Avara, Āvāra, Āvara: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Avara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi, biology. 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Avara (अवर, “the youngest”).—One of the names of the Goddess, Devī, who is regarded as the female principle of the divine; the embodiement of the energies of the Gods.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Avara (अवर, “small”) refers to one of the three sizes of playhouse (nāṭyamaṇḍapa) used, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra 2.8-11. This size is stated to be meant for humans (the other size being meant for Gods or kings). The measurement of the jyeṣṭha type playhouse is stated to count 32 hastas (also translated as ‘cubit’; one hasta equals 24 aṅgulas). They can also be measured using the same amount of daṇḍas (one daṇḍa equals 4 hastas).
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Kama-shastra (the science of Love-making)
Avara (अवर) refers to the “lower (castes)” (as opposed to Uttama-varṇa—‘higher castes’), according to chapter 1.5 of Vātsyāyana’s Kāmasūtra: a Sanskrit text from the 2nd century dealing with eroticism, sexuality and emotional fulfillment in life belonging to Kāmaśāstra (the ancient Indian science of love-making).—Accordingly, “[...] The practice of kāma with women of the higher castes (uttama-varṇa), and with those previously enjoyed by others, even though they be of the same caste, is prohibited. But the practice of kāma with women of the lower castes (avara-varṇa), with women excommunicated from their own caste, with public women, and with women twice married, is neither enjoined nor prohibited. The object of practising kāma with such women is pleasure only”.
Kamashastra (कामशास्त्र, kāmaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian science of love-making, passion, emotions and other related topics dealing with the pleasures of the senses.
India history and geography
Āvara.—(CII 4), a stall. Cf. āvāra. Note: āvara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
--- OR ---
Āvāra.—(IE 8-5), cf. āpaṇeṣu āvāraḥ, ‘collections to be made from the shops in a market’. Cf. āvara. Note: āvāra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Avara in the Malayalam language is the name of a plant identified with Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet from the Fabaceae (Pea) family having the following synonyms: Dolichos lablab, Dolichos purpureus. For the possible medicinal usage of avara, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
1) Avara in India is the name of a plant defined with Lablab purpureus in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Vigna aristata Piper (among others).
2) Avara is also identified with Senna auriculata It has the synonym Cassia densistipulata Taub. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Plant Names Scientific & Popular (1900)
· Vorlesungen der Churpfälzischen physicalisch-öconomischen Gesellschaft (1787)
· Flora Cochinchinensis (1790)
· Pflanzenw. Ost-Afrikas (1895)
· Fl. Trop. E. Afr. (1971)
· Willdenowia (1986)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Avara, for example pregnancy safety, extract dosage, health benefits, side effects, diet and recipes, chemical composition, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Āvara, (adj.) (fr. ā + vṛ) obstructing, keeping off from J. V, 325 (so to be read in ariya-magg-âvara). (Page 111)
— or —
Āvāra, (Sk. āvāra, fr. ā + vṛ) warding off, protection, guard J VI 432 (yanta-yutta°, does it mean “cover, shield”?). ‹-› For cpd. khandh’āvāra see khandha. (Page 112)
avara (အဝရ) [(ti) (တိ)]—
[(1) na+vara．(2) ava+rā+a．]
[(၁) န+ဝရ။ (၂) အဝ+ရာ+အ။]
[Pali to Burmese]
avara—
(Burmese text): [(၁) န+ဝရ။ (၂) အဝ+ရာ+အ။]
(၁) မမြတ်သော၊ ယုတ်ညံ့သော၊ နုံ့သော (ဣန္ဒြေ)။ (၂) အနည်းငယ်သော။ (၁) အဝရိယ-ကြည့်။ (၂) အဝရမတ္တက-ကြည့်။
(Auto-Translation): (1) N+Wra. (2) Awa+ra+a. (1) Not precious, ugly, terrible (Indra). (2) A little. (1) Aware of the being. (2) Aware of the condition.
