Lion: 8 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Natyashastra
2. Vastushastra
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
India history
See also
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Introduction:

Lion means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Christianity, 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.

Images (photo gallery)

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In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)

1) The Gait of the Lion is denoted by the Sanskrit term 厂颈峁僪补驳补迟颈, and represents one of the various Gatis (鈥渨ay of walking鈥�) (in Indian Dramas), according to the Abhinayadarpa峁嘺.鈥擜ccordingly, gaits (gatis) are explained along with some particular hand gestures. It shows that footsteps are to be followed by some hand postures. In the gait of 蝉颈峁僪补 i.e., lion, the actor or dancer should stand on toes first and then jump forward speedily. The 艣颈办丑补谤补丑补蝉迟补 is adopted with both hands in this gait. Frog step is suggested to do exactly as the gait of 蝉颈峁僪补-gati in the Abhinayadarpa峁嘺.

2) Lions are associated with Makarahasta: one of the thirteen Combined-hand Gestures (in Indian Dramas) (known as 蝉补峁儁耻办迟补丑补蝉迟补蝉).鈥擜ccording to the 艢abdakalpadruma, makara means sea-animals like Kumbh墨ra, K奴rma, K膩ca, Godh膩, 艢a峁卥ava, 艢va峁噄taka, 艢i艣um膩ra etc. According to the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺, in Makara posture both of the hands in 辫补迟腻办补 posture are placed one over the other and both should be facing downward. This posture is used in the acting of lion, tiger and deer.

3) The Lion (in Sanskrit: Si峁僪a) is also related to Nara蝉颈峁僪补-avat膩ra, which refers to one of the Da艣膩vat膩ra (鈥渢en incarnations鈥�) (of Lord Vi峁ａ箛u) to which are assign various hand gestures (in Indian Dramas), according to the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺.鈥擳he term Nara蝉颈峁僪补 is the union of two Sanskrit words viz., nara and 蝉颈峁僪补. Nara means man and Si峁僪a means lion. So, this incarnation of lord Vi峁ａ箛u shows his form of half man and half lion. It is the most furious incarnation of lord Vi峁ａ箛u.

context information

Natyashastra (啶ㄠぞ啶熰啶ざ啶距じ啷嵿い啷嵿ぐ, 苍腻峁瓂补艣腻蝉迟谤补) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya鈥攖heatrics, 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).

Vastushastra (architecture)

: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (vastu)

Lion-shaped Temples (in ancient Indian architecture) are denoted by the Sanskrit term Si峁僪a, as described in literature such as the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.鈥擨t is quite difficult to say about a definite number of varieties of Hindu temples but in the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺 hundred varieties of temples have been enumerated. For example, Lion-shaped. 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. [...] The Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺 relates that the temple named Si峁僪a should be constructed in the shape of a Lion.

context information

Vastushastra (啶掂ぞ啶膏啶む啶多ぞ啶膏啶む啶�, v膩stu艣膩stra) 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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Ma峁囜笉ala

The Lion is associated with the Yogin墨 (female deity) named Si峁僩h墨, being situated in the 惭别诲颈苍墨肠补办谤补, according to the 10th century 岣屇乲膩r峁嘺va-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Sa峁僾ara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.鈥擜ccordingly, the 尘别诲颈苍墨肠补办谤补 refers to one of the three divisions of the 诲丑补谤尘补-辫耻峁璦 (鈥榙harma layer鈥�), situated in the 贬别谤耻办补尘补峁囜笉补濒补. The 36 pairs of 岣屇乲in墨s [viz., Si峁僩h墨] and V墨ras are yellow in color; the shapes of their faces are in accordance with their names [e.g., Lion]; they have four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.

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鈥檚 words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (惫补箩谤补测腻苍补) are collected indepently.

India history and geography

: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri鈥檚 Kuvalayamala-katha (history)

Lions were commonly depicted on the Sa峁僺膩racakra paintings (representing scenes of animal life), in ancient India, as mentioned in the Kath膩s (narrative poems) such as Uddyotanas奴ri in his 8th-century Kuvalayam膩l膩 (a Prakrit Camp奴, similar to K膩vya poetry).鈥擯age 185.21 f.: Here follows a description of a printed scroll illustrating the Jaina conception of 蝉补峁僺腻谤补肠补办谤补. [...] The 蝉补峁僺腻谤补-肠补办谤补 illustrated the three worlds of hell, human world and the world of gods. [For example:] Scenes of bird and animal life, e.g., fight between lion and elephant (as depicted in the Kail膩sa temple at Ellora).

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 404 books and stories containing Lion, The lion; (plurals include: Lions, The lions). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Jataka 241: Sabbad膩峁環a-j膩taka < [Book II - Dukanip膩ta]

Jataka 172: Daddara-j膩taka < [Book II - Dukanip膩ta]

Jataka 152: Sig膩la-j膩taka < [Book II - Dukanip膩ta]

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Chapter 22 - The flight of the Beasts

Chapter 36 - The blue Jackals

Chapter 33a - The Jackal as calumniators (version A)

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Chapter XIII - The Blue Riband

Chapter XXVI - The Blue Belt

Chapter XXVII - The Three Princesses of Whiteland

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