Ela, aka: Eḷa, Elā; 12 Definition(s)
Ela means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. 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 Eḷa can be transliterated into English as Ela or Elia, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Rasaśāstra (chemistry and alchemy)
Elā (एला):—One of the sixty-seven Mahauṣadhi, as per Rasaśāstra texts (rasa literature). These drugs are useful for processing mercury (rasa), such as the alchemical processes known as sūta-bandhana and māraṇa.(Source): Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra
Rasaśāstra (रसशास्त्र, rasa-shastra) is an important branch of Āyurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasaśāstra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.
Āyurveda (science of life)
Elā (एला) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “Cardamom” spice, made from the seeds of plants in the Zingiberaceae family, and is used throughout Āyurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā. According to ayurveda, cardamom is good for balancing all the three doshas, and is also used for reducing intestinal gas.(Source): Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany
Elā (एला).—The Sanskrit name for an important Āyurvedic drug.—Elā plant grows in South India. It is fragrant and cold and is used in consumption and dysuria and for purifying mouth.(Source): Google Books: Essentials of Ayurveda
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Śāktism (Śākta philosophy)
Elā (एला) is the name of a tree found in maṇidvīpa (Śakti’s abode), according to the Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa 12.10. Accordingly, these trees always bear flowers, fruits and new leaves, and the sweet fragrance of their scent is spread across all the quarters in this place. The trees (eg. Elā) attract bees and birds of various species and rivers are seen flowing through their forests carrying many juicy liquids. Maṇidvīpa is defined as the home of Devī, built according to her will. It is compared with Sarvaloka, as it is superior to all other lokas.
The Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa, or Śrīmad-devī-bhāgavatam, is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, a type of Sanskrit literature containing cultural information on ancient India, religious/spiritual prescriptions and a range of topics concerning the various arts and sciences. The whole text is composed of 18,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 6th century.(Source): Wisdom Library: Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam
Śākta (शाक्त, shakta) or Śāktism (shaktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devī) is revered and worshipped. Śākta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Nāṭyaśāstra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Elā (एला).—Name of a musical composition (subgenre of song);—The start (graha=pāṇi) of the musical metre (tāla) should take place before (anāgata) or after (atīta) the start of the melody, but not at the same time (sama) as the latter. In this way all characteristics of the elā compositions have been preserved by the ancient experts. There are sixteen words in the elā composition, viz.: six words in the udgrāha, the same number in the pallava; traditionally, the melāpaka has one word; in the dhruva there are three words. In this connection the word (pada) is the subdivision (khaṇḍa). This is the rule.
These are the respective names of the sixteen words of the elā compositions:
- kāma (longing),
- manmathavat (enamoured),
- kānta (lovely),
- jita (subdued),
- matta (ecstatic),
- vikāravat (variegated),
- māndhātṛ (thoughtful),
- sumatī (devotional),
- śobhī (brilliant),
- suśobhī (very brilliant),
- gītaka (melodious),
- añcita (honorific lit. “bent”),
- vicitra (diverse),
- vāsava (supreme),
- mṛdu (tender),
- sucitra (extremely diverse),
The first word of the second line is called vikāravat. The next ten words, i.e. the seventh to the sixteenth word, correspond to the following types of musical expression: homogeneous (samāna), sweet (madhura), intense (sāndra), lovely (kānta), brilliant (dīpta), harmonious (samāhita), wild (agrāmya), delicate (sukumāra) distinct (prasanna) and vigorous (ojasvin)
These are the respective deities of the words of the elā composition:
- lokamātā (mother of the world),
- patriṇī (the feathered one),
- rañjanī (the charming one),
- sumukhī (the fair-faced one)
- śacī (the powerful one),
- vareṇya (the desirable one),
- vāyuvegā (swift as the wind),
- medinī (the earth),
- mohinī (the bewildering one),
- jayā (the victorious one),
- gaurī (the brilliant one),
- vāṇī (=Sarasvatī, ‘speech’),
- mātaṅgī (female elephant),
- caṇḍikā (the passionate one),
- vijayā (the triumphant one),
- cāmuṇḍā (a particular form of Durgā),
Some people mention here, immediately after caṇḍikā, devatāhara (the divine destructor, i.e. Śiva).(Source): Google Books: Saṅgītaśiromaṇi: A Medieval Handbook of Indian Music
Elā (एला).—The important subgenre of song known as elā (“cardamon”) provides another opportunity to see the process of categorical expansion at work; it is also instructive in the efforts of authors and compilers to “map” this species of song across the entire universe of Indian culture and civilization. Mataṅga’s account of the elās occupies almost 45 percent of the Bṛhaddeśī’s prabandha canto.
Twenty-eight separate versions of the elā are grouped into four primary categories, following a brief description of their general characteristics. By the time of the Saṅgītaratnākara the elās have grown to 356, with an “infinite” number of mixed varieties.
Elā was regarded as auspicious and as one of the most important of the prabandhas. Its name is explained in a typical passage of nirukta analysis in which each of the phonetic elements signifies a member of an illustrious family group: analyzing the inital e as a diphthong (ai), a represents Viṣṇu, i his “flower-armed” son Kāmadeva, the god of love, and la his wife Lakṣmī.(Source): Google Books: Music and Musical Thought in Early India
Nāṭyaśāstra (नाट्यशास्त्र, natya-shastra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition of performing arts, (e.g., 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 (nāṭya) and poetic works (kāvya).
elā : (f.) 1. saliva; 2. the seed or plant of cardamom. || eḷā (f.), saliva.(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary
Eḷa, (nt.) (Sk. enas) in eḷamūga deaf & dumb A.II, 252; III, 436; IV, 226; Miln.20, 251 (cp. Miln.trsl. II.71). A rather strange use and expln. of eḷamūga (with ref. to a snake “spitting”) we find at J.III, 347, where it is expld. as “eḷa-paggharantena mukhena eḷamūgaṃ” i.e. called eḷamūga because of the saliva (foam?) dripping from its mouth, v. l. elamukha.—Cp. neḷa & aneḷa. (Page 161)
— or —
Ela, (nt.) (?) salt(?) or water(?) in elambiya (= el°ambu-ja) born in (salt) water Sn.845 (= ela-saññaka ambumhi jāta); Nd1 202 (elaṃ vuccati udakaṃ). (Page 161)(Source): Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary
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.
