Alingana, Āliṅgana, Alimgana: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Alingana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन) or Āliṅganahasta refers to “tender grasp” and represents one of the twenty-four gestures with a single hand, as defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—Accordingly, pratimā-lakṣaṇa (body postures of the icons) is comprised of hand gestures (hasta, mudrā or kai-amaiti), stances/poses (āsanas) and inflexions of the body (bhaṅgas). There are thirty-two types of hands [viz., āliṅgana-hasta] classified into two major groups known as tolirkai (functional and expressive gestures) and elirkai (graceful posture of the hand).
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन) refers to “embracing”, according to Brahmayāmala verse 45.197-199 and 247-250.—Accordingly, “[...] Once the excellent adept has cleaned the sacred seat with holy water, he places his own sacrifice there beginning with the (formation of the) place (of union) and the rest. Once done that, O fair lady, he kisses and embraces [i.e., cumbana-āliṅgana] the sacred seat and having caused the male organ to enter, preceded by the (formation of the) place (of union) and the rest, he then conjoins the omnipresent (i.e. sperm), along with flowers, scent and the rest, to it. Then, having aroused the Śakti and collected the sacrificial substance (i.e. sexual fluid) generated from that and then having eaten (some of that) substance and offered libation, he should then offer it (to the deity)”.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन) refers to “embracing”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.18 (“Description of the perturbation caused by Kāma”).—Accordingly, after Śiva described Pārvatī: “[...] O sage, then Pārvatī smilingly laid bare some parts of her body and cast graceful glances at Him with great pleasure. On seeing these movements and gestures Śiva became fascinated. Lord Śiva indulging in great divine sports spoke these words. ‘I feel great pleasure on merely seeing her. What pleasure shall I derive by embracing [i.e., āliṅgana] her?’.”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन) refers to “embracing”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 3.—Accordingly, “[...] If one torments the body with rain, cold and heat, …, devoted to recitation (japarata) and meditation, this is called the Great Observance. A woman skilled in the pleasures of love-making, endowed with beauty and youth; such a woman one should procure, holding one’s senses back from the objects of the senses, and one should kiss (cumbana) and embrace (āliṅgana) [her], placing the penis upon her sex while remaining focussed upon recitation and meditation—one performs [thus] the Sword-Blade Observance. If one should succumb to the control of desire, then one certainly falls into hell. [...]”.
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)
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन) refers to “embracing” (one’s sexual partner), according to the Kāmasūtra: a Sanskrit text dealing with eroticism, sexuality and emotional fulfillment in life; being written by Mallanāga Vātsyāyana in the 2nd century A.D. it belongs to the Kāmaśāstra branch of literature which deals with the ancient Indian science of love-making.—Topics of Book II (on sexual union) include: Of the Embrace (āliṅgana) [āliṅganavicārāḥ].
Kamashastra (कामशास्त्र, kāmaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian science of love-making, passion, emotions and other related topics dealing with the pleasures of the senses.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन) refers to “embracing”, according to the Guru-maṇḍala-arcana [i.e., “Guru Mandala Worship]” 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, “Standing on top of Mahābhairava and Kālirātrī, embracing (āliṅgana) Vajravārāhī, With both arms holding a vajra and bell, adorned by a crest of dreadlocks, Decorated by a crown of skulls, holding a half moon on top of the head, Topped by the form of the Viśva Vajra, a fierce face, horrible gigantic fangs, Possessing the emotions beginning with the erotic, putting on a tiger skin, Wearing a garland of half a hundred human heads together, Possessing the six seals, adorned with a necklace, bracelets, Ear-rings, girdle, a crest jewel, (and) covered in ashes”.
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.
India history and geography
Alingana refers to: “Embrace: Siva may have his left hand placed upon the shoulder of Devi or sent around her waist, Krishna may embrace his beloved with both hands”.—It is included in the glossary section of the study dealing with the Temples and Cult of Shri Rama in Tamil-Nadu, with reference to the traditional lore, embodied in, for example the Nalayirativvaiyappirapantam (i.e., Nalayira Divyaprabandham).
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
āliṅgana : (nt.) embracing.
āliṅgana (အာလိင်္ဂန) [(na) (န)]—
[ā+ligi+yu]
[အာ+လိဂိ+ယု]
[Pali to Burmese]
āliṅgana—
(Burmese text): လည်ဖက်-ပွေ့ဖက်-ခြင်း။
(Auto-Translation): Neck - collar - separation.
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
āliṅgana (आलिंगन).—n (S) Embracing, an embrace. v dē.
