Akara, Ākara, Ākāra, Akāra: 37 definitions
Introduction:
Akara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Aakar.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Akara (अकर) refers to “those having no hands”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.43 (“Description of Śiva’s wonderful sport”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] Immediately the army of Śiva came there consisting of wonderful arrays of Bhūtas, Pretas and Gaṇas. [...] Some were awful with overgrown moustaches and beards. Some were lame. Some were blind. Some held staffs and nooses and some great iron clubs in their hands. Some rode on peculiar vehicles. Some played on horns. Some played on Ḍamarus. Some played on Gomukhas. Some had no faces. Some had distorted and deformed faces. Some had many faces. Some had no hands (akara). Others had deformed hands. Some of them had many hands. [...]”.
2) Akāra (अकार) refers to “Oṃkāra”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.12 (“The story of Śiva and Pārvatī”).—Accordingly, as the Gods eulogized Śiva: “[...] You are Sumeru among mountains, you are the moon among the stars. You are Vasiṣṭha among the sages and you are Indra among the gods. You are Oṃkāra [i.e., akāra] among all Vedic passages [akāraḥ sarvavedānāṃ]; O great lord, be our protector. For the benefit of the worlds you nourish the Beings. [...]”.
3) Akāra (अकार) refers to the “syllable A”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.8 (“The detailed description of the chariot etc.”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “The divine chariot of lord Śiva consisting of all the worlds was built by Viśvakarman with devoted effort. [...] Lord Brahmā was the charioteer, the gods were holders of the bridle. Praṇava the Vedic divinity constituted the long whip of Brahma. The syllable A (akāra) constituted the great umbrella [akāraśca mahacchatraṃ], Mandara the side staff. The lord of mountains became his bow and the lord of serpents the bowstring. [...]”
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1) Akāra (अकार).—Its significance in oṃ;1 the source of 63 varṇas;2 the primordial svara and its place in creation.3
2) Ākāra (आकार).—The second face of the fourteen faced Deva, Manu Svārociṣa born in white colour.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 26. 33.
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.
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarAkāra (अकार).—The letter a, (अ) inclusive of all its eighteen kinds caused by shortness, length, protraction, accentuation and nasalization in Pānini's grammar, in cases where a(अ) is not actually prescribed as a termination or an augment or a substitute. cf. अणुदित्सवर्णस्य चाप्रत्ययः (aṇuditsavarṇasya cāpratyayaḥ) P. I.1.73. The letter is generally given as the first letter of the alphabet (वर्णसमाम्नाय (varṇasamāmnāya)) in all Prātiśākhya and grammar works except in the alphabet termed Varṇopadeśa, as mentioned in the Ṛk Tantra cf. ए ओ ऐ औ आ ॠ लॄ ई ऊ ऋ लृ इ उ आः । रयवलाः । ङञणनमाः । अः (e o ai au ā ṝ lṝ ī ū ṛ lṛ i u āḥ | rayavalāḥ | ṅañaṇanamāḥ | aḥ) ೱ क (ka) ೱ पाः । हुं कुं खुं गुं घुं अं आं एवमुपदेशे (pāḥ | huṃ kuṃ khuṃ guṃ ghuṃ aṃ āṃ evamupadeśe) etc. R. T.I. 4.
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Ākāra (आकार).—The letter आ; cf. आकारस्य विवृतोप-देश आकारग्रहणार्थः । (ākārasya vivṛtopa-deśa ākāragrahaṇārthaḥ |) M. Bh. I.1 Āhn. 2.
