Valabhi, Valabhī: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Valabhi means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India. 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
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraValabhī (वलभी):—The Sanskrit name for a classification of a ‘temple’, according to the Agnipurāṇa, featuring a list of 45 temple types. It is listed under the group named Puṣpaka, featuring rectangular-shaped temples. This list represents the classification of temples in North-India.
Source: Shodhganga: Temples of Salem region Up to 1336 ADValabhi (वलभि).—A part (compound moulding) of the prastara, or ‘entablature’;—Valabhi is a stringcourse above the uttara and below the kapota. Mānasāra 16.24 gives some synonyms of the valabhi. The height of the valabhi should be equal to or more than the height of the architrave (uttara). Valabhi should be decorated with rows of bhūtas, gaṇas, kubjas, haṃsas, floral, faunal and narrative themes (nāṭaka).
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (vastu)Valabhī (वलभी) refers to one of the hundred types of Temples (in ancient Indian architecture), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—It is quite difficult to say about a definite number of varieties of Hindu temples but in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa hundred varieties of temples have been enumerated. For example, Valabhī. These temples are classified according to the particular shape, amount of storeys and other common elements, such as the number of pavilions, doors and roofs.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraValabhī (वलभी) is the name of a city mentioned to the “story of Kīrtisenā and her cruel mother-in-law”, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 29. Accordingly, “once upon a time her [Kīrtisenā’s] husband Devasena, instigated by his relations, was preparing to go to the city of Valabhī for the sake of trade”.
The story of Valabhī was narrated to Kaliṅgasenā by Somaprabhā in order to demonstrate that “chaste women, enduring the dispensation of hostile fate, but preserving in misfortune the treasure of their virtue, and protected by the great power of their goodness, procure good fortune for their husbands and themselves”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Valabhī, 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.
Source: Shodhganga: A critical appreciation of soddhalas udayasundarikathaValabhī (वलभी).—One of the various countries and cities mentioned by Soḍḍhala.—Valabhī was the ancient capital city of the state of the same name. At present it is a small town called Valā, situated on the Southern bank of the river Ghelo, about twenty two miles north-west of the modern city of Bhāvanagar, and sixteen miles away on north of Songadha Station. Valabhī was a centre of culture. The history of Maitrakas of Valabhī has been very well reconstructed on the basis of their copper plate grants since 490 A.D. to 770 A.D. We find twenty sovereigns of this dynasty.
The founder of Maitrakas of Valabhī was one named Senāpati Bhaṭṭāraka. Soḍḍhala refers to Śilāditya VII the last emperor of Valabhī dynasty. His brother was Kalāditya from whom the poet describes his own descent. During the reign of Dharasena of this dynasty the Rāvaṇa-vadha-kāvya was written by Bhatti, as is shown in the last verse of the Kāvya.
Hieun Tsang, a Chinese traveller, describes Valabhī as Fa-la-pi. Valabhī was a centre of business and learning. The religious tolerance was observed in Valabhī is evident from the copper plates of its kings. Valabhī kings were Śaivas and yet it is clear that Vaiṣṇava-dharma was also prevalent there. Devardhi Gaṇi also convened a Jain Session at Valabhī for the systmatic arrangement of the Jain scriptures about the middle of the 5th or the beginning of the 6th century A.D.
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’.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Education: Systems & PracticesValabhi (वलभि) (5th– 12th CE) in Gujarat, was among the world’s first universities. Taxila University’s different Schools taught many subjects.
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: academia.edu: The epoch of the Mahavira-nirvanaValabhi was an ancient city of Saurashtra and a center of education. Jain acharyas established a center in Valabhi by 9 th century BCE. According to historical accounts, Raja Kanakasen of Surya Vamsa (Ikshvaku dynasty) migrated from Kosala in Karttikadi Vikrama era 201 (518 BCE) and the city of Valabhi became his capital. When his descendant Shiladitya was ruling in Valabhi, Yavanas (Hunas?) invaded and destroyed Valabhi.
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.
India history and geography
Source: archive.org: Geography in Ancient Indian inscriptionsValabhī (वलभी) is mentioned in the forty-six inscriptions of the Maitraka dynasty dating from 502 A.D. to 645 A.D. It is identical with Vala or Valabhipur, the taluq headquarters in the Bhavanagar district in Gujarat State. This small town is situated on the Bhavanagar-Ahmedabad road at a distance of forty kilometres north-west of Bhavanagar. It can be approached from the Dhola junction of the Western Railway, from where it lies at a distanceof about ten kilometres. The area around the town of Valabhipur formed a small high plataeu and it was situated between two arms of the river Ghelo. The area looked like valabhī, i e., roof, and thus, this is an example of a situation where geographical phenomena seems to have been the cause of giving the name to the area concerned.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryVaḷabhī, (f.) (cp. late (dial.) Sk. vaḍabhī) a roof; only in cpd. °ratha a large covered van (cp. yogga1) M. I, 175 (sabba-setena vaḷabhī-rathena Sāvatthiyā niyyāti divā divaṃ); II, 208 (id.), but vaḷavābhi-rathena); J. VI, 266 (vaḷabhiyo=bhaṇḍa-sakaṭiyo C.). The expression reminds of vaḷavā-ratha. (Page 603)
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryValabhi (वलभि) or Valabhī (वलभी).—f. [valyate ācchādyate val-abhi vā ṅīp] (Also frequently written vaḍabhiḥ -bhī)
1) The sloping roof, the wooden frame of a thatch; धूपैर्जालविनिःसृतैर्वलभयः संदिग्ध- पारावताः (dhūpairjālaviniḥsṛtairvalabhayaḥ saṃdigdha- pārāvatāḥ) V.3.2; सौधान्यत्यर्थतापाद्वलभिपरिचयद्वेषिपारावतानि (saudhānyatyarthatāpādvalabhiparicayadveṣipārāvatāni) M.2.12; Bhāgavata 9.1.17.
