Akhyana, Ākhyāna: 17 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Mimamsa
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Akhyana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Aakhyan.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Ākhyāna (आख्यान) refers to a “narrative”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.43.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] thus I have described the fascinating story of Satī (i.e., satīcaritra) to you which confers worldly pleasures and salvation, which is divine and bestows all wishes. This narrative (i.e., ākhyāna) is flawless, pure, sanctifying, conferring heavenly pleasures, glory, longevity and the pleasure of sons and grandsons”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Ākhyāna (आख्यान).—A feature of the purāṇa the fifth Veda;¹ Purāṇic stories.²

1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 34. 21; III. 1. 6; 5. 8 and 11; 13. 54; 59. 4; Vāyu-purāṇa 54. 1; 60. 21; 67. 54, 58.
2) Matsya-purāṇa 53. 65; 214. 23; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 22. 84; III. 6. 15.

context information

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.

Mīmāṃsā (school of philosophy)

Source: Srimatham: Mīmāṃsa: The Study of Hindu Exegesis

Ākhyāna (आख्यान, “narrative”) refers to one of the various tools used by authors displaying their skill in the art of writing.—Narrative (ākhyāna) refers to a description of a happening–a simple statement of facts which is devoid of any rhetoric.

context information

Mimamsa (मीमांसा, mīmāṃsā) refers to one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, emphasizing the nature of dharma and the philosophy of language. The literature in this school is also known for its in-depth study of ritual actions and social duties.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Ākhyāna (आख्यान) refers to “proclamation (of the dharma)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly as The Lord said: “O Śāriputra, in the buddha-field of the Tathāgata Ekaratnavyūha, there is a Bodhisattva, the great being Gaganagañja who is resplendent by the splendor of merit (puṇya-tejas), [...] who has proclaimed the dharma from all hair-pores (sarvaromakūpa-dharma-ākhyāna) in accordance with individual suitabilities as adorned with the dharma, has attained all qualities of a buddha on the palm of his hand as adorned with manifestation, has illuminated all buddha-fields as adorned with splendor, [...]”.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

ākhyāna (आख्यान).—n S A tale, story, fable, apologue, parable.

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

ākhyāna (आख्यान).—n A story, fable, apologue.

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ākhyāna (आख्यान).—

1) Speaking, declaration, making known, relation, communication; इत्थंभूताख्याने (itthaṃbhūtākhyāne) P.I.4.9. राम- संदेश° (rāma- saṃdeśa°) Rām.

2) Allusion to some old tale; आख्यानं पूर्व- वृत्तोक्तिः (ākhyānaṃ pūrva- vṛttoktiḥ) S. D.; (e. g. deśaḥ so'yamarātiśoṇitajalairyasminhradāḥ pūritā Ve.3.33.).

3) A tale, story; especially a legendary story, legend; अप्सराः पुरूरवसं चकम इत्याख्यानविद आचक्षते (apsarāḥ purūravasaṃ cakama ityākhyānavida ācakṣate) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 2; Manusmṛti 3.232.

4) A legendary work such as the Mahābhārata; योऽधीते चतुरो वेदान्सर्वानाख्यानपञ्चमान् (yo'dhīte caturo vedānsarvānākhyānapañcamān) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3.58.9.

5) A reply; प्रश्नाख्यानयोः (praśnākhyānayoḥ) P.VIII.2. 15, III.3.11.

6) A differentiating property (bhedaka- dharma).

7) A canto of an epic poem.

Derivable forms: ākhyānam (आख्यानम्).

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

Ākhyāna (आख्यान).—n.

(-naṃ) 1. A tale, a legend. 2. Saying, declaring. E. āṅ before khyā to tell, affix lyuṭ.

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

Ākhyāna (आख्यान).—i. e. ā-khyā + ana, n. 1. A tale. 2. A legend, [Nala] 6, 9.

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

Ākhyāna (आख्यान).—[neuter] telling, relating; tale, legend.

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

1) Ākhyāna (आख्यान):—[=ā-khyāna] [from ā-khyā] n. telling, communication, [Pāṇini; Kapila; Kathāsaritsāgara] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] the communication of a previous event (in a drama), [Sāhitya-darpaṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] a tale, story, legend, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Nirukta, by Yāska; Pāṇini etc.]

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

Ākhyāna (आख्यान):—[ā-khyāna] (naṃ) n. A tale, or saying.

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

Ākhyāna (आख्यान) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Akkhāṇa, Āikkhaṇa, Āghavaṇā, Āhāṇa, Āhāṇaya.

[Sanskrit to German]

Akhyana 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Ākhyāna (आख्यान) [Also spelled aakhyan]:—(nm) telling, communication; a tale, legend; fable; description; hence~[ka] (nm) (diminutive).

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Ākhyāna (ಆಖ್ಯಾನ):—

1) [noun] an orderly account of a series of events; a narration.

2) [noun] an explanatory account; an explanation; an interpretation; a chronicle.

3) [noun] that by which one is known or called; a name.

4) [noun] a sub-story drawn to elucidate a theme in the main story or explanation; a short legendary story.

context information

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

Relevant text

Search found 27 books and stories containing Akhyana, Ākhyāna, A-khyana, Ā-khyāna; (plurals include: Akhyanas, Ākhyānas, khyanas, khyānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chapter 6.1 - Akhyana (Epic narrative)—Introduction

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Verse 4.6.24 < [Chapter 6 - The Story of the Ayodhyā Women]

Verse 4.8.1 < [Chapter 8 - In the Story of the Yajña-sītās, the Glories of Ekādaśī]

Verse 4.2.1 < [Chapter 2 - The Story of the Gopīs That Had Been Sages]

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Part 1 - Purāṇic Literature < [Chapter 3 - General Characteristics of the Purāṇic Religion and its Link with the Vedic Tradition]

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Verse 1.2.227 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]

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1.2: The Meaning and Definition of Purāṇa < [Chapter 1]

1.3: Characteristics of Purāṇa < [Chapter 1]