Mandira, aka: Mandirā; 7 Definition(s)

Introduction

Mandira means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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

Vastushastra (architecture)

1) Mandira (मन्दिर) is a Sanskrit technical term denoting a “residence” in general, according to the lists of synonyms given in the Mayamata XIX.10-12, the Mānasāra XIX.108-12 and the Samarāṅgaṇa-sūtradhāra XVIII.8-9, all populair treatises on Vāstuśāstra literature.

2) Mandira (मन्दिर) refers to a “temple”, and in a broader sense represents “devotional place” or “residence of God”. It is one of commonly used names for a temple, as found in Vāstuśāstra literature such the Mayamata and the Mānasāra.

3)Mandira (मन्दिर) refers to a type of temple (prāsāda) classified under the group named Sāndhāra, according to Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 56. The Sāndhāra group contains twenty-five out of a sixty-four total prāsādas (temples) classified under four groups in this chapter. The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra is an 11th-century encyclopedia dealing with various topics from the Vāstuśāstra.

Mandira is also listed in the Agnipurāṇa which features a list of 45 temple types. It is listed under the group named Puṣpaka, featuring rectangular-shaped temples. This list represents a classification of temples in Nort-India.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Mandira (मन्दिर) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Mandira] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

mandira : (nt.) a mansion; a palace.

Mandira, (nt.) (cp. late Sk. mandira) a house, edifice, palace Sn. 996, 1012; J. V, 480; VI, 269, 270; Dāvs II. 67 (dhātu° shrine). (Page 523)

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

mandira (मंदिर).—n (S) A house. rājamandira A palace. dēva- mandira A temple. hṛdayamandira The heart or bosom figuratively, the temple of the breast.

mandira (मंदिर).—n A house. rājamandira A palace dēvamandira A temple.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mandira (मन्दिर).—[mandyate'tra mand kirac] A dwelling house, habitation, place, mansion; प्रावेशयन्मन्दिरमृद्धमेनम् (prāveśayanmandiramṛddhamenam) Ku.7. 55; Bk.8.96; R.12.83; मणिमयमन्दिरमध्ये पश्यति पिपीलिका छिद्रम् (maṇimayamandiramadhye paśyati pipīlikā chidram) Subhāṣ.

2) An abode, a dwelling in general; as in क्षीराब्धिमन्दिरः (kṣīrābdhimandiraḥ).

3) A town; विनिक्षिप्य बलं सर्वं बहिरन्तश्च मन्दिरे (vinikṣipya balaṃ sarvaṃ bahirantaśca mandire) Rām.6.12.3.

4) A camp.

5) A temple.

6) The body.

-raḥ 1 The sea.

2) The hollow of the knee, ham.

Derivable forms: mandiram (मन्दिरम्).

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Mandirā (मन्दिरा).—A stable.

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