Shrimala, Śrīmāla: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Shrimala means something in Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Śrīmāla can be transliterated into English as Srimala or Shrimala, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraŚrīmālā (श्रीमाला) is the daughter of Vidyādhara-king Mandiramālin from Ādityapura, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.1 [origin of the rākṣasavaṃśa and vānaravaṃśa] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“[...] Ghanodadhiratha bestowed the kingdom, Kiṣkindhā, on his son, named Kiṣkindhi, took initiation, and attained emancipation. Now in the city Rathanūpura on Mt. Vaitāḍhya at that time there was a Vidyādhara-king, Aśanivega. He had a son, Vijayasiṃha, victorious, and a second, Vidyudvega, like additional arms for him. On that same mountain, in the city Ādityapura there was a Vidyādhara-king, Mandiramālin, and he had a daughter, Śrīmālā. [...]”.
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.
India history and geography
Source: Wisdom Library: India HistoryShrimala (or, Śrīmāla) refers to one of the 84 castes (gaccha) in the Jain community according to various sources. The associated place of origin is known as Bhinamala (or, Bhīnamāla). The Jain caste and sub-caste system was a comparatively later development within their community, and it may have arisen from the ancient classification of Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. Before distinction of these classes (such as Shrimala), the society was not divided into distinct separate sections, but all were considered as different ways of life and utmost importance was attached to individual chartacter and mode of behaviour.
According to Dr. Vilas Adinath Sangava, “Jainism does not recognise castes (viz., Shrimala) as such and at the same time the Jaina books do not specifically obstruct the observance of caste rules by the members of the Jaina community. The attitude of Jainism towards caste is that it is one of the social practices, unconnected with religion, observed by people; and it was none of its business to regulate the working of the caste system” (source).
The legendary account of the origin of these 84 Jain castes (e.g., Shrimala) relate that once a rich Jain invited members of the Jain community in order to establish a vaiśya-mahāsabhā (i.e. Central Association of Traders). In response, 84 representatives came from different places (e.g., Bhinamala), and they were later seen as the progenitors of these castes. Various sources however mention differences in the list.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryŚrīmālā (श्रीमाला).—name of a queen: Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 222.19; 223.4; see next.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śrīmalā (श्रीमला):—[=śrī-malā] [from śrī] f. a kind of shrub, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) Śrīmāla (श्रीमाल):—[=śrī-māla] [from śrī] m. or n. (?) Name of a district and the town situated in it
3) Sṛmala (सृमल):—[from sṛma] m. Name of an Asura ([varia lectio] samala), [Harivaṃśa]
[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: Shri, Maala, Mala.
Starts with: Shrimaladevisimhanadasutra, Shrimalakhanda, Shrimalamahatmya, Shrimalapaha, Shrimalapatra, Shrimalapurana, Shrimalasimhanadasutra, Shrimalasutra.
Ends with: Shrishrimala.
Full-text (+11): Shrimalapurana, Shrimalamahatmya, Shrimalakhanda, Balagauritirtha, Srimara, Traiyambakasaras, Aradakvamalla, Shrimalasutra, Deshanapatha, Shrimalasimhanadasutra, Punjaraja, Poravala, Jagatsvamin, Jalora, Adityarajas, Riksharajas, Vidyudvega, Mandiramalin, Rathanupura, Adityapura.
Relevant text
Search found 13 books and stories containing Shrimala, Śrīmāla, Srimala, Śrīmālā, Śrīmalā, Shri-mala, Śrī-malā, Sri-mala, Śrī-māla, Sṛmala, Srmala; (plurals include: Shrimalas, Śrīmālas, Srimalas, Śrīmālās, Śrīmalās, malas, malās, mālas, Sṛmalas, Srmalas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shishupala-vadha (Study) (by Shila Chakraborty)
Date of the poet Māgha < [Introduction]
The Sutra of Queen Śrīmālā of the Lion’s Roar
Buddha-nature (as Depicted in the Lankavatara-sutra) (by Nguyen Dac Sy)
1. Early period (b): The Śrīmālā-sūtra < [Chapter 2 - The Buddha-Nature in the Tathāgatagarbha Literature]
1.3. Ālayavijñāna and Tathāgatagarbha < [Chapter 4 - The Thought of Buddha-Nature in the Laṅkāvatārasūtra]
The Concept of Buddha-nature < [Introduction]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 2: Rāvaṇa’s lineage (vaṃśa) < [Chapter I - Origin of the Rākṣasavaṃśa and Vānaravaṃśa]
Buddhism: An Integrated Interpretation < [January – March, 1984]
The Great Buddhist Emperors of Asia (by Shibani Dutta)