Avatarana, Avataraṇa, Avatāraṇa: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Avatarana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Avataran.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Avataraṇa (अवतरण, “coming down”) refers to one of the nine preliminaries performed behind the stage curtain, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 5. Accordingly, “The seating of singers is called the Avataraṇa (lit. coming down).”
Performing the avataraṇa preliminary pleases the Apsarasas. According to Nāṭyaśāstra 5.57-58, “The performance of the Preliminaries which means worshipping (pūjā) the gods (devas), is praised by them (i.e. gods) and is conducive to duty, fame and long life. And this performance whether with or without songs, is meant for pleasing the Daityas and the Dānavas as well as the gods.”
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).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Avataraṇa (अवतरण):—[avataraṇaṃ] Putrifaction
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.
Shaiva philosophy
Avatāraṇa (अवतारण) refers to “acceptance (of a claim)”, according to the Īśvarapratyabhijñāvivṛtivimarśinī 2.131-132.—Accordingly, “[...] For this very reason, in our system the [Buddhist] externalist’s claim that a concept involves no real manifestation cannot be accepted at all (nir-avatāraṇa): since the proponent of the theory that cognition has aspects says that a concept is [immediately] manifest in itself [insofar as every cognition is immediately aware of itself,] even though with respect to the object, [this concept] is a [mere] determination, how could it have a nonexistent manifestation? So enough with this”.
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
1) Avatāraṇa (अवतारण) refers to the “transmission (of the pāñcarātra system)”, according to the first chapter of the Aniruddhasaṃhitā, an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama text dealing with the annual festivals of temples and regular temple worship routines.—Description of the chapter [śāstra-avatāraṇa]: The setting is Bhṛgu’s hermitage on the paradise-like slopes of the Himālayas. Bhṛgu is surrounded by an admiring circle of sages who ask him to tell them what duties, beyond those enjoined in the Vedas, will lead ordinary mortals like themselves to salvation. He offers to share with them the revelations made to him by Lord Viṣṇu Himself Who appeared to him in Śvetadvīpa as Aniruddha. The mode of worship about to be outlined to them is, Bhṛgu says, that enjoined by the Pāñcarātra system.
2) Avatāraṇa (अवतारण) refers to the “lineage (of the teaching)”, as discussed in the first chapter of the Jayākhyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra Āgama text composed of 4500 verses in 33 chapters dealing with topics such as mantra (formulas), japa (repetitions), dhyāna (meditations), mudrā (gesticulations), nyāsa (concentrations) etc.—Description of the chapter [śāstra-avataraṇa]:—The scene is Prabhāsatīrtha where the sage Saṃvarta approached his father Aurva asking him to narrate to him the means to emancipation. Aurva tells the story of how he and other Ṛṣis during the kṛtayuga-age sought also to know the means to emancipation. Yet they, despite their penances, discovered nothing until they approached the sage Śāṇḍilya (1-39). [...]
3) Avataraṇa (अवतरण) or Dhvajāvataraṇa refers the “ceremony of requesting (the attending deities who are stationed on) the flag-post to come down”, as discussed in chapter 7 of the Bhāradvājasaṃhitā or “Bhāradvāja-kaṇva-saṃhitā”: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 230 ślokas mainly concerned with basic details concerning temple construction and icon consecration.—Description of chapter [bhagavadvivāha-anukramaṇikā]: [...] On the fifteenth day a puṇḍarikahoma is to be done, followed by a procession to the river or tank [tīrthayātrā]. When this is done, then the attending deities who are stationed on the flag-post are requested to come down [dhvaja-avataraṇa], and only after this is a puṣpayāga to be done.
