Vyala, Vyāla: 25 definitions

Introduction:

Vyala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Vyāla (व्याल) refers to “snakes”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.31 (“Description of Śiva’s magic”).—Accordingly, as Śiva (in disguise of a Brahmin) said to the Lord of Mountains: “I have come to know that you desire to give your daughter to Śiva, [...] To Śiva—who has no support, who is devoid of associations, who is deformed, who is without attributes, who resides in the cremation-ground, who has the form of a snake-catcher (vyāla-grāhin), who is a Yogin, who is naked , who has deficient limbs, who wears snakes as his ornaments (vyāla-bhūṣaṇa-dhārin), [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Vyāla (व्याल).—From the hairs of the head of Prajāpati. ety. ahi, the vilest of creatures; Pannaga. ety. creeping on the ground; sarpa, from escaping or fleeting nature; all have their abode in the earth under the sun and moon; out of anger came viṣa or poison; then airy beings were created; cūṭas, piśācas from eating flesh, Gandharvas sucking cows.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 9. 34-40.
Purana book cover
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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.

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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

Vyāla (व्याल).—Description of a women of tiger (vyāla) type;—A woman who takes honour and dishonour in the same spirit, has a rough skin and harsh voice, is wily, speaks untruth and haughty words, and has tawny eyes, is said to have the nature of a tiger (vyāla).

Natyashastra book cover
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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).

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Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature

1) Vyāla (व्याल) refers to one of the eight kinds of daṇḍaka according to Kavikarṇapūra (C. 16th century) in his Vṛttamālā 61. Kavikarṇapūra was an exponent on Sanskrit metrics belongs to Kāmarūpa (modern Assam). Accordingly, “If there exist ten ra-s after two na-s, then it is Vyāla”.

2) Vyāla (व्याल) refers to one of the seventy-two sama-varṇavṛtta (regular syllabo-quantitative verse) mentioned in the 334th chapter of the Agnipurāṇa. The Agnipurāṇa deals with various subjects viz. literature, poetics, grammar, architecture in its 383 chapters and deals with the entire science of prosody (e.g., the vyāla metre) in 8 chapters (328-335) in 101 verses in total.

Chandas book cover
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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.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)

Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study

Vyāla (व्याल) (lit. “one who is extravagant”) is a synonym (another name) for either the Lion (Siṃha), the Tiger (Vyāghra) or the Elephant (Gaja) 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.

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

1) Vyāla (व्याल) is another name for Citraka, a medicinal plant identified with (1) [white variety] Plumbago zeylanica Linn.; (2) [red variety] Plumbago rosea Linn. syn. or Plumbago indica Linn., both from the Plumbaginaceae or “leadwort” family of flowering plants, according to verse 6.43-45 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu.—The sixth chapter (pippalyādi-varga) of this book enumerates ninety-five varieties of plants obtained from the market (paṇyauṣadhi). Together with the names Vyāla and Citraka, there are a total of twenty Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

2) Vyāla (व्याल) is also mentioned as another name for Raktacitraka, which is a variety of Citraka, according to verse 6.46-47.—Note: Bapalal refers a totally different variety, used as Red Citraka or Rato Chitro (rātocitro) in Ābu and Girnār. This is knwon as Vogalia indica.—Together with the names Vyāla and Raktacitraka, there are a total of eleven Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Vyāla (व्याल) is a synonym of Sarpa (“snake”), according to the Amarakośa.—The Sanatkumāra Saṃhitā (III.36cd-37ab) states that snakes are of two kinds, Nāgas and Sarpas. While the former can take any form they desire, the latter are those which glide. The Amarakośa (verses I.10.3-6) gives 33 synonyms for snake [viz. Vyāla]. Snakes are said to reside in Nāgaloka which is located in the endless bowels of the earth with countless palaces, houses and towers, it is also known as pātālaloka.

Ayurveda book cover
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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.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

1) Vyāla (व्याल) refers to one of the five courses of Mars (bhaumacāra), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 6), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The retrograde motion of Mars is of five kinds [i.e., vyāla]. [...] If he should begin to retrograde from the 13th or 14th constellation from that of his reappearance, such retrograde motion is known as vyāla: when he should disappear before his next conjunction with the Sun, wild boars and fierce animals will be afflicted with distress”.

