Devalaya, Deva-alaya, Devālaya: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Devalaya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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 Devalay.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Vastushastra (architecture)
Devālaya (देवालय) refers to a “temple”, and in a broader sense represents “devotional place” or “residence of God”. It is one of commonly used names for a temple, as found in Vāstuśāstra literature such the Mayamata and the Mānasāra.
Devālaya (देवालय) refers to the “Viṣṇu temple” (to be constructed in the center of the town), according to the ninth chapter of the Kapiñjalasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra work consisting of 1550 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as worship in a temple, choosing an Ācārya, architecture, town-planning and iconography.—Description of the chapter [grāmavinyāsa]:—[...] In the center of the town the Viṣṇu temple [devālaya] is to be constructed, and in the various directions throughout the town temples to other deities are to be placed (15b-22). The posture of the icon (of Viṣṇu?) determines in which direction the temple will face (23-25a). Different aspects [mūrti] of the Lord also will face in different directions—Vāsudeva will face South-east, Saṃkarṣaṇa South-west, Pradyumna North-west, and Anirudha North-east. Likewise Balarāma, Kṛṣṇa, et. al., are to face in specific directions ( 25b-33a).
Devālaya (देवालय) refers to “sanctuary § 4.2.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Devālaya (देवालय) refers to the “precincts of a temple” which makes a preferable site for the performance of a sacrifice, as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 1.18.—Accordingly, “[...] the precincts of a temple (devālaya), a cowshed, a sanctuary or one’s own court-yard shall be selected for the performance of sacrifice. It shall be on a raised platform at least two hastas high. It shall be well decorated. Paddy weighing a Bhāra shall be spread on the ground to make a large circle. Diagrams of lotuses shall be made in the middle and in the eight quarters on the border of the circle. [...]”.
2) Devālaya (देवालय) refers to an “abode of Devas”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22. Accordingly as Śiva said to Sitā:—“[...] O my beloved, beautiful woman, clouds will not reach the place where I have to make an abode for you. [...] There in the Himālayas even the beasts of prey are calm. It is the abode of many sages and ascetics. It is an abode of Devas (devālaya) and many deer move about in it”.
Devālaya (देवालय).—The homes of the nine planets;1 temples visited by Paraśurāma;2 see also Devagṛhas.
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 23. 95; Vāyu-purāṇa 52. 85.
- 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 24. 41; 27. 11; IV. 38. 57; Matsya-purāṇa 96. 25; 257. 6.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Devālaya (देवालय) refers to one of places highly susceptible to snake-bites, as taught in the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā, which represents the Ayurvedic study on Toxicology (Agadatantra or Sarpavidyā).—The Kāśyapasaṃhitā mentions that snake-bites that happen in certain places [e.g., devālaya—devālaye śūnyagehe] [?], are highly inimical to the victim.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Devālaya (देवालय) refers to a “temple-in-miniature”, as discussed in chapter 42 of the Pauṣkarasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text of almost 5900 verses divided into forty-three chapters presented as a frame-work dialogue between Pauṣkara and Bhagavān dealing with the esoteric meaning of maṇḍala-designs, worship routines and temple-building.—Description of the chapter [prāsādapāda-pratiṣṭhā]: When a temple is to be built, the site already having been selected, the patron [kartā], director [deśika] and śilpin and others go to the site at an auspicious time all the while chanting mantras. A temple-in-miniature [devālaya] is provided there, and into a small golden pot filled with water brought from various holy places the Lord's Presence is invoked as apāṃmūrti. After some preliminary ceremonies and petitions to sanctify and purify the area (1-61), a pit is dug until water-level is reached. This is refilled, whereupon cows are made to graze there in order to pack the earth back in place. Only after this may construction begin (62-79). [...]
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)
Devālaya (देवालय) (in Chinese: T'ien-sseu) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Abhijit or Abhijinnakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Abhijit] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Devālaya] for the sake of protection and prosperity.
