Abhra, Ābhra: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Abhra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramAbhra (अभ्र) refers to a “cloud”, according to the Brahmayāmala verse 32.52-54.—Accordingly, “I will explain the lower form of Māyā, which is Mālinī. She possesses countless cavities and is (dark brown) like haritāla, a cloud or mud [i.e., haritāla-abhra-paṅkavat]. She is the supreme Vidyā and her form is like a beehive. She is the colour of a red lotus and is beautiful in all the directions of space. She pervades with (her) great vitality all that is made of Speech”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Source: archive.org: Hindu MathematicsAbhra (अभ्र) represents the number 0 (zero) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 0—abhra] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha ChikitsaAbhra (अभ्र) refers to an herbal ingredient which is included in a (snake) poison antidote recipe, according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—In the Añjana or Collyrium segment of the eighth Adhyāya, Kāśyapa prescribes eight types of permutation and combination of herbs that effectively arrest poison. According to Kāśyapasaṃhitā (verse VIII.38)—“The oil extracted from Śilāla, Candana, Kuṣṭha, Abhraka (Abhra) dipped in Tulasī and heated with a little of Māṃsī, Mustard and Spṛkkā soaked in Hiṅgu water form a group of poison-alleviating drugs to make an añjana”.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraAbhra (अभ्र) refers to a “cloud” and represents one of the various types of upamāna (comparisons). Cf. Nirmāṇa, and the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XI).—Accordingly to the Vajracchedikā, p. 46, “The conditioned should be thought to be like a star in space, shadows, a lamp, hoarfrost, a water bubble, a dream, a flash of lightning a cloud [i.e., abhra]” (Cf. the Khotanese commentary in Hoernle, Remains, p. 287.)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAbhra (अभ्र) refers to “clouds”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then on that occasion the Lord uttered these verses: [...] (109) Being aware of that vices are just like a mass of clouds (abhra-kūṭa), examining the dharma correctly, and not making any thought-construction or fiction, this is to transcend the Māra inherent in vices. (110) He who knows that there is no arising of birth, death, or transmigration, and there is no coming or going of the dharmas, he is not subject to the Māra of death.[...]”.
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureAbhra (अभ्र) refers to “clouds”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly [after Sāgara taught the Nāga-vow mantra], “[...] Arising from the residence in smoke form, a great cloud mass (abhra-paṭala) appears. Throwings should be made to the sky. No thunderbolts fall. All winds become bound. All cold spells and untimely winds calm down. One should offer arka wood, ghee, mustard seeds and oleander flowers 1,008 times. It should be performed at a Nāga lake, well, tank, lotus lake or on the top of a mountain. It will be successful everywhere. [...]”.
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.
India history and geography
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 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.
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.
--- OR ---
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.
--- OR ---
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 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) Śiśupālavadha 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.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Abhra (अभ्र):—n. (sometimes spelt abbhra, according to the derivation ab-bhra, ‘water-bearer’; cf. [commentator or commentary] on [Chāndogya-upaniṣad ii, 15, 1]) (rarely m., [Atharva-veda ix, 6, 47 and; Taittirīya-saṃhitā]) cloud, thunder-cloud, rainy weather, [Ṛg-veda] etc.
2) sky, atmosphere, [Śiśupāla-vadha ix, 3]
3) (in arithmetic) a cypher
4) ([Boehtlingk’s Sanskrit-Woerterbuch in kuerzerer fassung]) dust, [Atharva-veda xi, 3, 6]
5) (in med.) talc, mica
6) gold, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) camphor, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) the ratan (Calamus Rotang), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) Cyperus Rotundus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.];
10) cf. [Greek] ὄμβρος & [Latin] imber.
11) Ābhra (आभ्र):—mfn. ([from] abhra), made or consisting of talc, [Naiṣadha-carita]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Abhra (अभ्र):—abhrati 1. a. To go.
2) (bhraṃ) 1. n. The sky.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Abhra (अभ्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Abbha.
[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 dictionaryAbhra (अभ्र):—(nm) cloud; the sky; ~[bhedī] sky-high.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAbhra (ಅಭ್ರ):—
1) [noun] = ಅಭ್ರಕ [abhraka].
2) [noun] the upper atmosphere, esp. with reference to its appearance; the apparent canopy over our heads; the sky.
3) [noun] a knot or coil of hair worn at the back of the neck or over the head; chignon.
4) [noun] the organ of sight in humans and animals; the eye.
5) [noun] the symbol for zero.
6) [noun] a volatile, crystalline ketone, C10H16O, with a strong characteristic odour, derived from the wood of the camphor tree or synthetically from pinene; camphor.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+105): Abhraanga, Abhraangu, Abhrabheda, Abhrabhedi, Abhrabhimukha, Abhracara, Abhracchavi, Abhracchaya, Abhradarshana, Abhraga, Abhragaja, Abhragama, Abhragamana, Abhragamane, Abhragamge, Abhragami, Abhraganga, Abhragapati, Abhragarjane, Abhragarjita.
Ends with (+37): Adabhra, Anabhra, Anavabhra, Arjunabhra, Aurabhra, Avabhra, Babhra, Balabhra, Bhushvabhra, Brihacchhringarabhra, Chinnabhra, Dabhra, Damaranandabhra, Devabhra, Dhanyabhra, Himabhra, Kalabhra, Kalyanasundarabhra, Kandarpakumarabhra, Khandabhra.
Full-text (+103): Abhrya, Abbhra, Abhrapushpa, Abhraroha, Abhramatanga, Abhrapishaca, Abhramliha, Sitabhra, Abhraganga, Abhramkasha, Abhramamsi, Abhranaga, Abhriya, Abhravakashika, Rathabhra, Pindabhra, Abhrottha, Abhramala, Abbha, Abhravakashin.
Relevant text
Search found 25 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:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 2: Minerals (uparasa) (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 3 - Purification of Mica < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Part 4 - Process for creation of Dhanya-abhra (paddy mica) < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Part 9 - Liquefaction of mica < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Atmosphere, space, direction, etc. < [Chapter 5 - Aspects of Nature]
Earth and its aspects < [Chapter 5 - Aspects of Nature]
Gods and Divinities < [Chapter 4 - Cultural Aspects]
Chandogya Upanishad (english Translation) (by Swami Lokeswarananda)
Verse 8.12.2 < [Section 8.12]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 66 - Treatment for chronic diarrhea (38): Abhra rasayana < [Chapter III - Jvaratisara fever with diarrhoea]
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 6.38 < [Chapter 6 - Dhyāna-yoga (Yoga through the Path of Meditation)]
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