India history and geogprahy
King Ela or Aila.—According to an excerpt published in 1801 in the sixth volume of the Asiatic Researches or Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, the name of the king was Ela or Aila who built the city of Elapura. He also excavated the temples, and built the fortress of Devagiri (Daulatabad). According to Puranas, Aila kings belonged to the Lunar dynasty.(Source): academia.edu: The Date of Ellora’s Kailasa Cave-Temple
Ela is the name of a tree mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva (10th century A.D).—Ela refers to the “cardum-tree” and is mentioned with the Lavanga-bakulamra trees.
Somadeva mentions many rich forests, gardens, various trees (eg., Ela), creepers medicinal and flowering plants and fruit-bearing trees in the Kathasaritsagara. Travel through the thick, high, impregnable and extensive Vindhya forest is a typical feature of many travel-stories. Somadeva’s writing more or less reflects the life of the people of Northern India during the 11th century. His Kathasaritsagara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Ela, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravahanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyadharas (celestial beings).(Source): Shodhganga: Cultural history as g leaned from kathasaritsagara
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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
ēlā (एला).—f S A cardamom (large or small), a seed of warp. Eletteria or Alpinia cardamomum: also the plant. 2 m A tree, Terminalia nitida. Grah.
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ēḷa (एळ).—f m (Vulgar for vēḷa q. v.) Time: also a time, a period.
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ēḷā (एळा).—f pl (ēlā S) Cardamoms, esp. of the large kind. 2 A tree, Terminalia nitida. Grah.(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary
ēlā (एला).—m A carda- mom.(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English
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.
Search found 59 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
Elādi (एलादि) is the Sanskrit name for a group of medicinal plants, classified being a cosme...
Vijayā (विजया) refers to the seventh of twenty-six ekādaśīs according to the Garga-saṃhitā 4.8....
Jayā (जया) is the name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) defined by Bharata, to which Hemacandra (1...
Kāntā (कान्ता) is the name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) to which Hemacandra (1088-1173 C.E.) a...
kama (कम).—a Less, wanting, short of.--- OR --- kāma (काम).—n An action. A work. Use. Need of. ...
Gaurī (गौरी) is the name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) to which Hemacandra (1088-1173 C.E.) ass...
Mohinī (मोहिनी) refers to the twelfth of twenty-six ekādaśīs according to the Garga-saṃhitā 4.8...
Camunda refers to the seventh Matrka and is the shakthi of Devi (Candi). One of the description...
Śacī (शची) refers to “the powerful one” and is the presiding deity of matta (‘ecstatic’), accor...
Sumatī (सुमती) is the alternative name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) mentioned by Hemacandra (1...
Vicitra (विचित्र).—Of various or wonderful kinds beyond our ken or comprehension cf. विचित्रास्...
Mātaṅgī (मातङ्गी) refers to a “female elephant” and is the presiding deity of vicitra (‘diverse...
vasavā (वसवा).—m Shadedness, shadiness, screened state from the sun. Ex. divyācyā vasavyānta ba...
mēdinī (मेदिनी).—f The earth.
maṭṭa (मट्ट).—a Stiff-standing. Slow. a or ad Mute. maṭṭayāsa yēṇēṃ Be exhausted with fatigue.-...
Search found 17 books and stories containing Ela, Eḷa or Elā. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sushruta Samhita, Volume 6: Uttara-tantra (by Sushruta)
Chapter LVII - Symptoms and Treatment of aversion to food (Arochaka) < [Canto III - Kaya-chikitsa-tantra (internal medicine)]
Chapter XIV - Treatment of eye-diseases which require Incision < [Canto I - Shalakya-tantra (ears, eyes, nose, mouth and throat)]
Chapter X - Treatment of Pittaja Ophthalmia < [Canto I - Shalakya-tantra (ears, eyes, nose, mouth and throat)]
Sushruta Samhita, Volume 5: Kalpasthana (by Sushruta)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 45 - Treatment for chronic diarrhea (17): Nripavallabha rasa < [Chapter III - Jvaratisara fever with diarrhoea]
Part 46 - Treatment for chronic diarrhea (18): Nripendra-vallabha rasa < [Chapter III - Jvaratisara fever with diarrhoea]
Part 18 - Treatment for indigestion (16): Lavangadi rasa < [Chapter IV - Irregularity of the digesting heat]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 2: Minerals (uparasa) (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 6 - Use of incinerated mica < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Part 4 - Karpura-shilajatu (having the odour and appearance of camphor) < [Chapter IV - Uparasa (4): Shilajatu or Shilajit (bitumen)]
Part 4 - Uses of gairika < [Chapter IX - Uparasa (10): Gairika (red ochre)]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 16 - Evil effects of taking iron not properly incinerated < [Chapter IV - Metals (4): Lauha (iron)]
Part 21 - Treatment of poison < [Chapter XXX - Visha (poisons)]
Part 3 - Incineration of silver < [Chapter II - Metals (2): Raupya (silver)]
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