Source: British Journal for the History of Philosophy: Pratibhā, intuition, and practical knowledgeĀkāra (आकार) or Ākāranirūpaṇā referst to “(determination through a) form”, according to Bhartṛhari’s fifth-century Vākyapadīya—an ancient Sanskrit text dealing with the philosophy of grammar.—Accordingly, “[...] Every object—which has as the basis [for its awareness] a word that conveys it—descends into the domain of action insofar as it is determined by means of recollective determination (smṛtinirūpaṇā), linguistic determination (abhijalpanirūpaṇā), and determination through a form (ākāra-nirūpaṇā). And the distinction amongst musical notes such as ṣaḍja, ṛṣabha, gāndhāra, dhaivata, niṣāda, pañcama, and madhyama—relative to which no commonly known word that conveys them has been established—isn’t determined without an awareness of a word that could serve as the basis for that determination. [...]”.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Source: Wisdom Library: Raj NighantuĀkara (आकर) refers to the “hills” at the foot of mountains (śaila) according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands, soil, mountains [viz., Ākara], jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees and plants and substances, with their various kinds.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramĀkārā (आकारा) refers to “form” (e.g., the form of one’s body), according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “In the meantime, once the goddess had crossed over the most excellent Yoga and once the fifth night had passed, she emerged from the middle of the Liṅga. (This took place) in an auspicious (śiva) month on the auspicious (śiva) eighth (day of the lunar month) at the end of the middle of the night. She has the form of a sixteen (year-old girl) [i.e., ākārā—dviraṣṭavarṣamākārā], is dark blue and red and has three eyes. She laughs subtly and is adorned with six faces. She has twelve arms, a crooked form and faces downwards”.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira1) Ākāra (आकार) refers to the “shape” of a ketu, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 3), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The dark spots, also known as ketus, the sons of Rāhu are Tāmasa, Kīlaka and the like, and are 33 in number. How they affect the earth depends upon their color, position and shape [i.e., varṇasthāna-ākāra]. If these spots should appear on the solar disc, mankind will suffer miseries; if on the lunar disc mankind will be happy; but if they take the shape of a crow, a headless human body, or a weapon, mankind will suffer even though the spots should appear on the moon”.
2) Ākara (आकर) refers to a country belonging to “Dakṣiṇa or Dakṣiṇadeśa (southern division)” classified under the constellations of Uttaraphālguni, Hasta and Citrā, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Uttaraphālguni, Hasta and Citrā represent the southern division consisting of [i.e., Ākara] [...]”.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Ākara (आकर) refers to a “mine (resplendent with precious stones)”, according to Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṃśa verse 3.18.—Accordingly: “When the complete birth ritual was done by the ascetic chaplain who had come from the grove of ascetics, Dilīpa’s son shone yet more, like a precious stone taken from a mine (ākara-udgata) and then polished”.
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’.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra1) Ākāra (आकार) refers to “forms (of separation)”, 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 21.9cd-14]—“[But if mantras were aṇu [they] would be embodied forms of separation (vigraha-ākāra-rūpin). The essential selves are known as impure [and are] by no means powerful. Whose impurity does the impure remove? Aṇu mantras [and] devalas are not perfected, O Parameśvara. Without existence, the three kinds of tattvas are kept from a multitude of objects. There, union is declared to be the desire for another living being’s welfare.[...]”.
2) Akāra (अकार) refers to “a” (i.e., ‘the letter known as a’), according to the Netratantroddyota.—Accordingly, [verse 22.14]—“[...] [Praṇava] grasps everything with its constituent parts. [Praṇava] is unestablished, has become manifest by means of [Śiva’s] internalized autonomy, is without [anything] remnant, [and composed of] the constituent elements that will be taught. [Praṇava] begins with the letter a (akāra) and u (ukāra), etc. In the same way [i.e., because he is made of the same constituent parts], [the Mantrin is able] to grasp everything up to samanā (he internalizes all levels of the sound). [...]”.
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.
Kama-shastra (the science of Love-making)
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (kama)Ākara (आकर) refers to “mines”.—Cf. Maṇirāgākarajñāna which refers to “knowledge of jewel, colours and mines”, representing one of the “sixty four kinds of Art”, according to the Kāmasūtra of Vātsyāyaṇa.—Indian tradition, basically includes sixty four Art forms are acknowledged. The references of sixty four kinds of kalā are found in the Bhāgavatapurāṇa, Śaiva-Tantras, Kāmasūtra of Vātsyāyaṇa etc.
