Lavana, aka: Lavaṇa, Lavaṇā; 15 Definition(s)



In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

[Lavana in Natyashastra glossaries]

One of the Hands of the Seven Oceans.—Lavaṇa: the Mukula hands moved upwards and downwards (vyāvṛttacāpaveṣṭitau). Note: Representing the up and down motion of waves.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

[Lavana in Ayurveda glossaries]

Lavana—A taste, which imparts a greater relish to food, produces salivation and softness of a part, is called saline (Lavana).

A saline taste is mostly endued with attributes which characterise the elements of water (toya or ap) and fire (agni or dahana).

The pungent, acid and saline ones exercise fiery or heat making virtues.
The tastes such as sweet, acid and saline are heavy and emollient in their character.
Tastes such as sweet, acid and saline are endued with the virtues of subduing Vāyu.

Virtue of Lavana—A saline taste is possessed of corrective (purgative and emetic) virtues, favours the processes of suppuration and spontaneous bursting of swellings, brings about the looseness or resolution of any affected part (ulcer), is heat-engendering in its property and proves incompatible with all other tastes. It cleanses the internal passages or channels of the organism and produces softness of the limbs and members of the body.

A saline taste, though possessed of the aforesaid properties, may bring on scabies urticaria, œdematous swellings, loss or discoloration of the natural complexion of the body, loss of virile potency, distressing symptoms affecting the sense-organs, inflammation of the mouth and the eyes, hæmoptysis, Vāta-rakta (a kind of leprosy) and acid eructations etc., in the event of its being largely partaken of to the exclusion of all other tastes.

(Source): Sushruta samhita, Volume I

Salty (Lavana) decreases vata, increases pitta and kapha—The salty taste has a heating virya and a sweet vipak. Salt is grounding and moistening, which makes it best for vata. Its warmth and unctuousness helps vata stay grounded and hydrated, but its heat may aggravate pitta. Kapha will be attracted to the warmth of salty flavors, but this flavor tends to promote more weight gain and water retention than kapha really wants. Salt stimulates digestion, helps maintain proper electrolyte balance, softens tissues, and has a mildly laxative effect when taken in moderation. Sea vegetables, salt, tamari, black olives, and processed foods are laden with the salty rasa.

(Source): Gaiam life: The Six Tastes of Ayurveda
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[Lavana in Purana glossaries]

Lavaṇa (लवण) refers to “salt”, forming part of a common diet in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—Most of the references to the articles of diet occur in the Nīlamata in connection with the offerings made to the gods but it is not difficult to infer from them the food and drink of the common people because “what a man eats his gods eat”.

(Source): Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

1) Lavaṇa (लवण).—A hell. (See under Kāla I). (See full article at Story of Lavaṇa from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

2) Lavaṇa (लवण).—A demon. He was the son of a demon called Madhu. Madhuvana on the banks of the river Kālindī was the abode of this demon. This demon was a great oppressor of the Devas and Śatrughna had to kill him Śatrughna then constructed a beautiful city there and lived there. In recognition of the increasing prosperity of the city it was named Madhurā. After the death of Śatrughna his two sons lived there. (4th Skandha, Devī Bhāgavata).

3) Lavaṇa (लवण).—A King who was a grandson of Hariścandra. He once conducted a Rājasūya in his imagination and became a Caṇḍāla. (story in Jñānavāsiṣṭha). This story was narrated to Śrī Rāma by Vasiṣṭha to teach him the truth that man does not realise that this whole universe is an illusion only because of his ignorance. Lavaṇa was the King of Uttarapāṇḍava, a country of great fame. He was the grandson of Hariścandra and wished to earn fame by performing a Rājasūya yāga as Hariścandra had done. Lavaṇa decided to perform the yāga in his mind only. He made grand preparations for the yajña. He invited the Ṛtviks and after invoking the devas inflamed the sacrificial fire. For one year he observed yāga like that and in the end gave gifts to the brahmins and the poor. It was all an imaginary performance that the King had in the course of a single day when he indulged in a reverie. In the evening as usual he continued his day to day duties.

One who performs Rājasūya will have to bear woes and sorrows for a period of twelve years and since Lavaṇa had performed it mentally, Indra sent his agent to give Lavaṇa worries mentally. Indra’s agent appeared in the court of King Lavaṇa in the guise of a magician. The magician bowing before the King with awe said, "Lord, I shall show you a magic. See it sitting on your throne. It will be as astounding as if seeing moon rise on the earth".

4) Lavaṇa (लवण).—A demon who lived in the island of Rāmaṇīyaka. He had come to the island long before the serpents came to that place. The serpents saw him when they went there to live. (Śloka 2, Chapter 27, Ādi Parva).

5) Lavaṇa (लवण).—Another King of the family of Hariścandra. Yogavāsiṣṭha says that this King had participated in several Rājasūya yajñas.

(Source): Puranic Encyclopaedia

1a) Lavaṇa (लवण).—A son of Rākṣasa Madhu, killed by Śatrughna in Madhuvana.*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 11. 14; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 63. 186; Vāyu-purāṇa 88. 185; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 12. 4; IV. 4. 101.

