Vamanaka, Vāmanaka, Vāmaṇaka: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Vamanaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali. 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)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationVāmanaka (वामनक) refers to “dwarfish persons”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.1 (“Description of Tripura—the three cities).—Accordingly, after Maya built the three cities: “[...] The cities contained heroic Asuras of great fortune accompanied by their wives, sons and brahmins well versed in the principles and practices of the Vedic and Smārta rites. They were strict adherents to their duties. People had broad chests and bull-like shoulders. Some were of peaceful nature and some of warlike temperament. Some were calm and some furious. Some were hunchbacked, Some were dwarfish (vāmanaka). They were protected by Maya. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexVāmanaka (वामनक).—A mountain in Krauñcadvīpa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 67; Vāyu-purāṇa 49. 61; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 50.
Vāmanaka (वामनक) refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. III.81.86). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vāmanaka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions (jainism)Vāmaṇaka (वामणक, “dwarf”) is a Prakrit name indicating defects of the body, representing a rule when deriving personal names as mentioned in the Aṅgavijjā chapter 26. This chapter includes general rules to follow when deriving proper names. The Aṅgavijjā (mentioning vāmaṇaka) is an ancient treatise from the 3rd century CE dealing with physiognomic readings, bodily gestures and predictions and was written by a Jain ascetic in 9000 Prakrit stanzas.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryvāmanaka : (m.) a dwarf. (adj.), dwarfish.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryVāmanaka, (adj. -n.) (fr. vāmana) dwarfish, crippled J. II, 226; IV, 137; V, 424, 427.—f. °ikā N. of certain elephants M. I, 178. (Page 609)
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vāmanaka (वामनक):—[from vāmana] mf(ikā)n. dwarfish, small, [Harivaṃśa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a dwarf, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Kādambarī]
3) [v.s. ...] a person born under a [particular] constellation, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of a mountain, [Mahābhārata]
5) [from vāmana] n. dwarfishness (kaṃ-√kṛ, to assume the form of a dwarf), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
6) [v.s. ...] Name of a place of pilgrimage, [Mahābhārata]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryVāmanaka (वामनक):—[(kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) a. Idem.]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Vāmanaka (वामनक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vāvaṇaga.
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Vamanakalpa, Vamanakara, Vamanakaraka, Vamanakari, Vamanakarika, Vamanakashika.
Ends with: Devamanaka, Jivamanaka.
Full-text: Vavanaga, Vamanika, Manonuga, Dhatuka, Antaradhyaksha, Antarvartin, Krauncadvipa, Antarrakshaka, Pacchamukha, Vamana.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Vamanaka, Vāmanaka, Vāmaṇaka; (plurals include: Vamanakas, Vāmanakas, Vāmaṇakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
Name of the Purāṇas < [Chapter 1 - An Introduction of the Purāṇas]
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 9 - Śālmalika, Krauñca, Kuśa and Puṣkara Dvīpas and Their Mountains < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]
Chapter 26 - Kurukṣetra, Pāriplava, Śalvikinī, Koṭitīrtha etc. < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]
Chapter 18 - More Tīrthas on the Bank of Narmadā < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)