Kamashastra (कामशास्त्र, kāmaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian science of love-making, passion, emotions and other related topics dealing with the pleasures of the senses.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchĀkāra (आकार) refers to “that which has form” (as opposed to Anākāra), according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise which deals absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—The Amanaska referred to (or qualified) Samādhi with several terms, which are all negative; [e.g., it has no form (anākāra);] [...] The fact that such terminology is found in the Amanaska indicates that descriptions of Śiva and the void-like meditative states in Mantramargic Śaivism, were the basis of the descriptions of Samādhi and Paratattva (the highest reality) in this treatise. The Amanaska Yoga was consistent with the Pātañjala Yogaśāstra’s definition of Yoga, yet it described Samādhi in terms different to those of Pātañjalayoga; such as Anākāra—“that which has no form”.
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).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāĀkāra (आकार) refers to “immeasurable (virtue)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “The great vehicle (mahāyāna) is made with four wheels (cakra), namely with the means of attraction, the spokes (ara) are well fitted as the roots of good have been transformed with intention, [...] is in accordance with the mental capacity of followers, strives for all practices of Bodhisatva, is superior because of infinite knowledge (anantajñāna) and immeasurable virtue (ākāra-guṇa), and is connected with the knowledge of knowing everything that is emptiness (śūnyatā) endowed with all sorts of excellencies”.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)1) Akāra (अकार) refers to a “syllable”, according to the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī by Vilāsavajra, which is a commentary on the Nāmasaṃgīti.—Accordingly, [while describing Mañjuśrī-jñānasattva]—“[Next] he should visualise himself as the fortunate one, the gnosis-being [Mañjuśrī], born from the syllable (akāra-ja) a situated in the middle of that [wisdom-] wheel [situated in the heart of the Ādibuddha]. [...]”.
2) Ākāra (आकार) refers to “form”, according to the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī by Vilāsavajra, which is a commentary on the Nāmasaṃgīti.—Accordingly, [while describing Mahāvairocana]—“And then [the Sādhaka should visualise] Mahāvairocana on the principal seat, generated by means of the syllable āḥ. [Why has he four faces?] Since consciousness—which is of the nature of the Dharma-Sphere since, by its nature, it lacks such forms (ākāra-viraha) as the grasped [i.e., the subject-object duality]—is four-faced. [This is] because the four liberation faces [/doors]—emptiness and the rest—are the cause of the origination of all meditative concentrations, [and this in turn is] because their ground is the Dharma-Sphere. [...]”.
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiAkāra (अकार) refers to the “sound A”, according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “Oṃ the sound A [e.g., akāra], cause of all conditions, unarisen from the beginning, Oṃ Āḥ Hūṃ Phaṭ Svāhā!”.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Springer: ākāra in Buddhist Philosophical and Soteriological AnalysisThe term ākāra literally means shape or form, with a secondary meaning of appearance, aspect, or image. Classical Indian philosophers, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, have long debated the status and role of ākāra in cognition and in consciousness more generally, with major questions including whether the forms in awareness are intrinsic to cognition and whether such forms can be taken as evidence of an external world.
Birgit Kellner’s contribution to this issue thus brings us back to some of the earliest technical uses of the term ākāra in Indian Buddhist Abhidharma and Yogācāra treatises, showing how those usages should not too quickly be conflated with later uses in the logico-epistemological or pramāṇa tradition stemming from Dignāga (ca. 480–540 CE) and elaborated by Dharmakīrti (between mid-sixth and mid-seventh century CE). In particular, she points to another meaning of the term ākāra found in Vasubandhu’s Abhidharmakośabhāṣya (ca. second half of fourth century CE) in which the word indicates “a mode of mental functioning” such that all mental events (citta) and their associates (caitta) can be said to have their own distinct manner of operating.
The term ākāra plays an important role also in discussions of the path to liberation, as indicated in the well-known rubric of the sixteen aspects (ākāra) of the four noble truths. Although Kellner concludes ultimately that this usage can be seen as a sub-species of the mode-ākāra she has already delineated from the object-ākāra prevalent in Buddhist epistemological use, her search for an “umbrella concept” that would unite these various usages leaves her unsatisfied.
