Andhakara, Amdhakara, Andha-kara, Andhakāra, Āndhakāra: 28 definitions
Introduction:
Andhakara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇaAndhakāra (अन्धकार).—One of the seven major mountains in Krauñcadvīpa, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 88. All of these mountains are tall and filled with gems. It is also known by the name Acchodaka. Krauñcadvīpa is one of the seven islands (dvīpa), ruled over by Jyotiṣmān, one of the ten sons of Priyavrata, who is the son of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.
The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century. It is composed of two parts and Sūta is the main narrator.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Andhakāra (अन्धकार).—A son of Dyutimat after whom the kingdom Andhakāra came to be known.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 22, 25.
1b) The eighth battle of Devas and Asuras.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 72. 75 & 82; Vāyu-purāṇa 97. 75.
2) Āndhakāra (आन्धकार).—(c)—a kingdom after the name of Andhakāra,1 near Pīvara hill.2

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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Andhakāra (अन्धकार) refers to “(intense) darkness ”, according to Bāṇa’s Kādambarī (p. 225-226).—Accordingly, while describing the shire of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, “[Then follows the image of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, which matches the conception of Kālarātri in the passage from the Mahābhārata:] Her feet were never bereft of cloths [dyed with] red lac thrown upon the mound of her seat [on the altar] as if they were the lives of all creatures arrived there for shelter; she resembled an inhabitant of the Underworld because of the intense darkness (bahala-andhakāra) obstructed [only] by the flashes from axes, spears, etc., weapons deadly for beings, that seemed to hold nets of hair stuck from decapitations because of the reflections of black yak-tail whisks cast [upon their surfaces]; [...]”.

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramAndhakāra (अन्धकार) refers to “darkness”, according to Mukunda’s Saṃvartārthaprakāśa.—Accordingly, [while describing the three currents of teachers]: “(1) Divyaugha: One should think of the essential nature of the teachers belonging to the Divine Current as the quality of sattva, as the worlds of the Sun and Fire etc. and as possessing the nature of deity. (2) Mānavaugha: One should contemplate the essential nature of the teachers belonging to the Current of Men as the quality of rajas, as the Moon and Water etc and as possessing a human nature. (3) Siddhaugha: One should recollect the essential nature of the teachers belonging to the Current of Siddhas as the quality of tamas, as darkness (andhakāra), Space and the Air etc and possessing a supernatural being’s nature”.

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.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)Andhakāra (अन्धकार) refers to a “very dark place” (suitable for the treatment of diseased hawks), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the treatment of hawks]: “[...] Four diseases relate to the irregularity of breath. The common name of these diseases is Śākhā, [...]. Birds suffering from Śākhā should be kept in a dark (andhakāra), lonely place, and given small quantities of meat and water. [...]”.

This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA village in Ceylon, one of the villages given by Aggabodhi IV. for the maintenance of the Padhana ghara built by the king for the Thera Dathasiva. Cv.xlvi.12.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraAndhakāra (अन्धकार) refers to “being enveloped in the shadows (of ignorance)”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 44.—[Definition of sympathetic joy (anumodanā)]—“Someone is practicing the qualities [in question, viz., generosity, morality, etc.]; a spectator rejoices in it and congratulates him, saying: ‘That is good; in this impermanent world enveloped in the shadows of ignorance (avidyā-andhakāra), you are strengthening the great mind [of bodhi] and you are planting this merit’”. [...] Such is the characteristic of sympathetic joy. Thus, just by a mind of sympathetic joy, the Bodhisattva surpasses the practitioners of the two Vehicles. What more could be said if he himself practices [the qualities in which he is rejoicing]?
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAndhakāra (अन्धकार) refers to “darkness”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja, having praised the Lord with these verses, addressed himself to the Lord: ‘[...] If, Lord, the Tathāgata gives some advice (kathā) about the entrance into the analysis of the dharma (dharmaviniścaya) to me, I would ask a question. Why is that? The Lord, having obtained the knowledge of non-attachment (asaṅga), is skilled in knowing the excellent and not so excellent abilities in all living beings. The Lord, having obtained the light, is free from the all darkness (andhakāra). [...]’”.

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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiAndhakāra (अन्धकार) refers to “darkness”, according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) 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, “Homage be to you, homage be to you, homage be to you, homage, homage, With devotion I bow to you, Guru protector be pleased with me. By whose bright rays of light, the true self suddenly appears, With an abundance of jeweled radiance, defeating darkness (prahata-andhakāra), Rightly understanding with clear eyes, with intense playfulness, This adoration is offered to them, to the illuminating Guru”.

