Varnamala, Varṇamālā, Varna-mala: 10 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Shaktism
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
See also

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)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

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 [...]”.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

varṇamālā (वर्णमाला).—f (S Wreath or garland of the letters.) The alphabet.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

varṇamālā (वर्णमाला).—f The alphabet.

context information

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

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला).—the alphabet.

Varṇamālā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms varṇa and mālā (माला). See also (synonyms): varṇarāśi.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला).—f.

(-lā) The alphabet. E. varṇa a letter, mālā a garland.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varṇamāla (वर्णमाल).—f. lā, the alphabet.

Varṇamāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms varṇa and māla (माल).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—jy. B. 4, 192. Peters. 2, 194 (Varṇamālāpraśnagrantha).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

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.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Varṇamālā (वर्णमाला):—[varṇa-mālā] (lā) 1. f. Alphabet.

[Sanskrit to German]

Varnamala in German

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 8 books and stories containing Varnamala, Varṇamālā, Varna-mala, Varṇa-mālā, Varṇamāla, Varṇa-māla; (plurals include: Varnamalas, Varṇamālās, malas, mālās, Varṇamālas, mālas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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]

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Chapter 4 - Preliminaries to the Puraścaraṇa (continuous repetition of the Mantra) < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]

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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]

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Reviews < [January – March, 1986]

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