Shobha, Sobhā, Śobhā, Sobha: 23 definitions

Introduction:

Shobha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.

The Sanskrit term Śobhā can be transliterated into English as Sobha or Shobha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śāktism

Śobhā (शोभा, “beauty, splendour”):—Name of one of the goddesses to be worshipped during Āvaraṇapūjā (“Worship of the Circuit of Goddesses”), according to the Durgāpūjātattva (“The truth concerning Durgā’s ritual”). They should be worshipped with either the five upācāras or perfume and flowers.

Her mantra is as follows:

ह्रीं ओं शोभायै नमः
hrīṃ oṃ śobhāyai namaḥ

Source: Wisdom Library: Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam

Śobhā (शोभा, “beauty, loveliness”):—One of the names attributed to Devī, as chanted by the Vedas in their hymns, who were at the time incarnated in their personified forms. See the Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa chapter 5.51-68, called “the narrative of Hayagrīva”.

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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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

1) Śobhā (शोभा, “beauty”) refers to one of the thirty-six “characteristic features” (lakṣaṇa) of perfect ‘poetic compositions’ (kāvyabandha) and ‘dramatic compositions’ (dṛśyakāvya, or simply kāvya). According to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 17, these thirty-six lakṣaṇas act as instructions for composing playwrights. The term is used throughout nāṭyaśāstra literature.

2) Śobhā (शोभा, “beauty”) refers to one of the ten “ involuntary graces” of women (svābhāvikā), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24. These involuntary (spontaneous) graces, represent one of the three aspects of graces (alaṃkāra) which forms which forms the support of sentiments (rasa) in drama.

Śobhā (शोभा, “brilliant character”) also refers to one of the eight aspects of the male’s sattva, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24.

These involuntary graces (such as śobhā) and sattvas are defined according to the science of sāmānyābhinaya, or “harmonious representation”.

According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “skill in various things, heroism, and energy, aversion to mean acts and emulation of the best virtues constitute ‘brilliant character’ (śobhā, lit. beauty)”.

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

Śobhā (शोभा, “brilliance”).—One of the thirty-six lakṣaṇa, or “excellent points of a dramatic composition”;—Description of śobhā: Where for the purpose of giving distinction to a case of double entendre (śleṣa), a less-known meaning is called forth along with the well-known meanings, it is called Brilliance (śobhā, lit. “beauty”).

Natyashastra book cover
context information

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

Śobhā (शोभा) 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., śobhā) refers to a type of classical Sanskrit metre depending on syllable count where the light-heavy patterns are fixed.

Chandas book cover
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.

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Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: OpenEdition books: Architectural terms contained in Ajitāgama and Rauravāgama

Śobhā (शोभा) refers to “entrance pavilion of the first enclosure § 4.33.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)

Vastushastra book cover
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.

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In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

King of Sobhavati in the time of Konagamana Buddha (Bu.xxiv.16; D.ii.7). He sent a branch of the Bodhi tree to Ceylon in the care of Kanakadatta. MT.355, where he is called Sobhana.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

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

Śobhā (शोभा) refers to “(heavenly) splendour”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “And, having obtained the good fortune [com.—or prosperity (lakṣmīṃ) whose splendour is heavenly (devaśobhāṃ)] of heaven, [those corporeal beings] enjoy heavenly pleasure in the lower heavens and in the celestial vehicles or among other groups [of gods]. They fall from that place [and] immediately they enter the Rasātala hell. They roam about the whole world like the wind [and] they fall down into the Naraka hell”.

General definition book cover
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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

sobhā : (f.) splendour; beauty.

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

Sobhā, (f.) (fr. śubh; Sk. śobhā) splendour, radiance, beauty Mhvs 33, 30; J. IV, 333; ThA. 226; Miln. 356. (Page 726)

Pali book cover
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.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

śōbhā (शोभा).—f (S) Beauty, grace, comeliness, elegance, handsomeness. 2 Anything which confers beauty, which adorns, graces, embellishes. 3 S Light, lustre, radiance. śōbhā karaṇēṃ g. of o. To adorn, ironically; i. e. to disgrace or dishonor; to treat with ridicule and contumely.

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

śōbhā (शोभा).—f Beauty, comeliness, grace; lustre. śōbhā karaṇēṃ Adorn, ironically; i. e. disgrace or dishonour.

