Ahava, Āhava, Āhāva: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Ahava means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Christianity, Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Āhava (आहव) refers to “suffering” [?], according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 12), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If the disc of the star Canopus (Agastya) should present a disagreeable appearance, there will be disease in the land; if yellow, there will be drought; if of the colour of smoke, cows will suffer; if of unsteady light, mankind will be afflicted with fears; if white red, they will suffer from hunger [i.e., āhava—kṣudham āhavāṃśca] and from starvation; and if of very small disc, the chief towns will be surrounded by the enemy.”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Āhava (आहव) refers to “battles” (between demons and gods), according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 15.4cd-7ab, while describing protection rituals]—“Since all Rakṣasas run away and are killed, then O Devi, I call [white mustard seeds] rakṣoghna. They spread on Earth and in all battles (āhava) between demons and the chiefs of gods. [Mustard seeds] are employed as killers of villains in order to accomplish the destruction of enemies. Since their purpose is accomplished then they are called white mustard on Earth. They take away pride in evil-minded spirits”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Āhava (आहव) refers to a “battle”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.10 (“Boasting of Tāraka”).—Accordingly, as Kumāra (Kārttikeya) fought with Tāraka-Asura: “[...] On seeing the powerful Asura fallen dead in the battle (āhava), the hero did not go and attack him again. When the powerful Asura was slain, other Asuras were killed by gods and Gaṇas. Some of the Asuras who were afraid joined their palms in reverence. In the battle the limbs of many Asuras were chopped off and severed. Thousands were killed too. [...]”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Ahava in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm. from the Zingiberaceae (Ginger) family having the following synonyms: Amomum zerumbet, Zerumbet zingiber, Amomum silvestre. For the possible medicinal usage of ahava, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Ahava in India is the name of a plant defined with Zingiber zerumbet in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Amomum sylvestre (Garsault) Lam., nom. illeg. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· FBI (1892)
· Exot. Bot. (1806)
· Observationes Botanicae (Retzius) (1783)
· The Gardeners Dictionary . (1754)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Botanique (1841)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Ahava, for example chemical composition, health benefits, extract dosage, diet and recipes, side effects, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Āhava (आहव) or Āhāva (आहाव).—&c., See under आहु (āhu) and आह्वे (āhve).
See also (synonyms): āhavana.
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Āhava (आहव).—A sacrifice; तत्र नाभवदसौ महाहवे (tatra nābhavadasau mahāhave) Śiśupālavadha 14.44. (for other meanings see under āhve).
Derivable forms: āhavaḥ (आहवः).
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Āhāva (आहाव).—[ā-hu-ādhāre ghañ]
1) Fire; see under आह्वे (āhve) also.
2) A pond, a lake (āhāvastu nipānaṃ syādupakūpajalā- śaye). प्राविशन्नाहवप्रज्ञा आहावमुपलिप्सवः (prāviśannāhavaprajñā āhāvamupalipsavaḥ) Bhaṭṭikāvya 7.6.
Derivable forms: āhāvaḥ (आहावः).
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Āhava (आहव).—[āhūyante'rayo'tra, ā-hve-ap]
1) Battle, war, fight; एवंविधेनाहवचेष्टितेन (evaṃvidhenāhavaceṣṭitena) R.7.67; हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे (hatvā svajanamāhave) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 1.31. आहवः स तथाप्यासीद् भारताहवसोदरः (āhavaḥ sa tathāpyāsīd bhāratāhavasodaraḥ) Śiva. B.25.25.
2) Challenge, provoking, calling; °काम्या (kāmyā) desire of fighting.
-bhūmiḥ f. Battle-field.
Derivable forms: āhavaḥ (आहवः).
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Āhāva (आहाव).—
1) A trough near a well for watering cattle.
2) War, battle.
3) Invoking, calling.
Derivable forms: āhāvaḥ (आहावः).
Āhava (आहव).—m.
(-vaḥ) 1. War, battle. 2. Sacrificing. E. āṅ before hu to sacrifice or hveñ to call, and ac aff.
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Āhāva (आहाव).—m.
(-vaḥ) 1. A trough near a well for watering cattle. 2. War, battle. 3. Calling. E. āṅ before hve to call, ghañ affix, deriv. irr.
Āhava (आहव).—i. e. ā-hve + a, m. War, battle.
Āhava (आहव).—[masculine] challenge, war, fight.
1) Āhava (आहव):—[=ā-hava] a etc. See ā-√hu & ā-√hve.
2) Āhāva (आहाव):—[=ā-hāva] a etc. See ā-√hu & ā-√hve.
3) Āhava (आहव):—[=ā-hava] [from ā-hu] 1. ā-hava m. sacrificing, sacrifice, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] (for 2. ā-hava See ā-√hve.)
5) Āhāva (आहाव):—[=ā-hāva] [from ā-hu] 1. ā-hāva m. a trough, pail, vessel, [Ṛg-veda]
6) [v.s. ...] a trough near a well for watering cattle, [Pāṇini]
7) [v.s. ...] (for 2. ā-hāva See ā-√hve.)
8) Āhava (आहव):—[=ā-hava] [from ā-hve] 2. ā-hava m. challenge, provoking
9) [v.s. ...] war, battle, [Ṛg-veda; Mahābhārata; Manu-smṛti; Rāmāyaṇa; Bhagavad-gītā etc.]
10) Āhāva (आहाव):—[=ā-hāva] [from ā-hve] 2. ā-hāva m. a particular invocation (śoṃsāvom corrupt from śaṃsāva, ‘let us two pray!’) by which the Hotṛ addresses the Adhvaryu, [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; Āśvalāyana-śrauta-sūtra] (cf. ā-hvāna)
11) [v.s. ...] battle, war, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) [v.s. ...] (for 1. ā-hāva See ā-√hu.)
