Lekha, aka: Lekhā; 11 Definition(s)

Introduction

Lekha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Lekha (लेख).—A deva-gaṇa (set of celestial beings) of Raivata Manvantara. In this set there are eight Devas named Dhruva, Dhruvakṣiti, Praghāsa, Pracetas, Bṛhaspati, Manojava. Mahāyaśas and Yuvanas. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, 2, 36, 76).

1a) Lekha (लेख).—Eight groups of Gods of the Cākṣuṣa epoch;¹ Manojava, Praghāsa, Pracetas, Vāta, Dhruvakṣiti, Adbhuta, Avana and Bṛhaspati.²

• 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 67, 76; Matsya-purāṇa 9. 23; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 1. 27.
• 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 62. 63-4.

1b) A class of Pitṛs propitiated on every New Moon day.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 56. 21.

2a) Lekhā (लेखा).—The sun standing above this, results in the end of the five year Yuga.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 124. 64; 141. 35.

2b) Of the earth; on account of this the sun is seen above though at a height of 1000 Yojanas.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 110.

context information

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Lekha (लेख, “letter”) refers to one of the twenty-one sandhyantara, or “distinct characteristics of segments (sandhi)” according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 21. The segments are divisions of the plot (itivṛtta or vastu) of a dramatic play (nāṭaka) and consist of sixty-four limbs, known collectively as the sandhyaṅga.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., 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) and poetic works (kavya).

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Lekhā (लेखा).—One of the varieties or developments of the क्रमपाठ (kramapāṭha) or the artificial recitation of the separate words of the Samhitā.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

lekhā : (f.) writing; a letter; an inscription; a line; the art of writing.

Lekha, (fr. likh, cp. Sk. lekha & lekhā) 1. writing, inscription, letter, epistle J. VI, 595 (silā° inscription on rock); Mhvs 5, 177 (lekhe sutvā); 27, 6; 33, 40 (°ṃ vissajjayi); Dāvs 5, 67 (cāritta°); Miln. 42; SnA 164 (°vācāka reciting), 577.—2. chips, shavings Vin. II, 110 (v. l. likha). (Page 585)

— or —

Lekhā, (f.) (fr. likh; Vedic lekhā. See also rekhā & lekha) 1. streak, line VvA. 277 (=rāji); canda° crescent moon (cp. Epic candralekhā Mbh 3, 1831) Vism. 168; DhsA. 151.—2. a scratch, line A. I, 283; Pug. 32; J. VI, 56 (lekhaṃ kaḍḍhati).—3. writing, inscription, letter Vin. III, 76 (°ṃ chindati destroy the letter); J. I, 451 (on a phalaka); Miln. 349 (°ācariya teacher of writing); PvA. 20 (°paṇṇa, letter so read for likhā°).—4. the art of writing or drawing (=lipi Hemacandra), writing as an art. It is classed as a respectable (ukkaṭṭha) profession (sippa) Vin. IV, 7; and mentioned by the side of muddā and gaṇanā Vin. IV, 7, 128=I. 77; cp. Vin. IV, 305. (Page 586)

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.

Marathi-English dictionary

lēkha (लेख).—m (S) A writing; a thing written; an epistle, a bill, a document. 2 Handwriting. 3 n A column of the multiplication table.

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lēkhā (लेखा).—m (lēkha S) Estimation, reckoning, regard, account. See under kimata. 2 A written document.

lēkha (लेख).—m A writing; an epistle. Hand- writing.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Lekha (लेख).—[likh-bhāve ghañ]

1) A writing, document, written document (of any kind), a letter; लेखोऽयं न ममेति नोत्तर- मिदं मुद्रा मदीया यतः (lekho'yaṃ na mameti nottara- midaṃ mudrā madīyā yataḥ) Mu.5.18; निर्धारितेऽर्थे लेखेन खलूक्त्वा खलु वाचिकम् (nirdhārite'rthe lekhena khalūktvā khalu vācikam) Śi.2.7; अनङ्गलेख (anaṅgalekha) Ku.1.7; मन्मथलेख (manmathalekha) Ś3.26.

2) A god, A deity; ईशा दिशां नलभुवं प्रतिपद्य लेखाः (īśā diśāṃ nalabhuvaṃ pratipadya lekhāḥ) N.13.49; रेखा लेखाभिवन्द्याः (rekhā lekhābhivandyāḥ) Viṣṇupāda. S.11.

3) A scratch; cf. लेखाकीर्ण (lekhākīrṇa) (a gem covered with scratches) Kau. A.2.11.

Derivable forms: lekhaḥ (लेखः).

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Lekhā (लेखा).—[likh-a ṭāp]

1) A line, streak; कान्तिर्भ्रुवोरायतलेखयोर्या (kāntirbhruvorāyatalekhayoryā) Ku.1.47;7.16; Ki.16.2; Me.46; विद्युल्लेखा, फेनलेखा, मदलेखा (vidyullekhā, phenalekhā, madalekhā) &c.

2) A stroke, furrow, row, stripe.

3) Writing, drawing lines, delineation, painting; पाणिर्लेखाविधिषु नितरां वर्तते किं करोमि (pāṇirlekhāvidhiṣu nitarāṃ vartate kiṃ karomi) Māl.1.35.

4) The moon's crescent, a streak of the moon; लब्धोदया चान्द्रमसीव लेखा (labdhodayā cāndramasīva lekhā) Ku.1.25;2.34; Ki.5.44.

5) A figure, likeness, an impression, a mark; उषसि सयावकसव्यपादलेखा (uṣasi sayāvakasavyapādalekhā) Ki.5.4.

6) Hem, border, edge, skirt.

7) The crest.

Lekha (लेख).—m.

(-khaḥ) 1. A letter, an epistle. 2. A god, a deity. f.

(-khā) 1. A line, a mark or row, &c. 2. Writing, hand-writing. 3. Delineation, painting. 4. A likeness, an impression. 5. Hem, border. 6. The moon’s crescent. E. likh to write, aff. ghañ; it is applied to the second sense, because the figures of the gods are written or delineated.

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