2) Vyāla (व्याल) refers to “serpents” or “fierce animals”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 16) (“On the planets—graha-bhaktiyoga”).—Accordingly, “The Sun presides over the people of the western half of the Narmadā, and over the people living on the banks of the Ikṣumatī. He also presides over hill-men, quick-silver, deserts, shepherds, seeds, pod-grains, bitter flavour, trees, gold, fire, poison and persons successful in battle; over medicines, physicians, quadrupeds, farmers, kings, butchers, travellers, thieves, serpents (vyāla), forests and renowned and cruel men”.

Jyotisha book cover
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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.

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Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Universität Wien: Sudarśana's Worship at the Royal Court According to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā

Vyāla (व्याल) refers to “beasts of prey”, according to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, belonging to the Pāñcarātra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.—Accordingly, “[...] [The demons born of] the aggressive magic of [his] enemies, having failed to take hold of him, frightened will possess the performer [of the ritual], like a river[’s fury] blocked by a mountain. Droughts will end and enemies will run away. In his kingdom there will not be dangers in the form of untimely deaths, wild animals, beasts of prey (vyāla), thieves, illnesses etc. and strength shall reside in his lineage”.

Pancaratra book cover
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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.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Vyāla (व्याल) refers to “snakes”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 10.1-7ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Bhairava]—“[...] He [is] mounted on a lion, wears a snake garland (vyāla-hāravyālahārair vibhūṣitam), bears a mālā, and begging bowl. [He has] a torn mouth from [which he emits] a great roar. [His body is] covered by a cloth of elephant skin, a flower crown, [and] the moon. [Bhairava] holds a skull-topped staff and skull bowl. [...] Having worshipped Bhairava, [the Mantrin] remembers being joined in union [with] him, [in the same way as] dissolution in fire”.

Shaivism book cover
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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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Vyāla (व्याल) refers to a “snake”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Rudra, elephants of the quarters, gods, demons, aerial spirits, aquatic predators, the planets, the Vyantaras , the guardians of the quarters of the sky, the enemies [of Vāsudeva], Hari, Bala, the chief of the snakes (vyāla-indra), the lord of the discus (i.e. Viṣṇu) and others who are powerful, the wind, the sun, etc. all themselves having come together are not able to protect an embodied soul even for an instant [when death is] initiated by the servants of Yama”.

Synonyms: Bhujaṅga, Bhujaga, Bhogin, Nāga.

General definition book cover
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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.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Vyala [ವ್ಯಾಳ] in the Kannada language is the name of a plant identified with Plumbago zeylanica L. from the Plumbaginaceae (Plumbago) family. For the possible medicinal usage of vyala, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.

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

1) Vyala in India is the name of a plant defined with Plumbago zeylanica in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Plumbago zeylanica var. glaucescens Boiss. (among others).

2) Vyala is also identified with Vitex negundo It has the synonym Vitex incisa Lam. (etc.).

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

· Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica (1995)
· Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica (1990)
· Flora of Tropical East Africa, Plumbaginaceae (1976)
· Journal of Cytology and Genetics (1988)
· Abh. Math.-Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. (1846)
· Symb. Sin. (1936)

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

Biology book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

vyāla (व्याल).—m S A serpent.

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vyāḷa (व्याळ).—m (vyāla S) A serpent. Ex. jaisēṃ pāyāsa daṃśilēṃ mahā vyāḷēṃ || tōṃ mastakāsīṃ vṛścikēṃ daṃśilēṃ ||. 2 Applied popularly to the nāga or bhujaṅga.

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

vyāla (व्याल) [-ḷa, -ळ].—m A serpent.

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vyāla (व्याल).—a.

1) Wicked, vicious; व्यालद्विपा यन्तृभिरुन्मदिष्णवः (vyāladvipā yantṛbhirunmadiṣṇavaḥ) Śiśupālavadha 12.28; यन्ता गजं व्यालमिवापराद्धः (yantā gajaṃ vyālamivāparāddhaḥ) Kirātārjunīya 17.25.