1) Āhava (आहव):—[ā-hava] (vaḥ) 1. m. War; sacrificing.
2) Āhāva (आहाव):—[ā-hāva] (vaḥ) 1. m. A trough near a well; war; calling.
Āhava (आहव):—
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Āhāva (आहाव):—
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Āhava (आहव):—
1) devairdaityāḥ mahābalāḥ . āhavāya samāhūtā jagmurdevagaṇānruṣā .. [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 18, 36.] prāvartiṣṭāhavastayoḥ [Kathāsaritsāgara 60, 202.] bhūmi Kampfplatz [116, 53.] dehi mamāhavam so v. a. kämpfe mit mir [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 66, 6.]
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Āhāva (आहाव):—
2) [Z. 2. fg. lies 2, 23. 33. 38], streiche vyāhāvam bis [37] und vgl. dagegen hvā mit vyā .
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Āhava (आहव):—[Z. 1 lies] hū st. hu .
Āhava (आहव):—1. m. Opfer.
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Āhava (आहव):—2. m. Herausforderung , Kampf , Streit. dehimamāhavam kämpfe mit mir.
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Āhāva (आहाव):—1. m. —
1) Eimer , Trog. —
2) *Tränke an einem Brunnen.
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Āhāva (आहाव):—2. m. —
1) Anruf , eine best. liturgische Formel. —
2) *Kampf.
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Āhāva (आहाव):—3. [Pañcatantra .I,458] fehlerhaft für āhāra ; vgl. [Indische sprüche 5051.]
Āhava (आहव) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Āhava.
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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
1) Ahavā (अहवा) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Athavā.
Ahavā has the following synonyms: Ahavaṇa.
2) Āhava (आहव) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Āhve.
3) Āhava (आहव) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Āhava.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Āhava (ಆಹವ):—
1) [noun] a fight, esp. a large-scale engagement, between armed forces on land, at sea or in the air; a battle; a combat.
2) [noun] the act of challenging; an invitation for a war.
3) [noun] the act of offering the life of a person or animal or some object, in propitiation of or homage to a deity; a religious sacrifice.
4) [noun] ಆಹವಜತ್ತಲಟ್ಟ [ahavajattalatta] āhava jattalaṭṭa an old title conferred on heroic persons.
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Āhāva (ಆಹಾವ):—
1) [noun] a water trough kept for cattle.
2) [noun] a natural pond.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Pali-English dictionary
1) āhava (အာဟဝ) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[ā+hu+a]
[အာ+ဟု+အ]
2) āhāva (အာဟာဝ) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[(1) ā+hu+ṇa.,ṭī. 68va. (2) ā+vhe+ṇa,vi,pi,]
[(၁) အာ+ဟု+ဏ။ဓာန်၊ဋီ။ ၆၈ဝ။ (၂) အာ+ဝှေ+ဏ၊ ဝိ၊ပိ၊ဓာန်]
[Pali to Burmese]
1) āhava—
(Burmese text): (က) စစ်ထိုးခြင်း၊ စစ်တိုက်ခြင်း၊ စစ်ပွဲ။ (ခ) စစ်တိုက်ရာအခါ၊ ကိလေသမာရ်နှင့် စစ်တိုက်ရာအခါ။
(Auto-Translation): (a) Warfare, battle, war. (b) During combat, strategies and tactics during the time of battle.
2) āhāva—
(Burmese text): [(၁) အာ+ဟု+ဏ။ဓာန်၊ဋီ။ ၆၈ဝ။ (၂) အာ+ဝှေ+ဏ၊ ဝိ၊ပိ၊ဓာန်]
ရေကျင်း၊ ရေတွင်းအနီး၌ နွားရေသောက်ရန် ပြုလုပ်အပ်သော အိုင်။
(Auto-Translation): (1) Ahuna; 68. (2) Awona, Vi, Pi. A place created near the water source for cows to drink.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+11): Ahavabhima, Ahavabhishma, Ahavabhishtha, Ahavabhumi, Ahavadharma, Ahavadharmakushala, Ahavadin, Ahavadurjaya, Ahavagra, Ahavakamya, Ahavakshama, Ahaval, Ahavalampata, Ahavalu, Ahavaludara, Ahavamalla, Ahavamalladeva, Ahavamgodu, Ahavana, Ahavaniya.
Full-text (+24): Mahahava, Jitahava, Dimbahava, Dvyahava, Tryahava, Ahavakamya, Ahavabhumi, Ahavas, Nirahava, Vyahava, Vyahavam, Ahavashobhin, Vyahve, Mahabharata, Ahve, Ahavana, Akavam, Ahvana, Paryahava, Nirahavavat.
Relevant text
Search found 40 books and stories containing Ahava, A-hava, Ā-hava, Ā-hāva, A-hu-a, Ā-hu-a, Āhava, Āhāva, Ahavā; (plurals include: Ahavas, havas, hāvas, as, Āhavas, Āhāvas, Ahavās). 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)
The Evolutionary Masks of Love < [Volume 15, Issue 5 (2024)]
Therapeutic Theodicy? Suffering, Struggle, and the Shift from the God’s-Eye View < [Volume 9, Issue 4 (2018)]
Liturgical Hebrew as Quasilect; Liturgical English as Sociolect < [Volume 16, Issue 2 (2025)]
Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kanda IV, adhyaya 3, brahmana 2 < [Fourth Kanda]
Kanda IV, adhyaya 4, brahmana 1 < [Fourth Kanda]
Kanda IV, adhyaya 3, brahmana 3 < [Fourth Kanda]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 72 < [Volume 1, Part 1 (1901)]
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