Lama, Lāmā, Lǎ ma, La ma, Lā mǎ, Là mā: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Lama means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Christianity, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Lam.
Images (photo gallery)
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In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Lāmā (लामा) refers to a group of female Tantrik adepts, according to the 8th-centry Jayadratha-yāmala.—Lāmā is not the commonly known Tibetan word “bla-ma” meaning “scholar”, but something different. The Lāmās otherwise called Rūpikā and Cumbikā flourish among the rare group of the Kāśyapīs. Association with them is conducive to spiritual success. They are called Rūpikā because they assume different shapes during their intercourse with others. They are called Cumbikā because they kiss at the very first introduction.
In the Hevajra-tantra (Paṭala 3 fol. 6a) the Lāmās are referred to in the company of the Ḍākinīs and called Khaṇḍarohā and Rūpiṇī. The Lāmās therefore constituted a mystic group of female Tantrik adepts who had their special practices. The Sammoha-tantra (fol. 39b) in another place distinctly refers to a Tantrik practice (vidyā) called Lamayāmnāya i.e. the āmnāya of the Lamas or Lāmās.
The Jayadratha-yāmala while describing the special practices of the Lāmās mentions the special language to be used with them. This language is described as monosyllabic (Ekākṣara-samullāpa) and may thus be considered to have belonged to the Sino-Tibetan family as the Lamas themselves belonged to the Tibetan group of mystics.
The Lāmās, according to this language, had 24 differentnames:—
- Yoginī,
- Rūpinī,
- Lāmā,
- Śākinī,
- Nālinī,
- Khagī,
- Culī,
- Bilā,
- Trikhagagā,
- Peśinī,
- Dehinī,
- Jalā,
- Revatī,
- Bedhanī,
- Lukī,
- Paḍabhī,
- Raktinī,
- Hisā (?),
- Karoṭhī,
- Kaluśī,
- Bhadrā,
- Dundubhi,
- Mukharā,
- Āturā.
We have already seen that the Lāmās were Rūpikā as they were capable of assuming different shapes. Some of the 24 names enumerated are descriptive of such shapes which they could assume.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Lāmā (लामा) refers to “witches”, according to the Bhairavīstotra in the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “Victory! Victory (to you) O goddess (bhagavatī)! [...] Salutations to you) who bestow the play of freedom and enjoyment by means of all the liturgies (krama) and rites (kriyā) performed in the blissful meetings of great ghosts, demons (vetālas), warlocks (bheruṇḍa), witches (lāmā) and planets (graha)! [...]”
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
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Lāmā (लामा, “hog-faced”) is the name of the goddess found on the northern petal of the vārāhyabhyudaya-maṇḍala, according to the Vārāhyabhyudayatantra (largerly extracted from the 10th century Abhidhānottaratantra). The central deity of the vārāhyabhyudaya-maṇḍala is the twelve-armed Vajravarāhī, which is modeled upon the twelve-armed Cakrasaṃvara, thus inhibiting many similar iconographical features.
Lāmā is to be visualised by the practitioner as a fierce and therianthropic (half-beast, half-human) goddess having three eyes, loose hair and dancing naked in the ardhaparyaṅka pose, with Bhairava and Kālarāri beneath their feet. They are depicted as having four arms, holding a skull and staff in two arms while holding the head of Brahmā and a chopper in the other two arms.
Lāmā (लामा) refers to one of the four Ḍākinī Goddesses, as mentioned in the 5th-century Sādhanamālā (a collection of sādhana texts that contain detailed instructions for rituals).—In this group of Goddesses are included the names of [viz., Lāmā] who are widely mentioned in the Tantric works of rituals. In the sambara-maṇḍala of the Niṣpannayogāvalī their names are mentioned as companion deities of Sambara. Again, in the ṣaṭcakravarti-maṇḍala they are mentioned as companion deities. But their forms are found described only in the Sādhanamālā. According to this authority they [viz., Lāmā] are all alike in appearance holding identical symbols.