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
avara (अवर).—ad On this or the nearer side. Correl. with tavara.
--- OR ---
avarā (अवरा).—m C A legume, a variety of Phaseolus radiatus. Also called kaḍavā.
--- OR ---
avāra (अवार).—ad (Vulgar.) On this or the nearer side. Correl. with tavāra.
--- OR ---
avāra (अवार).—& avārakhānā See āvāra & āvārakhānā.
--- OR ---
āvara (आवर).—m S āvaraāṭōpa m Contracting or drawing into narrow compass; gathering into a compact form or state; closing or winding up. 2 Control, cohibition, governance, rule. 3 Management, address, ability, skill and despatch at business.
--- OR ---
āvāra (आवार).—n m C (āvāra S) An enclosure; an enclosed space; a compound or yard. 2 Applied sometimes to the enclosing body (fence, hedge, railing, wall, ditch &c.): also to the enclosedness effected. Ex. pāḍōni dēvācēṃ śikhara || ghātalēṃ sabhōṃvatēṃ ā0 ॥
--- OR ---
āvārā (आवारा).—m (āva) Extensive and mighty preparations; an imposing display of measures, materials, arrangements, indicating some vast project. v ghāla. 2 fig. The rising and forming again after bursting (of a boil or tumor). v dhara, ghāla.
āvara (आवर).—m Control; management. Con- tracting.
--- OR ---
āvāra (आवार).—n m An enclosure, a compound.
--- OR ---
āvārā (आवारा).—m Extensive and mighty preparations, an imposing display of measure &c. indicating some vast project.
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
Avara (अवर).—a. [vṛ-bā° ap na. ta]
1) (a) Younger (in years); मासेनावरः (māsenāvaraḥ) = मासावरः (māsāvaraḥ) Sk. (b) Later; Posterior hinder (in time or space); दक्षौ विवस्वानवरः (dakṣau vivasvānavaraḥ) Rām.; पूर्वजे- नावरः पुत्रौ ज्येष्ठो राज्येऽभिषिच्यते (pūrvaje- nāvaraḥ putrau jyeṣṭho rājye'bhiṣicyate) Rām.; यदवरं कौशाम्ब्याः, यदवरमाग्रहायण्याः (yadavaraṃ kauśāmbyāḥ, yadavaramāgrahāyaṇyāḥ) P.III.3.136-7 sk.; रामाद्वर्षेणाधोक्षजोऽवरः (rāmādvarṣeṇādhokṣajo'varaḥ) Bop.
2) Following, succeeding; जरावराः (jarāvarāḥ) (śabdāḥ) Ak., अवरः श्रद्धयोपेतः (avaraḥ śraddhayopetaḥ) Bhāgavata 4.18.4. चतुरोऽवरान् (caturo'varān) Manusmṛti 3.33.
3) Below, under, lower, inferior, less; वर्णावरो भ्राता (varṇāvaro bhrātā) M.1.
4) Mean, unimportant, worst, lowest (opp. uttama); अव्यङ्ग्यमवरं स्मृतम् (avyaṅgyamavaraṃ smṛtam) K. P.1; दूरेण ह्यवरं कर्म बुद्धियोगाद्- धनञ्जय (dūreṇa hyavaraṃ karma buddhiyogād- dhanañjaya) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 2.49; श्रद्दधानं शुभां विद्यामाददीतावरादपि (śraddadhānaṃ śubhāṃ vidyāmādadītāvarādapi) Ms. 2.238.
5) Last (opp. prathama); सामान्यमेषां प्रथमावरत्वम् (sāmānyameṣāṃ prathamāvaratvam) Ku. 7.44.
6) Least; usually as the last member of comp. with numerals; त्र्यवरैः साक्षिभिर्भाव्यः (tryavaraiḥ sākṣibhirbhāvyaḥ) Manusmṛti 8.6,3.187; 11.8,12.11; त्र्यवरा परिषद् ज्ञेया (tryavarā pariṣad jñeyā) 112; Y.2.69.
