Bimba, Vimbā, Vimba: 33 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Pancaratra
2. Shilpashastra
3. Purana
4. Chandas
5. Jyotisha
6. Shaivism
7. Shaktism
8. Vastushastra
9. General definition
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Biology
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
5. Prakrit
6. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Bimba means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Binb.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: SriMatham: Vaiṣṇava Iconology based on Pañcarātra Āgama

bimba–(reflection or prototype) the original or model after which a thing is copied (the Original Being of course is God). This is a Sanskrit term used in hindu iconology (e.g. the Āgamas).

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Introduction

Bimba (बिम्ब).—reflection or prototype;—the original or model after which a thing is copied (the Original Being of course is God).

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Bimba (बिम्ब) refers to an “image made of metal”.—The term “image” finds its close parallel in Sanskrit words like pratikṛti, pratimā, bimba, and so on. The word bimba means imitation and it is very frequently used in the sense of the images of divinities. An image made of metal is called bimba, and one that is carved by hand is known as pratimā. In general, all the icons are called paḍima.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Bimba (बिम्ब).—A son of Vasudeva and Bhadrā.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 173; Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 171.

context information

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.

Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature

Bimba (बिम्ब) refers to one of the 130 varṇavṛttas (syllabo-quantitative verse) dealt with in the second chapter of the Vṛttamuktāvalī, ascribed to Durgādatta (19th century), author of eight Sanskrit work and patronised by Hindupati: an ancient king of the Bundela tribe (presently Bundelkhand of Uttar Pradesh). A Varṇavṛtta (e.g., bimba) refers to a type of classical Sanskrit metre depending on syllable count where the light-heavy patterns are fixed.

context information

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Bimba (बिम्ब) refers to the “disc” (of the sun), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 3), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The dark spots, also known as ketus, the sons of Rāhu are Tāmasa, Kīlaka and the like, and are 33 in number. How they affect the earth depends upon their color, position and shape. [...] If there should appear on the solar disc [i.e., sūrya-bimba] ketus other than the thirty-three already mentioned, or spots pike like in shape the effects of these and of solar eclipses are the same as those assigned to them in the Chapters (V and XI) on Rāhucāra and Ketucāra. The princes of the countries in which the spots are visible will be afflicted with miseries”.

Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms

Bimba (बिम्ब).—Disc or orb of a planet. Note: Bimba is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

Bimba (बिम्ब) or Bimbāgama refers to one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu. The Śaivāgamas are divided into four groups viz. Śaiva, Pāśupata, Soma and Lākula. Śaiva is further divided in to Dakṣiṇa, Vāma and Siddhānta (e.g., bimba).

context information

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Bimba (बिम्ब) refers to “original form”, 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, “I praise (the goddess) in the bright lunar fortnight who is called the Full (Moon) (pūrṇā) and is nectar. Her form (spherical as) the bud of a Kadamba tree, she is present at the end of the sixteen (lunar digits). I praise the goddess New Moon (amā) whose form is moonlight (candrikākāra) in the midst of that (Full Moon), she who is the lioness of the nectar of union (utsaṅgāmṛta-kesarī) and the original form (bimba) of (the goddess) Kālikā”.

2) Bimba (बिम्ब) refers to the “(lunar) orb”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—Accordingly, “By churning the (lunar) orb (bimba), it is split apart and the deity of Kula is fashioned (thereby). Manmatha (the god of love), split apart, arises (in the form of the) Point at the End of the Twelve. By splitting (it apart) and rubbing (one feels) content (from which) one infers (and thereby experiences one's own innate) bliss. (Thus) the division of the churning (of consciousness) has been explained and the Wheel of the Point has been revealed”.

3) Bimba (बिम्ब) is the name of a sacred place classified as a Saṃdoha, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—The eight seats are the main group of eight groups [i.e., Bimba] of eight types of sacred sites. The figure sixty-four is a common ideal number as it is often configured into eight groups of eight.

Source: Addaiyan Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: Tantra Literature of Kerala- Special Reference to Mātṛsadbhāva

Bimba (बिम्ब) or Pratimā refers to “figures”, “statues” or “icons”, according to the Mātṛsadbhāva, one of the earliest Śākta Tantras from Kerala.—Mātṛsadbhāva is a Kerala Tantric ritual manual dealing with the worship of Goddess Bhadrakālī (also known as Rurujit) along with sapta-mātṛs or Seven mothers. [...] There are many descriptions about the flora and fauna in Mātṛssadbhāva. [...] In the fourth chapter the author discussed about different types of trees can be used to make pratimā or bimba.

The following can be used to make bimba:

madūka (Indian butter tree),
candana (sandal tree),
śrīvṛkṣa (common flag),
śamīdruma (fabaceae),
mahīruha (teak),
sarala (a type pine tree),
badarī (Indian jujube),
khadira (cutch tree),
śiṃśapā ( aśoka),
bakula (cherry),
tinduka (gaub tree),
raktacandana (red sandal tree) and
panasa (jackfruit tree).

