Varnamala, Varṇamālā, Varna-mala: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Varnamala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला) refers to a “garland of letters”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “(Kubjikā’s) iconic form is threefold (according to whether it is) in (the transmission) of the Child, Middle One or the Aged. [...] (She holds) a skull, a rosary, the five immortal substances, an ascetic’s staff, the Kādi scripture, conch, and the great nectar which is filled constantly with (the recitation of her Trikhaṇḍā Vidyā) consisting of 292 syllables. The garland of vowels on her head rains down a stream of nectar. The garland of letters [i.e., varṇamālā] that (hangs from) the neck of the goddess (reaches) the soles (of her) feet. The necklace around her neck, made of fifty scorpions, looks beautiful [...]”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला) refers to one of the topics discussed in the Mahāmokṣa-Tantra, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 12 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (second series)” by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri.—The Mahāmokṣatantra manuscript, consisting of 3,024 ślokas (metrical verses), is deposit: Dhaka, Vikramapura Majhapada, Babu Rasavihari Raya. It deals with the salvation, cosmogony (i.e., the order of cosmic regions) and contains a bibliography of Tantric literature.— The catalogue includes the term—Varṇamālā-vivaraṇa in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads—34 śe paṭale,–varṇamālāvivaraṇam .
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
varṇamālā (वर्णमाला).—f (S Wreath or garland of the letters.) The alphabet.
varṇamālā (वर्णमाला).—f The alphabet.
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
Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला).—the alphabet.
Varṇamālā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms varṇa and mālā (माला). See also (synonyms): varṇarāśi.
Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला).—f.
(-lā) The alphabet. E. varṇa a letter, mālā a garland.
Varṇamāla (वर्णमाल).—f. lā, the alphabet.
Varṇamāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms varṇa and māla (माल).
Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—jy. B. 4, 192. Peters. 2, 194 (Varṇamālāpraśnagrantha).
Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला):—[=varṇa-mālā] [from varṇa > varṇ] f. order or series of letters ([especially] rows of letters written on a board or in a diagram), the alphabet, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला):—[varṇa-mālā] (lā) 1. f. Alphabet.
[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.
Nepali dictionary
Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला):—n. syllabary; alphabet;
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: Varnamalagra, Varnamalai, Varnamalaprashnagrantha, Varnamalavivarana.
Full-text: Varnamalaprashnagrantha, Navavarnamala, Varnamalai, Vannamalai, Varnmaala, Varnamalavivarana, Varnarashi, Devnagri, Shiksha, Devanagari, Bija, Samskrita, Dvatrimshat, Matrika.
Relevant text
Search found 20 books and stories containing Varnamala, Varna-mala, Varṇa-mālā, Varṇa-māla, Varṇamālā, Varṇamāla; (plurals include: Varnamalas, malas, mālās, mālas, Varṇamālās, Varṇamālas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tattvabindu of Vachaspati Mishra (study) (by Kishor Deka)
Chapter 4 - Rejection of the third view (varṇamālāvāda) on verbal knowledge
Part 2 - A brief account of Tattvabindu < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
10. Sankhya-Yoga and Tantra < [Chapter 1 - History and scope of Tantric Literature]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 307 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 1]
Page 20 < [Hindi-Sindhi-English Volume 3]
Page 312 < [Hindi-Gujarati-English Volume 1]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 139 [Vargapañcaka forms seed for pañcāśat varṇas] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Forms of Praṇava < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
Verse 1 [Invocation to Lord Gaṇeśa] < [Chapter 1 - First Vimarśa]
Principle of Shakti in Kashmir Shaivism (Study) (by Nirmala V.)
Part 4 - Audial and Visual Identities of Śakti < [Chapter 3 - Evolution of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Shakti and Shakta (by John Woodroffe)
Chapter XXV - Varṇamālā (the Garland of Letters) < [Section 3 - Ritual]
Chapter XXIX - Kuṇḍalinī Śakti (Yoga) < [Section 4 - Yoga and Conclusions]
Chapter XXVI - Śākta Sādhanā (the Ordinary Ritual) < [Section 3 - Ritual]