Variations in the meaning and usage of the term ākāra in Buddhist texts is just one of the complicating factors in any thematic study of ākāra across time. Disagreements have most characteristically revolved around the question whether the ākāra of a cognized object—its “form,” its particular way of presenting itself–may be said to “belong” to the external world or more properly to cognition alone. The question seems to have been explicitly raised first in Śabara’s Bhāṣya on the Mīmāṃsāsūtras in the late fifth century, and it continued to occupy thinkers for centuries.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: SOAS Research Online: Prekṣā meditation: History and MethodsĀkara (आकर) refers to “shape”; as opposed to Anākara—“shapeless=” which 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 qualities of the soul to be meditated on as truly mine are: [e.g., My soul is shapeless (an-ākara)] [...] The meditation on such extended fourty-five qualities of the pure soul presents the niśacaya-naya, which is aligned with Kundakunda’s approach.
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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryĀkāra.—(CII 1), same as prakāra, a way or kind. Note: ākāra 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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryākara : (m.) a mine; place of production. || ākāra (m.), manner; condition; state; appearance.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryĀkara, (cp. Sk. ākara) a mine, usually in cpd. ratan-ākara a mine of jewels Th.1, 1049; J.II, 414; VI, 459; Dpvs.I, 18. — Cp. also Miln.356; VvA.13. (Page 93)
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Ākāra, (a + karoti, kṛ) “the (way of) making”, i. e. (1) state, condition J.I, 237 (avasan° condition of inhabitability); II, 154 (patan° state of falling, labile equilibrium), cp. paṇṇ°. — (2) property, quality, attribute D.I, 76 (anāvila sabb°-sampanna endowed with all good qualities, of a jewel); II, 157 (°varûpeta); J.II, 352 (sabb° paripuṇṇa altogether perfect in qualities). — (3) sign, appearance, form, D.I, 175; J.I, 266 (chātak° sign of hunger); Miln.24 (°ena by the sign of . .); VvA.27 (therassa ā. form of the Th.); PvA.90, 283 (rañño ā. the king’s person); Sdhp.363. — (4) way, mode, manner, sa-ākāra in all their modes D.I, 13 = 82 = III, 111; J.I, 266 (āgaman° the mode of his coming). Esp. in Instr. sg. & pl. with num. or pron. (in this way, in two ways etc.): chah’ākārehi in a sixfold manner Nd2 680 (cp. kāraṇehi in same sense); Nett 73, 74 (dvādasah’ākārehi); Vism.613 (navah’ākārehi indriyāni tikkhāni bhavanti); PvA.64 (yen’ākārena āgato ten’ākārena gato as he came so he went), 99 (id.). ‹-› (5) reason, ground, account D.I, 138, 139; Nett 4, 8 sq., 38; DhA.I, 14; KhA 100 (in expln. of evaṃ). In this meaning frequent with dass (dasseti, dassana, nidassana etc.) in commentary style “what is meant by”, the (statement of) reason why or of, notion, idea PvA.26 (dātabb°dassana), 27 (thoman°-dassana), 75 (kāruññ °ṃ dassesi), 121 (pucchan°-nidassanaṃ what has been asked); SnA 135 (°nidassana).
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.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryakarā (अकरा).—a ind (ēkādaśa S H) Eleven.
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ākara (आकर).—m (S) A mine or quarry lit. fig. Ex. ratnākara, tāmrākara, guṇākara, dayākara, karūṇākara.