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

Śobhā (शोभा).—[śubh-a]

1) Light, lustre, brilliance, radiance.

2) (a) Splendour, beauty, elegance, grace, loveliness; वपुरभिनवमस्याः पुष्यति स्वां न शोभाम् (vapurabhinavamasyāḥ puṣyati svāṃ na śobhām) Ś.1.19; Meghadūta 54,61 (v. l.) (b) Natural beauty, grandeur (as of a mountain); अद्रिशोभा (adriśobhā) R.2.27.

3) An ornament, graceful expression; शोभैव मन्दरक्षुब्धक्षुभिताम्भोधिवर्णना (śobhaiva mandarakṣubdhakṣubhitāmbhodhivarṇanā) Śiśupālavadha 2.17.

4) Turmeric.

5) A kind of pigment (= gorocanā q. v.).

6) Distinguished merit.

7) Colour, hue.

8) Wish, desire.

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

Śobha (शोभ).—name of the king of Śobhāvatī, q.v.: Avadāna-śataka ii.29.10; [Page533-b+ 71] 100.12. In Pali also Sobha was king of Sobhavatī, but in the time of Koṇāgamana (Kanakamuni), not Krakuc- chanda.

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

Śobha (शोभ).—mfn.

(-bhaḥ-bhā-bhaṃ) 1. Handsome. 2. Bright. f.

(-bhā) 1. Light, lustre, radiance, splendour. 2. Beauty. 3. Distinguished merit. 4. A species of the Kriti-metre. E. śubh to shine, aff. ac, fem. aff. ṭāp .

--- OR ---

Śobhā (शोभा).—f.

(-bhā) 1. Light, lustre. 2. Beauty, grace, loveliness. 3. Grandeur. 4. Turmeric. 5. The Pigment called “gorocanā. E. śubh, a aff.

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

Śobha (शोभ).—i. e. śubh + a, I. adj. 1. Bright. 2. Handsome. Ii. f. bhā. 1. Splendour, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 60; [Daśakumāracarita] in Chr. 183, 4 (at the end of a comp. adj., f. bhā). 2. Light. 3. Beauty, [Hitopadeśa] ii. [distich] 148.

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

Śobha (शोभ).—[masculine] [Name] of a man; [feminine] śobhā beauty, splendour, colour, semblance.

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

1) Śobha (शोभ):—[from śubh] a etc. See p. 1092, col. 1.

2) b mfn. ([from] √śubh) bright, brilliant, handsome, [Horace H. Wilson]

3) m. Name of a man, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]

4) ([plural]) of a class of gods, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) of a class of heretics, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) lustre (in [compound] for śobhā q.v.)

7) Śobhā (शोभा):—[from śobha] f. (ifc. f(ā). ) splendour, brilliance, lustre, beauty, grace, loveliness (kā śobhā with [locative case], ‘what beauty is there [in that]’ id est. ‘it has no beauty’; śobhāṃ na-√kṛ, ‘to look bad or ugly’; ifc. often = ‘splendid’, ‘excellent’ e.g. śaurya-śobhā, ‘splendid heroism’; karma-śobhā, ‘a masterpiece’), [Taittirīya-saṃhitā] etc. etc.

8) [v.s. ...] distinguished merit, [Horace H. Wilson]

9) [v.s. ...] colour, hue, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Mudrārākṣasa]

10) [v.s. ...] wish, desire, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) [v.s. ...] a kind of metre, [Colebrooke]

12) [v.s. ...] turmeric, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

13) [v.s. ...] the yellow pigment Go-rocanā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

14) Sobha (सोभ):—n. Name of the city of the Gandharvas, [Indische Studien by A. Weber]

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

1) Śobha (शोभ):—[(bhaḥ-bhā-bhaṃ) a.] Handsome; bright. f. (bhā) Light; beauty; merit.

2) Śobhā (शोभा):—(bhā) 1. f. Light, beauty.

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

Śobha (शोभ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sobha, Soha, Sohā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shobha 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

Śobhā (शोभा):—(nf) grace, elegance, beauty; glamour, splendour, brilliance, lustre; ~[maya] splendid, brilliant, lustrous, radiant; beautiful; ~[yātrā] pageant; ~[śūnya/hīna] devoid of glamour/grace/beauty; ugly.

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Prakrit-English dictionary

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

1) Sobha (सोभ) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Śubh.

2) Sobha (सोभ) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Śobha.

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.

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