Shobha, Sobhā, Śobhā, Sobha: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Shobha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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 Śobhā can be transliterated into English as Sobha or Shobha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚāktismŚobhā (शोभा, “beauty, splendour”):—Name of one of the goddesses to be worshipped during Āvaraṇapūjā (“Worship of the Circuit of Goddesses”), according to the Durgāpūjātattva (“The truth concerning Durgā’s ritual”). They should be worshipped with either the five upācāras or perfume and flowers.
Her mantra is as follows:
Source: Wisdom Library: Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatamह्रीं ओं शोभायै नमः
hrīṃ oṃ śobhāyai namaḥ
Śobhā (शोभा, “beauty, loveliness”):—One of the names attributed to Devī, as chanted by the Vedas in their hymns, who were at the time incarnated in their personified forms. See the Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa chapter 5.51-68, called “the narrative of Hayagrīva”.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra1) Śobhā (शोभा, “beauty”) refers to one of the thirty-six “characteristic features” (lakṣaṇa) of perfect ‘poetic compositions’ (kāvyabandha) and ‘dramatic compositions’ (dṛśyakāvya, or simply kāvya). According to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 17, these thirty-six lakṣaṇas act as instructions for composing playwrights. The term is used throughout nāṭyaśāstra literature.
2) Śobhā (शोभा, “beauty”) refers to one of the ten “ involuntary graces” of women (svābhāvikā), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24. These involuntary (spontaneous) graces, represent one of the three aspects of graces (alaṃkāra) which forms which forms the support of sentiments (rasa) in drama.
Śobhā (शोभा, “brilliant character”) also refers to one of the eight aspects of the male’s sattva, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24.
These involuntary graces (such as śobhā) and sattvas are defined according to the science of sāmānyābhinaya, or “harmonious representation”.
According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “skill in various things, heroism, and energy, aversion to mean acts and emulation of the best virtues constitute ‘brilliant character’ (śobhā, lit. beauty)”.
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraŚobhā (शोभा, “brilliance”).—One of the thirty-six lakṣaṇa, or “excellent points of a dramatic composition”;—Description of śobhā: Where for the purpose of giving distinction to a case of double entendre (śleṣa), a less-known meaning is called forth along with the well-known meanings, it is called Brilliance (śobhā, lit. “beauty”).
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).
Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)
Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literatureŚobhā (शोभा) refers to one of the 130 varṇavṛttas (syllabo-quantitative verse) dealt with in the second chapter of the Vṛttamuktāvalī, ascribed to Durgādatta (19th century), author of eight Sanskrit work and patronised by Hindupati: an ancient king of the Bundela tribe (presently Bundelkhand of Uttar Pradesh). A Varṇavṛtta (e.g., śobhā) refers to a type of classical Sanskrit metre depending on syllable count where the light-heavy patterns are fixed.
Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (vastu)Śobhā (शोभा, “beauty”) refers to one of the defining characteristics of the Adhiṣṭhānas (or “basements” of temples), as discussed in chapter 7 (Kriyāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [adhiṣṭhāna-vidhi]:— The purpose of the basement-elements of a temple are threefold, beauty [śobhā], protection [rakṣaṇa] and added height [samucchrāya]. The component parts, proportionate measurements and decorative motifs of upapīṭhas are first discussed (2-24); [...]
Source: OpenEdition books: Architectural terms contained in Ajitāgama and RauravāgamaŚobhā (शोभा) refers to “entrance pavilion of the first enclosure § 4.33.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesKing of Sobhavati in the time of Konagamana Buddha (Bu.xxiv.16; D.ii.7). He sent a branch of the Bodhi tree to Ceylon in the care of Kanakadatta. MT.355, where he is called Sobhana.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsŚobhā (शोभा) refers to “(heavenly) splendour”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “And, having obtained the good fortune [com.—or prosperity (lakṣmīṃ) whose splendour is heavenly (devaśobhāṃ)] of heaven, [those corporeal beings] enjoy heavenly pleasure in the lower heavens and in the celestial vehicles or among other groups [of gods]. They fall from that place [and] immediately they enter the Rasātala hell. They roam about the whole world like the wind [and] they fall down into the Naraka hell”.
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
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarysobhā : (f.) splendour; beauty.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionarySobhā, (f.) (fr. śubh; Sk. śobhā) splendour, radiance, beauty Mhvs 33, 30; J. IV, 333; ThA. 226; Miln. 356. (Page 726)
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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryśōbhā (शोभा).—f (S) Beauty, grace, comeliness, elegance, handsomeness. 2 Anything which confers beauty, which adorns, graces, embellishes. 3 S Light, lustre, radiance. śōbhā karaṇēṃ g. of o. To adorn, ironically; i. e. to disgrace or dishonor; to treat with ridicule and contumely.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśōbhā (शोभा).—f Beauty, comeliness, grace; lustre. śōbhā karaṇēṃ Adorn, ironically; i. e. disgrace or dishonour.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚobhā (शोभा).—[śubh-a]
1) Light, lustre, brilliance, radiance.
2) (a) Splendour, beauty, elegance, grace, loveliness; वपुरभिनवमस्याः पुष्यति स्वां न शोभाम् (vapurabhinavamasyāḥ puṣyati svāṃ na śobhām) Ś.1.19; Meghadūta 54,61 (v. l.) (b) Natural beauty, grandeur (as of a mountain); अद्रिशोभा (adriśobhā) R.2.27.