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
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन).—Embracing, clasping, an embrace; (saṃprāpa) आलिङ्गननिर्वृत्तिम् (āliṅgananirvṛttim) R.12.65; (said to be of seven kinds:आमोद°, मुदित°, प्रेमन्°, मानस°, रुचि°, मदन° (āmoda°, mudita°, preman°, mānasa°, ruci°, madana°) and विनोद° (vinoda°).
Derivable forms: āliṅganam (आलिङ्गनम्).
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन).—n.
(-naṃ) Embracing, an embrace. E. āṅ before ligi to approach, lyuṭ aff.
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन).—[ā-liṅg + ana], n. An embrace, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 71.
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन).—[neuter] an embrace.
1) Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन):—[=ā-liṅgana] [from ā-liṅg] n. clasping, embracing
2) [v.s. ...] an embrace, [Mahābhārata; Pañcatantra; Meghadūta] etc.
3) Āliṅganā (आलिङ्गना):—[=ā-liṅganā] [from ā-liṅgana > ā-liṅg] f. idem, [Naiṣadha-carita]
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन):—[ā-liṅgana] (naṃ) 1. n. An embracing.
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन):—(von āliṅg) n. Umfassung, Umarmung [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 2, 4.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1507.] [Suśruta 1, 77, 8.] [Pañcatantra 263, 5.] āliṅgane caroścaiva cakratuste viparyayam [Mahābhārata 3, 11061 (Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 571).] priyatamabhujāli [Meghadūta 71.] priyāli [Raghuvaṃśa 12, 65.] [Hitopadeśa 29, 16.] gāḍhāli [II, 154.] [Vetālapañcaviṃśati 11, 12.] evaṃ tau dvāvapi vihitāliṅganau [Pañcatantra 115, 25.] āliṅganaṃ cāsyai sa dadau [Geschichte des Vidūṣaka 141.] mṛtakam (von ā abhängig) āliṅganaṃ karoti [Vetālapañcaviṃśati 25, 15.]
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन):—n. Umarmung.
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Āliṃgaṇa.
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
Āliṃgana (आलिंगन) [Also spelled alingan]:—(nm) an embrace, embracing; clasp, clasping; hence ~[gita] (a).
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Āliṃgaṇa (आलिंगण) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Āliṅgana.
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
Āliṃgana (ಆಲಿಂಗನ):—
1) [noun] a taking another person into arms and pressing to the bosom with affection; embracing.
2) [noun] an embrace.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Āliṅgana (आलिङ्गन):—n. embracing; clasping; an embrace;
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)
Partial matches: Ligi, Lingana, Ao, Yu, Yu, A.
Starts with: Alimganamga, Alimganamgey, Alinganahasta, Alinganamurti, Alinganapaddhati, Alinganavicara, Alinkanam.
Full-text (+10): Samalingana, Gadhalingana, Kannalingana, Alinganamurti, Alinganem, Alingan, Alinganapaddhati, Katalinganam, Lingana, Alinkanam, Alinga, Alinganahasta, Alinganavicara, Balalinganasana, Cumbanalingana, Rasikalingana, Anganalingana, Samalingita, Villal, Cumbana.
Relevant text
Search found 26 books and stories containing Alingana, A-ligi-yu, Ā-ligi-yu, A-lingana, Ā-liṅgana, Ā-liṅganā, Alimgana, Āliṃgaṇa, Āliṃgana, Āliṅgana, Āliṅganā, Āliṅgaṇa; (plurals include: Alinganas, yus, linganas, liṅganas, liṅganās, Alimganas, Āliṃgaṇas, Āliṃganas, Āliṅganas, Āliṅganās, Āliṅgaṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.24.13 < [Chapter 24 - The Story of Asuri Muni in the Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 643 < [Hindi-Malayalam-English Volume 1]
Page 788 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 2]
Page 643 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 1]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 9 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]
Text 4 < [Chapter 7 - Saptama-yāma-sādhana (Pradoṣa-kālīya-bhajana–vipralambha-prema)]
Text 9 < [Chapter 7 - Saptama-yāma-sādhana (Pradoṣa-kālīya-bhajana–vipralambha-prema)]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 1.2.112 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]
Iconography of Buddhist and Brahmanical Sculptures (by Nalini Kanta Bhattasali)
Iconography of Umalingana-murti < [Part 2 - Brahmanical Sculptures]
Iconography of Ardhanarishvara < [Part 2 - Brahmanical Sculptures]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.7.48 < [Chapter 7 - Pūrṇa (pinnacle of excellent devotees)]
Verse 2.4.114 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
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