7) Western.
8) Nearer, next.
9) Most excellent (atyanta- śreṣṭha).
-raḥ 1 A country behind.
2) Time gone.
-rā 1 A Direction.
2) Name of Durgā.
-ram The hind thigh of an elephant (also ° rā).
--- OR ---
Avara (अवर).—1 A. To leave off, cease (only in p. p.)
Derivable forms: avaram (अवरम्).
--- OR ---
Avāra (अवार).—[na vāryate jalena vṛ-karmaṇi ghañ]
1) The near bank of a river; नास्य द्वीपः कुतः पारो नावारः संप्रदृश्यते (nāsya dvīpaḥ kutaḥ pāro nāvāraḥ saṃpradṛśyate) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.224.21.
2) This side; यो वै संवत्सरस्यावरं पारं च वेद (yo vai saṃvatsarasyāvaraṃ pāraṃ ca veda) Ait. Br. °तस् (tas) ind. to this side; पयो दुहाना व्रतनीरवारतः (payo duhānā vratanīravārataḥ) Ṛgveda 1.65.6.
Derivable forms: avāraḥ (अवारः), avāram (अवारम्).
--- OR ---
Āvāra (आवार).—Enclosing, keeping off, as in दुरावार (durāvāra) q. v.
Derivable forms: āvāraḥ (आवारः).
Avara (अवर).—m., a high number: Mahāvyutpatti 7708, or nt. 7834, in the latter cited from Gaṇḍavyūha; Gaṇḍavyūha 105.20, text sattva- varasya, read sattvāvarasya (gen.). In Gaṇḍavyūha 133.2 the item seems to be omitted (in a list which generally corresponds better to Mahāvyutpatti).
--- OR ---
Āvāra (आवार).—(°-) (m.; rare in Sanskrit except in cpds., compare dur-āvāra, [Boehtlingk and Roth]), guard, in °ra-nibandhana, nt., imprisonment under guard: Mahāvastu i.188.17 (verse) kṛtvāvāranibandhanam, making (i.e. applying to his victims)…(so mss., possibly intending vāra°, but this word is hardly used except at the end of cpds.; āvāra occurs also in Pali; Senart emends to kārā-nib°).
Avara (अवर).—mfn.
(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) 1. Posterior, hinder, last. 2. Younger. 3. Inferior. n.
(-raṃ) The hind thigh of an elephant. f.
(-rā) A name of Durga. E. a neg. and vara preferable; not the best, or than which nothing is better.
--- OR ---
Avāra (अवार).—n.
(-raṃ) The near bank of a river. E. ava down, ṛ to go, ghañ aff.
Avara (अवर).—[ava + ra]. I. adj., f. rā. 1. Posterior, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 23. 2. Inferior, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 106, 22. 3. Low, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 203. Ii. m. A Śūdra, or one of the fourth caste, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 238.
Avara (अवर).—lower, inferior; posterior, following, later, younger; nearer; preceding ([with] [ablative]); western; vile, base, mean; —° at least in adj., [neuter] in [adverb] —[feminine] avarā after-birth.
--- OR ---
Āvāra (आवार).—[masculine] guard, protection.
1) Avara (अवर):—mf(ā)n. ([from] 2. ava), below inferior, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]
2) low, mean, unimportant of small value, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Upaniṣad; Manu-smṛti] etc.
3) posterior, hinder, later, last, younger, [Ṛg-veda] etc.
4) nearer, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda]
5) western, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
6) preceding (with [ablative], opposed to para), [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya]
7) Avarā (अवरा):—[from avara] f. ‘after-birth’ See avarāvapatana below
8) [v.s. ...] (= aparā q.v.) the hind quarter of an elephant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] Name of Durgā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) Avara (अवर):—n. ifc. (f(ā). ) the least, the lowest degree, lowest sum (cf. kārṣāpaṇāvara, trirātrāvara, try-avara, daśāvara, saṃvatsarāvara); the hind thigh of an elephant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) Avāra (अवार):—n. ([from] 2. ava, but formed after a-pāra q.v.) [Vedic or Veda] this side, the near bank of a river, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xxx, 16; Taittirīya-saṃhitā etc.]