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Avatāraṇa (अवतारण) refers to “teaching (the dharma)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as the Lord said: “So it is, friends. The sphere of the Buddha is just like what you said. However, friends, their thoughts are dependently originated, and I see living beings who walks with desire and who stops without desire, who wears a dharma-robe being full of impurities and who puts on the robe without impurities, and who eats porridge out of greed and who stops it without appetite. O friends, the types of behavior of living beings are so diverse. Since there are living beings who strive for [the Buddha’s] words by understanding a condensed statement or by understanding a full, detailed explanations (vipañcita-jña), the Tathāgata gives them the discourses of teaching the dharma (dharma-avatāraṇa-nirdeśa), accordingly to each individual”.
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.
India history and geography
Avataraṇa.—cf. gṛha-avataraṇa (IE 8-5), probably the same as umbara-bheda (q. v.). Note: avataraṇa 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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
avataraṇa : (nt.) descending; entering; plunging into.
1) avataraṇa (အဝတရဏ) [(na) (န)]—
[ava+tara+yu．(2) ava+tara+ṇe+yu]
[အဝ+တရ+ယု။ (၂) အဝ+တရ+ဏေ+ယု]
2) avatāraṇa (အဝတာရဏ) [(na) (န)]—
[ava+tara+ṇe+yu]
[အဝ+တရ+ဏေ+ယု]
[Pali to Burmese]
1) avataraṇa—
(Burmese text): (က) သက်ဆင်းခြင်း။ (ခ) သက်ဝင်စေခြင်း၊ သွတ်သွင်းခြင်း။
(Auto-Translation): (a) Extinction. (b) Revitalization, reactivation.
2) avatāraṇa—
(Burmese text): သက်ဝင်စေခြင်း။
(Auto-Translation): Revitalization.
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
avataraṇa (अवतरण).—n S Explanatory observations (upon a stanza or passage); annotations, exposition, comment. 2 Descending.
avataraṇa (अवतरण).—n A quotation, an extract, Annotations, exposition, comment. Descending.
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
Avataraṇa (अवतरण).—
1) Descending for bathing in water &c. गङ्गा°, अप्सरस्तीर्थ° (gaṅgā°, apsarastīrtha°); descending; or alighting (in general), coming down; स्तन्य° (stanya°).
2) An incarnation; see अवतार (avatāra),
3) Crossing.
4) Sudden disappearance.
5) Steps or stairs leading to a river.
6) A holy bathing place (tīrtha).
7) Translating from one language into another.
8) Introduction.
9) An extract, a quotation.
-maṅgalam A solemn reception.
Derivable forms: avataraṇam (अवतरणम्).
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Avatāraṇa (अवतारण).—
1) Causing to descend.
2) Translation.
3) Possession by an evil spirit.
4) Worship, adoration.
5) The ends or border of a garment.
6) Preface or introduction (to a work).
7) Descent, appearance (avataraṇa); पौष्यं पौलोममास्तीकमादिरंशावतारणम् (pauṣyaṃ paulomamāstīkamādiraṃśāvatāraṇam) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.2.42.
Derivable forms: avatāraṇam (अवतारणम्).
Avataraṇa (अवतरण).—n. act., (1) overpowering, subduing, in dur-avataraṇa-, hard to overcome: Gaṇḍavyūha 242.6 -vīrya-karma-; (2) taking off, clipping (of hair), in keśāvataraṇaṃ (of a pro- spective monk) kṛtvā Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya ii.140.2.
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Avatāraṇa (अवतारण).—nt. (to avatārayati, meaning 1), the causing to penetrate (intellectually), bringing to comprehension, usually in composition, preceded by the thing taught (or with loc.): tathāgatajñānāvatāraṇa- Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 3.2 (-kuśalair); 40.5 (-hetuni- mittaṃ); avatāraṇārthaṃ (sattvānāṃ; sc. regarding enlightenment) 318.4; karmakriyāvatāraṇārthaṃ Lalitavistara 251. 1—2; with loc., avatāraṇaṃ buddhaviṣaye Lalitavistara 423.13; avatāraṇāya to make them penetrate (religious knowledge) Bodhisattvabhūmi 308.11.
Avataraṇa (अवतरण).—n.
