Alambana, Ālambana: 24 definitions

Introduction:

Alambana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi. 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 Alamban.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Alambana in Purana glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Ālambana (आलम्बन).—See yoga.*

  • * Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI. 7. 42.
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.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Purana from relevant books on Exotic India

Kavyashastra (science of poetry)

Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyavilasa of Ciranjiva Bhattacarya (kavyashastra)

Ālambana (आलम्बन) or Ālambanavibhāva refers to “substantial excitant” and represents one of the two types of  vibhāva (excitants) according to Mammaṭa.—Basing upon which the basic feeling rati etc. are originated, that is called ālambana-vibhāva. In fact the dramatic personae like Duṣyanta and Śakuntala etc. are considred as ālambana-vibhāva respectively.

Kavyashastra book cover
context information

Kavyashastra (काव्यशास्त्र, kāvyaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian tradition of poetry (kavya). Canonical literature (shastra) of the includes encyclopedic manuals dealing with prosody, rhetoric and various other guidelines serving to teach the poet how to compose literature.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Kavyashastra from relevant books on Exotic India

Yoga (school of philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Alambana in Yoga glossary
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Ālambana (आलम्बन) refers to a “supporting object” (like the empty sky), according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] The conquest of the breath can be achieved by means of [reciting] the three types of Om and by various [Haṭhayogic] mudrās, as well as meditation on a fiery light [or meditation] on a supporting object (ālambana) [like] the empty sky [which are done] in the lotus of the inner space [of the heart]. [However,] having abandoned all this [because it is] situated in the body [and therefore limited], and having thought it to be a delusion of the mind, the wise should practise the no-mind state, which is unique, beyond the body and indescribable. [...]”.

Yoga book cover
context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Yoga from relevant books on Exotic India

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Ālambana (आलम्बन, “object ”) refers to the “mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna) as object  (ālambana)”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI.—All dharmas with form (rūpadharma), namely, the ten bases of consciousness and a small part of the dharmāyatana are mindfulness of body.—The six kinds of feelings, namely, feeling arising from contact with the eye and the feelings arising from contact with the ear, nose, tongue, body and mind respectively.—The six kinds of consciousnesses, namely, consciousness of the eye and consciousnesses of the ear, nose, tongue, body and mind are mindfulness of mind.—The notion aggregate, the volition aggregate and the three unconditioned are mindfulness of dharmas. That is mindfulness as object (ālambana).

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Ālambana (आलम्बन) refers to an “object”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] Then a voice resounded from open space, saying: ‘The Bodhisattva, the great being Gaganagañja has praised in verses the complete unsurpassable awakening which has been fully accomplished by the Buddhas in uncountable hundreds, thousands, millions, billions of ages. However, these Bodhisattvas cannot see this [awakening] as object (ālambana) even in their dreams because of their attachment. Having heard this guiding principle of the dharma in verses, attained it and believe it, whoever will gradually attain the lion’s roar like that of Bodhisattva Gaganagañja’.”

Source: WikiPedia: Mahayana Buddhism

Ālambana (आलम्बन) refers to an “object of observation” connected with śamatha (“access concentration”), according to Kamalaśīla and the Śrāvakabhūmi section of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra.—To practice śamatha, one must select an object of observation (ālambana, Tibetan: dmigs-pa). Then one must overcome the five faults (ādīnava, Tibetan: nyes-dmigs).

Mahayana book cover
context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)

Ālambana (आलम्बन) refers to the “(unique) ground” (of all phenonena), according to the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī by Vilāsavajra, which is a commentary on the Nāmasaṃgīti.—Accordingly, [while commenting on verse 100ab]—“{Ādi-buddha}: [the word] ādibuddha means [he who is] ‘awakened from the very beginning’, and that one has the five gnoses as his nature. [...] So that one, who has the five gnoses as his natureand [also] the five colours as his nature , is the lord. And he should be understood to be Mañjuśrī, since as the equality of all dharmas  he is the unique ground [of all phenonena] (eka-ālambana-tva). For that very reason he is [described as] free from [causal] connection”.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Tibetan Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Ālambana.—(LL), the base stone. Note: ālambana is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of India history from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Alambana in Pali glossary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

ālambana : (nt.) 1. a sense-object; 2. hanging down from; 3. support.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Ālambana, (adj.-nt.) (fr. ā + lamb, cp. ālamba) (adj.) hanging down from, hanging up J.III, 396; IV, 457; SnA 214. — (nt.) support, balustrade (or screen?) Vin.II, 117, 152 (°bāha) Miln.126. (Page 109)

Pali book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Pali from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ālambana (आलम्बन).—1 Depending on or from, hanging from.

2) Support, prop, stay; एतदालम्बनं श्रेष्ठमेतदालम्बनं परम् (etadālambanaṃ śreṣṭhametadālambanaṃ param) Kaṭh. Up.2.17. Kirātārjunīya 2.13; जातस्य नदीतीरे तस्यापि तृणस्य जन्मसाफल्यम् । यत्सलिलमज्जनाकुलजनहस्तावलम्बनं भवति (jātasya nadītīre tasyāpi tṛṇasya janmasāphalyam | yatsalilamajjanākulajanahastāvalambanaṃ bhavati) || Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.28.; sustaining, supporting; Meghadūta 4.

3) Receptacle, abode; Uttararāmacarita 6.1 (v. l.).

