Alakshana, Alakṣaṇa: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Alakshana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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.
The Sanskrit term Alakṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Alaksana or Alakshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण).—That which is not a proper लक्षण (lakṣaṇa) i. e. Sūtra; a Sūtra which does not teach definitely; a Sūtra which cannot be properly applied being ambiguous in sense. cf व्याख्यानतो विशेषप्रतिपत्तिर्नहि संदह्यादलक्षणम् (vyākhyānato viśeṣapratipattirnahi saṃdahyādalakṣaṇam) Par. Śek. Pari. I.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण) refers to the “absence of nature”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 41).—Accordingly, “[The Non-existence of Time According to the Mahāyāna].—[Question].—In the Prajñāpāramitā, in the Tathātālakṣaṇaparivarta, it is said: ‘The three times (tryadhvan) have but a single nature (ekalakṣaṇa), namely, the absence of nature (alakṣaṇa)’. Then why is it said here that the Buddha’s knowledge knows the three times with an unhindered penetration? [Answer].—The Buddhas have two ways of preaching the Dharma (dharmanirdeśa): i) first, analysis of the dharmas (dharmavibhaṅga); ii) then, the preaching of unlimited emptiness (atyantaśūnyatā). [...]”.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण) or alakṣaṇaśūnyatā refers to “unmarked emptiness” one of the “twenty emptinesses” (śūnyatā) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 41). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., alakṣaṇa). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryalakṣaṇa (अलक्षण).—a S See the commoner word avalakṣaṇa.
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 dictionaryAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण).—a.
1) Having no signs or marks.
2) Having no characteristics or distinguishing marks, undefined, undistinguished; आसीदिदं तमोभूतमप्रज्ञातमलक्षणम् (āsīdidaṃ tamobhūtamaprajñātamalakṣaṇam) Manusmṛti 1.5.
3) Having no good marks, inauspicious, unfortunate, ill-omened; क्लेशावहा भर्तुरलक्षणाहम् (kleśāvahā bharturalakṣaṇāham) R.14.5.
4) Incomprehensible; सैषा विष्णोर्महामायाऽबाधयाऽलक्षणा यया (saiṣā viṣṇormahāmāyā'bādhayā'lakṣaṇā yayā) Bhāg. 12.6.29.
-ṇam 1 A bad or inauspicious sign; आचारो हन्त्यलक्षणम् (ācāro hantyalakṣaṇam) Manusmṛti 4.156.
2) That which is no definition, a bad definition.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण).—adj., without characteristic mark (so Sanskrit); epithet of dharma, undefinable, absolute: Mahāvyutpatti 353.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण).—mfn.
(-ṇaḥ-ṇā-ṇaṃ) 1. Unfortunate, ill fated, having no good marks on the person. 2. Undefined. n.
(-ṇaṃ) 1. The absence of auspicious marks. 2. Misfortune. 3. The want of any predicate or definition. E. a priv. and lakṣaṇa a mark.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण).—I. n. a mark of ill fortune, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 156. Ii. adj., f. ṇā, 1. without distinguishing marks, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 1, 5. 2. inauspicious, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 14, 5. Ajahallakṣaṇā, i. e.
Alakṣaṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms a and lakṣaṇa (लक्षण).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण).—1. [neuter] inauspicious mark.
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Alakṣaṇa (अलक्षण).—2. [adjective] unmarked, inauspicious.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Alakṣaṇa (अलक्षण):—[=a-lakṣaṇa] n. (√lakṣ), a bad, inauspicious sign, [Manu-smṛti iv, 156]
2) [v.s. ...] mf(ā)n. having no signs or marks, without characteristic, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Manu-smṛti i, 5], having no good marks, inauspicious, unfortunate, [Raghuvaṃśa xiv, 5.]
3) Ālakṣaṇa (आलक्षण):—[=ā-lakṣaṇa] [from ā-lakṣ] n. perceiving, beholding, observing.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण):—[a-lakṣaṇa] (ṇaḥ-ṇā-ṇaṃ) a. Unfortunate.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAlakṣaṇa (ಅಲಕ್ಷಣ):—
1) [adjective] not having, conforming to, the natural, aesthetic or rhetoric rules.
2) [adjective] unpleasant to look at; unattractive; ugly.
3) [adjective] not auspicious; unfavourable; unlucky; ill-omened .
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Alakṣaṇa (ಅಲಕ್ಷಣ):—
1) [noun] the quality of being not conforming to the aesthetic or rhetoric rules.
2) [noun] the quality that is offensive to look at; ugliness.
3) [noun] the quality or fact of being not auspicious; inauspiciousness.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryAlakṣaṇa (अलक्षण):—adj. having no good signs; ill-omened; inauspicious;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Alakshanaka, Alakshanashunyata.
Full-text (+3): Svalakshana, Alakshanashunyata, Svalakshya, Alakshan, Alakshman, Alakshitopasthita, Alakshyagati, Alakshyalinga, Alakshanaka, Alakshitantaka, Shunyata, Alakshyajanmata, Dharmanirdesha, Dharmavibhanga, Anabhilapya, Abhilapya, Ekalakshana, Upalambha, Alakshita, Alinga.
Relevant text
Search found 21 books and stories containing Alakshana, A-lakṣaṇa, A-laksana, Ā-lakṣaṇa, A-lakshana, Alakṣaṇa, Alaksana, Ālakṣaṇa; (plurals include: Alakshanas, lakṣaṇas, laksanas, lakshanas, Alakṣaṇas, Alaksanas, Ālakṣaṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
The Non-existence of Time According to the Mahāyāna < [Part 1 - Mahāyānist list of the eighteen special attributes of the Buddha]
Preliminary note on acquiring the knowledges of the paths < [VI. Acquiring the knowledges of the paths and the aspects of the paths]
Part 3 - Classification and distribution of the eighteen special attributes < [Chapter XLI - The Eighteen Special Attributes of the Buddha]
Mandukya Upanishad (Madhva commentary) (by Srisa Chandra Vasu)
Mantra 2.1 < [Chapter 2 - Second Khanda]
Pratyabhijna and Shankara’s Advaita (comparative study) (by Ranjni M.)
2.8. The concept of Indeterminateness (Anirvacanīyatā) < [Chapter 4 - Ultimate Reality and God in Pratyabhijñā and Advaita]
1.2. Brahman: The Ultimate Reality in Advaita < [Chapter 4 - Ultimate Reality and God in Pratyabhijñā and Advaita]
Dasabhumika Sutra (translation and study) (by Hwa Seon Yoon)
Stage 6: Abhimukhi Bhumi < [Chapter 2 - Study: Summary of the Ten Stages]
Consciousness in Gaudapada’s Mandukya-karika (by V. Sujata Raju)
Turīya and three states of Consciousness < [Chapter 3: A Study of Māṇḍūkya Kārikā: Āgama Prakaraṇa]
Lord Hayagriva in Sanskrit Literature (by Anindita Adhikari)