Japamala, Japa-mala, Japamālā: 21 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.
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In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Japa-mālā (Rosary) - Spiritual practice. Meditation and the recitation of mantras.
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.
Japamālā (Rosary) - Sādhana or spiritual practice. Meditation and the recitation of mantras.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Japamālā (जपमाला, “rosary”).—One of the symbols that Sarasvatī is depicted as holding in one of her hands. It symbolizes spiritual practice.
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.
Japamālā (जपमाला) refers to one of the “thousand names of Kumārī”, as mentioned in the Kumārīsahasranāma, which is included in the 10th chapter of the first part (prathamabhāga) of the Rudrayāmala-Uttaratantra: an ancient Tantric work primarily dealing with the practice of Kuṇḍalinī-yoga, the worship of Kumārī and discussions regarding the Cakras. This edition is said to be derived of the Rudrayāmalatantra and consists of 6000 verses in 90 chapters (paṭalas) together with the Saralā-Hindīvyākhyopetam (i.e., the Rudrayamalam Uttaratantram with Sarala Hindi translation).—Japamālā is mentioned in śloka 1.10.62.—The chapter notes that one is granted the rewards obtained by reciting the text even without the performance of pūjā (worship), japa, snāna (bathing) and puraścaryā
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.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
An eminent Theri of Ceylon. Dpv.xviii.30
'stains', is a name for the 3 karmically unwholesome roots (akusala-mūla); greed, hate and delusion (lobha, dosa, moha).
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).
General definition (in Buddhism)
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
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 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
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).
japamālā (जपमाला) [-ḷa-ḷā, -ळ-ळा].—f A rosary. japamāḷa ghēṇēṃ Harp on or dwell on, to be ever reitera- xting (one subject).
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
Japamālā (जपमाला).—a rosary of beads.
Japamālā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms japa and mālā (माला).
Japamālā (जपमाला).—f.
(-lā) A rosary. E. japa, and mālā a string of beads, &c.
Japamālā (जपमाला).—[feminine] a rosary.
Japamālā (जपमाला):—[=japa-mālā] [from japa > jap] f. a rosary used for counting muttered prayers.
Japamālā (जपमाला):—[japa-mālā] (lā) 1. f. A rosary.
Japamālā (जपमाला):—(japa + mā) f. Rosenkranz [Weber’s Verzeichniss No. 1288.]
Japamālā (जपमाला):—f. Rosenkranz.
Japamāla (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 數珠 [shù zhū]: “rosary”; Alternatively: “Akṣa-sūtra” [Sanskrit text name].
2) 鉢塞莫 [bō sāi mò]: “rosary”.
Note: japamāla can be alternatively written as: japa-māla.
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.
Nepali dictionary
Japamālā (जपमाला):—n. a rosary;
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)
Starts with: Japamalai.
Full-text (+3): Shu zhu, Ratnatrayajayamala, Bo sai mo, Carcakamala, Niddhana, Paushtika, Pushtya, Yakshini, Shantika, Shanti, Moksha, Dhamma, Sarasvati, Putrajiva, Artha, Kama, Caturvaktra-Surya, Mantrasadhana, Dvesha, Vidvesha.
Relevant text
Search found 18 books and stories containing Japamala, Japa-mala, Japa-mālā, Japa-māla, Japamālā, Japamāla; (plurals include: Japamalas, malas, mālās, mālas, Japamālās, Japamālas). 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 288 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 3]
Page 385 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Page 710 < [Hindi-Kannada-English Volume 1]
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
2. Worship of Shiva in Isanasivagurudeva-paddhati (Introduction) < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
3. Summary of contents of the Sarada-tilaka < [Chapter 5 - Isanasivagurudeva-paddhati and Saradatilaka]
3. The Supremacy of Lord Siva in Isanasivagurudeva-paddhati < [Chapter 3 - Depiction of Gods and Goddesses]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 32 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]
Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study) (by Arpita Chakraborty)
23. Śiva Tattvaratnākara on Rudrākṣa < [Chapter 4 - A Critical approach to Rudrākṣa based on Śaiva Upaniṣads]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
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