Ragalakshana, Rāgalakṣaṇa: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Ragalakshana 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.
The Sanskrit term Rāgalakṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Ragalaksana or Ragalakshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Rāgalakṣaṇa (रागलक्षण).—In a work called Rāgalakṣaṇa (by Muddu Veṅkaṭamakhin) which is in the form of a dialogue between Mataṅga and Kohala ṣāḍava, auḍava, sampūrṇa-rāgas are given, as also their division into rāgāṅga, bhāṣāṅga and kriyāṅga and śuddha, sālaga and saṅkīrṇa.
Rāgalakṣaṇa (रागलक्षण).—In Muddu Venkatamakhin’s Ragalakshana (early 18th century) a drastic shift takes place in the Mela-concept. He synthetically creates Janya Ragas for the remaining 53 Melas that were earlier considered non-functional. Here for the first time the Raga-description is based purely on its Svara-sthanas. It is also at this stage that the Raga Grammar or its characteristic is described in terms of its Aroha and Avaroha Svaras.
Rāgalakṣaṇa (रागलक्षण) refers to chapter thirteen of the Kohalarahasyam, one of the works ascribed to Kohala—a celebrated authority of the ancient period along with others such as Bharata, Yāṣṭika, Śārdūla, Kāśyapa etc.—Kohala, though a contemporary of Bharata is believed to be one of the pioneering ācaryas of the deśī tradition. [...] The works attributed to Kohala can be divided into two categories. One being works available to us from primary sources (manuscripts) [e.g., the Kohalarahasya] and the other representing works which we come to know from secondary sources (other works which refer to them).—The thirteenth chapter of Kohalarahasyam is found in the 10 available folios of the manuscript. The work begins with the heading rāgalakṣaṇa. The contents of this work are presented to the reader via a dialogue between Kohala and Mataṅga, where Mataṅga poses questions regarding the time-theory of rāgas to Kohala who answers them in the form of the ślokas that follow. In accordance with the heading of the chapter, the only aspect that has been dealt with, in this manuscript is rāga. Even there, only the classification of rāgas into sūryāṃśa and candramāṃśa, puṃ, strī and napuṃsaka rāgas, śuddha and saṅkīrṇa rāgas, pūrṇa, ṣāḍava and auḍava ragas, association of rāgas with rasa etc. have been mentioned.
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).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Rāgalakṣaṇa (रागलक्षण) refers to the “essential character of passion”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[Characteristics of behavior of all beings] [...] The behaviour’s essence, essential character, the essential character of cause, the essential character of condition, the essential character of productive cause, the essential character of combination, the essential character of difference, the essential character of discordance, the essential character of passion (rāgalakṣaṇa), the essential character of aversion, the essential character of delusion, the essential character of the three together, the essential character of hell-beings, the essential character of animals [...]—he knows all the essential characters of behavior truly as they are, and there is no fault at all in his understanding”.
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
Rāgalakṣaṇa (रागलक्षण) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Burnell. 61^a. Oppert. 6166.
Rāgalakṣaṇa (रागलक्षण):—[=rāga-lakṣaṇa] [from rāga] n. Name of [work]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Lakshana, Raga.
Full-text: Ragaratnakara, Samgitaragalakshana.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ragalakshana, Rāgalakṣaṇa, Ragalaksana, Raga-lakshana, Rāga-lakṣaṇa, Raga-laksana; (plurals include: Ragalakshanas, Rāgalakṣaṇas, Ragalaksanas, lakshanas, lakṣaṇas, laksanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study) (by Padma Sugavanam)
Part 1(a).4 - A Comparison of Kohalamatam with other Lakṣaṇagranthas < [Chapter 4 - Works attributed to Kohala]
Part 1(b).2 - Structure of Kohalarahasyam < [Chapter 4 - Works attributed to Kohala]
Part 3.3 - Regarding the title of the Tālalakṣaṇam < [Chapter 4 - Works attributed to Kohala]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature (by S. Karthick Raj KMoundinya)
Evolution of Indian Music < [Chapter 2 - Origin and evolution of Music and Musical instruments]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
Conceptual study on the etiopathogenesis of Dadru Kushta w.s.r. to Tinea... < [Vol. 7 No. 9 (2022)]
Music - A remedy in Psychological Disorders (Manas Vikara) < [Vol. 4 No. 06 (2019)]