...] the pale or faintly discernible streak of the young moon’s crescent, [Kirātārjunīya] (cf. candraand śaśāṅka-l), the act of delineation, drawing, painting, [Śakuntalā] ([varia lectio])
11) [v.s. ...] writing, handwriting, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) [v.s. ...] a drawing, likeness, figure, impression (cf. mṛgaand savya-pāda-l)
13) [v.s. ...] the drawing of lines with fragrant substances (on the face, arms, breast etc.), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
14) [v.s. ...] a hem, border, rim, edge, horizon, [Kāmandakīya-nītisāra; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
15) [v.s. ...] the crest (= śikhā or cūḍāgra), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
16) Lekha (लेख):—b lekhana, lekhin etc. See p.901, [columns] 2, 3.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryLekha (लेख):—(khaḥ) 1. m. An epistle or letter; a god. f. Line, writing; painting.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Lekhā (लेखा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Lihā, Leha.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Lekha (लेख) [Also spelled lekh]:—(nm) an article; paper; writing, handwriting; writ; ~[baddha] written; reduced to black and white.
2) Lekhā (लेखा):—(nm) account(s); record; ~[kāra] an accountant; -[jokhā] calculation; estimate; account; -[parī kṣaka] an auditor; -[parīkṣaṇa / -parīkṣā] audit (ing); ~[pāla] an accountant; ~[baddha] accounted for, entered into the accounts; •[karanā] to account for, to enter into the accounts; -[bahī] an account book, a cash-book; ledger; -[vidhi] accounting (system); -[śāstra] accountancy, accounting.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusLēkha (ಲೇಖ):—
1) [noun] a written document.
2) [noun] a writing in which the subject matter is dealt with in an orderly manner.
3) [noun] that which is used to write on, as a board, paper, etc.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary1) Lekha (लेख):—n. prose composition; writing; essay; article;
2) Lekhā (लेखा):—n. 1. account; 2. written record; detail of events; 3. line; row; 4. calculation; 5. diagram; sign;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+92): Lekha-chitrakala, Lekha-citrakala, Lekhaadhikrut, Lekhaalekh, Lekhaant, Lekhabhra, Lekhabhru, Lekhabhrummanya, Lekhacitra, Lekhadhikarin, Lekhadhikrita, Lekhadhyaksha, Lekhadosha, Lekhahara, Lekhaharaka, Lekhaharika, Lekhaharin, Lekhaharitva, Lekhai, Lekhajokha.
Ends with (+141): Abhilekha, Abhralekha, Adhikaralekha, Agralekha, Ainako-ullekha, Akutilalekha, Alekha, Alekhyalekha, Alikalekha, Anangalekha, Anulekha, Anupurvapanilekha, Avalekha, Ayasholekha, Ayatalekha, Ayatapanilekha, Bandalekha, Bandistalekha, Bhagyalekha, Bhavishya-lekha.
Full-text (+270): Candralekha, Lekhahara, Anangalekha, Shashankalekha, Nakhalekha, Lekhavalaya, Avalekha, Shashilekha, Citralekha, Indulekha, Kapalaresha, Varnalekha, Laikha, Lekhabhru, Nagalekha, Rekha, Lekhshabha, Lekha-chitrakala, Likha, Kamalekha.
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Search found 48 books and stories containing Lekha, Lekhā, Lēkha, Lēkhā; (plurals include: Lekhas, Lekhās, Lēkhas, Lēkhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vinaya Pitaka (1): Bhikkhu-vibhanga (the analysis of Monks’ rules) (by I. B. Horner)
Monks’ Expulsion (Pārājika) 3: Permutations < [Monks’ Expulsion (Pārājika) 3]
Monks’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 2
Dramaturgy in the Venisamhara (by Debi Prasad Namasudra)
Vṛttas (syllabic metres) < [Chapter 4 - Dramaturgy in Veṇīsaṃhāra]
Formal Education System in Ancient India (by Sushmita Nath)
Oral Method of Teaching < [Chapter 6 - Methods of Teaching and the Teacher–Student relationship]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.17.34 < [Chapter 17 - The Lord’s Travel to Gayā]
Verse 3.5.154 < [Chapter 5 - The Pastimes of Nityānanda]
Verse 3.1.218 < [Chapter 1 - Meeting Again at the House of Śrī Advaita Ācārya]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 4.19.62 < [Chapter 19 - A Thousand Names of Srī Yamunā]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)