Avalambana: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Avalambana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Avalambana (अवलम्बन) refers to “attaching (the threads of the bonds)”, according to the Netratantroddyota commentary on the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 4.4.5ab]—“[First of all, [the Mantrin] attaches (avalambana) the threads of the bonds to the disciple’s body, then infuses the parts [of the body into that thread]. Then [the Mantrin] respectfully approaches the path (adhvan), and [performs] worship and homa to the [six] adhvans. Then, [he] visualizes the three bonds [inside the adhvans]. Then [the Mantrin performs] such rituals as the installation [of] the śakti, which is the support of everything else”.
Avalambana (अवलम्बन) refers to “taking on (the operations)” (of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas), according to Śivasūtra 3.1 (Cf. Kṣemarāja’s Śivasūtravimarśinī).—Accordingly, “The citta is the [contracted] self (ātmā cittam)”—[Kṣemarāja’s explanation]—“This citta, which is permanent because it is not coloured by the impressions left by sense-objects and which takes the form of the buddhi, ahaṅkāra and manas with their functions of judgement, [ appropriation,] and [attention], is [called] the Ātmā [here], that is, the atomic individual, [from the verb √at ‘to wander’ in the meaning ‘the wanderer’,] because it moves on from womb to womb by taking on the operations (vṛtti-avalambana) of Sattva, [Rajas and Tamas] as a result of its being unaware of its true nature as [unlimited] consciousness”.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Avalambana (अवलम्बन) refers to “depending (on virtue)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.44 (“Menā regains consciousness”).—Accordingly, as Pārvatī said to her mother Menā: “O mother, your noble intellect has become perverted. Why do you foresake virtue, you who ought to depend on virtue (dharma-avalambana) alone? This Śiva has no one else greater than him. He is Śiva. the source of everything. He is beautiful, pleasing and eulogised in all the Vedas. Śiva is the benefactor. He is the lord of gods. He is self-ruler. O mother, He is of many forms and names. He is served by Viṣṇu, Brahmā and others. [...]”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Avalambana (अवलम्बन) refers to an “outstretched (hand)”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Only the doctrine offers an outstretched hand (hasta-avalambana) because of its own power to sentient beings who are falling of their own accord into the great pit of darkness that is hell. The doctrine freely bestows the power of the venerable omniscient one which is furnished with the great eminences [and] is the great abode of the auspicious [events]”.
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
avalambana : (nt.) 1. hanging down; 2. help.
avalambana (အဝလမ္ဗန) [(na) (န)]—
[ava+lamba+yu]
[အဝ+လမ္ဗ+ယု]
[Pali to Burmese]
avalambana—
(Burmese text): အားပြုဆွဲမှီခြင်း။
(Auto-Translation): Assistance and support.
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
avalambana (अवलंबन).—n S Grasping and clinging to, holding on by.
avalambana (अवलंबन).—n Grasping and clinging to for support.
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
Avalambana (अवलम्बन).—
1) A prop, support, stay; अवलम्बनाय दिनभर्तुरभून्न पतिष्यतः करसहस्रमपि (avalambanāya dinabharturabhūnna patiṣyataḥ karasahasramapi) Śiśupālavadha 9.6; सहिष्यते तत्प्रथमावलम्बनम् (sahiṣyate tatprathamāvalambanam) Kumārasambhava 5.66; कथं स्यात्पुनरिहावलम्बनं भवत्याः (kathaṃ syātpunarihāvalambanaṃ bhavatyāḥ) H.3; प्रस्थानविक्लवगतेरवलम्बनार्थम् (prasthānaviklavagateravalambanārtham) Ś.5.3; मम पुच्छे करावलम्बनं कृत्वोत्तिष्ठ (mama pucche karāvalambanaṃ kṛtvottiṣṭha) H.1.
2) Help, assistance.
3) Having recourse to, resorting to; adoption; इतरपक्षावलम्बनद्वारेण (itarapakṣāvalambanadvāreṇa) K.16.
4) Walking-stick.
Derivable forms: avalambanam (अवलम्बनम्).
Avalambanā (अवलम्बना).—(= Sanskrit °na, nt.), dependence: Divyāvadāna 199.19 tau Buddha-dharma-saṃghāvalambanayā smṛtyā kālagatau…deveṣūpapannau.
Avalambana (अवलम्बन).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. Depending upon, dependance. 2. Hanging on or from. 3. A prop. E. ava before lavi to go, &c. and lyuṭ aff.
Avalambana (अवलम्बन).—[ava-lamb + ana], n. 1. Supporting one’s self, [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in
Avalambana (अवलम्बन).—[feminine] ī hanging down; hanging, leaning, depending on; [neuter] the same as subst. hold, support.
1) Avalambana (अवलम्बन):—[=ava-lambana] [from ava-lamb] mf(ī)n. hanging on, clinging to, [Bhāvaprakāśa]
2) [v.s. ...] leaning against ([locative case]), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
3) [v.s. ...] n. hanging down, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] depending upon, dependance, support, [Śakuntalā] etc.
5) [v.s. ...] making a halt, stopping at ([locative case][adverb]), [Hitopadeśa]
Avalambana (अवलम्बन):—[ava-lambana] (naṃ) 1. n. Idem.
[Sanskrit to German]
Avalambana (अवलम्बन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Abalaṃbaṇa, Olaṃbaṇa.
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
Avalaṃbana (ಅವಲಂಬನ):—[noun] = ಅವಲಂಬ - [avalamba -] 1; 2) the act or depending on another for support.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Avalambana (अवलम्बन):—n. support; reliance;
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: Lambana, Yu, Lamba, Ava.
Starts with: Avalambanata, Avalambanaya, Avalampanam.
Full-text: Anavalambana, Arammanolambana, Astavalambana, Niravalambana, Hastavalambana, Avalampanam, Karavalambana, Matavalambana, Avalambane, Avlamban, Abalambana, Olambana, Chui, Avalamba, Vrittyavalambana, Olambanem, Olamba, Dharmavalambana.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Avalambana, Ava-lamba-yu, Ava-lambana, Avalambanā, Avalaṃbana; (plurals include: Avalambanas, yus, lambanas, Avalambanās, Avalaṃbanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 938 < [Hindi-Kannada-English Volume 1]
Page 133 < [Hindi-Gujarati-English Volume 1]
Page 75 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 9.4 [Anuprāsa] < [Chapter 9 - Ornaments of Sound]
AYU (Journal of Research in Ayurveda)
A comparative clinical study of Asanadi Ghanavati and Gomutra Haritaki in Kapha Medo Margavarana (dyslipidemia) < [Volume 35 (2); 2014 (Apr-Jun)]
Gita-govinda of Jayadeva (comparative study) (by Manisha Misra)
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.1.50 < [Chapter 1 - Meeting Again at the House of Śrī Advaita Ācārya]
Verse 3.5.295 < [Chapter 5 - The Pastimes of Nityānanda]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 264 < [Volume 10 (1890)]