Balin, Bā lín, Ba lin, Bālin: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Balin means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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)
Balin (बलिन्) refers to the “bullocks” (of a chariot), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.8 (“The detailed description of the chariot etc.”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “The divine chariot of lord Śiva consisting of all the worlds was built by Viśvakarman with devoted effort. [...] The clouds Puṣkara and others constituted the gem-studded banners of glowing colours. The four oceans are remembered as the bullocks (balin) of the chariot [samudrāstasya catvāro rathakaṃbalinassmṛtāḥ]. Gaṅgā and other rivers shining in excellent female forms and decorated in all ornaments held the Cāmaras in their hands. Taking up their places in the different parts of the chariot, they brightened it up. The seven courses of the wind Āvaha etc. constituted the excellent steps of gold leading the chariot. [...]”
Balin (बलिन्).—A son of Kṛtavarman, married Cārumatī, a daughter of Kṛṣṇa.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 61. 24.
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)
Bālin (बालिन्) was slain by Rāma, according to in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 51. Accordingly, “... there Rāvaṇa carried off his beloved Sītā by magic, and took her to the city of Laṅkā, having slain Jaṭāyus on the way. Then Rāma, in his bereaved state, made Sugrīva his friend by killing Bālin, and by sending Hanumān to Laṅkā obtained news of his wife”.
The story of Bālin was narrated by the Vidyādharī Kāñcanaprabhā to Naravāhanadatta while in a Svayambhū temple of Śiva, in order to demonstrate that “people who possess firmness endure for a long time mutual separation to which no termination is assigned”, in other words, that “heroic souls endure separation for so long a time”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Bālin, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
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’.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Balin (बलिन्) refers to “strong (flavours)” and is mentioned in verse 3.4 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] pre-spring etc.—by these three (seasons) one shall know the northern course (of the sun), and this (is named) ‘absorption’ (as) it absorbs strength from man every day. [...] then the (rough) flavours bitter, astringent, (and) pungent (are) strong [balin] in succession. Therefore (the period of) absorption (is) fire-like”.
Note: Balin (“strong”) has been placed at the end of the sentence and rendered by stobs ni che-ba (“great in strength”). The missing copula has been added.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Balin (बलिन्) refers to “one who is powerful”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If the sun and moon should begin to be eclipsed when only half risen, deceitful men will suffer as well as sacrificial rites. [...] If they should be eclipsed when in the sign of Gemini (Mithuna), chaste women, princes, powerful petty chiefs [i.e., balin—nṛpamātrā balinaḥ], learned men, people living on the banks of the Yamunā and the rulers of Bahlikā and Matsya with their subjects will suffer miseries. If they should be eclipsed when in the sign of Cancer (Karka) the Ābhīras, the Śabaras, the Pallavas, the Mallas, the Matsyas, the Kurus, the Śakas, the Pāñcālas and the Vikalās will be afflicted with miseries and food grains will be destroyed”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Balin (बलिन्) refers to “one who is strong”, according to 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 2.22cd-28ab]—“[...] That is supreme strength, that is supreme amṛt. The highest of splendors is highest light of light. The divine Lord is the supreme cause of all the world. The creator, supporter, and destroyer are not as strong (balin) as this. This receptacle of mantras is the word of all perfections and characteristics [...]”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Balin (बलिन्) is the name of a Dānava king (i.e., Dānavendra) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Balin).
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.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Balin (बलिन्) refers to “that which is powerful” [?], according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as the Lord said: “[...] It is like this, friends, this great earth is based on water, water is supported by wind, wind is founded on space, but space is dependent on nothing. Thus, among these four elements, namely earth, water, wind, and space, space is more powerful (balin—ākāśadhātur eva balī yān) and firmer than any of the other elements, and is not accumulated. Since it is not accumulated, it is neither originated nor destroyed and is stable with its own essence. [...]”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Balin (बलिन्) refers to a “powerful man”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “O fool, sentient beings, having begun from the womb, are continually led by [their own] action to Yama’s abode by means of uninterrupted journeys. If there is a powerful [man] (balin), seen or heard about, who opposes the command of Yama, having honoured him you must possess health. [As there is] no such individual, why [make] the effort [for health] in vain?”.
Synonyms: Balavat.
