Vishalaka, Viśālaka: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Vishalaka 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.
The Sanskrit term Viśālaka can be transliterated into English as Visalaka or Vishalaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraViśālaka (विशालक) refers to classification of a temple/buidling (prāsāda), according to Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 60. The temple is mentioned in a list of thirty-six Prāsādas having activities of the townsmen entailing Sādhārās. The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra is an 11th-century encyclopedia dealing with various topics from the Vāstuśāstra.
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraViśālaka (विशालक) refers to a variety of maṇḍapa (halls attached to the temple), according to the Matsya-purāṇa (verses 270.1-30). The viśālaka-maṇḍapa is to be built with 38 pillars (stambha). The Matsyapurāṇa is one of the eighteen major purāṇas dating from the 1st-millennium BCE.
Accordingly (verse 270.15-17), “These maṇḍapas (e.g., viśālaka) should be either made triangular, circular, octagonal or with 16 sides or they are square. They promote kingdoms, victory, longevity, sons, wife and nourishment respecitvely. Temples of other shape than these are inauspicious.”
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) Viśālaka (विशालक).—A Yakṣa (semi-god). Mention is made in Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 10, Stanza 10, that this Yakṣa stays in the palace of Kubera, glorifying him.
2) Viśālaka (विशालक).—A King. Vasudeva married this King’s daughter Bhadrā. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 42, that after the marriage Bhadrā was kidnapped by Śiśupāla.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexViśālaka (विशालक).—A maṇṭapa with 38 pillars.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 270. 4, 11.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical studyViśālaka (विशालक) (lit. “one who is mighty”) is a synonym (another name) for Garuḍa, according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramViśālaka (विशालक) refers to one of the eight Servants (ceṭa-aṣṭaka) associated with Kāmākhya (corresponding to the eastern face of Bhairava), 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 Servants (ceṭāṣṭaka): Śaṃkhapāla, Kaṃkāla, Viśālaka, Ajaya, Vijaya, Vīrabhadra, Raktākṣa, Kasmāla.
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: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraViśālaka (विशालक) (or Viśāla) and Suvatsaka are the two Indras of the Krandita class Vyantaras living in the first 100 yojanas of the Ratnaprabhā-earth in the “lower world” (adhaloka), according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-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: “[...] In the first 100 yojanas of Ratnaprabhā, with the exception of 10 above and 10 below, i.e., in 80 yojanas, there are 8 classes of Vyantaras: [viz., the Kranditas, ...] The two Indras in these classes are respectively: [viz., Suvatsaka and Viśāla;...]”.
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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Viśālaka (विशालक):—[from viśāla] m. Feronia Elephantum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of Garuḍa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] of a Yakṣa, [Mahābhārata]
[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)
Starts with: Vishalakarani, Vishalakayata.
Ends with: Bhadravishalaka, Keshavishalaka.
Full-text: Vishalika, Kankala, Kashmala, Ajaya, Raktaksha, Virabhadra, Mandapa, Shankhapala, Vishala, Padavinyasa, Vijaya.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Vishalaka, Viśālaka, Visalaka; (plurals include: Vishalakas, Viśālakas, Visalakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vastu-shastra (5): Temple Architecture (by D. N. Shukla)
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section X < [Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 6: The birth-bath of Sambhava < [Chapter I - Sambhavajinacaritra]
Part 4: Birth ceremonies of Ṛṣabha < [Chapter II]
Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study) (by K. Vidyuta)
5. Fourteen types of Āyatāśra (Rectangular) Maṇḍapas < [Chapter 4 - Maṇḍapa Lakṣaṇa]
Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)
Vastu-shastra (1): Canons of Architecture (by D. N. Shukla)
(ii) The Site-planning (Vāstupada-vīnyāsa) < [Chapter 6 - Fundamental Canons of Hindu Architecture]