2) The topmost part (of a house); a turret; दृष्ट्वा दृष्ट्वा भवनवलभीतुङ्गवातायनस्था (dṛṣṭvā dṛṣṭvā bhavanavalabhītuṅgavātāyanasthā) Māl. 1.15; वास्तोष्पतीनां च गृहैर्वलभीभिश्च निर्मितम् (vāstoṣpatīnāṃ ca gṛhairvalabhībhiśca nirmitam) Bhāgavata 1.5. 54; Meghadūta 4; Śiśupālavadha 3.53.
3) Name of a town in Saurāṣṭra; अस्ति सौराष्ट्रेषु वलभी नाम नगरी (asti saurāṣṭreṣu valabhī nāma nagarī) Dk.; Bhaṭṭikāvya 22.35.
Derivable forms: valabhiḥ (वलभिः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryValabhi (वलभि).—mf. (-bhiḥ-bhī) 1. The wooden frame of a thatch. 2. A turret or temporary building on the roof of a house. E. val to cover, abhas aff., in and ṅīṣ added; also vaḍabhi .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryValabhi (वलभि).—see vaḍabhi.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryValabhī (वलभी).—[feminine] roof or turret of a house.
Valabhī can also be spelled as Valabhi (वलभि).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Valabhi (वलभि):—[from valantikā > val] f. or (more usual) f(ī). (perhaps abbreviated [from] vala-bhid, ‘cloud-splitting’) the ridge of a roof. top or pinnacle of a house, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] a turret or temporary building on the roof of a house, upper room, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a town in Saurāṣṭra, [Daśakumāra-carita] (also bhi-pura).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryValabhi (वलभि):—[(bhiḥ-bhī)] 2. m. 3. f. The wooden frame of a thatch; a turret, or room on a house top.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Valabhi (वलभि) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Valahi, Valahī.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusValabhi (ವಲಭಿ):—
1) [noun] the roof of a building.
2) [noun] the floor of a building above the ground floor.
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Vaḷabhi (ವಳಭಿ):—
1) [noun] the roof of a building.
2) [noun] the floor of a building above the ground floor.
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 DictionaryValabhī (वलभी):—n. 1. the wooden frame of a thatch; 2. the topmost room of a house;
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)
Starts with: Valabhicchade, Valabhicchamda, Valabhicchandaka, Valabhichchhandaka, Valabhid, Valabhika, Valabhinivesha.
Ends with: Harmyavalabhi.
Full-text (+14): Vadabhi, Valaa, Harmyavalabhi, Valabhinivesha, Bhatarka, Shiladitya, Valati, Dhruvasena, Valahi, Bhavadeva, Vallabhi, Samanya, Pradvara, Kshamashramana, Kaladitya, Gupta, Bhatti, Guhasena, Nandimandapa, Samudrasena.
Relevant text
Search found 25 books and stories containing Valabhi, Valabhī, Vaḷabhi; (plurals include: Valabhis, Valabhīs, Vaḷabhis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)
Chapter 8 - Country of Fa-li-pi (Valabhi) < [Book XI - Twenty-three Countries]
Chapter 7 - Country of K’ie-ch’a (Kachha) < [Book XI - Twenty-three Countries]
Chapter 10 - Country of Su-la-ch’a (Surashtra) < [Book XI - Twenty-three Countries]
Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)
Chapter 16 - The description of the entablatures and roofs (prastara)
Part 4 - Method of translation < [Preface]
Chapter 26 - The eight-storeyed buildings (aṣṭatala or aṣṭabhūmi)
Formal Education System in Ancient India (by Sushmita Nath)
The 7th century Valabhī university < [Chapter 3 - Centres of Learning in Vedic and Buddhist Period]
Subjects studied in the Buddhist Period < [Chapter 5 - Subjects studied in the Vedic and Buddhist period]
The Buddhist Vihāra or Monastery < [Chapter 3 - Centres of Learning in Vedic and Buddhist Period]
Impact of Vedic Culture on Society (by Kaushik Acharya)
Chart: Movement of Vedic Brāhmaṇas < [Chapter 3]
Select Sanskrit Inscriptions Found in Northern India < [Chapter 1]
System of Taxation < [Chapter 5]
Matangalila and Hastyayurveda (study) (by Chandrima Das)
Temples of Munnur (Historical Study) (by R. Muthuraman)
Sri Kamatchi Amman Shrine < [Chapter 4]
Sri Prakannayagi Amman Shrine < [Chapter 4]
Thayar Shrine < [Chapter 4]
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