Japamala, Japa-mala, Japamālā: 18 definitions

Introduction:

Japamala means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Devi

Japa-mālā (Rosary) - Spiritual practice. Meditation and the recitation of mantras.

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Trinity

The Rosary (japamālā) is representative of spiritual practice. In this age of Kali the recommended spiritual practice for all people is simply the chanting of the holy name. For the devotees of Lord Śiva this means the chanting of the sacred mantra of five letters Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya. This mantra is repeated constantly and if full concentration is not possible then a rosary is used as an aid to concentration.

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Introduction

Japamālā (Rosary) - Sādhana or spiritual practice. Meditation and the recitation of mantras.

Shilpashastra book cover
context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śāktism

Japamālā (जपमाला, “rosary”).—One of the symbols that Sarasvatī is depicted as holding in one of her hands. It symbolizes spiritual practice.

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Japamālā (जपमाला) refers to a “repetitions of a mantra”.—Carcikā means ‘repetition of a word’. Accordingly, a rosary used to count the number of repetitions of a mantra, commonly called japamālā, is occasionally called carcakamālā. Her association with Speech is again evident from her location on the upper lip where she is placed according to a prayer (kavaca) that is a common appendix to the Devīmāhātmya. Kubjikā is, like all the Kaula Great Goddesses, a Yoginī who embodies sacred Speech. Although this association is not made explicitly anywhere when she is identified with Carcikā, nonetheless, the pride of place given to her is probably partly due to it.

Shaktism book cover
context information

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.

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In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

An eminent Theri of Ceylon. Dpv.xviii.30

Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

'stains', is a name for the 3 karmically unwholesome roots (akusala-mūla); greed, hate and delusion (lobha, dosa, moha).

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Shambala Publications: General

Mālā Skt., lit., “garland, rose”; also called japamālā. A string of beads that is used to count repetitions in the recitation of mantras and the name of Buddha. The number of beads in a Buddhist mālā is 108.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Japamala in Pali glossary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

mala : (nt.) impurity; stain; rust; dirt; dung. || māla (m.) a circular enclosure; a round yard. mālā (f.) a garland; wreath; flowers; a string of.

Pali book cover
context information

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.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

japamālā (जपमाला).—f (S) pop. japamāḷa or ḷā f A rosary. japamāḷa ghēṇēṃ To harp on or dwell on; to be ever reiterating (one subject).

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

japamālā (जपमाला) [-ḷa-ḷā, -ळ-ळा].—f A rosary. japamāḷa ghēṇēṃ Harp on or dwell on, to be ever reitera- xting (one subject).

context information

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Japamālā (जपमाला).—a rosary of beads.

Japamālā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms japa and mālā (माला).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Japamālā (जपमाला).—f.

(-lā) A rosary. E. japa, and mālā a string of beads, &c.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Japamālā (जपमाला).—[feminine] a rosary.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Japamālā (जपमाला):—[=japa-mālā] [from japa > jap] f. a rosary used for counting muttered prayers.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Japamālā (जपमाला):—[japa-mālā] (lā) 1. f. A rosary.

[Sanskrit to German]

Japamala in German

context information

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.

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