Spear: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Spear means something in Buddhism, Pali, biology. 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.
Images (photo gallery)
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In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (mahayana)Spears are used as a material in the performance of a sacred bathing ritual dedicated to Goddess Sarasvatī, according to the seventh chapter of the Suvarṇaprabhāsottamasūtra.—In chapter 7, the Sarasvatīparivarta, the goddess Sarasvatī grants her support to the Dharma preacher through the gift of eloquence, and presents a bathing ritual with enchanted herbs for him and his audience in order to appease all disturbances. It is promised that, invoked by praise, Sarasvatī herself will appear and remove all diseases and difficulties. The ritual instructions prescribe that one should pound herbs and consecrate the powder with mantras at the time of the Puṣya constellation. A maṇḍala should be drawn with cow-dung, flowers should be scattered and gold and silver vessels filled. Four armed men and four well-adorned maidens should be placed there holding pots in their hands, thus accomplishing the protective sealing of the boundaries (sīmābandha). One should use incense, music, umbrellas, flags, banners, mirrors, arrows, spears and dhāraṇī-spells, and in due course bathe behind an image of the Buddha.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Spear in English is the name of a plant defined with Heteropogon contortus in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Andropogon contortum L. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· New Phytologist (1873)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)
· Enum. Pl. (1933)
· Essai d’une Nouvelle Agrostographie (1812)
· Systema Vegetabilium ed. 15 (1817)
· Acta Botanica Indica (1990)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Spear, for example side effects, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, extract dosage, diet and recipes, health benefits, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Spear grass, Spear thistle, Spear-leaf leopardbane, Spear-leaved goosefoot, Speargrass, Spearleaf arnica, Spearmint, Spearwood, Spearwood bush, Spearwort.
Ends with: Cardinal spear, Silver spear.
Full-text (+824): Pattisha, Shula, Shakti, Kunta, Vishula, Shaktidhara, Prasika, Rishtimant, Rishtimat, Karpana, Shilebhale, Shaktipani, Kunapa, Bhala, Panimukta, Shulin, Sthanu, Bhalla, Kasu, Shaktigraha.
Relevant text
Search found 149 books and stories containing Spear; (plurals include: Spears). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 10 - Jubilation of the gods at the death of Tāraka < [Section 2.4 - Rudra-saṃhitā (4): Kumāra-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 21 - The destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice (2): The punishment of the gods < [Section 7.1 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (1)]
Chapter 17 - The fight between Viṣṇu and Jalandhara < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Heimskringla (by Snorri Sturlson)
Part 30 - King Hakon's Battle Array < [Chapter IV - Hakon The Good's Saga]
Part 119 - Olaf Gives His Men Sharp Swords < [Chapter VI - King Olaf Trygvason's Saga]
Part 47 - Of The Battle At Nesjar < [Chapter VII - Saga Of Olaf Haraldson]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 7: Winning of Jitapadmā < [Chapter V - The kidnapping of Sītā]
Part 8: Further attacks on Vīra < [Chapter IV - Mahāvīra’s second period of more than six years]
Part 3: War between the Rākṣasas and Vānaras < [Chapter VII - The killing of Rāvaṇa]
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)
Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)
Chapter 12 - Royal Race, Troops and Weapons of India < [Book II - Three Countries]
Chapter 3 - Country of Mo-ho-la-ch’a (Maharashtra) < [Book XI - Twenty-three Countries]
Chapter 1 - Country of Sang-kia-lo (Simhala) < [Book XI - Twenty-three Countries]