Ambhas: 16 definitions

Introduction:

Ambhas means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Ambhas (अम्भस्) refers to the “pure waters of the lakes”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.21. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] When Kāma (God of Love) reached the vicinity of Śiva, Spring spread all his splendour in accord with the inclination of the lord. [...] With full-blown lotuses, the pure waters of the lakes (ambhas) shone like the minds of sages wherein the supreme splendour—Ātman is clearly reflected”.

Purana book cover
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.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Ambhas (अम्भस्) refers to “water”, mentioned in verse 3.32 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] One shall drink broth (that is) not too thick, rasālā, curds, raga and khāṇḍava syrup, [...] and water [viz., ambhas] (that is) perfumed with trumpet-flowers, charged with camphor, (and) very cold. Taking at night moonbeams as food, one shall drink, [...]”.

Note: Ambhas (“water”) has been transferred to the bead of the stanza and connected with bhakṣayan in 32d instead of pibed in 30 c.

Ayurveda book cover
context information

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.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Ambhas (अम्भस्) refers to the “waters”, 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. [...] When the spots appear on the solar disc the waters [i.e., ambhas] will get disturbed; the sky will be filled with dust; high winds capable of breaking down the tops of mountains and of trees, will carry pebbles and sand along their course”.

Source: Google Books: Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences (Astronomy)

Ambhas (अम्भस्) refers to “water”, according to Śrīpati’s Siddhāntaśekhara verse 19.19-20.—Accordingly, “A vessel, resembling half a pot in shape (i.e. hemispherical), made of ten palas of copper, six aṅgulas in height and twice the same in the diameter of the mouth, which can be filled with sixty palas of water [i.e., ambhas], is the Ghaṭī-yantra. It should be pierced beforehand by a four aṅgulas long gold needle that has been made of three and one-third māṣas [of gold]. Then it fills with water [and sinks] in one ghaṭikā (=nāḍikā)”.

Jyotisha book cover
context information

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.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Ambhas (अम्भस्) refers to “water (that has been consecrated)”, as quoted by Hṛdayaśiva in his Prāyaścittasamuccaya (verse 10.27-35).—Accordingly, “[...] The Mantrin, intent on attaining all manner of special powers, should perform the observance for the pāśupatāstra resolutely dressed in multi-coloured garments and with multi-coloured garlands and unguents. And upon the completion of one or another of these observances, he should pour upon himself Śiva-water (ambhas) that has been consecrated by recitation of his mantra over it from a pot. [...]”.

Shaivism book cover
context information

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.

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Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)

Ambhas (अम्भस्) refers to “water”, according to the Devyāmata (chapter 105).—Accordingly, [while describing the construction of residence for initiates]—“[...] The residence for the initiates should be built not too far from water (ambhas). Initiates should live in a fine, unpolluted place. The residence should have one, two, or three rooms. Or a four-roomed residence should be built, according to funding. A pleasing hiraṇyanābha or sukṣetra may be built”.

Vastushastra book cover
context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Ambhas (अम्भस्) refers to the “waters”, according to the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi [i.e., Cakrasamvara Meditation] 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 a dark-blue lotus petal, an atmosphere with a garland of clouds, A dark-blue sky, a great ground of universal waters (vaiśvānara-ambhas) and great wind”.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ambhas (अम्भस्).—[By Uṇādi-sūtra 4.29 āp-asun; or ambh śabde asun]

1) water; कथमप्यम्भसामन्तरानिष्पत्तेः प्रतीक्षते (kathamapyambhasāmantarāniṣpatteḥ pratīkṣate) Kumārasambhava 2.37; स्वेद्यमामज्वरं प्राज्ञः कोऽम्भसा परिषिञ्चति (svedyamāmajvaraṃ prājñaḥ ko'mbhasā pariṣiñcati) Śiśupālavadha 2.54; अम्भसाकृतम् (ambhasākṛtam) done by water P.VI.3.3.

2) The sky.

3) The fourth sign of the zodiac.

4) Mystical name of the letter व् (v).

5) A God.

6) A man.

7) The world of the Manes.

8) A Rākṣasa or Asura.

9) (In Phil.) तुष्ठि (tuṣṭhi) or acquiescence of the soul.

1) Power; splendour; fruitfulness -(dual.) अम्भसी (ambhasī) Heaven and earth. -(pl.) Collective name for Gods, men, Manes, and demons. [cf. L. imber: Gr. ombpos.]

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

Ambhas (अम्भस्).—n.

(-mbhaḥ) Water. E. ap water, before asun Unadi affix; num is inserted, and pa becomes bha.

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

Ambhas (अम्भस्).—n. Water, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 91; [Śiśupālavadha] 9, 31.

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

Ambhas (अम्भस्).—[neuter] water.

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

1) Ambhas (अम्भस्):—n. (cf. abhra, ambu), water, [Ṛg-veda] etc., the celestial waters, [Aitareya-upaniṣad]

2) power, fruit fulness, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] and, [Atharva-veda]

3) [plural] (āṃsi) collective Name for gods, men, Manes, and Asuras, [Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa] and, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa], (hence) (as) sg. the number ‘four’

4) mystical Name of the letter v

5) Name of a metre (consisting of 82 syllables), [Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya], (asa), [instrumental case] in [compound] for ambhas (e.g. ambhasākṛta ‘done by water’), [Pāṇini 6-3, 3]

6) [dual number] (asī) heaven and earth, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska][Greek] ὄμβρος imber.

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

Ambhas (अम्भस्):—(mbhaḥ) 5. n. Water.

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

Ambhas (अम्भस्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Aṃbha, Aṃbho.

[Sanskrit to German]

Ambhas 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.

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