Samara, aka: Sāmara; 10 Definition(s)

Introduction

Samara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi. 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)

Samara (समर).—One of the hundred sons of Pṛthuṣeṇa, a King of the Bharata dynasty (Bhāgavata, Skandha 9).

1a) Samara (समर).—A son of Kāvya; had three sons.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 49. 54.

1b) One of the lineal descendants of Nīpa; capital Kampilya.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 176.

1c) A son of Nīla and lord of Kāmpilya; father of three sons, Pāra and two others.^*

• * Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 19. 40-1.

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.

Katha (narrative stories)

Samara (समर) is the name of a Vidyādhara king from Vīrapura, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 52. Accordingly, as Cāmuṇḍā said to Jīvadatta: “... there is a city on the Himālayas named Vīrapura, and in it there dwells a sovereign of the Vidyādharas named Samara. He had a daughter, named Anaṅgaprabhā, born to him by his Queen Anaṅgavatī”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Samara, 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.

context information

Katha (कथा, kathā) refers to narrative Sanskrit literature often inspired from epic legendry (itihasa) and poetry (mahākāvya). Some Kathas reflect socio-political instructions for the King while others remind the reader of important historical event and exploits of the Gods, Heroes and Sages.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Sāmara (“fan”) refers to one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The other miscellaneous articles found as attributes in the hands of the deities are, for example, Sāmara.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Samara (समर) is the name of a garden visited by Mahāvīra during his eleventh year of spiritual-exertion.—Moving from Vraja village to Ālambhiyā, Śvetāmbikā, Sāvatthī, Kauśāmbī, Rājagṛha, Vārāṇasī, Mithilā, etc, the Lord arrived at Vaiśālī. Outside the city at the Baladeva temple in the Samara garden, accepting four-months fast, he became meditative and completed the rainy season halt there. Completing the rainy season halt, the Lord reached ‘Suṃsumārapura’.

context information

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

samara : (nt.) battle.

Samara, (sa+mara) battle Dāvs. IV, 1 (Page 684)

context information

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

samara (समर).—m S Battle, fight, conflict.

--- OR ---

sāmara (सामर).—& sāmarī Better sāmbara & sāmbarī.

samara (समर).—m Battle, fight. samarabhūmi f samarāṅgaṇa n A field of battle.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Samara (समर).—War, battle, fight: रजांसि समरोत्थानि तच्छोणितनदीष्विव (rajāṃsi samarotthāni tacchoṇitanadīṣviva) R.12.82: कर्णादयोऽपि समरात् पराङ्मुखीभवन्ति (karṇādayo'pi samarāt parāṅmukhībhavanti) Ve.3.

Derivable forms: samaraḥ (समरः), samaram (समरम्).

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