Madanalekha, Madana-lekha, Madanalekhā: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Madanalekha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Madanalekhā (मदनलेखा) was the daughter of Pratāpamukuṭa: an ancient king of Benares (Vārāṇasī) mentioned in the story of Aśokadatta and Vijayadatta, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 25. Accordingly, the king said: “Queen, in birth, in learning, in truthfulness and beauty Aśokadatta is great among the great; and I think it would be a good thing if he were to become the husband of our lovely daughter Madanalekhā; in a bridegroom these qualities are to be looked for, not fortune that vanishes in a moment, so I will give my daughter to this excellent hero”.
2) Madanalekhā (मदनलेखा) is the daughter of the king of Siṃhala, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 121. Accordingly, “... the next day, Madanalekhā, the daughter of the King of Siṃhala, came with a great retinue and much magnificence. And then Vikramaśakti went to meet her and, bending low, joyfully conducted her into his camp...”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Madanalekhā, 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’.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection IMadanalekhā (मदनलेखा) [=Madanarekhā?] refers to one of the “sixteen virtuous Jain women”, according to the “Sola satyā” (dealing with the lives of Jain female heroes), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—There is a list of sixteen virtuous Jain women. [...] These women [e.g., Madanarekhā] are virtuous because they uphold Jain values and could stand to them even in adverse circumstances. Reciting their names is often part of the morning ritual. Behind names are eventful stories that have been told by several writers and read or listened to by Jain followers.
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 dictionaryMadanalekha (मदनलेख).—a loveletter.
Derivable forms: madanalekhaḥ (मदनलेखः).
Madanalekha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms madana and lekha (लेख).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMadanalekha (मदनलेख).—m.
(-khaḥ) A love letter.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMadanalekha (मदनलेख).—[masculine] love-letter.
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Madanalekhā (मदनलेखा).—[feminine] love-letter.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Madanalekha (मदनलेख):—[=madana-lekha] [from madana > mad] m. a love-letter, [Śakuntalā]
2) Madanalekhā (मदनलेखा):—[=madana-lekhā] [from madana-lekha > madana > mad] f. idem, [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a daughter of Pratipa-mukha (king of Vārāṇasī), Kath.
4) [v.s. ...] of another woman, [ib.]
[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: Madana, Lekha.
Full-text: Anangalekha, Simhavarman.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Madanalekha, Madana-lekha, Madanalekhā, Madana-lekhā; (plurals include: Madanalekhas, lekhas, Madanalekhās, lekhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 9 - Redemption of Sudarśana and Sukarṇa < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter XXV < [Book V - Caturdārikā]
Chapter CXX < [Book XVIII - Viṣamaśīla]
Chapter CXXI < [Book XVIII - Viṣamaśīla]