Lāmā (लामा) refers to one of the twenty-four Ḍākinīs positioned at the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, between the north and west (of the heruka-maṇḍala) are six Ḍākinīs who are half green and half red in color. They [viz., Lāmā] are headed by the major four Ḍākinīs of the Cakrasaṃvara tradition. They stand in the Pratyālīḍha posture and, except for the body posture, their physical features and objects that they hold are the same as Vajravārāhīs.
Lāmā (लामा) is also mentioned as the Ḍākinī who, together with the Vīra (hero) named Viśvaḍāka forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Vajracakra. Accordingly, the vajracakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs [viz., Lāmā] and Vīras each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum and a knife; they are dark-bluish-black in color.
Lāmā (लामा) (green) refers to one of the four essence Yoginīs of the Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—The Cakrasaṃvara-maṇḍala has a total of sixty-two deities. [...] The four essence Yoginīs, Ḍākinī (blue), Lāmā (green), Khaṇḍarohā (red), and Rūpiṇī (yellow), in counter-clockwise order, east, north, west, and south, in the primary directions.—Lāmā is associated with the Bodhipakṣa of vedanā-smṛtyupasthāna (“mindfulness of feelings”).
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.
Chinese Buddhism
喇嘛 [la ma]—Lama, the Lamaistic form of Buddhism found chiefly in Tibet, and Mongolia, and the smaller Himālayan States. In Tibet it is divided into two schools, the older one wearing red robes, the later, which was founded by Tson-kha-pa in the fifteenth century, wearing yellow; its chiefs are the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, respectively.
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
喇嘛 [la ma]—Lama — [General Term] In regions such as Mongolia (蒙古 [meng gu]), Qinghai (青海 [qing hai]), and Tibet (西藏 [xi cang]), monks (僧 [seng]) are universally referred to as Lamas.
喇嘛—【雜名】蒙古青海西藏等處。皆謂僧為喇嘛。
[zá míng] méng gǔ qīng hǎi xī cáng děng chù. jiē wèi sēng wèi lǎ ma.
[za ming] meng gu qing hai xi cang deng chu. jie wei seng wei la ma.
Chinese Buddhism (漢傳佛教, hanchuan fojiao) is the form of Buddhism that developed in China, blending Mahayana teachings with Daoist and Confucian thought. Its texts are mainly in Classical Chinese, based on translations from Sanskrit. Major schools include Chan (Zen), Pure Land, Tiantai, and Huayan. Chinese Buddhism has greatly influenced East Asian religion and culture.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Lama:—A spiritual teacher in the Tibetan tradition.
Lama (bla-ma), Tib., lit., “none above”; in Tibetan Buddhism a religious master, or guru, venerated by his or her students, since he or she is an authentic embodiment of the Buddhist teachings. The term lama is used for the Sanskrit guru in the traditional Indian sense, but includes still further meanings. For the Vajrayāna, the lama is particularly important, since his or her role is not only to teach rituals but also to conduct them. As spiritual authority, the lama can be the head of one or several monasteries and possess political influence. The spiritual “value” of the lama is indicated by the honorific title rinpoche (“greatly precious”), which is bestowed upon especially qualified masters. Today, however, lama is often used as a polite form of address for any Tibetan monk, regardless of the level of his spiritual development.
The traditional training of a lama includes many years of study of the various disciplines of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. Only after completion of a so-called retreat of more than three years was the lama finally authorized to refer to him- or herself as such and to transmit knowledge to others.
Biology (plants and animals)
1) Lama in Kenya is the name of a plant defined with Ximenia americana in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Heymassoli inermis Aubl. (among others).
2) Lama in Pacific is also identified with Aleurites moluccana It has the synonym Mallotus moluccanus (L.) Müll.Arg. (etc.).
3) Lama in Papua New Guinea is also identified with Cocos nucifera It has the synonym Calappa nucifera (L.) Kuntze (etc.).
4) Lama in Tanzania is also identified with Ximenia caffra.