12) Āvāra (आवार):—[=ā-vāra] a etc. See 1. ā-√vṛ.
13) [=ā-vāra] [from ā-vṛ] b m. shelter, defence
14) [v.s. ...] mfn. ifc. enclosing, keeping out.
1) Avara (अवर):—[a-vara] (raḥ-rā-raṃ) a. Posterior, younger, inferior, not less. f. Durga. n. Hind thigh of an elephant.
2) Avāra (अवार):—[a-vāra] (raṃ) 1. n. Near bank of a river.
Avara (अवर):—
--- OR ---
Avāra (अवार):—(von 1. ava, nach Analogie von pāra; vgl. avas und paras u. s. w.) m. n. [Siddhāntakaumudī.249], b, [4.] das Diesseits; das diesseitige, nähere Ufer [Amarakoṣa 1, 2, 38. 3, 6, 35.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1079.] [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 30, 16.] yo vai saṃvatsarasyāvāraṃ ca pāraṃ ca veda [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 4, 14.] [Yāska’s Nirukta 2, 24.]
--- OR ---
Āvāra (आवार):—(von var mit ā) s. durāvāra und skandhāvāra .
--- OR ---
Avara (अवर):—
1) a) viśeṣaṃ nādhigacchāmi nirdhanasyāvarasya ca zwischen einem Armen und einem niedrig Stehenden [Spr. 4490.] āsevantāvarā vṛttīḥ kavayaḥ führten das erbärmlichste Leben [Rājataraṅgiṇī 5, 203.] — b) dvādaśāvarāndvādaśa parānpunātyubhayataḥ spätere so v. a. die noch geboren werden sollen [ĀŚV. GṚHY. 1, 6, 1. fgg.] [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 3, 4, 20.] avare makārāt nach unserer Anschauung die dem ma vorangehenden (Laute) [Prātiśākhya zum Ṛgveda 6, 7. 11, 26. 12, 1. 13, 16. 14, 20. 18, 22.] vorangehend (Gegens. para) auch [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 4, 1, 1, 23. 12, 2, 3, 6. 14, 1, 3, 26.] —
4) n. Nachgeburt: avarāvapatana das Abgehen der Nachgeburt [Pāraskara’s Gṛhyasūtrāṇi 1, 16.]
--- OR ---
Avāra (अवार):—[Taittirīyasaṃhitā 7, 3, 16, 1. 5, 3, 2.] [Kāṭhaka-Recension 34, 16.]
--- OR ---
Avara (अवर):—(Nachträge)
4) lies f. avarā; vgl. oben u. apara
3) c) und 1. sāvara .
--- OR ---
Āvāra (आवार):—m. Hut, Schutz [KĀM. NĪTIS. 16, 38.]
Avara (अवर):——
1) Adj. (f. ā) — a) der untere. Compar. avaratara. — b) niedrig , gering , wenig geachtet. — c) näher. — d) der hintere , nachstehend , nachfolgend , später , jünger. — e) vorangehend (mit Abl.). — f) westlich. —
2) f. ā — a) Nachgeburt. — b) *Hintertheil eines Elephanten. — c) *Beiname der Durgā. —
3) n. — a) am Ende eines adj. Comp. (f. ā) das Mindeste , das niedrigste Maass , der niedrigste Betrag. tryavaras Adv. wenigstens dreimal. — b) *Hintertheil eines Elephanten.
--- OR ---
Avāra (अवार):—m. n. das diesseitige Ufer , Diesseits [Av. der Paippalāda-Schule 2,4,4.] avāratas Adj. nach diesseits.