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.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (vastu)

Bimba (बिम्ब) (juice) is used as an ingredient of a mixture of Vajralepa (“a special kind of hard cement”) which was used in the construction of a Temple and as a binding agent for joining bricks, according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, five procedures of preparing the vajralepa are suggested.—The third variety of vajralepa was the mixture of the horns of bull and buffalo, skin of goat, milk of buffalo, juice of bimba and kapittha.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Bimba (बिम्ब) appears in one passage of the Jaiminīya Upaniṣad Brāhmaṇa (iii. 5, 6) to denote the plant Momordica monadelpha.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Bimba (बिम्ब, “reflection”) refers to one of the ten comparisons (upamāna) according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 11. These upamānas represent a quality of the Bodhisattvas accompanying the Buddha at Rājagṛha on the Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata. They accepted that dharmas are like a reflection (bimba). The reflection (bimba) in the mirror is not produced by the mirror (ādarśa), nor by the face (vaktra), nor by the person holding the mirror (ādarśa-dhara), nor by itself (svataḥ); but it is not without causes and conditions (hetupratyaya). It is the same for the dharmas: they are not produced by themselves (svataḥ), nor by another (parataḥ), nor by both together (ubhayataḥ); but they are not without causes and conditions.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Bimba (Bimba) refers to the plant Cephalandra indica and its fruit is scarlet when ripe, and is commonly used as a synonym for unsurpassable redness.—(cf. ‘The Commercial Products of India (Watt)’, Dict. Vol. II, p. 252.).

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Bimba.—(IA 3; HA), same as pratimā; an image. Note: bimba is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

1) Bimba in Central African Republic is the name of a plant defined with Lecaniodiscus cupanioides in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices.

2) Bimba in India is also identified with Coccinia grandis It has the synonym Turia moghadd J.F. Gmel. (etc.).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Beitrag zur Flora Aethiopiens (1867)
· Niger flora, or ‘An enumeration of the plants of western tropical Africa’. (1849)
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1982)
· Cytologia (1991)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1992)
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1981)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Bimba, for example side effects, health benefits, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

bimba : (nt.) an image; figure; the disk (of the sun or moon). || bimbā (f.) name of the Prince Siddharth's wife.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

1) Bimba, (nt.) (cp. Class. Sk. bimba) 1. shape, image (=paṭimā VvA. 168) S. I, 134 (trsl. “puppet”); V, 217 (vimba); J. V, 452. In phrase cittakataṃ bimbaṃ it refers to the human body (“the tricked-out puppet-shape” Brethren 303): M. II, 64 = Th. 1, 769 = Dh. 147=VvA. 47, cp. DhA. III, 109 (=attabhāva).—2. the red fruit of Momordica monadelpha, a species of Amaranth (cp. Sk. bimba & bimbī, a kind of gourd) J. III, 478; VI, 457, 591; Vv 366 (kañcana°-vaṇṇa of the colour of the golden Bimba Dhp. at VvA. 168 takes it as bimba1=paṭimā; DhA. I, 387 (°phala, with ref. to red lips). bimboṭṭha (f. °ī) (having) red lips J. III, 477; VI, 590 (nigrodhapatta-bimb’oṭṭhī) ThA. 133 (Ap. V, 57). The Sk. vimbī according to Halāyudha 2, 48 is equal to oṣṭhī, a plant (Bryonia grandis?).—oṭṭhi see above 2.—ohana (second part either= *ūhana vāhana “carrying,” or contracted form of odahana fr. ava+dhā, i.e. *odhana *ohana “putting down,” or still more likely for ūhana as seen in ūhanati2 2 fr. ud+hṛ raising, lifting up) a pillow Vin. I, 47 (bhisi°); II, 76, 150, 208, 200, 218; III, 90, 119 (bhisi°); IV, 279; S. II, 268; A. III, 240; VbhA. 365; Vism. 79. See also bhisi1.—jāla (BR. bimbajā?) the Bimba tree, Momordica monadelpha (lit. net of b. fruits) J. I, 39; VI, 497 (cp. p. 498 ratt’aṅkura-rukkhaṃ probably with v. l. to be read ratta-kuravaka°, see bimbi-jāla); Bu XVI, 19. (Page 487)

2) Vimba, is another spelling for bimba at S. V, 217. Cp. BSk. vimbaka (form of face) Divy 172, 525. (Page 632)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

bimba (बिंब).—n (S) The disk of the sun or a planet. 2 (As opp. to pratibimba Image reflected, shadow.) The body which casts the reflection, the substance. 3 A term for a personage or thing considered as that by which splendor or honor is cast or conferred upon the persons or things serving subordinately. Ex. saradāralōka jāūna laḍhāī dētīla parantu rājācā putra ugīñca bimba mhaṇūna barōbara ghyāvā. 4 In poetical or elaborate composition. The subject to be elaborated (by arguments, illustrations &c.) 5 A fruit of Bryonia grandis. Linn., or Momordica monadelphia. Rox. 6 A short (four-inch) triangular reed, growing in rice-fields and wet places. 7 f S Popularly nāgaramōthā.

