Lekha, Lekhā: 16 definitions
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)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaLekha (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).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) 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.
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraLekha (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.
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)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarLekhā (लेखा).—One of the varieties or developments of the क्रमपाठ (kramapāṭha) or the artificial recitation of the separate words of the Samhitā.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of SriharsaLekha (लेख) (used in plural) refers to “gods”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 13.49.—Cf. Lekhaprabhu (verse 22.118); Lekhānujīvin (verse 11.56).
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
India history and geogprahy
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryLekha.—(LP), official letter; cf. likhita, a private letter. Note: lekha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarylekhā : (f.) writing; a letter; an inscription; a line; the art of writing.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryLekha, (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)
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 Dictionarylēkha (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.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishlēkha (लेख).—m A writing; an epistle. Hand- writing.
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-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryLekha (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.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryLekha (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.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryLekha (लेख).—i. e. likh + a, I. m. 1. A letter, [Hitopadeśa] 120, 10. 2. A god. Ii. f. khā. 1. Writing. 2. A line, [Daśakumāracarita] in
Lekha (लेख).—[masculine] streak, line, writing, letter; [plural] a class of gods (sgl. a god i.[grammar]).
— [feminine] lekhā scratch, streak, line, furrow, row, edge, margin, a faint sickle (of the moon); drawing, likeness, impression.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumLekha (लेख) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. [Subhāshitāvali by Vallabhadeva]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Lekha (लेख):—[from likh] a m. (cf. rekha) a line, stroke, [Mānava-gṛhya-sūtra]
2) [v.s. ...] (also [plural]) a writing, letter, manuscript, written document of any kind, [Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] etc. (cf. kūṭa-l)
3) [v.s. ...] a god, deity, [Śiśupāla-vadha]
4) [v.s. ...] = ābhoga, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] Name of a man [gana] śivādi
6) [v.s. ...] of a poet, [Catalogue(s)]
7) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a class of gods under Manu Cākṣuṣa, [Purāṇa]
8) Lekhā (लेखा):—[from lekha > likh] a f. See below.
9) [from likh] b f. (cf. rekhā) a scratch, streak, line, stroke, stripe, furrow, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc., etc.
10) [v.s. ...] the pale or faintly discernible streak of the young moon’s crescent, [Kirātārjunīya] (cf. candraand śaśāṅka-l), the act of delineation, drawing, painting, [Śakuntalā] ([varia lectio])
11) [v.s. ...] writing, handwriting, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) [v.s. ...] a drawing, likeness, figure, impression (cf. mṛgaand savya-pāda-l)
13) [v.s. ...] the drawing of lines with fragrant substances (on the face, arms, breast etc.), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
14) [v.s. ...] a hem, border, rim, edge, horizon, [Kāmandakīya-nītisāra; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
15) [v.s. ...] the crest (= śikhā or cūḍāgra), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
16) Lekha (लेख):—b lekhana, lekhin etc. See p.901, [columns] 2, 3.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+40): Lekhabhra, Lekhabhru, Lekhabhrummanya, Lekhadhikarin, Lekhahara, Lekhaharaka, Lekhaharika, Lekhaharin, Lekhaharitva, Lekhaka, Lekhakadosha, Lekhakamuktamani, Lekhakapramada, Lekhaki, Lekhakshara, Lekhalipi, Lekhamukha, Lekhana, Lekhana-adhyaksha, Lekhanadambara.
Ends with (+98): Abhralekha, Agralekha, Alekha, Alekhyalekha, Alikalekha, Anangalekha, Anupurvapanilekha, Avalekha, Ayasholekha, Ayatalekha, Ayatapanilekha, Bandalekha, Bandistalekha, Brahmalekha, Candralekha, Capalekha, Caturlekha, Chandralekha, Chapalekha, Chitralekha.
Full-text (+182): Lekhavalaya, Nakhalekha, Rijulekha, Candralekha, Pandulekha, Kapalaresha, Lekhabhru, Shashilekha, Likha, Shashankalekha, Alekhyalekha, Lekhaharin, Makarilekha, Lekhaya, Kutalekha, Citralekha, Lekhadhikarin, Rajalekha, Vilekha, Madanalekha.
Relevant text
Search found 25 books and stories containing Lekha, Lekhā, Lēkha, Lēkhā; (plurals include: Lekhas, Lekhās, Lēkhas, Lēkhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vinaya Pitaka (1): Bhikkhu-vibhanga (the analysis of Monks’ rules) (by I. B. Horner)
Monks’ Expulsion (Pārājika) 3: Permutations < [Monks’ Expulsion (Pārājika) 3]
Early Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Chola: Vijayalaya < [Chapter XIV - Conclusion]
Bronze, group 2: Age of Aditya I (a.d. 871-907) < [Chapter XI - Sculpture]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 43 - The narrative of Bhārgava Paraśurāma (g) < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
Chapter 36 - The Lineage of Manu: Manvantaras < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
Chapter 1 - Contents of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa < [Section 1 - Prakriyā-pāda (section on rites)]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 12 < [Chapter 8 - Aṣṭama-yāma-sādhana (Rātri-līlā–prema-bhajana sambhoga)]
The Natyashastra (by Bharata-muni)