Manohara, Manoharā, Manohāra, Manas-hara, Mano-hara: 30 definitions
Introduction:
Manohara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇaManoharā (मनोहरा) is the city city of Īśāna, guardian (dikpāla) of the north-eastern direction, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 76.
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Manoharā (मनोहरा).—Wife of the Vasu, Soma. Varcas was born of her first. Then she had three more sons named Śiśira, Prāṇa and Ramaṇa. (Śloka 22, Chapter 66, Ādi Parva).
2) Manoharā (मनोहरा).—A nymph of Alakāpurī. Once when Aṣṭāvakra went to the court of Kubera this nymph gave a performance in dancing in honour of that sage. (Śloka 45, Chapter 19, Anuśāsana Parva).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationManohara (मनोहर) refers to “comely” and is used to describe the Goddess (Devī), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.12. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] on seeing the mother of the universe cosmic in form, Dakṣa the lord of the subjects considered himself well rewarded. With various sorts of prayer he eulogised and bowed to the Goddess (Devī) mother of the universe, Kālikā seated on a lion, dark-complexioned, with four arms and beautiful face, the bestower of the boon, the abode of safety, holding a blue lotus and the sword in her hands, comely (manohara) with reddish eyes and with beautiful dishevelled hair”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1) Manohara (मनोहर).—A tīrtha on the Narmadā sacred to Pitṛs.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 194. 7.
2a) Manoharā (मनोहरा).—A wife of Dhara.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 5. 24.
2b) The wife of Dharma, the Vasu.*
- * Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 15. 113.
Manohara (मनोहर) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.60.20) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Manohara) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: academia.edu: Yakṣiṇī-sādhana in the Kakṣapuṭa tantraManoharā (मनोहरा) is the name of one of the thirty-two Yakṣiṇīs mentioned in the Kakṣapuṭatantra, as well as one of the thirty-six Yakṣiṇīs mentioned in the Uḍḍāmareśvaratantra. In the yakṣiṇī-sādhana, the Yakṣiṇī is regarded as the guardian spirit who provides worldly benefits to the practitioner. The Yakṣiṇī (e.g., Manoharā) provides, inter alia, daily food, clothing and money, tells the future, and bestows a long life, but she seldom becomes a partner in sexual practices.

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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Manohara (मनोहर) refers to “lovely”, mentioned in verse 3.40 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “from him whose mind is at ease, (who is) moist with sandal [...]—wreaths of camphor and of jasmine; strings of pearls furnished with yellow sandal ; young thrushes (and) parrots whose chatter is lovely [viz., manohara] and sweet; (and)[...]”.
Note: manohara (“lovely”) and kala (“sweet”) have been transposed, while the bahuvrīhi has been resolved by adding sgrogs-pa (“sending forth”).—śiśu (“young”) has been omitted and sogs (“etc.”) inserted after sārika (“thrush”), which has been interchanged with śuka (“parrot”).
Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval IndiaManohara (मनोहर) refers to “pleasing” and represents a particular dietetic effect according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—Accordingly, the dietetic effect manohara is associated with the following conditions: Food utensils made of Ketakīpatra (screw pine leaf).

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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramManoharā (मनोहरा) refers to “one who is beautiful”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, while describing Trikhaṇḍā: “[...] The goddess is enveloped in divine clothes and is adorned with many kinds of flowers. She is the Great Light and, shining intensely, she is in the middle of the Wheel of Mothers each of whom has four arms, three eyes and a topknot. Each holds a sword, club, skull and makes a boon bestowing gesture. They have many ornaments. Their form is divine and beautiful [i.e., manoharā]. They shine and, possessing many forms, they are beautiful [i.e., manoharā]. Each is seated on her own vehicle in the lotus posture. The enemy lies at their feet and, controlled by a spell, is consumed along with (offerings of) meat and the like by (their) servants, Vetālas, Ḍākinīs, and ghosts. Very fierce, they strike (the enemy and) drink streams of (his) blood. [...]”.

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
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA park laid out by Parakkamabahu I. Cv.lxxix.9.
-- or --
. A tika written by Dhammasenapati Thera. Gv.63, 73.
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: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism1) Manoharā (मनोहरा) is the name of a Yakṣiṇī mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Manoharā).

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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismManohara (मनोहर) refers to a class of mahoraga deities gods according to the Digambara tradition, while the Śvetāmbara does not recognize this class. The mahoraga refer to a category of vyantaras gods which represents one of the four classes of celestial beings (devas). The mahoragas are are dark or black in complexion and the Nāga is their caitya-vṛkṣa (sacred-tree).
The deities such as the Manoharas are defined in ancient Jain cosmological texts such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapaṇṇati by Yativṛṣabha (5th century) in the Digambara tradition.
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraManoharā (मनोहरा) is the name of a palanquin, according to chapter 3.5 [supārśva-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“[...] At the end of the year’s giving Supārśva Svāmin’s initiation-ceremony was made by the Indras whose thrones had shaken. Then the Lord of the World, going to emancipation, got into the palanquin named Manoharā, charming with varied jewels. Accompanied by gods, asuras, and kings the Blessed One went to the most excellent grove named Sahasrāmravaṇa. [...]”.

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
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymanohara : (adj.) charming; captivating.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryManohara refers to: charming, captivating, beautiful Mhvs 18, 49; N. of a special gem (the wishing gem?) Miln. 118, 354. (Page 520)
Note: manohara is a Pali compound consisting of the words mano and hara.

