Alambhana, Ālambhana: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Alambhana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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)
Ālambhana (आलम्भन) refers to the ritual of “touching (the heart)” (performed during the marriage ceremony), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.50 (“Description of fun and frolic”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “O Nārada, thereafter at the bidding of Śiva, I carried out the concluding ceremonies of the wedding of Śiva and Pārvatī joyously through the sages. Their ceremonial head-bath was respectfully gone through. The Brahmins showed the Pole star Dhruva with respect. Thereafter the rite of Hṛdayālambhana was performed. O great Brahmin, then Svastipāṭha was jubilantly celebrated. [...]”.
Note: During hṛdaya-ālambhana, the husband touches the heart of the bride reaching over her right shoulder. The heart is the centre of feelings. By touching it the husband symbolically tries to rouse them and make them flow out to meet his own heart and thus unite them in the world of love.
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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Ālambhana (आलम्भन) refers to the “touching (of body parts)”, and represents one of the traditional marriage rituals, according to Dadhirāma Marāsini’s 19th century Vivāhapaddhati (part of his Karmakāṇḍabhāskara) which is based on the Pāraskara-Gṛhyasūtra, a domestic manual in the Mādhyandina school of the Vājasaneyisaṃhitā.—If performed traditionally, high caste marriages among the Parbatiyas (Parbates/Paharis/Pahadis) or Indo-Nepalese people in Nepal are normally executed by following the course of events as presented in marriage manuals. The Aṅga-ālambhana rite is mentioned under the header called Rules for the marriage (vivāhavidhi): worship of the groom (varapūjana).
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Ālambhana (आलम्भन).—[ā-labh ghañ lyuṭ mum]
1) Taking hold of, seizing, touching; स्त्र्यालोकालम्भविगमः (stryālokālambhavigamaḥ) Y.3.157; Manusmṛti 2.179.
2) Tearing off, uprooting (of plants); Manusmṛti 11.144.
3) Killing (especially an animal at a sacrifice); अश्वालम्भं गवालम्भम् (aśvālambhaṃ gavālambham) Ādipurāṇa; आलम्भयज्ञाः क्षत्राश्च हविर्यज्ञा विशः स्मृताः । परिचारयज्ञाः शूद्रास्तु तपोयज्ञा द्विजातयः (ālambhayajñāḥ kṣatrāśca haviryajñā viśaḥ smṛtāḥ | paricārayajñāḥ śūdrāstu tapoyajñā dvijātayaḥ) || Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.232.31.
Derivable forms: ālambhanam (आलम्भनम्).
See also (synonyms): ālambha.
Ālambhana (आलम्भन).—[neuter] touching, killing (of animals at the sacrifice).
1) Ālambhana (आलम्भन):—[=ā-lambhana] [from ā-labh] n. seizure
2) [v.s. ...] taking hold of, touching, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Gautama-dharma-śāstra]
3) [v.s. ...] killing, sacrificing, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
Ālambhana (आलम्भन):—(wie eben) n.
1) das Anfassen, Berühren [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 9, 3, 19. 4, 9. 17, 3, 16. 18, 6, 8.] —
2) das Tödten, Schlachten [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 8, 8, 15. 20, 4, 2.]
--- OR ---
Ālambhana (आलम्भन):—vgl. maṅgalālambhana .
Ālambhana (आलम्भन):—n. —
1) das Anfassen , Berühren [Gautama's Dharmaśāstra 2,16.] —
2) das Schlachten.
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
Ālaṃbhana (ಆಲಂಭನ):—[noun] = ಆಲಂಭ [alambha].
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)
Full-text: Samalambhana, Mangalalambhana, Anvalambhana, Hridayalambhana, Alabhana, Pashvalambhana, Angalambhana, Samarambhana, Alambha.
Relevant text
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