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ākāra (आकार).—m (S) Form, figure, shape. 2 Appearance, aspect, form, similitude. 3 An image impressed upon the mind, an impression: also an idea. 4 Definiteness or determinateness of form or appearance (as of a work approaching to completion; of a transaction, event, or other object of consideration or conjecture). 5 A roughly framed statement or estimate (of expenses, profits, produce, revenue); the Jamabandi settlement. 6 Sign, semblance, indication, appearance. Ex. hyā vyavahārānta śambhara rūpayē miḷatīla asā ā0 disatō. 7 An affection of the body considered as indicative of mental sentiment or emotion; as trembling, smiling, horripilation &c. are of dread, gratification, fright &c. 8 This word is much and neatly used in comp. as maṇḍalākāra, cakrākāra, gōlākāra, candrākāra, vartulākāra, śūrpākāra, gṛhākāra, vṛkṣākāra, aṇḍākāra, pustakākāra, Annular, circular, globular, moon-form, like a house, tree &c. 9 (In modern geometrical works.) Figure. 10 Manner, way, style, fashion. Ex. mī parabrahma yēṇēṃ ākārēṃ || jēthēṃ jīva svarūpa sphurē || When the jīva calls to mind its true being as śivātmā, and disallows its distinctness as jīvātmā, then it exclaims after this fashion. ā0 dākhaviṇēṃ To make the show or pretence of. 2 To present the form, figure, or appearance of. ākārāsa yēṇēṃ To be assuming some definite shape or likeness--a work &c. in progress, a sickness, a transaction or an event. 2 To fall or be reduced into some moderate form or amount; to abate.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishakarā (अकरा).—a Eleven.
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ākara (आकर).—m A quarry, mine.
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ākāra (आकार).—m Form. A rough estimate. The Jamabandi settlement. An idea. Ap- pearance. ākārāsa yēṇēṃ Be assuming some definite shape. ākārē raṅgatī cēṣṭā Face is the mirror of man's mind.
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 dictionaryAkara (अकर).—a. [na. ba.]
1) Handless, maimed.
2) Exempt from tax or duty.
3) [na. ta.] Not doing or acting; not disposed to work, ceasing from work.
-rā Name of a plant आमलकी (āmalakī), Emblic Myrobalan, Phyllanthus Emblica (Mar. āṃvaḷā) (akaṃ duḥkhaṃ sevanāt lokānāṃ rāti gṛhṇāti nāśa- yatīti; rā-ka Tv.).
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Akāra (अकार).—a. [karotīti kāraḥ kṛ-ghañ aṇ vā na. ta.] Not doing or acting, void of action (kriyārahita).
-raḥ The letter अः अक्षराणामकारोऽस्मि (aḥ akṣarāṇāmakāro'smi) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 1.33.
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Ākara (आकर).—See under आकृ (ākṛ).
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Ākara (आकर).—[by पुंसि संज्ञायां घः प्रायेण (puṃsi saṃjñāyāṃ ghaḥ prāyeṇa) P.III.3.118 आकुर्वन्त्यस्मिन् (ākurvantyasmin); Kāśi.
1) A mine; मणिराकरोद्भवः (maṇirākarodbhavaḥ) R.3.18; आकरे पद्मरागाणां जन्म काचमणेः कुतः (ākare padmarāgāṇāṃ janma kācamaṇeḥ kutaḥ) H. Pr.38; Manusmṛti 7.62; आकरे- ष्वधिकारिता (ākare- ṣvadhikāritā) Y.3.242; (fig.) a mine or rich source of anything (utpattisthānam); मासो नु पुष्पाकरः (māso nu puṣpākaraḥ) V.1.1; अशेष- गुणाकरम् (aśeṣa- guṇākaram) Bhartṛhari 2.92; सौभाग्यपण्याकरः (saubhāgyapaṇyākaraḥ) Mṛcchakaṭika 8.38; आकरः सर्व- शास्त्राणाम् (ākaraḥ sarva- śāstrāṇām) Mu.7.7.
2) A collection, group; पद्माकरं दिनकरो विकचीकरोति (padmākaraṃ dinakaro vikacīkaroti) Bhartṛhari 2.73; कमलाकर (kamalākara) Kumārasambhava 2.29; स्नेहाकराणि (snehākarāṇi) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 9.47.
3) Best, excellent.
4) Name of a country.
5) Name of the Mahābhāṣya.
6) Name of a country (the modern Khandesh); Bṛ. S. a. Best, excellent.
Derivable forms: ākaraḥ (आकरः).