4) Reason, cause.

5) Base.

6) (In Rhet.) That on which a रस (rasa) or sentiment, as it were, hangs, person or thing with reference to which a sentiment arises, the natural and necessary connection of sentiment with the cause which excites it. The causes (vibhāva) giving rise to a Rasa are classified as two :-आलम्बन (ālambana) and उद्दीपन (uddīpana); e. g. in the Bībhatsa sentiment stinking flesh &c. is the आलम्बन (ālambana) of the Rasa, and the attendant circumstances which enhance the feeling of loathing (the worms &c. in the flesh) are its उद्दीपनानि (uddīpanāni) (exciters); for the other Rasas see S. D.21-238.

8) The mental exercise practised by the Yogin in endeavouring to bring before his thoughts the gross form of the Eternal.

9) Silent repetition of a prayer.

1) (With Buddhists) The five attributes of things corresponding to five senses, i. e. रूप, रस, गन्ध, स्पर्श (rūpa, rasa, gandha, sparśa) and शब्द (śabda).

11) Dharma or law corresponding to manas.

Derivable forms: ālambanam (आलम्बनम्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Ālambana (आलम्बन).—nt. (in meaning 1, essentially = Sanskrit id.; in meaning 2 = ārambaṇa, q.v.), (1) basis, ground, reason (= Sanskrit id.); ālambana-pratyaya, third of four pratyaya, q.v., compare ārambaṇa, 1, end: Mahāvyutpatti 2269; (2) object of sense (= ārambaṇa, 3): Lalitavistara 392.15 sarvālambana-samati- krāntaḥ (dharmaḥ); Bodhisattvabhūmi 384.8 (see s.v. saṃprakhyāna); Asaṅga (Mahāyāna-sūtrālaṃkāra) iv.1 (see Lévi's note in Transl.; seems restricted to correspondence with citta = manas (?), at least according to Tibetan); (3) architectural term, part of a railing or balus- trade; bar, crossbar (functioning as support), especially of a vedikā (-jāla), q.v., one of the cross-pieces of a balustrade or railing; = ārambaṇaka, q.v.; associated with adhiṣṭhāna (q.v., 4) or °naka (q.v.); repeatedly a sūcī (sūcikā) is stated to function as ālambana to the upright [Page106-a+ 71] pillars (pādaka) of a vedikā-jāla (Mahāvastu), or simply to a vedikā (Divyāvadāna): Mahāvastu i.195.1 sūcikā ālambanam adhiṣṭhāna- kaṃ ca abhūṣi; iii.227.7 ff. sūcikā ālambanaṃ adhiṣṭhā- nakaṃ ca (in some repetitions below, abhūṣi is added); Divyāvadāna 221.9 sūcī ālambanam adhiṣṭhānam (sc. āsīt); see next.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ālambana (आलम्बन).—n.

(-naṃ) 1. Depending on or resting upon, hanging from. 2. The natural and necessary connexion of feeling with the cause by which it is excited. 3. Supporting, sustaining. E. āṅ before labi to go, lyuṭ aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ālambana (आलम्बन).—[ā-lamb + ana], n., 1. Supporting, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 4. 2. Support, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 34.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ālambana (आलम्बन).—[neuter] leaning or depending on; also = [preceding] [masculine]

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

1) Ālambana (आलम्बन):—[=ā-lambana] [from ā-lamb] n. depending on or resting upon

2) [v.s. ...] hanging from, [Pāṇini]

3) [v.s. ...] supporting, sustaining, [Meghadūta]

4) [v.s. ...] foundation, base, [Prabodha-candrodaya; Kaṭha-upaniṣad]

5) [v.s. ...] reason, cause

6) [v.s. ...] (in rhetoric) the natural and necessary connection of a sensation with the cause which excites it, [Sāhitya-darpaṇa]

7) [v.s. ...] the mental exercise practised by the Yogin in endeavouring to realize the gross form of the Eternal, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

8) [v.s. ...] silent repetition of a prayer ([Horace H. Wilson])

9) [v.s. ...] (with Buddhists) the five attributes of things (apprehended by or connected with the five senses, viz. form, sound, smell, taste, and touch; also dharma or law belonging to manas).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ālambana (आलम्बन):—[ā-lambana] (naṃ) 1. n. Idem.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Ālambana (आलम्बन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ālaṃbaṇa, Āvaṃbaṇā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Alambana 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.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Hindi dictionary

[«previous next»] — Alambana in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Ālaṃbana (आलंबन) [Also spelled alamban]:—(nm) foundation; base; (in Poetics) the object that arouses emotion; (in Rhetorics) the natural and necessary connection of a sensation which excites it; reason; cause; hence~[bita] (a).

context information

...

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Hindi from relevant books on Exotic India

Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Ālaṃbaṇa (आलंबण) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Ālambana.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Prakrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Ālaṃbana (ಆಲಂಬನ):—

1) [noun] that which supports; a prop; a stay; a support.

2) [noun] support received from another; a help.

3) [noun] the act of hanging or the state of being suspended.

--- OR ---

Āḷaṃbana (ಆಳಂಬನ):—

1) [noun] that which supports; a prop; a stay; a support.

2) [noun] a help; support received from another.

3) [noun] the act of hanging or the state of being suspended.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Discover the meaning of alambana in the context of Kannada from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: