Ratnaprabha, Ratna-prabha, Ratnaprabhā: 16 definitions
Introduction:
Ratnaprabha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) is the name of the seventh book of the Kathāsaritsāgara, written by Somadeva in the 11th-century.
2) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) is the daughter of the Vidyādhara king Hemaprabha and queen Alaṅkāraprabhā according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 35. Accordingly, “... but when the due time came a daughter was born to that queen [Alaṅkāraprabhā], whose birth by the favour of Gaurī was a sufficient guarantee of her loveliness. And this voice was then heard from heaven: ‘She shall be the wife of Naravāhanadatta’, which agreed with the words of Śiva’s revelation. And the king was just as much delighted at her birth as he was at that of his son, and gave her the name of Ratnaprabhā. And Ratnaprabhā, adorned with her own science, grew up in the house of her father, producing illumination in all the quarters of the sky”.
3) Ratnaprabha (रत्नप्रभ) is the son of Candraprabha, and thus, brother of Sūryaprabha, first mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 46. Accordingly: “... then they [Sūryaprabha and others] anointed Ratnaprabha, the son of Candraprabha, king of the earth, and ascended the chariot Bhūtāsana, and went all of them, by the advice of Maya, to a wood of ascetics on the bank of the eastern Ganges, the dwelling of Sumeru, the King of the Vidyādharas”.
4) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) is the name of a Nāgī and daughter of Vāsuki, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 55. Accordingly, as Ratnaprabhā said to king Kanakavarṣa: “... son, know that I am the daughter of Vāsuki, the king of the snakes, and the elder sister of thy father, Ratnaprabhā by name. I always dwell near thee, invisible, to protect thee, but to-day, seeing thee despondent, I have displayed to thee my real form. I cannot bear to behold thy sorrow, so tell me the cause”.
5) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) is the wife of Kanakākṣa: an ancient king from Hiraṇyapura (in Kaśmīra), according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 65. Accordingly, “... in it [Kaśmīra] there was a town named Hiraṇyapura, and there reigned in it a king named Kanakākṣa. And there was born to that king, owing to his having propitiated Śiva, a son named Hiraṇyākṣa, by his wife Ratnaprabhā”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Ratnaprabhā, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationRatnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) refers to “sparkling like diamonds”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.46 (“The arrival of the bridegroom”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] In the meantime the servant-maids in the harem of the mountain took Pārvatī out in order to worship the tutelar family deity. [...] With diamond earrings her cheeks appeared brilliant. Her rows of teeth sparkled like diamonds (maṇi-ratnaprabhā). Red lac applied over her lips which were naturally red like Bimba fruits was exquisite. [...]”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiRatnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) refers to “jeweled radiance”, according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “Homage be to you, homage be to you, homage be to you, homage, homage, With devotion I bow to you, Guru protector be pleased with me. By whose bright rays of light, the true self suddenly appears, With an abundance of jeweled radiance (ratnaprabhā-parikara), defeating darkness, Rightly understanding with clear eyes, with intense playfulness, This adoration is offered to them, to the illuminating Guru”.
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: JainismRatnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा, “gem-hued”).—First of the seven lands existing within adholoka (lower world) in Jain cosmology. These seven lands exists in downward order supported by cushions of humid atmosphere (ghana) and dense air/water (ambu), which rests in a ring of thin air (vāta) resting in space (ākāśa).
Adholoka represents the lower section of the universe and hosts the infernal beings that exists within these lands. Ratnaprabhā features 13 stratas and 3,000,000 dwelling places according to the Bhagavatī-sūtra.
Source: Google Books: Jaina IconographyRatnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा).—The ratnaprabhā is divided into three parts: the uppermost, called the khara-bhāga, has in its central regions abodes of all the classes of the Bhavanavāsī-devas except the Asurakumāras, and of the various classes of the Vyantara gods except the Rākṣasas. The middle part of the Ratnaprabhā is called the paṅka-bhāga wherein stay the Asurakumāras and the Rākṣasas.
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) refers to the first of the seven earths of the “lower world” (adhaloka), according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—
Accordingly:—“the lower world (i.e., adhaloka) is established below the middle world (i.e., madhyaloka) with a depth of seven rajjus less 900 yojanas. In it are seven earths, one below the other, occupying the lower part, in which are the terrifying abodes of the hell-inhabitants. [...] Ratnaprabhā consists of 3,000,000 hells. [...] In these are the hells, the places for experiencing bad karma. The pain (of punishment), disease, body (its size), age, soul-color, grief, fear, etc., must be known as increasing in the hells in succession”.
2) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) is the daughter of Vidyādhara-chief Rativallabha, according to chapter 6.2 [aranātha-caritra].—Accordingly, as Sāgaradatta said to Kumbha:—“[...]. At the good news about both his wives, he [i.e., ] breathes as if sprinkled with nectar on his body. At the very time that he was taken out of the ocean, he removed the pill that had made him dark and had resumed his natural fair color. Rativallabha married his daughter, Ratnaprabhā, borne by Vajravegavatī, to him. He announced there that his name was Buddhadāsa and enjoyed mundane happiness with Ratnaprabhā. [...]”.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 3: The Lower and middle worldsRatnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) or simply Ratna refers to one of the seven lands (bhumī) or layers of the underworld (adholoka or naraka), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.1. Each ‘land’ of hell has a hue (prabhā), which is an attribute of light. Hence this word is associated with each of the seven lands. That land which is gem-hued is called Ratnaprabhā. It is also known by the name Ghammā.
These seven lands (e.g., ratna-prabhā) exist in the downward order (one below the other) with Ratnaprabhā being the topmost supported by the cushions of humid atmosphere (ghana), dense air /water (ambu), which rests in a ring of thin /rarified air (vāta) resting in space (ākāśa). Ratnaprabhā has three million infernal abodes (naraka). The maximum life span of infernal beings in Ratnaprabhā land is one ocean-meansured-period (sāgaropama). Ratnaprabhā has three subdivisions namely Khara, Paṅka and Abbahula.
Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection IRatnaprabha (रत्नप्रभ) or Ratnaprabhasūri is the name of a teacher mentioned in the Bṛhadgaccha-gurvāvalī (dealing with Jain lineages history) (in Sanskrit/Prakrit/Gujarati), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The information provided by the Bṛhadgacchagurvāvalī for the teachers [e.g., Ratnaprabha-sūri] includes their literary achievements, reference to installation of images, and, the case arising, their feats in debates with non-Jains. [...]
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryRatnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा).—the earth.
Ratnaprabhā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ratna and prabhā (प्रभा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryRatnaprabha (रत्नप्रभ).—(1) (Ratana°) name of a Buddha: Gaṇḍavyūha 284.23 (verse, may be m.c.); (2) name of a Bodhisattva: Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 3.6; Gaṇḍavyūha 3.15; (3) name of a deity (devaputra): Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 4.4.
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Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा).—(1) name of a śreṣṭhin's daughter: Gaṇḍavyūha 332.23; (2) name of a lokadhātu: Gaṇḍavyūha 352.3.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryRatnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा).—f.
(-bhā) The first of the seven hells or purgatories, according to the Jainas. E. ratna a jewel, and prabhā splendour.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—See Bhāṣyaratnaprabhā.
2) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा):—a
—[commentary] on Cakrapāṇidatta’s Cikitsāsaṃgraha. Quoted by Śivadāsasena in his Tattvacandrikā, L. 1630.
1) Ratnaprabha (रत्नप्रभ):—[=ratna-prabha] [from ratna] m. Name of a class of deities, [Buddhist literature]
2) [v.s. ...] of a king, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
3) Ratnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा):—[=ratna-prabhā] [from ratna-prabha > ratna] f. the earth, [Sūryaprajñapti]
4) [v.s. ...] (with Jainas) Name of a hell, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] of various women, [Hitopadeśa; Rājataraṅgiṇī; Kathāsaritsāgara]
6) [v.s. ...] of a Nāgī, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
7) [v.s. ...] of an Apsaras, [Bālarāmāyaṇa]
8) [v.s. ...] of the 7th Lambaka of the Kathā-sarit-sāgara.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryRatnaprabhā (रत्नप्रभा):—[ratna-prabhā] (bhā) 1. f. A Jaina hell.
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ratna, Prabha.
Starts with: Ratnaprabhacarya, Ratnaprabhasa, Ratnaprabhasuri.
Ends with: Artharatnaprabha, Bhashyaratnaprabha, Krishnarajasarvabhaumavamsharatnaprabha.
Full-text (+73): Adholoka, Seven Grounds, Bhashyaratnaprabha, Vata, Lakshminivasa, Bhavanavasin, Sri Ramananda Saraswathi, Bhavanapati, Vyantara, Pacaka, Sannihita, Rishivadita, Bhutavadita, Pacakadhipa, Mahashveta, Suvatsaka, Rishi, Dhatri, Shveta, Kushmanda.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Ratnaprabha, Ratna-prabha, Ratnaprabhā, Ratna-prabhā; (plurals include: Ratnaprabhas, prabhas, Ratnaprabhās, prabhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Chapter 7: On celestial beings < [Book 2]
Part 1 - On cells in the hells < [Chapter 5]
Part 1 - Beneath the worlds < [Chapter 8]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 3.1 - The lower world (adholoka) < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]
Verse 3.2 - Infernal abodes (naraka) < [Chapter 3 - The Lower World and the Middle World]
Verse 4.36 - The minimum lifetime in the first earth < [Chapter 4 - The Celestial Beings]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verses 5.13.12-14 < [Chapter 13 - The Arrival of Sri Uddhava]
Preceptors of Advaita (by T. M. P. Mahadevan)
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 2 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 11 - Padmapāda (a.d. 820) < [Chapter XI - The Śaṅkara School of Vedānta (continued)]
Part 4 - Teachers and Pupils in Vedānta < [Chapter XI - The Śaṅkara School of Vedānta (continued)]
Part 18 - Āyurveda Literature < [Chapter XIII - Speculations in the Medical Schools]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 17: Description of the Lower World (adhaloka) < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Part 19: The Vyantaras < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Subdivisions of Pañcendriyas < [Appendix 1.4: The nine tattvas]
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