Suprabha, Suprabhā, Su-prabha: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Suprabha means something in 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
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraSuprabha (सुप्रभ) refers to a type of temple (prāsāda) classified under the group named Maṇika, according to Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 49. The Maṇika group contains ten out of a sixty-four total prāsādas (temples) classified under five prime vimānas (aerial car/palace), which were created by Brahmā for as many gods (including himself). This group represents temples (e.g. Suprabha) that are to be globular and oblong in shape. The prāsādas, or ‘temples’, represent the dwelling place of God and are to be built in towns. The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra is an 11th-century encyclopedia dealing with various topics from the Vāstuśāstra.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा).—A wife of Śrī Kṛṣṇa who put her up in the mansion named Padmakūṭa at Dvārakā. (Mahābhārata Southern Text, Chapter 38).
2) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा).—An asura woman, daughter of Kaśyapaprajāpati by Svarbhānu. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 19).
3) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा).—River Sarasvatī, which runs through Puṣkaratīrtha. (See under Sarasvatī).
4) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा).—Daughter of the maharṣi called Vadānya. She was married by Aṣṭāvakra.
5) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा).—A daughter of Dakṣa. Arrows and other weapons took birth from Jayā and Suprabhā, daughters of Dakṣa. (For details see under Jayā V).
6) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा).—Daughter of King Suratha and wife of Nābhāga. Sage Agastya who became displeased with her as she once threatened him, cursed her to be born in Vaiśya caste as a result of which Suprabhā and her son Bhalandana became Vaiśyas. But, as Suprabhā taught her son, when he came of age, about the duties of the Kṣatriya he regained his former form. (Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationSuprabha (सुप्रभ) means “brilliant lustre”, referring to the divine mansions (bhavana) erected by Tvaṣṭṛ, as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.27. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] once a great sacrifice was started by Dakṣa, O sage. To partake in that sacrifice, the celestial and terrestrial sages and Devas were invited by Śiva and they reached the place being deluded by Śiva’s Māyā. [...] Large divine mansions (bhavana) of great value (mahārha) and brilliant lustre (suprabha) were erected by Tvaṣṭṛ and assigned to them by Dakṣa. In all those places they stationed themselves in a befitting manner after being duly honoured. They shone along with Viṣṇu and me”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Suprabha (सुप्रभ).—A son of Vapuṣmat and founder of the Suprabha kingdom.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 32, 34; Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 28, 30; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 23, 29.
1b) A varṣa centering round Kakuda hill of Śālmali.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 49. 41.
2) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा).—A daughter of Svarbhānu, and wife of Namuci.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 6. 32.
Suprabha (सुप्रभ) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.38) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Suprabha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Suprabhā also refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.45.10).
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraSuprabha (सुप्रभ) is mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 53. Accordingly, as a weeping woman said to Vīravara: “... for he [Suprabha], possessing divine foresight, foresaw that in seven days he would fall from heaven on account of the exhaustion of his merits and be conceived in the body of a sow”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Suprabha, 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.
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’.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭuSuprabhā (सुप्रभा) is another name for Vākucī, a medicinal plant identified with Psoralea corylifolia Linn. (“Babchi”) from the Fabaceae or “legume” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.62-65 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Suprabhā and Vākucī, there are a total of twenty-one Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
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.
Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)
Source: Journal of the University of Bombay Volume V: Apabhramsa metres (2)Suprabhā (सुप्रभा) 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.—Suprabhā has 20 mātrās in each of its four lines, divided into the groups of 4, 5, 4, 4 and [IS] 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: ManthanabhairavatantramSuprabhā (सुप्रभा) refers to one of the thirty-two Bhairavīs (also Dūtis) embodying the syllables of the goddess’s Vidyā, 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 thirty-two Bhairavīs [i.e., Suprabhā] are the consorts of the Bhairavas presiding over the sonic energies of the thirty-two syllables of her Vidyā. [...] Notice that like there are Yoginīs in this group who are also worshipped independently as the Great Goddess. Moreover, several also appear in other groups.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismSuprabha (सुप्रभ) is the name of the fourth Baladeva according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Jain legends describe nine such Baladevas (“gentle heroes”) usually appearing together with their “violent” twin-brothers known as the Vāsudevas. The legends of these twin-heroes usually involve their antagonistic counterpart known as the Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes).
The mother of Suprabha is known by the name Sudarśanā according to the Samavāyāṅga-sūtra, and their stories are related in texts such as the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.
Suprabhā (सुप्रभा) is mentioned as the mother of Bhadra: the third Baladeva according to Śvetāmbara sources.
The nine Baladevas (such as Suprabha) are also known as Balabhadra and are further described in various Jain sources, such as the Bhagavatīsūtra and Jambūdvīpaprajñapti in Śvetāmbara, or the Tiloyapaṇṇatti and Ādipurāṇa in the Digambara tradition. The appearance of a Baladeva is described as follows: their body is of a white complexion, they wear a blue-black robe, and the mark of the palm-tree (tāla) is seen on their banners.
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1) Suprabha (सुप्रभ), the son of Sudarśanā, is one of the nine white Baladevas, according to chapter 1.6 [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: “[...] There will be nine white Baladevas, their (half-)brothers, sons of co-wives. [...] Suprabha, son of Sudarśanā, living for fifty-five lacs, will be the fourth Baladeva”.
2) Suprabha (सुप्रभा) refers to one of the two wives of king Rudra from Dvārakā, according to chapter 4.3 [vimalanātha-caritra].
3) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा) (or Śrīprabhā) is the name of the daughter of Ādityarajas and Indumālinī, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.2 [Rāvaṇa’s expedition of conquest].
4) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा) refers to one of the wives of Daśaratha, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4 [Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa].—Accordingly, “[...] Though a child, ruling, King Daśaratha attained growth in age and strength gradually. [...] He married another princess, faultless, the embodiment of virtue, grace, and beauty, named Suprabhā. With these the best of kings enjoyed sensuous pleasure without injuring duty and wealth—he, the crest-jewel of discernment”.
5) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा) is the wife of king Śaśimaṇḍala from Saṅgītāpura, according to chapter 7.7 [The killing of Rāvaṇa].
6) Suprabha (सुप्रभ) is the name of an ancient King whose son was known as Sūrodaya, according to chapter 7.8 [The abandonment of Sītā].
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 dictionarySuprabha (सुप्रभ).—a. very brilliant, glorious.
-bhā one of the seven tongues of fire.
Suprabha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and prabha (प्रभ).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySuprabha (सुप्रभ).—(1) name of a former Buddha: Mahāvastu i.112.17; (2) name of a king of Benares, in the Godhā-jātaka: Mahāvastu ii.64.14; 66.7; (3) name of another king: Gaṇḍavyūha 99.12; (4) name of a śreṣṭhin's son: Gaṇḍavyūha 51.23; (5) name of two kalpas: Gaṇḍavyūha 352.4; 446.26; (6) nt., name of a city: Gaṇḍavyūha 160.15 ff.
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Suprabhā (सुप्रभा).—(1) name of a daughter of a śreṣṭhin at Śrāvastī: Avadāna-śataka ii.1.15; (2) name of a female lay-disciple: Gaṇḍavyūha 51.15; (3) name of a girl, attendant on Subhadrā (1): Gaṇḍavyūha 52.3.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySuprabha (सुप्रभ).—mfn.
(-bhaḥ-bhā-bhaṃ) Splendid, brilliant, glorious. m.
(-bhaḥ) One of the nine Suklabalas or Balaramas of the Jainas. f.
(-bhā) One of the seven tongues of fire. E. su excellent or excessive, and prabhā light, lustre.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySuprabhā (सुप्रभा).—adj. splendid.
Suprabhā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and prabhā (प्रभा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySuprabha (सुप्रभ).—[adjective] good-looking, handsome, beautiful.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Suprabha (सुप्रभ):—[=su-prabha] [from su > su-pakva] mf(ā)n. having a good appearance, beautiful, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Rāmāyaṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] very bright or splendid, glorious, [Horace H. Wilson]
3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a Dānava, [Harivaṃśa]
4) [v.s. ...] of a Devaputra, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
5) [v.s. ...] of one of the 9 Balas of the Jainas, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] of various kings, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa; Catalogue(s)]
7) Suprabhā (सुप्रभा):—[=su-prabhā] [from su-prabha > su > su-pakva] f. Vernonia Anthelminthica, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) [v.s. ...] one of the 7 tongues of Fire, [Tantrasāra]
9) [v.s. ...] Name of one of the Mātṛs attending on Skanda, [Mahābhārata]
10) [v.s. ...] of a Surāṅganā, [Siṃhāsana-dvātriṃśikā or vikramāditya-caritra, jaina recension]
11) [v.s. ...] of various women, [Mahābhārata; Purāṇa] etc.
12) [v.s. ...] of one of the 7 Sarasvatis, [Mahābhārata]
13) Suprabha (सुप्रभ):—[=su-prabha] [from su > su-pakva] n. Name of a Varṣa ruled by Su-prabha, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySuprabha (सुप्रभ):—[su-prabha] (bhaḥ) 1. m. Balarāma of the Jainas. a. Splendid, glorious.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Suprabha (सुप्रभ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Suppabha, Suppabhā.
[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: Prabha, Cu, Shu.
Starts with: Suprabhadeva, Suprabhanvita, Suprabhapura, Suprabhasa, Suprabhat, Suprabhata, Suprabhatastotra, Suprabhate, Suprabhava, Suprabhavadeva, Suprabhavartaka, Suprabhayaka.
Ends with: Atisuprabha, Ativasuprabha, Vasuprabha.
Full-text (+36): Suppabha, Suprabhapura, Suprabhadeva, Shvetadesha, Mahatapas, Padmakuta, Suprabhata, Navashaktaya, Saptajihva, Baladeva, Shatrughna, Rudra, Bhadra, Pramohini, Paramadbhuta, Agnikunda, Shrutirati, Vapushmat, Oghavati, Prahladana.
Relevant text
Search found 36 books and stories containing Suprabha, Su-prabha, Su-prabhā, Suprabhā; (plurals include: Suprabhas, prabhas, prabhās, Suprabhās). 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 10: The future Baladevas < [Chapter VI]
Part 10: Birth of Bhadra < [Chapter III - Vimalanāthacaritra]
Part 22: Death of Suprabha < [Chapter IV - Anantanāthacaritra]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 8.13.61 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Sarga II: Dhanurveda-viveka-kathana (64 Verses) < [Chapter 2]
War Weapons (2): Astras (Introduction) < [Chapter 3]
Sarga I: Rājadharma-upadeśa (57 Verses) < [Chapter 2]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.18.102 < [Chapter 18 - Mahāprabhu’s Dancing as a Gopī]
Verse 2.18.9 < [Chapter 18 - Mahāprabhu’s Dancing as a Gopī]
Jainism and Patanjali Yoga (Comparative Study) (by Deepak bagadia)
Six Essential observances < [Chapter 3 - Jain Philosophy and Practice]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
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