Ajara, Ajarā: 22 definitions

Introduction:

Ajara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi, 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Ajara (अजर).—Tapantaka, the minister of King Vatsa, told him the story of a man named Ajara to illustrate the law that all people will have to suffer the consequences of their actions in a previous birth. The story is given below:—

Once upon a time, there lived a King named Vinayaśīla in Vilāsapura, in the city of Śrīkaṇṭhanagarī. After some years, the King was affected by wrinkles of old age. A physician named Taruṇacandra came to the palace to cure the King of his wrinkles. "The King should remain alone in the interior of the earth for full eight months. He has to use a medicine while remaining there. It should not even be seen by anyone else. I myself am to administer the medicine"—This was the physician’s prescription. The King agreed. Accordingly the King and the physician spent six months in the interior of the earth. After that the physician, after a search, found a man who exactly resembled the King and brought him to the interior of the earth. After two more months, the physician murdered the King and came out with the new man. The people welcomed him with honour as the King who was cured of his wrinkles. This man was Ajara. After some time, the physician approached Ajara for his reward. Ajara said: "It is by my Karmaphala (consequence of my actions in my previous birth) that I have become King. In my previous birth I renounced my body after doing penance. According to the boon which God gave me on that occasion, I have become King in my present birth". The physician returned empty-handed. (Kathāsaritsāgara, Ratnaprabhālaṃbaka, 6th Taraṅga).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Ajara (अजर) refers to “one who is from old age”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.1 (“Description of Tripura—the three cities”).—Accordingly, as the sons of Tāraka-Asura said to Brahmā: “[...] We wish to become free from old age (ajara) and death. In the three worlds we shall subject all others to death. Of what avail are riches, vast earth, excellent cities, other sorts of vast enjoyments or big positions and power? If one is to be swallowed by death in five days, O Brahmā, everything else belonging to him is futile. This is our decisive thought”.

Purana book cover
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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.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Ajara (अजर) is the name of a young man that took over the role of king Vilāsaśīla, after the physician Taruṇacandra killing him in his sleep, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 40. Accordingly, “... and from that time forth he lived in much felicity, transacting regal business and sporting with the ladies of the harem, having obtained the name of Ajara. And all the subjects considered that he was their former king transformed by drugs, not guessing the truth, and not suspecting the proceedings of the physician”.

The story of Ajara and Vilāsaśīla was narrated by Tapantaka (son of Vasantaka) in order to demonstrate that “everything depends upon the power of actions in a former life”, in other words, that “in this world all the good and bad fortune that befalls all men at all times is earned by actions in a former life”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Ajara, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

Kavya book cover
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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’.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

1) Ajarā (अजरा) is another name for the second variety of Vṛddhadāruka, a medicinal plant identified with either a) Argyreia nervosa (synonym Argyreia speciosa or Hawaiian baby woodrose or elephant creeper) or b) Merremia peltata (synonym Ipomoea petaloidea), both from the Convolvulaceae or “moring glory family” of flowering plants, according to verse 3.117-119 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The third chapter (guḍūcyādi-varga) of this book contains climbers and creepers (vīrudh). Together with the names Ajarā and Vṛddhadāruka, there are a total of fourteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

2) Ajarā (अजरा) is also mentioned as a synonym for Gṛhakanyā, a medicinal plant commonly identified with Aloe vera var. chinensis Baker from the Asphodelaceae family of flowering plants, according to verse 5.47-49. The fifth chapter (parpaṭādi-varga) of this book enumerates sixty varieties of smaller plants (kṣudra-kṣupa). Together with the names Ajarā and Gṛhakanyā, there are a total of twenty-one Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Ayurveda book cover
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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.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Ajara (अजर) refers to one of the disciples of Sādākhya, who is associated with Oḍḍiyāna, one of the sacred seats (pīṭha), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—The colophons of the version of the Śrīmatottara called Gorakṣasaṃhitā declare that the Kubjikā tradition (the Kādibheda) of the Kulakaulamata was brought down to earth by him. Thus like the Siddhas of the previous Ages, Śrīkaṇṭha also had disciples [i.e., Ajara]. These were the Lords of the Ages who are said to be four aspects of the First Siddha who descend into the world in the last Age, each into a ‘particular division’.

2) Ajara (अजर) refers to one of the eight Guardians (kṣetrapāla-aṣṭaka) associated with Avyaktapīṭha (i.e., ‘the unmanifest seat’ representing the act of churning—manthāna), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—[...] The eight Guardians (kṣetrapālāṣṭaka): ..., Lambha, Bhūta, Triśūlāṅka, and Ajara.

Shaktism book cover
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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.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Ajara (अजर) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Ajara).