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Kew Bulletin (1966)
· Ann. Mus. Bot. LugdunoBatavi (1869)
· Fl. Neotrop. (1993)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1995)
· The Gardeners Dictionary
· Linnaea (1865)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Lama, for example chemical composition, diet and recipes, health benefits, side effects, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Lāmā (लामा).—name of a yoginī or similar demoness: Sādhanamālā 425.13; 439.10.
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
1) Lāma (लाम) [Also spelled laam]:—(nm) war-front; army; -[kāpha kahanā] to reproach and reprove —[toḍanā] to demobilise; —[para jānā] to go to the war-front; ~[baṃdī] mobilisation; •[karanā/—bāṃdhanā] to mobilise.
2) Lāmā (लामा):—(nm) a Buddhist monk.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Lāma (ಲಾಮ):—[noun] = ಲಾಮಾ [lama].
--- OR ---
Lāmā (ಲಾಮಾ):—[noun] (buddh.) a priest or monk in Lamaism.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
1) Lāma (लाम):—n. 1. line; row; 2. war site; battlefield; 3. platoon; brigade;
2) Lāmā (लामा):—n. Zool. llama; a mammal found in South America;
3) Lāmā (लामा):—n. 1. Buddhist monk; 2. a Buddhist priest; 3. word denoting respect or honor (among Sherpas, Tamangs, etc.); 4. teacher or guru;
4) Lāmā (लामा):—adj. pl. of लामो [lāmo]
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.
Pali-English dictionary
lāma (လာမ) [(ti) (တိ)]—
[ramha+ṇa=rāma=lāma．pākata．lalāma-saṃ．addhamāgadhī,sakkatapiṭaka．]
[ရမှ+ဏ=ရာမ=လာမ။ ပါကတ။ လလာမ-သံ။ အဒ္ဓမာဂဓီ၊ သက္ကတပိဋက။]
[Pali to Burmese]
lāma—
(Burmese text): လှပတင့်တယ်သော။ လာမသေဋ္ဌ-ကြည့်။
(Auto-Translation): It is beautiful. Look at the moon.
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.
Chinese-English dictionary
[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]
喇嘛 [lǎ ma] [la ma]—
上師 [shang shi] (Shangshi). It is a transliteration of the Tibetan word blama. It refers to a 修行者 [xiu xing zhe] (practitioner) who has completed the 修法課程 [xiu fa ke cheng] (Dharma practice curriculum) prescribed by their 宗派 [zong pai] (sect) and is qualified to bestow 灌頂 [guan ding] (empowerment), or a recognized (Lama) 轉世者 [zhuan shi zhe] (reincarnation). A (Lama) is not necessarily a 出家人 [chu jia ren] (monastic). In 西藏 [xi cang] (Tibetan) folk culture, it is widely used as a respectful address for any esteemed 僧人 [seng ren] (monk) or 法師 [fa shi] (Dharma master).
喇嘛：上師。為藏語 blama 的音譯。指通過其宗派所規定修法課程且具有灌頂資格的修行者，或是被認可的喇嘛轉世者。喇嘛並不一定是出家人，在西藏民間則廣泛用於對任何受尊敬的僧人或法師的稱呼。
lǎ ma: shàng shī. wèi cáng yǔ blama de yīn yì. zhǐ tōng guò qí zōng pài suǒ guī dìng xiū fǎ kè chéng qiě jù yǒu guàn dǐng zī gé de xiū xíng zhě, huò shì bèi rèn kě de lǎ ma zhuǎn shì zhě. lǎ ma bìng bù yī dìng shì chū jiā rén, zài xī cáng mín jiān zé guǎng fàn yòng yú duì rèn hé shòu zūn jìng de sēng rén huò fǎ shī de chēng hū.
la ma: shang shi. wei cang yu blama de yin yi. zhi tong guo qi zong pai suo gui ding xiu fa ke cheng qie ju you guan ding zi ge de xiu xing zhe, huo shi bei ren ke de la ma zhuan shi zhe. la ma bing bu yi ding shi chu jia ren, zai xi cang min jian ze guang fan yong yu dui ren he shou zun jing de seng ren huo fa shi de cheng hu.