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Ākāra (आकार).—[ā-kṛ-ghañ]
1) Form, shape, figure, द्विधा° (dvidhā°) of two forms or sorts; Pañcatantra (Bombay) 3.37.
2) Aspect, appearance. mien, countenance; आकारसदृशप्रज्ञः (ākārasadṛśaprajñaḥ) R.1.15,16.7, Ś.1;
3) (Particularly) expression of the face, as giving a clue to one's inward thoughts or mental disposition; तस्य संवृतमन्त्रस्य गूढाकारेङ्गितस्य च (tasya saṃvṛtamantrasya gūḍhākāreṅgitasya ca) R.1.2; Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1; भवानपि संवृताकारमास्ताम् (bhavānapi saṃvṛtākāramāstām) V.2; Ś.7; Kirātārjunīya 1.14; साकारो निःस्पृहः (sākāro niḥspṛhaḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 3.88 giving no clue to his inward thoughts, reserved; K.233; Mv.6; Manusmṛti 7.63,8.25; -आकारैरिङ्गि- तैर्गत्या चेष्टया भाषितेन च । नेत्रवक्त्रविकारैश्च गृह्यतेऽन्तर्गतं मनः (ākārairiṅgi- tairgatyā ceṣṭayā bhāṣitena ca | netravaktravikāraiśca gṛhyate'ntargataṃ manaḥ) || Manusmṛti 8.26.
4) Hint, sign, token.
5) Identity, oneness
6) Recognition of identity (in Sāṅ. Phil.).
7) The letter आ (ā).
Derivable forms: ākāraḥ (आकारः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryĀkara (आकर).—(-ākara), see -ākāra.
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Ākāra (आकार).—(-ākāra), disposition (as in Pali, much more clearly than in Sanskrit), in svākāra, durāk°, of good (bad) disposition: Mahāvastu iii.318.2—3 adrākṣīt sattvā durākārā durvineyā durvi- śodheyā, adrākṣīt sattvā svākārāṃ suvineyāṃ suviśo- dheyāṃ; Lalitavistara 393.16 (verse) santi vijānaka sattva svākarāś (ă m.c.) ca; 394.14 (prose) santi sattvāḥ svākārāḥ suvijñā- pakāḥ etc.; 399.22 f. svākārān suviśodhakān durākārān durviśodhakān (sattvān); 403.4, 9 (sattvaḥ) śuddhaḥ svā- kāraḥ (suvineyaḥ) suvijñāpakaḥ…
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAkara (अकर).—mfn.
(-raḥ-rā-rī-raṃ) 1. Maimed, handless. 2. Privileged, exempt from tax or duty. 3. One who does not act. E. a priv. and kara the hand, tax, duty. f.
(-rā) Emblic myrobalan, (Phyllanthus emblica.) E. a priv. and kṛña to injure, an affix.
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Ākara (आकर).—m.
(-raḥ) 1. A mine. 2. A multitude. 3. Best, excellent. E. āṅ prefixed, kṛ to make, &c. ap aff.
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Ākāra (आकार).—m.
(-raḥ) 1. Hint, sing, token. 2. Form. 3. The letter ā E. āṅ, kṛ to make, affix ghañ.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀkara (आकर).—i. e. ā-kṛ10 + a, m. 1. A multitude, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 17, 18. 2. A mine, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 62.
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Ākāra (आकार).—i. e. ā-kṛ + a, m. 1. Form, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 103, 18. 2. Countenance, [Daśakumāracarita] in
Akāra (अकार).—[masculine] the sound or letter a.
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Ākara (आकर).—[masculine] scatterer, dispenser, giver; heap, plenty, abundance; mine.
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Ākāra (आकार).—1. [masculine] form, shape, figure; [abstract] tā [feminine]
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Ākāra (आकार).—2. [masculine] the sound ā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumĀkara (आकर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—The abridged name of a lawbook. Quoted by Kamalākara in Nirṇayasindhu.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Akāra (अकार):—[=a-kāra] [from a] m. the letter or sound a.
