Vidyullekha, Vidyullekhā, Vidyut-lekha: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Vidyullekha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraVidyullekhā (विद्युल्लेखा) refers to a type of syllabic metre (vṛtta), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 16. In this metre all of the eight syllables of a foot (pāda) are heavy (guru). It is also known the name Vidyunmālā.
⎼⎼⎼¦⎼⎼⎼¦⎼⎼¦¦⎼⎼⎼¦⎼⎼⎼¦⎼⎼¦¦
⎼⎼⎼¦⎼⎼⎼¦⎼⎼¦¦⎼⎼⎼¦⎼⎼⎼¦⎼⎼¦¦
Vidyullekhā falls in the Anuṣṭup (Anuṣṭubh) class of chandas (rhythm-type), which implies that verses constructed with this metre have four pādas (‘foot’ or ‘quarter-verse’) containing eight syllables each.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraVidyullekhā (विद्युल्लेखा) is the wife of merchant Dharmasena from Tāmraliptī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 69. Accordingly, as the Muni Vijitāsu said to Puṣkarākṣa: “... there was in old time a merchant in Tāmraliptī, named Dharmasena, and he had a beautiful wife named Vidyullekhā. As it happened he was robbed by bandits and wounded with weapons by them, and longing for death, he went out with his wife to enter the fire”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Vidyullekhā, 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’.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramVidyullekha (विद्युल्लेख) refers to a “streak of lightning”, as discussed in the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as the Goddess says to Mahādeva: “The Person (puruṣa), unmanifest by nature, emerged from his [=Agnituṅga’s] navel. O Bhairava, he has no manifestation and is not perceived. [...] The power of his will emerged and came forth like a streak of lightning (vidyullekhavat). And she was in the Sky above and below in the supreme (transcendent) and the inferior (immanent). She was divided into three parts by the power of (her) divine energy. O god, will, knowledge and action -the mobile and immobile (universe) was pervaded by (these) three. I gave rise to the other gods and I am the mother of the universe. [...]”.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryVidyullekhā (विद्युल्लेखा).—[feminine] flash of lightning (lit. a creeper & a line of lightning).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vidyullekhā (विद्युल्लेखा):—[=vidyul-lekhā] [from vidyul > vi-dyut] f. a streak of l°, [Kāvya literature]
2) [v.s. ...] a kind of metre, [Kedāra’s Vṛtti-ratnākara]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a certain merchant’s wife, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
[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: Lekha, Vidyul, Vidyut.
Starts with: Vidyullekhavat.
Full-text: Lekha, Vidyunmala, Dharmasena.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Vidyullekha, Vidyul-lekha, Vidyullekhā, Vidyutlekha, Vidyutlekhā, Vidyul-lekhā, Vidyut-lekha, Vidyut-lekhā, Vidyut-lekha; (plurals include: Vidyullekhas, lekhas, Vidyullekhās, Vidyutlekhas, Vidyutlekhās, lekhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Pratyabhijna and Shankara’s Advaita (comparative study) (by Ranjni M.)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Dramaturgy in the Venisamhara (by Debi Prasad Namasudra)
Vṛttas (syllabic metres) < [Chapter 4 - Dramaturgy in Veṇīsaṃhāra]
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter LXIX < [Book XII - Śaśāṅkavatī]