Avarna, Avarṇa, Avarṇā: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Avarna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Avarn.
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In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarAvarṇa (अवर्ण).—The letter अ; the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, comprising all its varieties caused by grades, (ह्रस्व, दीर्घ, प्लुत (hrasva, dīrgha, pluta)) or accents of nasalization. The word वर्ण (varṇa) is used in the neuter gender in the Mahābhāṣya; cf. सर्वमुखस्थानमवर्णम् (sarvamukhasthānamavarṇam) M. Bh. I.1.9, मा कदाचिदवर्णं भूत् (mā kadācidavarṇaṃ bhūt) M.Bh. I.1.48 Vārt. 1; cf also M. Bh. on I.1.50 Vārt. 18 and I.1.51 Vārt. 2: cf. also ह्रस्वमवर्णं प्रयोगे संवृतम् (hrasvamavarṇaṃ prayoge saṃvṛtam) Sīradeva Pari. 17. 6
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramAvarṇā (अवर्णा) refers to “she who is without letters”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] She is called Mālinī because she abides having strung the countless (mantras) that have been in the past and will be in the future (together) in a garland (mālayitva). O fair-faced lady, she is immeasurable. She is said to be the mother of the Rudras and Yoginīs (who govern the letters and their energies). O lady with auspicious eyes, she who is without letters (avarṇā) is conjoined with (all the) letters. [...]”.
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)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationAvarṇa (अवर्ण) refers to “(the divisions of) outcastes”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.5 (“The Tripuras are fascinated).—Accordingly, as Arihan said to the Lord of the Three Cities: “[...] It is unnecessary to divide the people into different castes. When all are men who is superior and who is inferior? [...] Some of the ancestors thought that the four castes are born of mouth, arms, thighs etc. of Brahmā. But when we consider, this does not fit in properly. How can sons born of the same body or from the same body be of four different castes? Hence the divisions of castes and outcastes (varṇa-avarṇa-vibhāga) do not appear to be sound. Hence no difference between man and man should be entertained. [...]”.
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 Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAvarṇa (अवर्ण) refers to “decrying” or “defaming” [?], according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] At that time, sixty koṭis of Bodhisattvas, having stood up from the congregation, joined their palms, paid homage to the Lord, and then uttered these verses in one voice: ‘[...] (195) In order to uphold the true dharma, with patience we will endure the words of abuse, censure and reviling. (196) Upholding this guiding principle, we will endure all these scoffing, threats, decrying, and defaming (avarṇa). [...]’”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAvarṇa (अवर्ण).—a.
1) Colourless, having no marks.
2) Bad, low, destitute of good qualities. (-rṇaḥ) 1 Scandal, illrepute, stigma, spot; सोढुं न तत्पूर्वमवर्णमीशे (soḍhuṃ na tatpūrvamavarṇamīśe) R.14.38.
2) Blame, censure; न चावदद् भर्तुरवर्णमार्या (na cāvadad bharturavarṇamāryā) 57 spoke no ill words.
3) Epithet of 18 letters according to ह्रस्व, दीर्घ, प्लुत, उदात्त, अनुदात्त (hrasva, dīrgha, pluta, udātta, anudātta) &c.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryAvarṇa (अवर्ण).—(?) , adj., in Mahāvastu iii.343.1 °ṇaś ca, epithet of the Buddha's voice (svara); hence must be complimentary; but Sanskrit id. and Pali avaṇṇa are normally uncomplimen- tary. Senart has no v.l. or note and does not list the word in his Index. Perhaps semi-MIndic for Sanskrit avarṇya (or read this?), indescribable; compare Pali avaṇṇanīya.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAvarṇa (अवर्ण).—mfn.
(-rṇaḥ-rṇā-rṇī-rṇaṃ) 1. Colourless. 2. Bad, low, destitude of good qualities. m.
(-rṇaḥ) Censure, blame. E. a neg. and varṇa praise, colour, &c.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAvarṇa (अवर्ण).—m. reproach, blame, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 14, 38.
Avarṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms a and varṇa (वर्ण).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Avarṇa (अवर्ण):—[=a-varṇa] 1. a-varṇa mfn. having no outward appearance, [Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad], colourless (Comm.; said of Nara and Nārāsyaṇa), [Mahābhārata iii, 8384]
2) [v.s. ...] m. ‘no praise’, blame, speaking ill of [Raghuvaṃśa xiv, 38 and 57; Rājataraṅgiṇī]
3) [=a-varṇa] 2. a-varṇa m. the vowel a or ā, [Atharvaveda-prātiśākhya]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryAvarṇa (अवर्ण):—[a-varṇa] (rṇaḥ) 1. m. Blame. a. Colourless.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Avarṇa (अवर्ण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Avaṇṇa.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryAvarṇa (अवर्ण) [Also spelled avarn]:—(a) colourless; casteless.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAvarṇa (ಅವರ್ಣ):—[adjective] having no colour; colourless.
--- OR ---
Avarṇa (ಅವರ್ಣ):—
1) [noun] in Kannaḍa alphabet, either of the two vowels ಅ [a] and ಆ.
2) [noun] an accusation; censure; blame.
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Āvarṇa (ಆವರ್ಣ):—[noun] = ಆವರಣ - [avarana -] 2, 3 & 4.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Avarnakaraka, Avarnaniy, Avarnaniya, Avarnaniyate, Avarnasamyoga, Avarnatmaka, Avarnavada, Avarnavibhaga.
Ends with (+207): Abhimlatavarna, Adityavarna, Aikyavarna, Akaradikavarna, Akaravarna, Aklishtavarna, Aksharavarna, Amgaravarna, Amitavarna, Amliyavarna, Amshasavarna, Anabhimlatavarna, Analavarna, Anantavarna, Anavarna, Anaviddhavarna, Anekavarna, Anihatavarna, Anividdhavarna, Anjanavarna.
Full-text: Avanna, Avarnavada, Anavarna, Niravarna, Avarn, Avarnasamyoga, Kalpam, Nishcarayati, Carayin, Akriti.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Avarna, Avarṇa, Āvarṇa, Avarṇā; (plurals include: Avarnas, Avarṇas, Āvarṇas, Avarṇās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.242 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.9.222-223 < [Chapter 9 - The Glories of Advaita]
Bhagavatpadabhyudaya by Lakshmana Suri (study) (by Lathika M. P.)
Sanskrit and Indian Renaissance < [Chapter 1 - Life and Works of Lakṣmaṇa Sūrin]
The Elections-And After < [March 1937]
Annadatri-carita (study) (by Sarannya V.)
4. Political Dimensions in Annadatri-carita < [Chapter 5 - Annadatri-carita—A Critical Study]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 3 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 14 - The Ontological categories of the Rāmānuja School according to Veṅkaṭanātha < [Chapter XX - Philosophy of the Rāmānuja School of Thought]