(-ṇaṃ) 1. Descending, alighting. 2. Crossing. 3. Translating. 4. Quoting, citing. E. ava down, tṝ to cross, lyuṭ aff.
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Avatāraṇa (अवतारण).—n. (ṇaṃ) 1. Possession by an evil spirit. 2. The ends or border of a garment. 3. Worship, adoration. 4. Taking out. E. ava, tṝ to pass, in the causal form, and lyuṭ aff.
Avataraṇa (अवतरण).—i. e. ava-tṛ10 + ana, n. 1. Descending, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 111, 3. 2. Descent especially of a deity from heaven, Mahābhārata 12, 12965.
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Avatāraṇa (अवतारण).—avatāraṇa,, i. e. ava-tṛ10 [Causal.] + ana, n. Causing to descend, [Rāmāyaṇa] 4, 56, 29.
Avataraṇa (अवतरण).—[neuter] descending, alighting.
1) Avataraṇa (अवतरण):—[=ava-taraṇa] [from ava-tṝ] n. descending, alighting, [Rāmāyaṇa; Śakuntalā]
2) [v.s. ...] ‘rushing away, sudden disappearance’, or for ava-tāraṇa See bhārāvat (cf. stanyāvataraṇa)
3) [v.s. ...] translating, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) Avatāraṇa (अवतारण):—[=ava-tāraṇa] [from ava-tṝ] n. causing to descend, [Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
5) [v.s. ...] taking or putting off, [Kādambarī]
6) [v.s. ...] ‘removing’ (as a burden) See bhārāvat, descent, appearance (= ava-taraṇa), [Mahābhārata i, 312 and 368], translation, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] worship, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) [v.s. ...] possession by an evil spirit, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] the border of a garment, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
1) Avataraṇa (अवतरण):—[ava-taraṇa] (ṇaṃ) 1. n. Descending; crossing; translating; quoting.
2) Avatāraṇa (अवतारण):—[ava-tāraṇa] (ṇaṃ) 1. n. Being haunted; end of a garment; worship.
Avataraṇa (अवतरण):—(von tar mit ava) n.
1) das Fortschiessen, plötzliches Verschwinden: stanyāva das Fortschiessen der Milch, Milchversetzung, metastasis lactea [Suśruta 2, 401, 3. 413, 4.] —
2) das sich - Hinablassen, Hinabschiessen, Hinabfahren [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 326.] vegāvataraṇāt (aus der Luft zur Erde hin) [Śākuntala 99, 7.] mit dem subj. comp.: bhārāva die Herabkunft Viṣṇu’s (s. avatāra) [Mahābhārata 12, 12965.] gaṅgāva [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 43, 4.] mit dem obj.: apsarastīrthāva [Śākuntala 111, 3.]
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Avatāraṇa (अवतारण):—(von tar im caus. mit ava) n.
1) das Herabkommenlassen: gaṅgāyāḥ [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 42, 21.] iccheyamasmādgiryagrādbhavadbhiravatāraṇam [4, 56, 29.] rathāvatāraṇam [Śākuntala 100, 1, v. l.] —
2) Verehrung (arcana) [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha 5, 13.] [Medinīkoṣa ṇ. 113.] —
3) Besessensein ebend. —
4) Saum eines Kleides ebend.
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Avataraṇa (अवतरण):—
2) die Stelle [Mahābhārata 12, 12965] lautet: kṛtvā bhārāvataraṇaṃ vasudhāyāḥ und ist zu übersetzen: bewirkend, dass die auf der Erde lastende Bürde hinabfuhr, d. i. verschwand.
