Pahlava, Pahlavā: 13 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Pahlava means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Pahlava (पह्लव).—A place of human habitation of ancient India. This is situated in the western zone. (Śloka 68, Chapter 9, Bhīṣma Parva).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Pahlavā (पह्लवा).—Defeated by Paraśurāma;¹ attacked by Bāhu and defeated by Sagara;² punished with wearing moustaches;³ kingdom of⁴

1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 31. 83; III. 41. 39.
2) Ib. III. 63. 120, 134.
3) Ib. III. 73. 108.
4) Matsya-purāṇa 121. 45; 144. 57; Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 118; 58. 82.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Pahlava (पह्लव) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.29.15, II.48.14, VI.10.46, III.48.20, VI.20.13) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Pahlava) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Pahlava (पह्लव) is the name of a tribe, usually to be represented by a reddish-yellow (gaura) color when painting the limbs (aṅgaracanā), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. The painting is a component of nepathya (costumes and make-up) and is to be done in accordance with the science of āhāryābhinaya (extraneous representation).

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Pahlava (पह्लव) (Cf. Pallava) refers to a country belonging to “Nairṛtī (south-western division)” classified under the constellations of Svāti, Viśākhā and Anurādhā, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Svāti, Viśākhā and Anurādhā represent the south-western division consisting of [i.e., Pahlava] [...]”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Pahlava (पह्लव) (in Chinese: Po-lo-p'o) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Āśleṣā or Āśleṣānakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Āśleṣā] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Pahlava] for the sake of protection and prosperity.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Pahlavā (पह्लवा).—m. (pl.) Name of a people; (the Persians ?); Manusmṛti 1.44.

Derivable forms: pahlavāḥ (पह्लवाः).

See also (synonyms): pahnavā, pahlikā.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Pahlava (पह्लव).—n. The name of a people, the Persians.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Pahlava (पह्लव).—[masculine] [plural] the Parthians or the Persians.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Pahlava (पह्लव):—m. [plural] Name of a people (the Parthians or Persians), [Manu-smṛti x, 44; Mahābhārata] etc. (also spelt pahnava; in the [Viṣṇu-purāṇa] they are said to be a degraded Kṣatriya race conquered by Sagara and sentenced to wear beards).

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Pahlava (पह्लव) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Palhaya, Palhava.

[Sanskrit to German]

Pahlava in German

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 34 books and stories containing Pahlava, Pahlavā, Pahlavas; (plurals include: Pahlavas, Pahlavās, Pahlavases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Origin of the Pallava Dynasty < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

Earlier Works < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

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Introduction—Scythian impact on Indian art of later periods < [Chapter 6 - Scythian (Saka) elements in the Later Art of India]

Chapter 3 - Advent of the Sakas and the Saka-Pahlavas

Scythian elements of Art in the Western part of India < [Chapter 6 - Scythian (Saka) elements in the Later Art of India]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

The Geographical Text of the Puranas: A Further Critical Study < [Purana, Volume 4, Part 1 (1962)]

The Relative Chronology of the Janapada Lists of the Puranas < [Purana, Volume 9, Part 2 (1967)]

Kamboja-Janapada < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 1 (1964)]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Chapter LIV: The Battle < [Book I]