3) An ornament, graceful expression; शोभैव मन्दरक्षुब्धक्षुभिताम्भोधिवर्णना (śobhaiva mandarakṣubdhakṣubhitāmbhodhivarṇanā) Śiśupālavadha 2.17.
4) Turmeric.
5) A kind of pigment (= gorocanā q. v.).
6) Distinguished merit.
7) Colour, hue.
8) Wish, desire.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryŚobha (शोभ).—name of the king of Śobhāvatī, q.v.: Avadāna-śataka ii.29.10; [Page533-b+ 71] 100.12. In Pali also Sobha was king of Sobhavatī, but in the time of Koṇāgamana (Kanakamuni), not Krakuc- chanda.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚobha (शोभ).—mfn.
(-bhaḥ-bhā-bhaṃ) 1. Handsome. 2. Bright. f.
(-bhā) 1. Light, lustre, radiance, splendour. 2. Beauty. 3. Distinguished merit. 4. A species of the Kriti-metre. E. śubh to shine, aff. ac, fem. aff. ṭāp .
--- OR ---
Śobhā (शोभा).—f.
(-bhā) 1. Light, lustre. 2. Beauty, grace, loveliness. 3. Grandeur. 4. Turmeric. 5. The Pigment called “gorocanā.” E. śubh, a aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚobha (शोभ).—i. e. śubh + a, I. adj. 1. Bright. 2. Handsome. Ii. f. bhā. 1. Splendour, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 60; [Daśakumāracarita] in
Śobha (शोभ).—[masculine] [Name] of a man; [feminine] śobhā beauty, splendour, colour, semblance.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śobha (शोभ):—[from śubh] a etc. See p. 1092, col. 1.
2) b mfn. ([from] √śubh) bright, brilliant, handsome, [Horace H. Wilson]
3) m. Name of a man, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]
4) ([plural]) of a class of gods, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) of a class of heretics, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) lustre (in [compound] for śobhā q.v.)
7) Śobhā (शोभा):—[from śobha] f. (ifc. f(ā). ) splendour, brilliance, lustre, beauty, grace, loveliness (kā śobhā with [locative case], ‘what beauty is there [in that]’ id est. ‘it has no beauty’; śobhāṃ na-√kṛ, ‘to look bad or ugly’; ifc. often = ‘splendid’, ‘excellent’ e.g. śaurya-śobhā, ‘splendid heroism’; karma-śobhā, ‘a masterpiece’), [Taittirīya-saṃhitā] etc. etc.
8) [v.s. ...] distinguished merit, [Horace H. Wilson]
9) [v.s. ...] colour, hue, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Mudrārākṣasa]
10) [v.s. ...] wish, desire, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) [v.s. ...] a kind of metre, [Colebrooke]
12) [v.s. ...] turmeric, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
13) [v.s. ...] the yellow pigment Go-rocanā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
14) Sobha (सोभ):—n. Name of the city of the Gandharvas, [Indische Studien by A. Weber]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śobha (शोभ):—[(bhaḥ-bhā-bhaṃ) a.] Handsome; bright. f. (bhā) Light; beauty; merit.
2) Śobhā (शोभा):—(bhā) 1. f. Light, beauty.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śobha (शोभ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sobha, Soha, Sohā.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryŚobhā (शोभा):—(nf) grace, elegance, beauty; glamour, splendour, brilliance, lustre; ~[maya] splendid, brilliant, lustrous, radiant; beautiful; ~[yātrā] pageant; ~[śūnya/hīna] devoid of glamour/grace/beauty; ugly.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Sobha (सोभ) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Śubh.
2) Sobha (सोभ) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Śobha.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryŚobhā (शोभा):—n. beauty; handsomeness; magnificence; elegance; luster; resplendence;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+12): Shobhadambara, Shobhajata, Shobhaka, Shobhakara, Shobhakara bhatta, Shobhakarabhatta, Shobhakaramitra, Shobhakati, Shobhakrit, Shobhakrita, Shobhakriti, Shobhakritu, Shobhakshate, Shobhamaya, Shobhan, Shobhana, Shobhanacarita, Shobhanagana, Shobhanagudu, Shobhanaka.
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Full-text (+100): Sobhanjana, Sobhamana, Shobhavati, Upashobha, Dvarashobha, Shobhakrit, Kritashobha, Shobhakara, Sushobha, Aharyashobha, Shobhasimha, Shobhajata, Udarashobha, Sprihaniyashobha, Samasashobha, Suryashobha, Shabdashobha, Yathashobham, Shobhamaya, Shobhin.
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Search found 78 books and stories containing Shobha, Shobhaa, Sobhā, Śobhā, Sobha, Śōbhā, Śobha, Sōbha; (plurals include: Shobhas, Shobhaas, Sobhās, Śobhās, Sobhas, Śōbhās, Śobhas, Sōbhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.19.10 < [Chapter 19 - The Festival on Śrī Kṛṣṇa Return]
Verse 1.18.1 < [Chapter 18 - Vision of the Universal Form]
Verses 2.24.17-18 < [Chapter 24 - The Story of Asuri Muni in the Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.253 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Verse 2.5.134 < [Part 5 - Permanent Ecstatic Mood (sthāyī-bhāva)]
Verse 3.5.37 < [Part 5 - Conjugal Love (mādhurya-rasa)]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 4.64 < [Chapter 4 - First-rate Poetry]
Text 10.171 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Text 4.61 < [Chapter 4 - First-rate Poetry]
Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya (by Śrī Gunaraja Khan)
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
Chapter XVI - Metrical Patterns (chandas)
Chapter XXIV - Harmonious Representation (sāmānyābhinaya)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)