Laja, Lāja, Lājā, Lajā: 27 definitions
Introduction:
Laja means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraLāja (लाज) is the Sanskrit name of one of Bharata’s sons, mentioned in the Nāṭyaśāstra 1.26-33. After Brahmā created the Nāṭyaveda (nāṭyaśāstra), he ordered Bharata to teach the science to his (one hundred) sons. Bharata thus learned the Nāṭyaveda from Brahmā, and then made his sons study and learn its proper application. After their study, Bharata assigned his sons (eg., Lāja) various roles suitable to them.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationLāja (लाज) refers to “fried grains” (suitable for worship), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.45 (“Śiva’s comely form and the Jubilation of the Citizens”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “Saying thus they worshipped Śiva with sandal paste and raw rice grains. They showered Him with fried grains (lāja) respectfully. The ladies standing near Menā were enthusiastically praising the good luck of Menā and the mountain. Hearing the auspicious stores and anecdotes of the ladies, the lord became delighted, O sage, along with Viṣṇu and others”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexLāja (लाज).—Also Lājavarṣam—thrown over on festive occasions;1 scattered over the couple Kāmeśvara and Devī.2
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)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval IndiaLāja (लाज) refers to “puffed rice”, according to Sāyaṇa on Taittarīyabrāhmaṇa II.6.4, and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The discussions on rice can be seen only in post-Ṛgvedic literature. [...] Lāja and pṛthuka are two rice products used for sacrificial purposes. Lāja is a puffed rice which looks like white flower. The flattened rice or beaten rice is called as pṛthuka. [...] In Gṛhyasutra rituals, especially in marriage ceremonies pouring the puffed rice into the fire (lājahoma) is a significant ritual. Kālidāsa in his Kumārasaṃbhava beautifully describes this ritual at the event of the marriage ceremony of Lord Śiva and Pārvati.
Lāja refers to a type of “fried grain” (bhṛṣṭa-dhānya) and is classified as a type of grain (dhānya) in the section on tṛṇadhānya (grassy grains) in the Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana).—Tṛṇadhānya-prakaraṇa discusses the varieties and properties of grassy grains [...]. The properties of viz., bhṛṣṭa-dhānya (fried grains) [such as lāja, ...] are explained.
Lāja (derived from vrīhi) is classified as a ‘light foodstuff’ as opposed to vrīhi.—Heavy food should [viz., vrīhi] to be eaten only until one is half satisfied. Light food [viz., lāja] can be eaten until the full satisfaction is obtained. A man whose digestive fire is weak, should abandon heavy food.
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha ChikitsaLāja (लाज) refers to “puffed rice”, and is an ingredient used in the treatment (cikitsā) of rat poison (ākhu-viṣa), according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Kāśyapa has recommended a slew of generic formulae that successfully neutralise rat poison.—According to Kāśyapasaṃhitā (verse 11.63-65): “Washing with Uśīra, powdered Yava and puffed rice (lāja) also serve the purpose. A paste of the powder of Arka flower, bark of Śirīṣa, cotton, petals of Kapittha and Aṅkola, mixed with water or milk, must be applied on the wound”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsLājā (लाजा):—Obtained by roasting undried and unhusked paddy. Is light and easily digestable. Cures thirst, vomiting, diarrhoea, diabetes, obesity, cough and ptta.
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.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA goddess (devadhita). She was once the watcher of a field of paddy rice in Rajagaha, and when Maha Kassapa, out of compassion, approached her, she took some of the parched rice and, with devout heart, poured it into his bowl. Almost immediately she was bitten by a snake, and was reborn after death in Tavatimsa. Realizing that it was to Kassapa that she owed her good fortune, she decided to wait on him, sweep his cell, etc. As soon as Kassapa discovered this, he forbade her to come near him anymore. Laja was much distressed, and the Buddha, noting her despair, sent a ray of light to console her. DhA.iii.6ff.
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).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiLāja (लाज) refers to “fried rice grain” [i.e., oṃ vajralājāya svāhā], according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.
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)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureLājā (लाजा) refers to “parched rice” [?], according to the 2nd-century Meghasūtra (“Cloud Sutra”) in those passages which contain ritual instructions.—Accordingly, “[...] with [this] ‘Heart of the snakes;’ the cloud-monarchs too must be depicted, emitting a shower, and rubbing against one another; at the end masses of rain-birds and lightning are to be painted; and parched rice canopied by the swastika (svastika-ullocikā—svastikollocikā lājā), also fish and flesh, and honey-food without curds, and a sumptuous offering must be made there. [...]”