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 Dictionarymanōhara (मनोहर).—a (S) That steals away the mind; charming, captivating, delightful, lovely. 2 used as s m Rice &c. received from the idol vyaṅkaṭēśa or vyaṅkōbā as a mark of graciousness.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishmanōhara (मनोहर).—a Delightful, charming, lovely.
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 dictionaryManohara (मनोहर).—a. pleasing, charming, attractive, fascinating, lovely; अव्याजमनोहरं वपुः (avyājamanoharaṃ vapuḥ) Ś.1.18; Ku.3.39; R.3.32.
-raḥ a kind of jasmine.
-ram gold.
Manohara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms manas and hara (हर).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryManoharā (मनोहरा).—name of the daughter of Druma, king of the kiṃnaras; her story at length, with her marriage to prince Sudhanu (Divyāvadāna, Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya Sudhana): Mahāvastu ii.97.5 ff. (in the Kiṃnarī Jātaka); Divyāvadāna 443.2 ff.; Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.134.11 ff.; mentioned as last in a list of kiṃnara maids, Kāraṇḍavvūha 7.1.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryManohara (मनोहर).—mfn.
(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Beautiful, lovely, pleasing. n.
(-raṃ) Gold. E. manas the mind, hṛ to take or steal, aff. ap .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryManohara (मनोहर).—i. e. manas-hṛ + a, adj. Beautiful, charming, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 9; 119.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryManohara (मनोहर).—([feminine] ā & ī) captivating, charming, delightful (lit. heart-taking); [abstract] tna [neuter]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Manohara (मनोहर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—jy. See Daivajñamanohara.
2) Manohara (मनोहर):—poet. Padyāvalī.
3) Manohara (मनोहर):—Brahmajīvanirṇaya.
4) Manoharā (मनोहरा):—Rāmāyaṇaṭīkā by Lokanātha.
5) Manohara (मनोहर):—[nyāya] Hz. 510 (Vyāptivādasiddhānta).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Manohara (मनोहर):—[=mano-hara] [from mano > man] mf(ā or ī)n. ‘heart-stealing’, taking the fancy, fascinating, attractive, charming, beautiful, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] Jasminum Multiflorum or Pubescens, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] the third day of the civil month (karma-māsa), [Sūryaprajñapti]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of a poet, [Catalogue(s)]
5) [v.s. ...] of a [work] [ib.]
6) Manoharā (मनोहरा):—[=mano-harā] [from mano-hara > mano > man] f. yellow jasmine or Jasminum Grandiflorum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] Name of an Apsaras, [Mahābhārata]
8) [v.s. ...] of a Kiṃ-narī, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha]
9) [v.s. ...] of the wife of Varcasvin and mother of Śiśira, [Mahābhārata]
10) [v.s. ...] of the wife of Dhara and mother of Śiśira, [Harivaṃśa]
11) [v.s. ...] of a [commentator or commentary] on the Rāmāyaṇa by Loka-nātha
12) Manohara (मनोहर):—[=mano-hara] [from mano > man] n. gold, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryManohara (मनोहर):—[mano-hara] (raḥ-rā-raṃ) a. Captivating.
[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 dictionaryManohara (मनोहर) [Also spelled manohar]:—(a) lovely, comely; charming; alluring, captivating; ~[haratā] loveliness; comeliness, charm; allurement, captivation.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusManōhara (ಮನೋಹರ):—[adjective] attractive; fascinating; charming; beautiful.
--- OR ---
Manōhara (ಮನೋಹರ):—
1) [noun] = ಮನೋಹರತೆ [manoharate].
2) [noun] a charming, handsome man.
3) [noun] a kind of sweet made of the flour of bengal-gram, jaggery, etc. 4) the jasmine plant Jasminum multiflorum ( = J. pubescens) of Oleaceae family.
4) [noun] its flower.
5) [noun] gold.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Mano, Hara, Manas.
Starts with: Manohara gosvamin, Manohara sharman, Manohara vireshvara, Manoharadasa, Manoharakara, Manoharakavya, Manoharakrishna, Manoharana, Manoharasharman, Manoharasimha, Manoharatara, Manoharataratva, Manoharate, Manoharavireshvara.
Ends with: Amanohara, Atimanohara, Budhamanohara, Daivajnamanohara, Danamanohara, Hemamanohara, Madanamanohara, Manamanohara, Prayashcittamanohara, Sakalangamanohara, Shrutimanohara, Sumanohara, Sumanomanohara, Vidvajjanamanohara, Vidvanmanohara.
Full-text (+76): Sumanohara, Manoharin, Manohari, Manoharataratva, Amanohara, Manoharakavya, Manoharavireshvara, Manoharasharman, Manoharasimha, Manoharakrishna, Manikyamalla, Manoharadasa, Manoharatara, Manoharakara, Shishira, Raghava, Atimanohara, Budhamanohara, Subhashini, Vidvanmanohara.
Relevant text
Search found 29 books and stories containing Manohara, Manoharā, Manohāra, Manōhara, Manas-hara, Mano-hara, Mano-harā; (plurals include: Manoharas, Manoharās, Manohāras, Manōharas, haras, harās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter XIII - The Kinnarī Jātaka < [Volume II]
Tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources) (by W. R. S. Ralston)
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.5.752 < [Chapter 5 - The Pastimes of Nityānanda]
Verse 1.2.177 < [Chapter 2 - The Lord’s Appearance]
Verse 2.6.141 < [Chapter 6 - The Lord’s Meeting with Advaita Ācārya]
Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya (by Śrī Gunaraja Khan)
Chapter 9 - Description of the Lord's Four-armed Form (Hillola-rāga)
Chapter 11 - Lord Kṛṣṇa and His Associates in the Spiritual World of Vṛndāvana (Śri-rāga)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 7 - The Legend of Druma (king of the Gandharvas) < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 6: Supārśva’s initiation < [Chapter V - Supārśvanāthacaritra]
Part 2: Previous births of Jaya < [Chapter XIII - Jayacakricaritra]