2) Akara (अकर):—[=a-kara] mfn. handless, maimed
3) [v.s. ...] exempt from tax or duty, privileged
4) [v.s. ...] not acting
5) Akarā (अकरा):—[=a-karā] [from a-kara] f. Emblic Myrobalan, Phyllanthus Emblica.
6) Ākara (आकर):—[=ā-kara] a ākarika, etc. See ā-√kṝ.
7) Ākāra (आकार):—[=ā-kāra] a raṇa, etc. See ā-√kṛ.
8) [=ā-kāra] [from ā-kṛ] 1. ā-kāra m. (ifc. f(ā). , [Rāmāyaṇa i, 28, 24; Raghuvaṃśa xii, 41]) form, figure, shape, stature, appearance, external gesture or aspect of the body, expression of the face (as furnishing a clue to the disposition of mind), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata etc.]
9) Ākara (आकर):—[=ā-kara] [from ā-kṝ] b m. one who scatters id est. distributes abundantly, [Ṛg-veda iii, 51, 3; v, 34, 4; viii, 33, 5]
10) [v.s. ...] accumulation, plenty, multitude, [Rāmāyaṇa; Suśruta] etc.
11) [v.s. ...] (ifc. f(ā). , [Mahābhārata iii, 1657, 16215]) a mine, [Manu-smṛti; Yājñavalkya] etc.
12) [v.s. ...] a rich source of anything, [Sāhitya-darpaṇa]
13) [v.s. ...] place of origin, origin
14) [v.s. ...] Name of a country (the modern Khandesh), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
15) [v.s. ...] Name of [work] (quoted in Kamalākara’s Śūdradharmatattva)
16) [v.s. ...] mfn. best, excellent, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAkara (अकर):—I. [tatpurusha compound] m. f. n.
(-raḥ-rā-ram) One who does not act, inactive. E. a neg. and kara. Ii. [bahuvrihi compound] m. f. n.
(-raḥ-rā-ram) 1) Handless, maimed.
2) Exempt from tax or duty, privileged. f.
(-rā) Emblic myrobalan (Phyllanthus emblica). E. a priv. and kara.
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Akāra (अकार):—m.
(-raḥ) The letter a. E. Acc. to the native etym. a, kṛt aff. kāra (v. s. v.).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Akara (अकर):—[a-kara] (raḥ-rā-rī-raṃ) a. Maimed; without a hand; free from tax. a-karā (rā) 1. f. Emblic myrobalan.
2) Ākara (आकर):—(raḥ) 1. m. A mine.
3) Ākāra (आकार):—[ā-kāra] (raḥ) 1. m. Form, hint, sign; the letter ā.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Akāra (अकार) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Akāra, Agāra, Ayāra, Ākara, Āgāra, Āyara, Āyāra, Hakkāra.
[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 dictionary1) Ākara (आकर) [Also spelled aakar]:—(nm) a mine; source; storehouse, treasury; -[graṃtha] a source book.
2) Ākāra (आकार) [Also spelled akar]:—(nm) form, shape, size; the vowel [ā] (a:) and its sound; ~[ra -prakāra] size and shape; ~[ra -vijñāna], morphology; ~[ra-vaijñānika] a morphologist; morphological; ~[rāṃta] (a word) ending in a: ([ā]).
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Akāra (अकार) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Akāra.
2) Ākara (आकर) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Ākara.
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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAkara (ಅಕರ):—
1) [adjective] having no hand; handless.
2) [adjective] exempt from tax.
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Akara (ಅಕರ):—[adverb] without having to pay the tax.
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Akāra (ಅಕಾರ):—[noun] the letter 'ಅ' or its sound.
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Ākara (ಆಕರ):—[noun] the uncomfortable or distressful feeling caused by a desire or need for water and characterised generally by a sensation of dryness in the mouth and throat; thirst.
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Ākara (ಆಕರ):—[noun] (arch.) a kind of tax levied in olden days.
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Ākara (ಆಕರ):—
1) [noun] a source a) that from which something comes into existence, develops or derives; b) any place or thing by which something is supplied; c) a person, book, document, etc. that provides information; d) the point or thing from which light rays, sound waves, etc. emanate.
