Kurmalakshana, Kūrmalakṣaṇa, Kurma-lakshana: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Kurmalakshana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
The Sanskrit term Kūrmalakṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Kurmalaksana or Kurmalakshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण) refers to the “signs of turtoises” and is the name of the forty-seventh chapter of the Gārgīyajyotiṣa. It is similar to the 64th chapter of Vārahamihira’s work known as the Bṛhatsaṃhitā. The Gārgīyajyotiṣa is one of the most comprehensive of Garga’s texts and written in the form of a dialogue between Krauṣṭuki (Ṛṣiputra) and Garga discussing astral and other omens, comprising a total of sixty-two chapters (viz., kūrma-lakṣaṇa), known as aṅgas and summarized in the Aṅgasamuddiśa (“enumeration of the divisions”, introductory portion).
Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण) refers to “(knowledge regarding the) features of a tortoise”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “A true Astrologer is also one who has thoroughly mastered the Science of Saṃhitā. [...] It also treats of the prediction of events from the flight of the kañjana and from the appearance of various abnormal phenomena, of expiatory ceremonies; of miscellaneous planetary phenomena; of ghṛta-kambala; of the royal sword; of paṭa; of the features of a house cock, [+ kūrma ?], a cow, a sheep, a horse, an elephant, a man and a woman. It also treats of the treatment of women; of moles in the body; of injuries to shoes and clothes; of hairy fans; of walking sticks: of beds and seats; of lamplight; of tooth brush and the like”.
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.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण) refers to the “iconographic details of Kalkin”, one of the Ten avatāra or “incarnations” (daśāvatāras) whose iconographic details are discussed in chapter 23 of the Ādikāṇḍa of the Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā: a large Pāñcarātra Āgama consisting of roughly 6500 verses dealing primarily with architecture, temple-building and consecration rituals and iconography.—Description of the chapter [daśa-avatāra-pratimā-lakṣaṇa]: This chapter turns to the general iconographical directions for making the ten avatāra-forms [e.g., Kūrmalakṣaṇa (5-7)] [...] Note that Kṛṣṇa is omitted from this list.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
1) Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—the eighteenth Pariśiṣṭa of Kātyāyana. Np. V, 146. Peters. 2, 74. Sb. 55.
2) Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण):—add Np. V, 64. read Peters. 2, 174.
3) Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण):—the 18th Pariśiṣṭa of Kātyāyana. Ulwar 177.
4) Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण):—the 18th Pariśiṣṭa of Kātyāyana. Ak 78.
Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण):—[=kūrma-lakṣaṇa] [from kūrma] n. Name of [work]
Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण):—n. Titel einer Schrift [Weber’s Indische Studien 3, 269.]
Kūrmalakṣaṇa (कूर्मलक्षण):—n. Titel eines Werkes.
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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Search found 4 books and stories containing Kurmalakshana, Kūrma-lakṣaṇa, Kurma-laksana, Kurma-lakshana, Kūrmalakṣaṇa, Kurmalaksana; (plurals include: Kurmalakshanas, lakṣaṇas, laksanas, lakshanas, Kūrmalakṣaṇas, Kurmalaksanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Atharvaveda ancillary literature (Study) (by B. R. Modak)
History of Science in South Asia
Garga and Early Astral Science in India < [Vol. 5 No. 1 (2017)]
Studies in the Upapuranas (by R. C. Hazra)