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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaAndhakāra (अन्धकार, “dark”) refers to one of the “twenty form objects” (rūpa) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 34). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., andhakāra). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 5: The category of the non-livingAndhakāra (अन्धकार, “darkness”) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 5.24.—“Sound (śabda), union (bandha), fineness (saukṣmya), grossness (sthaulya), shape (saṃsthāna), division (bheda), darkness (tamas or andhakāra), image (chāya or chāyā), warm light (sunshine) (ātapa) and cool light (moonlight) (udyota) also (are forms of matter)”.
What is the meaning of darkness (tamas or andhakāra)? It is the opposite of light or absence of light.
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsAndhakāra (अन्धकार) refers to “darkness”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “The fire of passion becomes extinguished, desire flows away, darkness [com.—andhakāra] disappears [and] the light of knowledge shines forth in the heart for men from the repetition of the reflections”.
Synonyms: Dhvānta.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryandhakāra : (m.) darkness; bewilderment.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryAndhakāra refers to: blindness (lit. & fig), darkness, dullness, bewilderment Vin.I, 16; D.II, 12; A.I, 56; II, 54; III, 233; J.III, 188; Th.1, 1034; Dh.146; Sn.763; Vv 214 (= avijj° VvA.106); Pug.30; Dhs.617; DA.I, 228; VvA.51, 53, 116, 161; PvA.6; Sdhp.14, 280.
Note: andhakāra is a Pali compound consisting of the words andha and kāra.

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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryandhakāra (अंधकार).—m (S) pop. andhaḥkāra m Darkness. 2 fig. Mental darkness.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishandhakāra (अंधकार).—m Darkness. Fig. mental darkness.
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 dictionaryAndhakāra (अन्धकार).—[andhaṃ karoti] darkness (lit. and fig.); लीनं दिवाभीतमिवान्धकारम् (līnaṃ divābhītamivāndhakāram) Ku. 1.12; काम°, मदन° (kāma°, madana°); अन्धकारतामुपयाति चक्षुः (andhakāratāmupayāti cakṣuḥ) K.36 grows dim; बाष्पजलधारान्धकारितमुखी (bāṣpajaladhārāndhakāritamukhī) K.161,286.
Derivable forms: andhakāraḥ (अन्धकारः).
Andhakāra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms andha and kāra (कार).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAndhakāra (अन्धकार).—mn.
(-raḥ-raṃ) Darkness. E. andha blind, and kāra what makes.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAndhakāra (अन्धकार).—[andha + kāra], m. and n. Darkness, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 51.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAndhakāra (अन्धकार).—[adjective] dark; [masculine] [neuter] darkness, [abstract] tā [feminine]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryAndhakāra (अन्धकार):—[=andha-kāra] [from andha > andh] m. n. darkness.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAndhakāra (अन्धकार):—[tatpurusha compound] m. n.
(-raḥ-ram) Darkness; lit. and fig. E. andha and kāra (kṛ, kṛt aff. aṇ).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryAndhakāra (अन्धकार):—[andha-kāra] (raḥ-raṃ) 1. m. n. Darkness.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Andhakāra (अन्धकार) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Aṃdhayāra, Aṃdhayāraṇa, Aṃdhāra.
[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 corpusAṃdhakāra (ಅಂಧಕಾರ):—
1) [noun] want of light; darkness.
2) [noun] want of knowledge; ignorance.
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 DictionaryAndhakāra (अन्धकार):—n. 1. darkness; 2. ignorance; 3. illusion;
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: Kaara, Andhakara, Andha, Kara, Na.
Starts with (+5): Amdhakarayuga, Andhakara Sutta, Andhakara Vagga, Andhakara-yuga, Andhakaragatasadisa, Andhakaraka, Andhakaram, Andhakaramaya, Andhakarana, Andhakarapaccupatthana, Andhakarapilita, Andhakarapitatva, Andhakaraprayashcitta, Andhakarasadisa, Andhakarasamakula, Andhakarasamcaya, Andhakarasamchanna, Andhakarasancaya, Andhakarasprishtaprayashcitta, Andhakaratamisra.
Full-text (+92): Andhakaramaya, Mahandhakara, Samandhakara, Pratyandhakara, Rattandhakara, Andhakarasamakula, Tamandhakara, Andhakaraka, Andhakarasamcaya, Ghorandhakara, Amdhakara, Andhara, Andhakarapaccupatthana, Andhakarapilita, Kilesandhakara, Tibbandhakara, Andhakara-yuga, Vigatasammohandhakara, Nimmisasanjanitandhakaraviraha, Tibbandhakarasitanaraka.
Relevant text
Search found 33 books and stories containing Andhakara, Amdhakara, Aṃdhakāra, Andha-kara, Andha-kāra, Andha-kara-na, Andha-kara-ṇa, Andhakāra, Āndhakāra, Andhakara-na, Andhakāra-ṇa; (plurals include: Andhakaras, Amdhakaras, Aṃdhakāras, karas, kāras, nas, ṇas, Andhakāras, Āndhakāras). 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 5.24.30 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]
Verses 1.11.22-24 < [Chapter 11 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s Birth]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 5.24 - The modes of the matter (pudgala-paryāya) < [Chapter 5 - The Non-living Substances]
Verse 5.25 - The two divisions of the matter (pudgala) < [Chapter 5 - The Non-living Substances]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 181 < [Volume 1 (1871)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.1.90 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
V. Value of the Buddha fields < [Part 4 - Assuring the continuity of the Buddha universes]
Appendix 2 - Lokāntarikā (intermediate spaces between two worlds) < [Chapter XLVII - Praises made by the Buddhas]
III. Mastering the fire element (tejas) < [Part 3 - Mastering the four great elements]