Sumangala, Sumaṅgala, Sumaṅgalā: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Sumangala 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaSumaṅgalā (सुमङ्गला).—A female attendant of Subrahmaṇya. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 46, Verse 12).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationSumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल) refers to “holy auspicious (rites)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.37 (“The letter of betrothal is dispatched”).—Accordingly, as Himavat prepared the wedding of Menā and Śiva: “[...] Then he began collecting foodstuffs and other requisite articles intended for the performance of the marriage. [...] Auspicious rites were started by the mountain on an auspicious day. The womenfolk of the mountain performed the purificatory ceremony for Pārvatī. Women bedecked in ornaments performed auspicious rites. The delighted Brahmin women of the city did everything in accordance with the tradition and custom. Great festivities and holy auspicious rites (sumaṅgala) were performed by the delighted Himavat too. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexSumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल).—A Janapada of the Bhadrā continent.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 43. 19.
Sumaṅgalā (सुमङ्गला) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.45.12). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Sumaṅgalā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra1) Sumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल) refers to a variety of prāsāda (‘superstructure’, or, upper storey of any building), according to the Mayamata (5th-century guidebook on Dravidian architecture). It is part of the Dvitala (two-storey) group of prāsādas.
The Sumaṅgala variety has the following specifications and decorative motif components:
Number of talas (levels): 2;
Shape of grīva (neck) and śikhara (head): Rectangular (three stūpis)
2) Sumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल, “bringing good fortune”) refers to one of the twelve effects of āya (“profit”), according to the Mānasāra. Āya is the first of the āyādiṣaḍvarga, or “six principles” that constitute the “horoscope” of an architectural or iconographic object. Their application is intended to “verify” the measurements of the architectural and iconographic object against the dictates of astrology that lay out the conditions of auspiciousness.
The particular āya (e.g., sumaṅgala) of all architectural and iconographic objects (settlement, building, image) must be calculated and ascertained. This process is based on the principle of the remainder. An arithmetical formula to be used in each case is stipulated, which engages one of the basic dimensions of the object (breadth, length, or perimeter/circumference). The twelve effects of āya may all be assumed as auspicious.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraSumaṅgalā (सुमङ्गला) is the name of a woman mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 124. Accordingly, “... she procured a splendid dress suitable to a courtesan, and travelling along she reached Ujjayinī, and entered it as the chief beauty of the world. And having arranged with her attendants every detail of her scheme, that young Brāhman lady assumed the name of Sumaṅgalā. And her servants proclaimed everywhere: ‘A courtesan named Sumaṅgalā has come from Kāmarūpa, and her goodwill is only to be procured by the most lavish expenditure’”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Sumaṅgalā, 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.
Source: OpenEdition books: Vividhatīrthakalpaḥ (Kāvya)Sumaṅgalā (सुमङ्गला) is wife of king Vimalayaśas , as mentioned in the Vividhatīrthakalpa by Jinaprabhasūri (13th century A.D.): an ancient text devoted to various Jaina holy places (tīrthas).—Accordingly, “Here, in the land of Bharata, lived King Vimalayaśas . Knowing the meaning of happiness with Queen Sumangala, he soon had two children, a son, Puṣpacūla, and a daughter, Puṣpacūlā. As Puṣpacūla caused bad luck, people nicknamed him Vaṅkacūla. Informed by his dignitaries, the angry king expelled Vaṅkacūla from the city. [...]”.
Note: Only a few textual differences distinguish the legend of the Vividhatīrthakalpa from the version of Prabandhakośa 75-8. The other prabandhas (Prabandhacintāmaṇi, Purātanaprabandhasaṃgraha and Panchashati-prabandha-sambandha) ignore this story.
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’.
Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)
Source: Journal of the University of Bombay Volume V: Apabhramsa metres (2)Sumaṅgalā (सुमङ्गला) is the name of a catuṣpadi metre (as popularly employed by the Apabhraṃśa bards), as discussed in books such as the Chandonuśāsana, Kavidarpaṇa, Vṛttajātisamuccaya and Svayambhūchandas.—Sumaṅgalā has 18 mātrās in each of its four lines, divided into the groups of 4, 4, 4, 4 and [S] mātrās.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Sumaṅgalā (सुमङ्गला) and Māṅgalyeśa refers to the pair of Goddess and God appearing in the twelfth Kalpa (aeon), according to the Kularatnoddyota.—Chapter nine of the Kularatnoddyota opens with the goddess asking how the Kula tradition (kulāmnāya) will be worshipped along with its mantras and Vidyās and who will bring it down (avatāraka) into the world in the various cosmic aeons (kalpa). After explaining that it is brought down into the world by incarnations or aspects of both the god and the goddess (aṃśamātra), the god goes on to list the names of these aspects—a goddess and her consort [i.e., Sumaṅgalā—Māṅgalyeśa]—in nineteen aeons (kalpa), many of which we recognize from the earlier version in the Tantrasadbhāva.—(cf. Jayadrathayāmala-tantra of the Kāpālikas).
2) Sumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल) which refers to one of the eight Heroes (vīra-aṣṭaka) associated with Nādapīṭha (identified with Kulūta), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight Heroes (vīrāṣṭaka): Vīreśa, Sumaṅgala, Mahājaṅgala, Huṃkāra, Suśānti, Parama, Prabodha, Praśānta.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsSumangala [सुमङ्गला] in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Marsdenia volubilis (L. fil.) Cooke from the Apocynaceae (Oleander) family having the following synonyms: Asclepias volubilis, Dregea volubilis, Wattakaka volubilis. For the possible medicinal usage of sumangala, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Sumangala. Aggasavaka of Dipankara Buddha. J.i.29; Bu.ii.213.
2. Sumangala. One of the chief lay patrons of Kassapa Buddha (Bu.xxv.41; J.i.92).
He spread the ground with bricks of gold for a space of twenty usabhas and spent an equal sum on a monastery for the Buddha. . He saw a man sleeping, and thought to himself that the man must be a thief. The man conceived a grudge against Sumangala, and burned his fields seven times, cut the feet off the cattle in his pen seven times, and burned his house seven times. Then knowing that Sumangala loved the Buddhas Gandhakuti, he also set fire to that. It was burnt down by the time Sumangala could arrive there; seeing it, he clasped his hands, saying that now he could build another in its place. Then the thief went about with a knife concealed on him, waiting to kill Sumangala. One day Sumangala held a great almsgiving, at the conclusion of which he said: Sir, there is evidently an enemy of mine trying to do me harm. I have no anger against him, and will give over to him the fruits of this offering. The thief heard and was filled with remorse, and begged his forgiveness. The thief was later born as a peta on Gijjhakuta. DhA.iii.61f.
3. Sumangala. City of birth of Sujata Buddha (Bu.xiii.20; J.i.38). He preached his first sermon in the park in the city. BuA.168.
4. Sumangala. The city where Piyadassi Buddha preached to Palita and Sabbadassi, who later became his chief disciples. BuA.176.
5. Sumangala. A king of seven hundred kappas ago, a previous birth of Susarada (Phaladayaka) Thera. ThagA.i.167; Ap.i.161.
6. Sumangala. Nineteen kappas ago there were several kings of this name, previous births of Khitaka Thera. ThagA.i.209.
7. Sumangala Thera. He was born in a poor family in a hamlet near Savatthi. When he grew up, he earned his living in the fields. One day he saw Pasenadi hold a great almsgiving to the Order, and, seeing the food served to the monks, desired to enter the Order that he might lead a life of ease and luxury. A Thera to whom he confessed his desire ordained him, and sent him to the forest with an exercise for meditation. In solitude he pined and wavered, and finally returned to his village. As he went along he saw men working in the fields in the hot wind, with soiled garments, covered with dust. And thinking how miserable they were, he put forth fresh effort in his meditations, and, winning insight, attained arahantship.
In the past he saw Siddhattha Buddha (? Atthadassi Buddha) standing in one robe, after a bath. Pleased with this sight, he clapped his hands. One hundred and sixteen kappas ago he was twice king, under the name of Ekacintita. Thag.vs.43; ThagA.i.111f.; Ap.i.147f.
8. Sumangala Thera. An arahant. One hundred and eighteen kappas ago he was a brahmin. One day,
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).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiSumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल) refers to “good fortune”, according to the Kalaśa Pūjā [i.e., Kalasha Worship] 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, “Oṃ accept the offering of conch-water from a flower Svāhā! [...] To pleasure, success, spotless wisdom, good fortune (sumaṅgala), (and) enlightenment”.
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: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraSumaṅgalā (सुमङ्गला) is the name of Ṛṣabha’s twin sister, according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-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,
“[...] Then the Lady Marudevā awakened and related to Nābhi this meeting with the gods like a dream at night. Since a bull was the mark on the thigh of the Lord of the World, and since a bull was seen first by his mother in her dream, the delighted parents named him Ṛṣabha, with a festival on an auspicious day. Then the parents gave a suitable purifying name also, Sumaṅgalā, to the daughter born as his twin. [...]”.
As Purandara (Śakra) said to Ṛṣabha:
Source: HereNow4u: Lord Śrī Mahāvīra“[...] I think the Master has been free from passion from the time that he was in the womb, devoted to the fourth object of existence (mokṣa), indifferent to the other three. Nevertheless, O Lord, the path, of conduct for the people will be made entirely plain by you alone, just like the path of mokṣa. I wish that the great festival of marriage should be established for the conduct of the people. Favor me. O Master, your ought to marry the Ladies Sumaṅgalā and Sunandā, ornaments of the earth, suitable for yourself, beautiful”.
Sumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल) is the name of a village visited by Mahāvīra during his twelfth year of spiritual-exertion.—From Meḍhiyāgrāma he reached Kauśāmbī. After leaving Kauśāmbī, the Lord arrived at Campā city after passing through the villages Sumaṅgala, Suchettā, Pālaka etc. After four months fast, he completed the 12th cāturmāsa at the sacrificial hall of the Brahmin Svātidatta. Leaving that place the Lord arrived at Jambhiyagrāma.
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 dictionarySumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल).—a.
1) very auspicious.
2) abounding in sacrifices.
Sumaṅgala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and maṅgala (मङ्गल).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल).—mfn.
(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) Very fortunate or auspicious. f.
(-lā) A plant, commonly Ghrita-manda. E. su very, maṅgala auspicious. “mākaḍahātā” .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल).—adj. very fortunate or auspicious.
Sumaṅgala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and maṅgala (मङ्गल).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल).—[feminine] ṅgalī or sumaṅgalā bringing good luck.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Sumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल):—[=su-maṅgala] [from su > su-ma] mf(ī or ā)n. bringing good fortune, very auspicious, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
2) [v.s. ...] well-conducted (= sad-ācāra), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a preceptor, [Catalogue(s)]
4) Sumaṅgalā (सुमङ्गला):—[=su-maṅgalā] [from su-maṅgala > su > su-ma] f. a [particular] medicinal root, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] Name of one of the Mātṛs attending on Skanda, [Mahābhārata]
6) [v.s. ...] of an Apsaras, [Kāśī khaṇḍa, from the skanda-purāṇa]
7) [v.s. ...] of a woman, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
8) [v.s. ...] of a river, [Kālikā-purāṇa]
9) Sumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल):—[=su-maṅgala] [from su > su-ma] n. an auspicious object, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल):—[su-maṅgala] (laḥ-lā-laṃ) a. Very fortunate or auspicious. 1. f. A plant, Ghritamandā.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Sumaṅgala (सुमङ्गल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Simaṃgala, Sumaṃgalā.
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionarySumaṃgalā (सुमंगला) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Sumaṅgalā.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusSumaṃgala (ಸುಮಂಗಲ):—[noun] = ಸುಮಂಗಳ [sumamgala].
--- OR ---
Sumaṃgaḷa (ಸುಮಂಗಳ):—[noun] the quality or condition of being auspicious, favourably inclined; auspiciousness; propitiousness.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Sumangala Jataka, Sumangala Parivena, Sumangalakhyastotra, Sumangalamata Theri, Sumangalanaman, Sumangalappasadani, Sumangalastotra, Sumangalavilasini.
Ends with: Vasumangala.
Full-text (+56): Brahmi, Culavamsa, Abhidhammattha Vikasini, Saratthasalini, Simamgala, Saumangala, Sumangalappasadani, Narivaddhana, Saumangalya, Rajovada Sutta, Sumangalamata Theri, Sumangala Jataka, Sumangalavilasini, Tikandipupphiya, Namarupaparjecheda, Abhidhamma Vibhanava, Songala, Kanakapabbata, Dighanikaya, Saccasankhepa.
Relevant text
Search found 33 books and stories containing Sumangala, Sumamgala, Sumaṅgala, Sumaṃgala, Sumaṅgalā, Sumaṃgalā, Sumaṃgaḷa, Sumaṅgaḷa, Sumangaḷa; (plurals include: Sumangalas, Sumamgalas, Sumaṅgalas, Sumaṃgalas, Sumaṅgalās, Sumaṃgalās, Sumaṃgaḷas, Sumaṅgaḷas, Sumangaḷas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 8: Coronation as king < [Chapter II]
Part 2: Sumaṅgala and the ascetic < [Chapter VI - Adoption of right-belief by Śreṇika]
Part 19: Future of Gośāla < [Chapter VIII - Initiation of ṛṣabhadatta and devānandā]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 1.2.37 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]
The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 420: Sumaṅgala-jātaka < [Volume 3]
Jataka 9: Makhādeva-jātaka < [Book I - Ekanipāta]
Jataka 37: Tittira-jātaka < [Book I - Ekanipāta]
Dipavamsa (study) (by Sibani Barman)
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
2.27. Rudra as Kṛṣṇa Asita < [Chapter 6a - The Epithets of Rudra-Śiva]
6. Common epithets of Rudra and Śiva < [Chapter 6b - Epithets (References)]
1. Epithets of Rudra-Śiva tracked in the Saṃhitā literature < [Chapter 6b - Epithets (References)]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 22 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]