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Laja in Indonesia is the name of a plant defined with Alpinia galanga in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Hellenia alba Willd. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Lingnan Science Journal (1927)
· Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London (1812)
· Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie (1891)
· Bot. Mat. Med. (1812)
· Enum. Philipp. Fl. Pl. (1923)
· Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie (1899)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Laja, for example extract dosage, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, health benefits, side effects, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarylāja : (m.) parched corn.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryLāja, & Lājā (f.) (cp. Vedic lāja: Zimmer, Altind. Leben 269) 1. fried grain, parched corn: occurring only in combination madhu-lāja fried grain with honey, sweet corn J. III, 538; IV, 214, 281.—2. the flower of Dalbergia arborea, used for scattering in bunches (with other flowers making 5 kinds or colours) as a sign of welcome & greeting, usually in phrase lāja-pañcamāni pupphāni (“a cluster of flowers with lāja as the fifth”) DhA. I, 112; VvA. 31; J. I, 55 (°pañcamakāni p.); cp. J. II, 240 (vippakiṇṇa-lāja-kusuma-maṇḍita-talā); VI, 42 (vippakiṇṇa-lāja-kusuma-vāsa-dhūp’andhakāra); DhA. I, 140 (vippakiṇṇa-valikaṃ pañcavaṇṇa-kusuma-lāja-puṇṇaghaṭa-paṭimaṇḍita). (Page 582)
Source: Sutta: Pali Word Grammar from Pali Myanmar Dictionarylāja (လာဇ) [(ti) (တိ)]—
[aja+ṇa．thī-nitea lājā．lājīyante ye teti lājā,bhaṭṭhadhaññaṃ．kappadduma．lāja-saṃ．lājalāya-prā．]
[လဇ+ဏ။ ထီ-၌ လာဇာ။ လာဇီယန္တေ ယေ တေတိ လာဇာ၊ ဘဋ္ဌဓညံ။ ကပ္ပဒ္ဒုမ။ လာဇ-သံ။ လာဇလာယ-ပြာ။]
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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarylāja (लाज).—f (lajjā S) Shame, modesty, sense of decency. 2 Bashfulness. 3 Honor, reputation, honorable standing. v ṭhēva, rākha, sambhāḷa. 4 Shame, dishonor, disgrace; as nāṃvāvara lāja āṇaṇēṃ -lāvaṇēṃ. lāja rākhaṇēṃ g. of o. To hide the shame of; to cover from shame or exposure. Pr. lāja nāhīṃ manā kōṇhī kāṃhīṃ mhaṇā When Shame is extinct in the soul universal reproach is powerless. lājēṃ- kājēṃ or lājalajjēnēṃ By the force or at the impulse of shame; with some sense of shame. kājēṃ is merely in reduplication of lājēṃ. Sometimes the nominative, lājakāja, occurs, implying Shame or modesty in the general. v ghara, bāḷaga, sōḍa, & suṭa, jā, uḍa.
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lājā (लाजा).—f or m pl S See the popular word lāhī or lāhyā.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryLāja (लाज).—[lāj-ac] Wetted grain. -जाः (jāḥ) (pl.) Parched or fried grain (f. also); (tam) अवाकिरन् बाललताः प्रसूनै- राचारलाजैरिव पौरकन्याः (avākiran bālalatāḥ prasūnai- rācāralājairiva paurakanyāḥ) R.2.1;4.27;7.25; Kumārasambhava 7.69, 8.
-jam = उशीर (uśīra) q. v.; लाजोल्लापिकधूमाढ्यमुच्चप्राकारतोरणम् (lājollāpikadhūmāḍhyamuccaprākāratoraṇam) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 5.191.21.
Derivable forms: lājaḥ (लाजः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryLāja (लाज).—m.
(-jaḥ) Grain, wetted or sprinkled. n.
(-jaṃ) The root of the Andropogon muricatum. f.
(-jā) or masc. plu.