--- OR ---
Āvāra (आवार):—m. Hut , Schutz.
Avara (अवर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Avara.
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
1) Avara (अवर) [Also spelled avar]:—(a) low; inferior; under; puisne; junior; ~[tā] juniority; inferiority.
2) Āvārā (आवारा):—(nm) a vagabond, loafer; (a) vagrant, wandering, loitering; profligate.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
1) Avara (अवर) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Apara.
2) Avara (अवर) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Apara.
3) Avara (अवर) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Avara.
4) Avarā (अवरा) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Aparā.
5) Avarā (अवरा) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Aparā.
6) Avāra (अवार) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Apāra.
7) Āvara (आवर) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Āvṛ.
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
Avara (ಅವರ):—
1) [adjective] of low quality, esteem; mean, base.
2) [adjective] happening or relating to, the time later to the one present or one under reference.
--- OR ---
Avara (ಅವರ):—[noun] the hind thigh of an elephant.
--- OR ---
Avara (ಅವರ):—[pronoun] the possessive form of the pronoun they; 'their'; theirs.
--- OR ---
Avāra (ಅವಾರ):—
1) [noun] the side nearer; this side.
2) [noun] the nearer of the two banks of a river.
--- OR ---
Āvara (ಆವರ):—[adverb] = ಆವರಂ [avaram].
--- OR ---
Āvara (ಆವರ):—[noun] = ಆವರಿಕೆ [avarike].
--- OR ---
Āvāra (ಆವಾರ):—[noun] an enclosed place; an adjunct place around a building enclosed by a compound or fence.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Āvārā (आवारा):—adj. 1. separated from family; without house and home; wandering; vagrant; astray; abandoned; 2. dissolute;
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 (+0): Vara, A.
Starts with (+22): Agaravasa, Avara-adhika, Avara-gida, Avaraavara, Avarabavara, Avarabhagiya, Avaracan, Avarada, Avaradajama, Avaraddha, Avaraddhiga, Avaraddhiya, Avaraderavana, Avaradh, Avaragarda, Avaragodaniya, Avaraja, Avarakam, Avarakanka, Avarakattiram.
Full-text (+167): Anavara, Vara, Paravara, Duravara, Avarana, Skandhavara, Varada, Avarastat, Avaratas, Avaraja, Sharavara, Avarapara, Khandhavara, Avaram, Avaraparina, Dashavara, Karavara, Avaravarna, Tryavara, Pratyavara.
Relevant text
Search found 83 books and stories containing Avara, A-vara, Ā-vāra, A-vāra, Āvāra, Āvara, Avarā, Avāra, Āvārā; (plurals include: Avaras, varas, vāras, Āvāras, Āvaras, Avarās, Avāras, Āvārās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 613: Meditation Leads Across the Three Spheres < [Tantra Three (munran tantiram) (verses 549-883)]
Rural and Agricultural Glossary (by William Crooke)
Page 27 < [Rural and Architectural Glossary (pages)]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 1.12 < [Chapter 1 - The Purpose of Poetry]
Text 9.44 [zig-zag diagram] < [Chapter 9 - Ornaments of Sound]
Text 2.38 < [Chapter 2 - The Natures of Words (śabda)]
Buddhism’s Oldest History Revisited < [Volume 16, Issue 5 (2025)]
The Establishment of Buddhist Creation Myth Text—Investigation Based on... < [Volume 14, Issue 6 (2023)]
Sacred Music and Hindu Religious Experience < [Volume 10, Issue 2 (2019)]
Nirukta and the Vedic interpretation (study) (by Shruti S. Pradhan)
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
Smriti meditation with selected ayurvedic medicines in chronic lba associated with stress - a case report < [2022, Issue 10, October]
Effect of jatyadi varti in the management of nadi vrana w.s.r to pilonidal sinus – a case report < [2023, Issue 08. August]
Analysis of status of jatharagni in pittala prakruti wsr to kala < [2014, Issue III May-June]