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Avatāraṇa (अवतारण):—, bhuvo bhārāvatāraṇāt um der Erde die Last abzunehmen [Oxforder Handschriften 73,a,4.] auch in intransit. Bed. (= avataraṇa) das sich-Hinablassen, Hinabfahren (zur Erde): aṃśāvatāraṇaṃ cātra devānāṃ parikīrtitam [Mahābhārata 1, 368.] ādivaṃśāvatāraṇam das Erscheinen der ersten Geschlechter [312.] so heissen die Adhyāya [?59—64 im 1ten] Buche. Die ed. Bomb. liest [312] ādiraṃśāvatāraṇam und die angeführten Adhyāya heissen daselbst aṃśāvataraṇa (mit kurzem a) .
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Avataraṇa (अवतरण):—vgl. raṅgāvataraṇa .
Avataraṇa (अवतरण):—n. —
1) das Hinabsteigen , — schiessen , — fahren [294,13.] —
2) das Zustandekommen , Gelingen [Bījagaṇita 117(127).]
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Avatāraṇa (अवतारण):—n. —
1) das Absteigen — , Herabkommenlassen. —
2) das Ablegen [Kād. (1872) 130,17.] —
3) das Herabsteigen , — fahren. —
4) *das Verehren. —
5) *das Besessensein. —
6) *Saum eines Kleides.
Avatāraṇa (अवतारण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Avatāraṇa, Avayāraṇa, Uyāraṇa, Oaraṇa, Oāraṇa.
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
Avataraṇa (अवतरण) [Also spelled avataran]:—(nm) descent; a passage; quotation; -[cihma] quotation marks (" ").
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Avatāraṇa (अवतारण) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Avatāraṇa.
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
Avataraṇa (ಅವತರಣ):—
1) [noun] the act or fact of coming down.
2) [noun] a goḍs appearance in human form.
3) [noun] stairway, esp. one constructed of stone slabs for going down to reach the water in a pond, tank, etc. 4) a crossing over of a river.
4) [noun] the preparation and setting the background of the stage of a theatre for singers.
5) [noun] a passage selected or quoted from a book, article, etc.; an extraction or quotation from another source; an extract; an excerption.
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Avatāraṇa (ಅವತಾರಣ):—
1) [noun] the act of causing another come down.
2) [noun] the act of causing (a deity) incarnate on the earth.
3) [noun] the religious service offered to a god; worship.
4) [noun] a portion quoted from another book; an excerption.
5) [noun] the state of a person being possessed by an evil spirit.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Avataraṇa (अवतरण):—n. 1. descent; 2. landing; 3. crossing; 4. means of descent; steps etc.; 5. incarnation; advent; 6. an extra; citation;
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): Ao, Yu, Yu, Ne, Ava, Tarana, Tara.
Starts with (+0): Avatarana-patha, Avataranacihne, Avataranakshetra, Avataranakushala, Avataranam, Avataranamangala, Avataranamukha, Avataranata, Avataranokasabhuta.
Full-text (+21): Rangavatarana, Gangavatarana, Amshavatarana, Avataranam, Avataranamangala, Bharavatarana, Shastravatarana, Bhangottarana, Avataranokasabhuta, Avatarana-patha, Avataranakushala, Avataranamukha, Avataran, Oarana, Siddhavatarana, Niravatarana, Avatarane, Avayarana, Uyarana, Avataran-path.
Relevant text
Search found 23 books and stories containing Avatarana, Ava-tara-ne-yu, Ava-tara-ṇe-yu, Ava-tara-yu, Ava-tarana, Ava-taraṇa, Ava-tāraṇa, Avataraṇa, Avatāraṇa; (plurals include: Avataranas, yus, taranas, taraṇas, tāraṇas, Avataraṇas, Avatāraṇas). 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 136 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 1]
Page 137 < [Hindi-Malayalam-English Volume 1]
Page 38 < [Malayalam-English (1 volume)]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Appendix 5.2: new and rare words < [Appendices]
Appendix 2.3: new and rare words < [Appendices]
Part 16: Resumption of Nala story < [Chapter III - Vasudeva’s Marriage with Kanakavatī and her Former Incarnations]
Krishna Sandarbha of Jiva Goswami (by Kusakratha Prabhu)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)