Melaka: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Melaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Melaka (मेलक) in tantric Śaiva texts implies Yoginīmelaka, “a meeting with Yoginīs”, in which the sādhaka causes a circle (cakra) of Yoginīs to surround him and grant him siddhis. This reward of tantric sādhana is often mentioned in the texts and exegesis of the Bhairavāgama, such as the Mālinīvijayottaratantra, the Jayadrathayāmala, the Tantrāloka and the Kubjikāmatatantra. The Kaulajñānanirṇaya describes yoginīmelaka and its rewards in detail. Melaka is never explicitly stated to be a meeting with yoginīs in the Khecarīvidyā, but 3.56a suggests this by mentioning Khecarīmelana. All the occurrences of Melaka are found in the earliest layer of the text (in the context of the vidyā) and later tradition does not understand it as referring to a meeting with yoginīs.
Melaka (मेलक) refers to the “union (of the two Bindus)”, according to the Amṛtasiddhi (verse 24.1-2).—Accordingly, [while describing kāyasiddhi in terms redolent of tapas (i.e., purification and bindu):] “When the accomplishment of [destroying] the [five] impurities [is achieved], as well as the union (melaka) of the two Bindus, then one should know the body to be perfected and endowed with all good qualities. [Such a Siddha] is free from cold, heat, thirst, fear, desire and greed. He has crossed over the ocean of anxiety, disease, fever, suffering and grief”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
1) Melaka (मेलक) refers to “union” (i.e., union with the Yoginīs), according to the Kulapañcāśikā, an unpublished text attributed to Matsyendranātha teaching secrecy.—Accordingly, “O Hara, why is it that those people who are great heroes devoted to worship and meditation, greedy to drink (the sacrificial) blood—who, well established, carry swords and are devoted, O god, to wandering at night in cremation ground(s)—do not always attain union with the Yoginīs? [i.e., yoginī-melaka]”.—Note: The Kulapañcāśikā is quoted by Kṣemarāja in his commentary on the Netratantra 8.28 (= Kulapañcāśikā 3.7-8) and on Śivasūtra 3.26 (= Kulapañcāśikā 3.19).
2) Melaka (मेलक) refers to the “union” (of Śiva and Śakti), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, [while describing the Niṣkala Form of Śrīnātha]—“The niṣkala (form), beyond the energies, is the one teacher in the Western Tradition. [...] (Each) Praṇava (from which the Elements originate) is fashioned by him and he is the union (melaka) of Śiva and Śakti. He resides (in the Śāmbhava state in the) middle of Mahendra’s plane (of being) and is adorned with the five insignias (of a yogi representing the Five Praṇavas). [...]”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Melaka (मेलक) refers to “visionary encounters (with the Goddesses)”, according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 7th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—Later chapters of the text introduce Yogic practices and emphases seemingly unanticipated in the core fifty-odd chapters. These include systems of meditation focused on a series of inner voids and resonances, a yoga system based on internalization of visionary encounters with the goddesses (yoginī-melaka), yogic practices for cheating death (a system which, in contrast to the core chapters, attests the bodily kuṇḍalinī), and a kind of “yoga of absorption” (layayoga) based on the granthis of the principal padmamālā.
Note: Attainment of direct, power-bestowing encounters (melaka) with the goddesses is one of the Brahmayāmala’s dominant ritual aims, as illustrated by the “rite for the mastery of vetālas” (ch. 15), “rite of the great churning” (ch. 46), “pavilion of power” (ch. 47), and “worship in the pit [of power]” (ch. 48). These virtuoso and macabre performances may culminate with the goddesses manifesting bodily before the Sādhaka and granting boons.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Melaka (मेलक).—m.
(-kaḥ) Meeting, union, assemblage. E. mela the same, kan added.
Melaka (मेलक).—[mela + ka], m. Assemblage, [Hitopadeśa] 72, 17.
Melaka (मेलक).—[masculine] = [preceding], kaṃ kṛ assemble.
1) Melaka (मेलक):—[from mela] m. idem, [Kāvya literature; Pañcatantra] (kaṃ-√kṛ, to assemble together)
2) [v.s. ...] conjunction (of planets, in graha-m), [Sūryasiddhānta]
Melaka (मेलक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. Idem.
Melaka (मेलक):—1. (wie eben) m. das Zusammentreffen, Zusammenkunft [Amarakoṣa 3. 3, 29.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1508.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 2, 507.] [Medinīkoṣa l. 45.] bahumānyamelake [Kullūka] zu [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 2, 136. 8, 24.] lokamelakeṣu [Pañcatantra ed. orn. 49, 17.] [Dhūrtasamāgama] in [Lassen’s Anthologie 66, 15.] melakaṃ kar sich versammeln [Hitopadeśa 20, 17. 72, 17. ed. JOHNS. 1423.] graha Conjunction der Planeten [Sūryasiddhānta.8,14.] [Oxforder Handschriften 336,b,6] (vgl. melāpaka) . — Vgl. kṣāra, cakra und naṭaka unter naṭaka .
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Melaka (मेलक):—2. [Mahābhārata 6, 2103. 3855] fehlerhaft für mekala, wie die ed. Bomb. hat. Ist etwa auch [Oxforder Handschriften 339,a,32] mekala st. melaka zu lesen?
Melaka (मेलक):—m. —
1) das Zusammentreffen , Zusammenkunft. melakaṃ kar sich versammeln. graha Conjunction der Planeten. —
2) Pl. Nomen proprium fehlerhaft für mekala.
Melaka (मेलक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Melaya.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Mēlaka (ಮೇಲಕ):—[noun] = ಮೇಲ - [mela -] 1 & 5.
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Mēḷaka (ಮೇಳಕ):—[noun] = ಮೇಳ - [mela -] 1 & 5.
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)
Starts with: Melakadisu, Melakadu, Melakalanidhi, Melakalavana, Melakam, Melakarar, Melakartta, Melakattu, Melakkaran.
Full-text (+20): Ksharamelaka, Natakamelaka, Melakalavana, Cakramelaka, Yoginimelaka, Atmamelaka, Grahamelaka, Paramanandamelaka, Anandamelaka, Melapasiddha, Melaya, Hathamelaka, Melakam, Matrimelaka, Ma liu jia, Melapaka, Acaramelaka, Rajabadara, Man ci jia, Mela.
Relevant text
Search found 29 books and stories containing Melaka, Mēlaka, Mēḷaka; (plurals include: Melakas, Mēlakas, Mēḷakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Svacchandatantra (history and structure) (by William James Arraj)
Svacchandatantra, chapter 15 (Summary) < [Summaries]
Translation of Chapter 15, verses 1-23 < [Translation excerpts]
1.3 Tradition Criticism < [Introduction]
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 1926: Kalas Nada and Karanas Devoluted < [Tantra Seven (elam tantiram) (verses 1704-2121)]
Verse 2386: Vedanta and Siddhanta Know No Differences < [Tantra Eight (ettam tantiram) (verses 2122-2648)]
Verse 2467: States of Consciousness in the Three Turiyas < [Tantra Eight (ettam tantiram) (verses 2122-2648)]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 264 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Page 478 < [Tamil-English-Bengali (1 volume)]
Page 463 < [Tamil-English-Malayalam (1 volume)]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Principle of Shakti in Kashmir Shaivism (Study) (by Nirmala V.)
Part 3 - Khecaratva: an Archetype of the Concept of Freedom < [Chapter 3 - Evolution of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)