2) Bad, villainous.

3) Cruel, fierce, savage; जहति व्यालमृगाः परेषु वृत्तिम् (jahati vyālamṛgāḥ pareṣu vṛttim) Kirātārjunīya 13.4.

-laḥ 1 A vicious elephant; व्यालं बाल- मृणालतन्तुभिरसौ रोद्धुं समुज्जृम्भते (vyālaṃ bāla- mṛṇālatantubhirasau roddhuṃ samujjṛmbhate) Bhartṛhari 2.6.

2) A beast of prey; वसन्त्यस्मिन् महारण्ये व्यालाश्च रुधिराशनाः (vasantyasmin mahāraṇye vyālāśca rudhirāśanāḥ) Rām.2.119. 19; वनं व्यालनिषेवितम् (vanaṃ vyālaniṣevitam) Rām.

3) A snake; H.3.29.

4) A tiger; Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 3.

5) A leopard.

6) A king.

7) A cheat, rogue.

8) Name of Viṣṇu.

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

Vyāla (व्याल).—mfn.

(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) 1. Wicked, villainous, bad. 2. Cruel, fierce. m.

(-laḥ) 1. A snake. 2. A beast of prey. 3. A rogue, a cheat. 4. A vicious elephant. 5. A king. 6. A species of the Dandaka metre. E. vi and āṅ before al to adorn, aff. ac; or aḍ to make effort, aff. ghañ and ḍa changed to la; hence also vyāḍa .

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

Vyāla (व्याल).—I. adj. 1. Wicked, [Kirātārjunīya] 17, 25. 2. Cruel. Ii. m. 1. A snake, [Hitopadeśa] iii. [distich] 30. 2. A beast of prey, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 420. 3. A vicious elephant, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 6. 4. A rogue. 5. A king. Iii. f. , A female snake, Chr. 22, 22.

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

Vyāla (व्याल).—[adjective] mischievous, malicious. [masculine] a malicious elephant, beast of prey, snake ([feminine] vyālī).

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

1) Vyāla (व्याल):—mfn. ([probably] connected with vyāḍa q.v.) mischievous, wicked, vicious, [Atharva-veda; Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara]

2) prodigal, extravagant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) m. (ifc. f(ā). ) a vicious elephant, [Kāvya literature]

4) m. a beast of prey, [Gautama-dharma-śāstra; Mahābhārata] etc.

5) a snake, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

6) a lion, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) a tiger, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) a hunting leopard, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) a prince, king, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) Plumbago Ceylanica, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) the second dṛkāṇa (q.v.) in Cancer, the first in Scorpio, and the third in Pisces, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

12) a kind of metre, [Colebrooke]

13) Name of the number ‘eight’ [Gaṇitādhyāya]

14) Name of a man (cf. vyāḍa), [Catalogue(s)]

15) n. Name of one of the three retrograde stages in the motion of the planet Mars, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

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

Vyāla (व्याल):—[vyā+la] (laḥ-lā-laṃ) m. A snake; beast of prey; vicious elephant; cheat; king. a. Vicious; cruel.

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

Vyāla (व्याल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Vāla, Viāla.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vyala 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.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Vyāla (व्याल):—(nm) a snake, serpent; hence ~[] (nf).

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Vyāla (ವ್ಯಾಲ):—

1) [adjective] mischievous; given to vice, evil; vicious; depraved; wicked.

2) [adjective] causing or tending to cause injury, damage or death.

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Vyāla (ವ್ಯಾಲ):—

1) [noun] a snake.

2) [noun] any cruel, fierce, ferocious animal.

3) [noun] a man who habitually cheats, deceives others; a cheat.

4) [noun] a violent, vicious elephant.

5) [noun] a dog.

6) [noun] a man who wishes or causes evil or harm to another or others; a wicked fellow.

7) [noun] the plant Plumbago Ceylanica of Plumbaginaceae family.

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Vyāḷa (ವ್ಯಾಳ):—[adjective] = ವ್ಯಾಲ [vyala]1.

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Vyāḷa (ವ್ಯಾಳ):—[noun] = ವ್ಯಾಲ [vyala]2.

context information

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

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