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
Dev-ālaya.—(EI 23), a temple; same as devakula. Note: dev-ālaya 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
Marathi-English dictionary
dēvālaya (देवालय).—n (S) An idol-house.
dēvālaya (देवालय).—n A pagoda, a temple.
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
Devālaya (देवालय).—
1) heaven.
2) a temple.
Derivable forms: devālayaḥ (देवालयः).
Devālaya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms deva and ālaya (आलय).
Devālaya (देवालय).—n.
(-yaṃ) 1. A division of heaven, the residence of the gods. 2. A temple. E. deva, and ālaya an asylum.
Devālaya (देवालय).—m. a temple.
Devālaya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms deva and ālaya (आलय).
1) Devālaya (देवालय):—[from deva] m. ‘residence of the g°’, heaven, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] temple, [Pañcatantra; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
Devālaya (देवालय):—[devā+laya] (yaṃ) 1. n. Residence of the gods; heaven; a temple.
Devālaya (देवालय):—(deva + ā) m. (n. [Wilson’s Wörterbuch] [Śabdakalpadruma])
1) die Wohnung der Götter, der Himmel [ŚABDĀRTHAK. im Śabdakalpadruma] —
2) Tempel ebend. [Pañcatantra 183, 23.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 14, 65.] [Sāhityadarpana 47, 15.] [Hiouen-Thsang I, 190. 233. II, 72.]
Devālaya (देवालय):—m. —
1) *die Wohnung der Götter , der Himmel. —
2) Tempel.
Devālaya (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 天祠 [tiān cí]: “Brahminical temples”.
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
Devālaya (देवालय) [Also spelled devalay]:—(nm) a temple, seat of a deity.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Dēvālaya (ದೇವಾಲಯ):—[noun] = ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನ [devasthana].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Pali-English dictionary
devālaya (ဒေဝါလယ) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[deva+ālaya]
[ဒေဝ+အာလယ]
[Pali to Burmese]
devālaya—
(Burmese text): ဒေဝါယတန-ကြည့်။
(Auto-Translation): Look at the deity.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Alaya, Tev, Deva.
Starts with (+0): Devalayakalpana, Devalayalakshana, Devalayapratishtha, Devalayapratishthavidhi, Tevalayam, Tevalayappiratishtai.
Full-text (+10): Devalayalakshana, Devalayapratishtha, Tian ci, Tevalayam, Alaya, Tevalayappiratishtai, Devagrihani, Devalayapratishthavidhi, Deula, Devula, Devalayotsavadikrama, Tevalam, Devalay, Shrirangadevadevalayapradakshina, Jing jia he men, Devala, Bilveshvara, Abhijit, Temple architecture, Vatashayin.
Relevant text
Search found 42 books and stories containing Devalaya, Deva-alaya, Devālaya, Deva-ālaya, Dēvālaya, Dev-alaya, Dev-ālaya, Devalayas; (plurals include: Devalayas, alayas, Devālayas, ālayas, Dēvālayas, Devalayases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.14.48 < [Chapter 14 - The Liberation of Śakaṭāsura and Tṛṇāvarta]
The sacred complex of Billeswar Devalaya (study) (by Rajesh Kakati)
Part 3.1 - Architectural Features of Billeswar Devalaya < [Chapter 4 - Material culture of the Devalaya]
Part 4 - Gender issues of the Devalaya < [Chapter 7 - Establishing Bilweswar Devalaya as a Sacred Complex]
Part 6 - Religio-Political issues of the Devalaya < [Chapter 7 - Establishing Bilweswar Devalaya as a Sacred Complex]
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 27.18 < [Chapter 27 - The Character of the Drekkana]
Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka (by A. G. S. Kariyawasam)
Chapter 8.2 - The Gods (of Buddhist Sri Lanka)
Chapter 8.1 - Deva Worship in Sri Lanka
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 651 < [Hindi-Malayalam-English Volume 2]
Page 969 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 1]
Page 969 < [Hindi-Malayalam-English Volume 1]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)