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
Balin, (adj.) (fr. bala) strong Th. 1, 12 (paññā°); Vv 647; Dh. 280; J. III, 484; VI, 147. (Page 483)
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Balin (बलिन्).—a. [balamastyasya ini]
1) Strong, powerful, mighty कुलध्वजस्तानि चलध्वजानि निवेशयामास बली बलानि (kuladhvajastāni caladhvajāni niveśayāmāsa balī balāni) R.16.37 Manusmṛti 7.174.
2) Stout, robust. -m
1) A buffalo.
2) A hog.
3) A camel.
4) A bull.
5) A soldier.
6) A kind of jasmine.
7) The phlegmatic humour.
8) An epithet of Balarāma.
--- OR ---
Bālin (बालिन्).—m. Name of a monkey; see वालि (vāli).
Balin (बलिन्).—mfn. (-lī-linī-li) Strong, stout, robust. m. (-lī) 1. A camel. 2. A buffalo. 3. A bull. 4. A hog. 5. Phlegm. 6. A name of Bala- Rama. 7. A sort of pulse, (Phaseolus radiatus.) 8. A sort of jasmine, (J. Pubescens.) f. (-nī) Sida cordifolia. E. bala strength, ini aff.
--- OR ---
Bālin (बालिन्).—m. (-lī) The monkey-son of Indra. f. (-nī) The constellation AśHwini. E. See the last, aff. ini .
Balin (बलिन्).—i. e. bala + in, I. adj., f. nī, Strong, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 128. Ii. m. 1. A bull. 2. A camel. 3. A hog. 4. A name of Balarāma. 5. A sort of pulse, Phaseolus radiatus. 6. A sort of jasmine. Iii. f. nī, Sida cordifolia.
Balin (बलिन्).—[adjective] mighty, strong.
1) Balin (बलिन्):—[from bal] mfn. powerful, strong, mighty, stout, robust, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
2) [v.s. ...] m. a soldier, [Inscriptions] (cf. balastha)
3) [v.s. ...] Name of Vatsa-prī, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] (only [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]) a hog bull, buffalo, camel, kind of sheep, serpent, Phaseolus Radiatus, a sort of jasmine, the phlegmatic humour, Name of a Bala-rāma
5) Bālin (बालिन्):—[from bāla] See vālin.
1) Balin (बलिन्):—(lī) 5. m. Balarāma; a sort of pulse; of jasmin; a camel; buffalo; bull; hog; phlegm. f. Sida cordifolia. a. Strong.
2) Bālin (बालिन्):—(lī) 5. m. Idem. f. (nī) The constellation Ashwinī.
[Sanskrit to German]
Balin (बलिन्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Bali, Balia, Bāli.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Lin, Ba, Bala.
Starts with (+12): Ba ling, Ba ling san zhuan yu, Bali, Balimdrapuje, Balina, Balinade, Balinagara, Balinakalu, Balinali, Balinandana, Balinarayaniye durgapuja, Balinaunau, Balinbing, Balindama, Balindra, Balindra-dhara, Balindrasahasranaman, Baling-manok, Baling-uai, Balinga.
Full-text (+27): Bali, Bahubalin, Mukhebalin, Balishtha, Balivarda, Baliyas, Dashabalabalin, Tarapati, Dathabalin, Bhujabalin, Angada, Mo li, Balini, Sugriva, Po li han, Balahan, Mo li nang, Baliman, Balipucchaka, Mapeli.
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Search found 28 books and stories containing Balin, Bā lín, Ba lin, Bālin, Bālín, 巴林; (plurals include: Balins, Bā líns, Ba lins, Bālins, Bālíns). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
Scroll 1 - The Nirvana Sutra (volume 1) < [Part 5 - The Nirvana Sutra (translated by Ba Fazu)]
Yavanajataka by Sphujidhvaja [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 1.83 < [Chapter 1 - The Innate Nature of the Zodiac Signs and Planets]
Verse 1.135 < [Chapter 1 - The Innate Nature of the Zodiac Signs and Planets]
Verse 1.85 < [Chapter 1 - The Innate Nature of the Zodiac Signs and Planets]
Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 20 - Origin of the Indradyumna Lake < [Section 2 - Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 3 - Guhyasamāja-tantra system of Jñānapāda < [Book 7 - The preaching of the Tantras]
Chapter 29 - Sonam Gyatso (vii): Labors for the doctrine < [Book 10 - The Kālacakra]
Chapter 4 - Gampopa together with his monastery < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 6.11 < [Chapter 6 - Early Death]
Verse 6.10 < [Chapter 6 - Early Death]
Verse 3.2 < [Chapter 3 - On the Manifold Births]