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: SOAS Research Online: Prekṣā meditation: History and Methods

Ajara (अजर) or “immutable” refers to one of the 46 qualities of the soul to be meditated on in the “Practice of Meditation on Liberated Souls (Siddhas)”, according to Jain texts like Ācārāṅga (5.6.123-140), Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama (13.5.4.31) and Samayasāra (1.49).—The pure soul can be recognised by meditation on its true nature, represented by the liberated souls of the Siddhas. The practice which leads to this realisation is meditation on the fact that attachment, aversion, passions and the influx of karmas, are ‘not mine’, that I am separate from them and consist of infinite knowledge, perception, conduct, spiritual energy, that I am the pure, enlightened, and everlasting soul. The qualities of the soul to be meditated on as truly mine are: [e.g., My soul is immutable (ajara)] [...] The meditation on such extended fourty-five qualities of the pure soul presents the niśacaya-naya, which is aligned with Kundakunda’s approach.

General definition book cover
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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.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

1) Ajara in India is the name of a plant defined with Aloe vera in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Aloe lanzae Tod. (among others).

2) Ajara is also identified with Indigofera tinctoria It has the synonym Indigofera tinctoria Hook. (etc.).

3) Ajara is also identified with Rivea hypocrateriformis.

4) Ajara is also identified with Rivea ornata It has the synonym Convolvulus multifi dus Hallier f. (etc.).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Cuscatlania (1989)
· Flora de Filipinas (1837)
· De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum (1791)
· The Gardeners Dictionary (1768)
· Das Pflanzenreich (1908)
· Sem. Hort. Berol. App. (1876)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Ajara, for example side effects, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, health benefits, extract dosage, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

ajara (अजर).—a S Exempt from decay; imperishable, indestructible, unwasting.

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ajāra (अजार).—m ( P) Disease, disorder, distemper.

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ājāra (आजार).—m ( P) Disease, sickness, illness; a disorder or malady.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

ajara (अजर).—a Imperishable, exempt from decay

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ajāra (अजार).—m Disease. Distemper. ajārī a Sick, ill.

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ājāra (आजार).—m Sickness, disease.

context information

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ajara (अजर).—a. [na. ba.]

1) Not subject to old age or decay; ever young अजरं वृद्धत्वम् (ajaraṃ vṛddhatvam) K.13; cf. वृद्धत्वं जरया विना (vṛddhatvaṃ jarayā vinā) R.1.23

2) Undecaying, imperishable; पुराणमजरं विदुः (purāṇamajaraṃ viduḥ) R.1.19; अनन्तमजरं ब्रह्म (anantamajaraṃ brahma) Bhartṛhari 3.69, H. Pr.3, Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1. 151, Manusmṛti 2.146.

-raḥ 1 A god (who is not subject to old age). अजरामरवत्प्राज्ञो विद्यामर्थं च चिन्तयेत् (ajarāmaravatprājño vidyāmarthaṃ ca cintayet) H.

2) Name of a plant वृद्धदारक (vṛddhadāraka) or जीर्णफंजी (jīrṇaphaṃjī) (Mar. kāḷī varadhārā). (° also).

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

Ajara (अजर).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Imperishable, undecaying. f.

(-rā) Aloes. E. a neg. jarā decay.

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

Ajara (अजर).—[adjective] not aging, ageless, undecaying.

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

1) Ajara (अजर):—[=a-jara] mfn. (√jṝ), not subject to old age, undecaying, ever young

2) Ajarā (अजरा):—[=a-jarā] [from a-jara] f. the plants Aloe Perfoliata and Jīrṇapañjhi

3) [v.s. ...] the river Sarasvatī.

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

Ajara (अजर):—[bahuvrihi compound] I. m. f. n.

(-raḥ-rā-ram) Undecaying, not becoming old or infirm. Ii. f.

(-rā) 1) Aloes perfoliata. See gṛhakanyā.

2) See jīrṇaphañjī, a climbing plant, a kind of vṛddhadāraka q. v. E. a priv. and jarā. With respect to the declension of this word, see jarā and ajaras.

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

Ajara (अजर):—[a-jara] (raḥ-rā-raṃ) a. Imperishable, undecaying; () 1. f. Aloes.

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

Ajara (अजर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ajara, Ayara.

[Sanskrit to German]

Ajara 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.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Ajara (अजर) [Also spelled ajar]:—(a) ever-young, undecaying.

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Prakrit-English dictionary

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

Ajara (अजर) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Ajara.

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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Ajara (ಅಜರ):—[noun] the plant Indigofera tinctoria of Papilionaceae family; common indigo.

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Ajara (ಅಜರ):—

1) [adjective] not subject to old age; being ever-young.

2) [adjective] not putrefying; not becoming corrupt; being ever-fresh or ever-pure.

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Ajara (ಅಜರ):—

1) [noun] he who does not get aged; a deity.

2) [noun] Křṣṇa.

3) [noun] Jina, the sanctified teacher of Jainas.

context information

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

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