(-jāḥ) Fried grain. E. lāj to fry, aff. ac .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryLāja (लाज).—I. m. Grain wetted or sprinkled. Ii. f. jā, or pl. m. Fried grain, [Pañcatantra] 158, 3;
Lāja (लाज).—[masculine] ā [feminine] [plural] parched or roasted grain.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Lāja (लाज):—[from lāj] m. (or f(ā). ) [plural] fried or parched grain ([especially] rice grain), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] etc. etc.
2) [v.s. ...] n. the root of Andropogon Muricatus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryLāja (लाज):—(jaḥ) 1. m. f. Grain moist. f. or m. plu. Fried grain. n. Root of a fragrant grass.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Lāja (लाज) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Lāya.
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Lāja (लाज) [Also spelled laj]:—(nf) shame; shyness, bashfulness; modesty; honour; ~[vaṃta] shamefaced; modest; shy, bashful; ~[vaṃtī/vatī] a very sensitive plant called touch-me-not; feminine form of ~[vaṃta; -ke māre] due to shame/shyness; out of modesty; —[rakhanā] to save one’s face, protect (one’s) honour; -[se gaḍa jānā] to be very much embarrassed, to hang the head through shame.
2) Lājā (लाजा):—(nm) puffed paddy, parched rice.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusLāja (ಲಾಜ):—
1) [noun] soaked rice.
2) [noun] unbroken rice, soaked and mixed with saffron or turmeric powder.
3) [noun] paddy soaked and puffed up by dry heat; popcorn of paddy.
4) [noun] the fragrant root of cus-cus grass (Vetiveria zizanioides = andropogon muricatus).
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Lāja (ಲಾಜ):—[adverb] immediately; without delay; instantly.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary1) Lajā (लजा):—n. pl. of लजो [lajo]
2) Lāja (लाज):—n. 1. shyness; coyness; modesty; 2. shame;
3) Lājā (लाजा):—n. 1. parched rice; 2. unbroken rice;
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 (+21): Laajabhand, Laja gowah, Laja-mannu, Laja-pacaunu, Laja-parnu, Lajabhamda, Lajadevadhitu, Lajadi, Lajagala, Lajaganana, Lajagandhi, Lajahoma, Lajahomam, Lajahuti, Lajai, Lajaiya-jhyang, Lajaka, Lajakarika, Lajakshate, Lajalu.
Full-text (+65): Lajahoma, Madhulaja, Lajamanda, Pancalajasata, Lajapeya, Lajasphotam, Lajakarika, Lajanjali, Pancavannakusumalajapunnaghatapatimanditagharadvara, Acaralaja, Laja-pacaunu, Laja-parnu, Lajahomam, Laja-mannu, Sata Laja, Annahoma, Vippakinnalaja, Laj, Laja gowah, Vajralaja.
Relevant text
Search found 54 books and stories containing Laja, Aja-na, Aja-ṇa, Lāja, Lājā, Lajā, Lajaa; (plurals include: Lajas, nas, ṇas, Lājas, Lājās, Lajās, Lajaas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Ritual drink in the Iranian and Indian traditions (by Nawaz R. Guard)
16. Gruel of Lajas as cure for Takman < [Chapter 6 - Drinks under Medicine and Magic]
6. Sura—The chief ritual drink of the Sautramani < [Chapter 3 - Ritual Drinks in the Vedic sacrificial ceremonies]
Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures (seven volumes) (by Satya Vrat Shastri)
1.1. Hindu Marriage Ceremony < [Volume 7 - Society and Culture]
5. The Kumarasambhava-campu—A Study < [Volume 4 - Modern Sanskrit Literature]
9. The Yogavasistha: A Linguistic Appraisal < [Volume 1 - Grammer and Linguistics]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 3.2.20 < [Chapter 2 - The Great Festival of Śrī Girirāja]
Verse 5.19.19 < [Chapter 19 - The Festival on Śrī Kṛṣṇa Return]
Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra (by C. G. Kashikar)
Dhammapada (Illustrated) (by Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero)
Verse 118 - The Story of Goddess Lājā < [Chapter 9 - Pāpa Vagga (Evil)]
Verse 50 - The Story of the Ascetic Pāveyya < [Chapter 4 - Puppha Vagga (Flowers)]
Verse 102-103 - The Story of Nun Kuṇḍalakesī < [Chapter 8 - Sahassa Vagga (Thousands)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
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