Alambya, Ālambya: 4 definitions

Introduction:

Alambya means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Ālambya (आलम्ब्य) or Samālambya refers to “taken possession of something”, according to the Ṭīkā (commentary) on the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] Once one has laid hold of and taken possession of (samālambya) [gṛhītvā samālambya] (that reality whose) nature is the act of worship, the worshipper and (the deity who is) worshipped on that path by means of (the true nature of) the rite of adoration (pūjārūpa) of the aforementioned sort, he explains, that is, tells, the desired (true) nature (of the deity and all things). [...] and he explains (all that) is meritorious, beautiful or that causes sin and is of many forms, auspicious and inauspicious, and has come forth from the sacred seats. [...]”..

Shaktism book cover
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.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Ālambya (आलम्ब्य) refers to “employing (an image)”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “First, having found a proper place in a lonely spot or [other spots] such as a mountain, he should make [that place] a charnel ground. There [he should honor] with a bali offering the protector [deities] of that land. A Yogin should offer water for a respectful reception and so on after a sipping water for purification and others. Employing (ālambya) an image [mūrtimālambya], the Blessed One taught a visualization by [use of] a cloth [painting] and other [devices]. [...]”.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Ālambya (आलम्ब्य).—adj. (gdve.) or subst., thing to be supported: Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 153.6 ālambālambyavigataṃ…saṃskrtam, free from support and from anything to be supported; 169.5 and 170.9 yadā tv ālambyam arthaṃ nopalabhate jñānaṃ, but when knowledge finds no object which can be supported (by it); see also nir-ālambya.

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

1) Ālambya (आलम्ब्य):—[=ā-lambya] [from ā-lamb] [indeclinable participle] having supported

2) [v.s. ...] supporting, sustaining

3) [v.s. ...] taking by the hand, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa etc.]

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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