Alternative spellings of this word include Anakar.

In Hinduism

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Anākāra (अनाकार) refers to “that which has no form”, and is used to describe Samādhi and Paratattva (highest reality), according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise which deals absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—The Amanaska referred to (or qualified) Samādhi with several terms, which are all negative; [e.g., it has no form (anākāra);] [...] The fact that such terminology is found in the Amanaska indicates that descriptions of Śiva and the void-like meditative states in Mantramargic Śaivism, were the basis of the descriptions of Samādhi and Paratattva (the highest reality) in this treatise. The Amanaska Yoga was consistent with the Pātañjala Yogaśāstra’s definition of Yoga, yet it described Samādhi in terms different to those of Pātañjalayoga; such as Anākāra—“that which has no form”.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: SOAS Research Online: Prekṣā meditation: History and Methods

Anākara (अनाकर) or “shapeless” refers to one of the 46 qualities of the soul to be meditated on in the “Practice of Meditation on Liberated Souls (Siddhas)”, according to Jain texts like Ācārāṅga (5.6.123-140), Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama (13.5.4.31) and Samayasāra (1.49).—The pure soul can be recognised by meditation on its true nature, represented by the liberated souls of the Siddhas. The practice which leads to this realisation is meditation on the fact that attachment, aversion, passions and the influx of karmas, are ‘not mine’, that I am separate from them and consist of infinite knowledge, perception, conduct, spiritual energy, that I am the pure, enlightened, and everlasting soul. The qualities of the soul to be meditated on as truly mine are: [e.g., My soul is shapeless (anākara)] [...] The meditation on such extended fourty-five qualities of the pure soul presents the niśacaya-naya, which is aligned with Kundakunda’s approach.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Anākāra (अनाकार).—a. Formless, shapeless, epithet of the Supreme Being.

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

Anākāra (अनाकार).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Shapeless, without form. E. an neg. ākāra form.

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

Anākāra (अनाकार):—[=an-ākāra] mfn. shapeless.

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

Anākāra (अनाकार):—[bahuvrihi compound] m. f. n.

(-raḥ-rā-ram) Shapeless, without form. E. a priv. and ākāra.

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

Anākāra (अनाकार):—[anā+kāra] (raḥ-rā-raṃ) a. Shapeless.

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

Anākāra (अनाकार) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Aṇagāra, Aṇāgāra.

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

Anākāra (अनाकार) [Also spelled anakar]:—(a) amorphous; shapeless.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Anakara (ಅನಕರ):—

1) [adverb] upto that distance or time.

2) [adverb] by that time; by them.

3) [adverb] upto a short period.

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Anākāra (ಅನಾಕಾರ):—[adjective] having no form; devoid of regular or usual shape; formless; shapeless.

context information

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

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Anākāra (अनाकार):—adj. without shape/form; shapeless; formless;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Akara, An.

Starts with: Anakaraka, Anakaraky, Anakarathavartman, Anakarava.

Ends with (+74): Akaranakara, Akramanakara, Amkanakara, Anjanakara, Anveshanakara, Apaharanakara, Apamanakara, Asheshabharanakara, Asthisamdhanakara, Atikramanakara, Avacanakara, Avanakara, Avidyandhakaravidhvamsanakara, Baithanakara, Banakara, Belanakara, Bhashanakara, Bhinnanjanakara, Bhishanakara, Dahanakara.

Full-text: Anagara, Akara, Anakar, Form.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Anakara, An-akara, An-ākara, An-ākāra, Anākāra, Anākara; (plurals include: Anakaras, akaras, ākaras, ākāras, Anākāras, Anākaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Consciousness in Gaudapada’s Mandukya-karika (by V. Sujata Raju)

Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika View of Consciousness < [Chapter 1]

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The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 30 - The Greatness of Vārāṇasī < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]

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