Abhra, Ābhra: 11 definitions
Introduction
Abhra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. 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
Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)
Source: archive.org: Rasa-Jala-Nidhi: Or Ocean of indian chemistry and alchemyAbhra (अभ्र) refers to “mica”. (see Bhudeb Mookerji and his Rasajalanidhi)
Rasashastra (रसशास्त्र, rasaśāstra) is an important branch of Ayurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasashastra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of SriharsaĀbhra (आभ्र) (from abhra) refers to “mica”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 6.62. f. Navasāhasāṅkacarita 15.7.
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’.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationAbhra (अभ्र) refers to the “firmament”, and is used as an epithet of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.19. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] thus commanded by Śiva in the presence of all, Viṣṇu spoke thus propitiating the great lord:—‘[...] O Śiva, you are the supreme brilliance, the firmament (abhra), having your own abode. You are the primordial Being, the immovable, the unmanifest, of endless forms, the eternal and devoid of attributes—length etc. From this form alone everything has emanated’”.
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.
India history and geogprahy
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryAbhra.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘cypher’. Note: abhra 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 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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryabhra (अभ्र).—n (S) A cloud. 2 The sky or atmosphere. 3 Cloudiness.
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abhrā (अभ्रा).—m (abhra S A cloud.) A sheet or cloth (as spread over a sitting carpet, native palanquin &c.): a coverlet, as over cushions, a bed &c.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishabhra (अभ्र).—m A cloud. Cloudiness. Atmosphere, sky.
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abhrā (अभ्रा).—A sheet or cloth as spread over a sitting carpet. A coverlet, as over cushions, beds &c.
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-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAbhra (अभ्र).—[abhr-ac; but more correctly ap-bhṛ; apo bibharti bhṛ-ka; abhram abbharaṇāt Nir. being filled with water]
1) A cloud; अग्निर्वै धूमो जायते धूमादभ्रमभ्राद् वृष्टिः (agnirvai dhūmo jāyate dhūmādabhramabhrād vṛṣṭiḥ) Śat. Br.; अभ्रं वा अपां भस्म (abhraṃ vā apāṃ bhasma); धूमो भूत्वा अभ्रं भवति अभ्रं भूत्वा मेघो भवति मेघो भूत्वा प्रवर्षति (dhūmo bhūtvā abhraṃ bhavati abhraṃ bhūtvā megho bhavati megho bhūtvā pravarṣati) Ch. Up.V.1.5.6. (these quotations show the conception of the ancient Ṛiṣis about the formation of clouds).
2) Atmosphere, sky; परितो विपाण्डु दधदभ्रशिरः (parito vipāṇḍu dadhadabhraśiraḥ) Śi.9.3. See अभ्रंलिह (abhraṃliha) &c.
3) Talc, mica. (Mar. abhraka)
4) Gold.
5) Camphor. 6- A kind of reed; Calamus Rotang (vetas, vetra).
7) Cyperus Rotundus (muratā). (Mar. nāgaramothā)
8) (In arith.) A zero or cypher. [cf. L. imber, Gr. ombros, appros; Zend awra, Pers. abr]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary
Abhra (अभ्र).—n.
(-bhraṃ) 1. The sky or stmosphere. 2. A cloud. 3. Gold. 4. Talc. E. abhra to go, or ap water, and bhṛ to have, ka aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAbhra (अभ्र).— (akin to ambhas), n. 1. A cloud, especially a rain-cloud, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 104. 2. Atmosphere, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 209. Heaven, [Śiśupālavadha] 9, 3.
— Cf. ambhas, [Latin] imber, and probably umbra.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAbhra (अभ्र).—[neuter] ([masculine]) rain-cloud, sky.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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 (+43): Abhragama, Abhraganga, Abhraghana, Abhragiri, Abhrahamu, Abhraja, Abhraka, Abhrakabhasma, Abhrakabhasman, Abhrakachaya, Abhrakadi, Abhrakadruti, Abhrakagandhakadi, Abhrakasattva, Abhrakuta, Abhralekha, Abhralipti, Abhrama, Abhramala, Abhramamsi.
Ends with (+16): Adabhra, Anabhra, Anavabhra, Arjunabhra, Aurabhra, Avabhra, Balabhra, Bhushvabhra, Chinnabhra, Dabhra, Devabhra, Dhanyabhra, Himabhra, Kalabhra, Khandabhra, Krishnabhra, Kubjabhra, Mahabhra, Mandukabhra, Nagabhra.
Full-text (+47): Abhrottha, Abhrapushpa, Sitabhra, Abhravakashika, Abbhra, Abhramamsi, Abhrapatha, Abhramatanga, Tarabhra, Abhraprush, Pindabhra, Abhranaga, Nilabhra, Abhravakasha, Abhraroha, Rathabhra, Abhramala, Abhrapishaca, Khandabhra, Abhravakashin.
Relevant text
Search found 13 books and stories containing Abhra, Ābhra, Abhrā; (plurals include: Abhras, Ābhras, Abhrās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 2: Minerals (uparasa) (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 4 - Process for creation of Dhanya-abhra (paddy mica) < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Part 3 - Purification of Mica < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Part 9 - Liquefaction of mica < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 66 - Treatment for chronic diarrhea (38): Abhra rasayana < [Chapter III - Jvaratisara fever with diarrhoea]
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.169-170 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya: Renunciation]
Verse 2.6.59 < [Chapter 6 - Abhīṣṭa-lābha: The Attainment of All Desires]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 5 - Mercurial operations (3): Rubbing of Mercury (mardana) < [Chapter IV-V - Mercurial operations]
Part 1 - Additional process for transformation of base metals into gold and silver < [Chapter VIII - Conclusion of first volume]
Part 19 - Mercurial operations (17): Dyeing of mercury (ranjana) < [Chapter IV-V - Mercurial operations]
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)