2) [noun] that which houses or protects another; a support; prop.
3) [noun] an assemblage; a multitude.
4) [noun] a large excavation made in the earth, from which to extract metallic ores, coal, precious stones, salt or certain other minerals; a mine.
5) [noun] a group of houses in the country, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a city; a village.
6) [noun] a person, thing, circumstance or opportunity acting voluntarily or involuntarily as the agent that brings about an effect or result; a cause.
7) [noun] a means for living; an occupation for or source of, income.
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Ākara (ಆಕರ):—[noun] a tool with spiral grooves and a sharp end for cutting and boring holes in wood, etc.; an auger.
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Ākāra (ಆಕಾರ):—[noun] (gram.) the letter 'ಆ'.
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Ākāra (ಆಕಾರ):—
1) [noun] that quality of a thing which depends on the relative position of all points composing its outline or external surface; physical or spatial form; shape.
2) [noun] the way a person appears; aspect; looks.
3) [noun] expression of the face, as giving a clue to one’s inward thoughts or mental disposition; facial expression.
4) [noun] something that is meant to indicate a fact, intention, feeling, etc.; an indication; a sign; a token; a hint; a clue.
5) [noun] the structural unity in music, literature, etc; form.
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Ākāra (ಆಕಾರ):—
1) [noun] the extent of an arable tract of land.
2) [noun] the land tax to be paid to the government.
3) [noun] the money or other gain received, esp. in a given period, by an individual, corporation, etc. from property, esp. agricultural land.
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): A-karaicimai, A-karaipatuttu, Akara afin, Akara esu, Akara inu, Akara odan, Akara-puda, Akaraba, Akarabanda, Akarabhanda, Akarabhinirhara, Akaracannai, Akaradi, Akaradikavarna, Akaradikrama, Akaradikshakarantavarnamurti, Akaradinighantu, Akaraga, Akaragedu, Akaragollu.
Ends with (+1745): Abakara, Abhamyakara, Abhayakara, Abhinavavrittaratnakara, Abhyakara, Abhyucchritakara, Abjakara, Acararatnakara, Adabadakara, Adakara, Adalitakara, Adamgakara, Adarshakara, Adavijilakara, Adayakara, Adhakara, Adhikarmakara, Agadakara, Agakara, Aghoramantrasadhanaprakara.
Full-text (+298): Agara, Kandarakara, Akaragopana, Akarin, Pratyakara, Akaravant, Svakara, Nirakara, Akaratirtha, Akaragupti, Atyakara, Lavanakara, Anakara, Anekakara, Samakara, Ayara, Sa-loha-lavana-akara, Akara inu, Jalakara, Kusumakara.
Relevant text
Search found 73 books and stories containing Akara, A-kara, A-kāra, A-karā, Ā-kara, Ā-kāra, Ākara, Ākāra, Akāra, Akarā, Ākarā; (plurals include: Akaras, karas, kāras, karās, Ākaras, Ākāras, Akāras, Akarās, Ākarās). 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)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 3.1.27 < [Chapter 1 - The Worship of Śrī Girirāja]
Verse 1.15.68 < [Chapter 15 - Revelation of the Universal Form to Nanda’s Wife]
Verse 1.1.27 < [Chapter 1 - Description of Śrī-Kṛṣṇa’s Glories]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.4.141 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Verse 2.2.228 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]
Verse 2.1.32 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Mandukya Upanishad (Madhva commentary) (by Srisa Chandra Vasu)
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 96 [Praṇava produced by Cakrapañcaka in Kuṇḍalinī] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Verse 164 [Ekādaśa-varṇa] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Verse 128-129 [Raudryādi Kalā, Śāmbhavya, Samvitkrama] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 11.27 < [Chapter 11 - Additional Ornaments]
Text 9.9 < [Chapter 9 - Ornaments of Sound]
Text 9.37 [Citra-kāvya] < [Chapter 9 - Ornaments of Sound]
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