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

bimba (बिंब).—n The disc of the sun. The body which casts the reflection.

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

Bimba (बिम्ब).—

1) The disc of the sun or moon; वदनेन निर्जितं तव निलीयते चन्द्रबिम्बमम्बुधरे (vadanena nirjitaṃ tava nilīyate candrabimbamambudhare) Subhāṣ; so सूर्य°, रवि° (sūrya°, ravi°) &c.

2) Any round or disc-like surface; as in नितम्ब- बिम्बः (nitamba- bimbaḥ) &c.

3) An image, shadow, reflection; बिम्बादिवो- त्थितौ बिम्बौ रामदेहात्तथापरौ (bimbādivo- tthitau bimbau rāmadehāttathāparau) Rām.1.4.11; प्रभवति शुचिर्बिम्ब- ग्राहे मणिर्न मृदां चयः (prabhavati śucirbimba- grāhe maṇirna mṛdāṃ cayaḥ) Uttararāmacarita 2.4.

4) A mirror.

5) A jar.

6) An object compared (opp. pratibimba to which it is compared).

7) A statue, figure, idol; हेमबिम्बनिभा सौम्या मायेव मयनिर्मिता (hemabimbanibhā saumyā māyeva mayanirmitā) Rām.6.12.14.

8) A mould, matrix; यथा लोहस्य निःस्यन्दो निषिक्तो बिम्बविग्रहम् (yathā lohasya niḥsyando niṣikto bimbavigraham) (upaiti) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 14.18.9.

-mbaḥ A lizard.

-mbam The fruit of a tree (which, when ripe, is ruddy and to which the lips of young women are often compared); रक्तशोकरुचा विशेषितगुणो बिम्बाधरालक्तकः (raktaśokarucā viśeṣitaguṇo bimbādharālaktakaḥ) M.3. 5; पक्कबिम्बाधरोष्ठी (pakkabimbādharoṣṭhī) Meghadūta 84; cf. N.2.24.

Derivable forms: bimbaḥ (बिम्बः), bimbam (बिम्बम्).

--- OR ---

1) Vimba (विम्ब).—See बिम्ब (bimba).

Derivable forms: vimbaḥ (विम्बः), vimbam (विम्बम्).

2) Vimbā (विम्बा).—f. Name of a creeper.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bimba 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Biṃba (बिंब) [Also spelled binb]:—(nm) an image; shadow; reflection; the disc of sun or moon; the plant Memordica mondelpha; ~[phala] the bright red ripened fruit of the plant Memordica mondelpha; -[yojanā] imagery; ~[vāda] imagism; hence ~[vādī] (a, nm); -[vidhāna] imagery.

context information

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Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

1) Biṃba (बिंब) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Bimb.

2) Biṃba (बिंब) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Bimba.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Biṃba (ಬಿಂಬ):—

1) [noun] a ring of light that seems to encircle the sun, moon, etc.

2) [noun] a plane figure bounded by single curved line, every point of which is equally distant from the centre point; a circle.

3) [noun] a thing made just like another.

4) [noun] a reflecting surface originally of polished metal but now usu. of glass with a silvery, metallic or amalgam backing; a mirror.

5) [noun] an idol (as of a deity).

6) [noun] the vine Coccina cordifolia ( = C. indica, = Bryonia grandis, = Momordica monadelpha) of Cucurbitaceae family.

7) [noun] its edible fruit.

8) [noun] the lizard Calotes veriscolar of Chamaeleontidae family with an angular head, prehensile tail, eyes that move independently of each other, a long, agile tongue for catching prey, the ability to change skin colour rapidly; common chameleon; the garden lizard.

9) [noun] a ray of light.

10) [noun] the sky.

11) [noun] water falling from the clouds; rain.

12) [noun] a bow or arc of prismatic colours appearing in the heavens opposite the sun and caused by the refraction and reflection of the suṇs rays in drops of rain; a rainbow.

13) [noun] a woven fabric.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 67 books and stories containing Bimba, Vimbā, Vimba, Bimbā, Biṃba; (plurals include: Bimbas, Vimbās, Vimbas, Bimbās, Biṃbas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verses 2.15.26-27 < [Chapter 15 - Description of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s Falling in Love]

Verse 5.21.41 < [Chapter 21 - The Story of Śrī Nārada]

Verse 1.16.5 < [Chapter 16 - Description of Śrī Rādhikā’s Wedding]

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Verse 147 - The Story of Sirimā < [Chapter 11 - Jarā Vagga (Old Age)]

Verse 351-352 - Māra seeks in vain to frighten Rāhula < [Chapter 24 - Taṇhā Vagga (Craving)]

Verse 197-199 - The Story of the Pacification of the Relatives of the Buddha < [Chapter 15 - Sukha Vagga (Happiness)]

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Verse 3.3.73 < [Part 3 - Fraternal Devotion (sakhya-rasa)]

Verse 2.4.188 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]

Verse 2.3.56 < [Part 3 - Involuntary Ecstatic Expressions (sattvika-bhāva)]

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