喇嘛 [lǎ ma] refers to: “lama”.
喇嘛 is further associated with the following language/terms:
[Related Chinese terms] 上師; 金剛上師.
[Sanskrit] guru; paṇ-ḍita.
[Tibetan] bla ma.
[Vietnamese] lạt ma.
[Korean] 나마 / nama.
[Japanese] ラマ / rama.
Chinese language.
Vietnamese-English dictionary
La ma (in Vietnamese) can be associated with the following Chinese and English terms:
1) La ma with 囉摩 [luō mó]: “Skt. rāma”..
2) La ma with 羅摩 [luó mó]: “rāma”.
Vietnamese language.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ramhas, Ma, La, Na.
Starts with (+28): Amakadhanna, Laamachituva, Lama jamkarwa, Lamaa, Lamabandi, Lamaca, Lamacca, Lamacituva, Lamacya, Lamadjogahi, Lamaek, Lamagaro, Lamagayana, Lamagayani, Lamaghare, Lamagoda, Lamaha, Lamai, Lamaiwa, Lamaiyat.
Full-text (+341): Ban chan la ma, Da lai la ma, La ma jiao, La ma miao, Xin yi la ma, Ban chan e er de ni, Nuo men han, La ma yu jia, Sang ji la ma, Di yi shi da lai la ma, La ma seng, Di san shi da lai la ma, Da la ma, Dalai, Lam, Shao la ma, Da la ma sa mu dan da er ji, Da la ma ga bo chu sa mu dan da er ji, Budala, La la ma yi xi wo.
Relevant text
Search found 108 books and stories containing Lama, Lǎ ma, La ma, Lā mǎ, Là mā, Lāmā, Lāma, Lǎma, Lāmǎ, Làmā, Lǎmá, Ramha-na, Ramha-ṇa, 喇嘛, 拉瑪, 拉馬, 辣妈, 辣媽; (plurals include: Lamas, Lǎ mas, La mas, Lā mǎs, Là mās, Lāmās, Lāmas, Lǎmas, Lāmǎs, Làmās, Lǎmás, nas, ṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies
A Study on the Traditional Chinese Notion of Lama Jiao < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 6.2 (2023)]
Beneficial to Behold: Buddhist Vision and Efficacy in the Qing Empire < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 7.2 (2024)]
Framing the Path to Awakening: Tibetan Adaptations of the Jātaka Genre < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 6.1 (2023)]
From “Lama Doctors” to “Mongolian Doctors” < [Volume 10, Issue 6 (2019)]
The Issues of the Sixth Dalai Lama and the Transformation of Qing Information... < [Volume 16, Issue 1 (2025)]
The Spread of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia from the 16th to the 17th Century < [Volume 15, Issue 7 (2024)]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 1034 < [English-Mizo (1 volume)]
Page 28 < [English-Mizo (1 volume)]
Page 65 < [English-Mizo (1 volume)]
Lord Hayagriva in Sanskrit Literature (by Anindita Adhikari)
History and Temples < [Chapter 6]
Description of the Shrine structure < [Chapter 6]
Description of the Idols < [Chapter 6]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
Part 3 - Description of the Tibetan Lamas < [Religion in Tibetan Society - A New Approach]
Part 5 - Lamas and Monks: Discussion < [Religion in Tibetan Society - A New Approach]
Part 12 - The Religion the people of Nar and Phu < [Bhotia Highlanders of Nar and Phu]
Tibet (Myth, Religion and History) (by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya)
5. Buddhist Schools and the Politics of Tibet < [Chapter 7 - Buddhism in Tibet]
10. Conclusion < [Chapter 7 - Buddhism in Tibet]
4. Buddhist renaissance; bsTanpa Phyi dar < [Chapter 7 - Buddhism in Tibet]
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