1b) A son of Jyotiṣmat, after whom Lavaṇavarṣa took the name.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 27-9; Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 24.

1c) A son of Mahogra, prayed to Śiva.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 91.

1d) A hell; disrespect to guru, reviling and selling of the Vedas and laxity in sex relations lead to it.*

  • * Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 6. 2 and 13.

1e) One of the eight saubhāgyas.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 60. 9.

1f) A kingdom of Kuśadvīpa after Lavaṇa.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 29; 19. 58; Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 25; 49. 53.

1g) Also Lavaṇa sindhu, Lavaṇāmbudhi— an ocean of salt;1 origin from waters of the aṇḍam;2 jalam.3

  • 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 52. 42; IV. 31. 18; Vāyu-purāṇa 34. 12.
  • 2) Matsya-purāṇa 2. 34.
  • 3) Ib. 251. 34.

1h) Unfit for śrāddha.*

  • * Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 16. 8.
(Source): Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index
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General definition (in Hinduism)

[Lavana in Hinduism glossaries]

1) Lavana—An ocean mentioned in the Mahabharata (1.5.27): Lavana-samudra (ocean of salt).

According to the Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam (8.5.1-31):

“In the north of this Īlāvarṣa (center of Jambu-dvīpa) are the three mountains the Nīlagiri, the Śvetagiri and the Śringavau, forming the boundaries respectively of the three Varṣas named Ramyaka, Hiraṇmaya and Kuru respectively. These run along from the east and gradually extend at their base and towards the salt ocean (Lavana Samudra).”

2) Lavaṇa (लवण)—A daitya mentioned in the Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam (4.20.54–56):

“In days of yore, on the delightful banks of the river Kālindī, there was a place, called Madhuban, where lived a powerful Daitya named Lavana, the son of Madhu. That wicked Demon was exceedingly arrogant, on getting a boon, and he used to give an enormous amount of trouble to the Dvijas. Satrughṇa the younger of Lakṣmaṇ, killed that uncontrollable Daitya and built a very beautiful city there and named it Mathurā.”

Śatrughna also killed a Rākṣasa named Lavaṇa, who was the son of Madhu Rākṣasa. (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam IX.9.11)

3) Lavana—One of the hells mentioned in the Garuḍa Purāṇa (57). It was during the reign of Rāma, that the demon Lavana was killed by Shatrughna (Garuḍa Purāṇa 143).

4) Lavana is one of the seven sons of king Jyotiṣmat, after whom the seven portions or Varṣas of the island were called Udbhida, &c. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa II.4)

(Source): Wisdom Library: Hinduism

In Buddhism

General definition (in Buddhism)

[Lavana in Buddhism glossaries]

Lavaṇa (लवण, “salty”) refers to one of the “six kinds of tastes” (rasa) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 36). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (eg., lavaṇa). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

(Source): Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[Lavana in Jainism glossaries]

Lavaṇa (लवण) is the shorter name for Lavaṇasamudra, an ocean (samudra) surrouding the continent (dvīpa) known as Jambū (or, Jambūdvīpa), according to Jain cosmology. Lavaṇa and Jambū are situated in the middle-world (madhyaloka), which contains innumerable concentric continents (dvīpa), each surrounded by their own ocean. The middle-world, as opposed to the upper-world (adhaloka) and the lower-world (ūrdhvaloka), is the only world where humans can be born.

Lavaṇa is recorded in ancient Jaina canonical texts dealing with cosmology and geography of the universe. Examples of such texts are the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapannatti and the Trilokasāra in the Digambara tradition.

(Source): Wisdom Library: Jainism

Lavaṇa (लवण) refers to “rock salt”: a mineral that was typically mined, extracted and used (both domestic and industrial) in ancient India. Mining was an important industry at that time as well. The Jaina canonical texts mention about the extraction of various kinds of minerals, metals and precious stones. The term ‘āgara’ occurring intire texts denotes the mines which provided many kinds of mineral products (eg., lavaṇa). The references in the texts of various professions and trade in metallic commodities clearly show a highly developed industry of mining and metallurgy in that period.

(Source): Economic Life In Ancient India (as depicted in Jain canonical literature)
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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[Lavana in Pali glossaries]

lavaṇa : (nt.) salt.

-- or --

lavana : (nt.) mowing; reaping.

(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

Lavana, (nt.) (fr. lunāti) cutting, reaping Miln. 360. (Page 582)

— or —

Lavaṇa, (nt.) (cp. late Vedic lavaṇa, cp. Zimmer, Altind. Leben 54) salt, lotion Miln. 112; Sdhp. 158. See loṇa. (Page 582)

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Marathi-English dictionary

[Lavana in Marathi glossaries]

lavaṇa (लवण).—n (S) Salt, whether sea-salt or fossile salt.

--- OR ---

lavaṇa (लवण).—a (S) Salt, saline.

--- OR ---

lavaṇa (लवण).—n f (lavaṇēṃ) A depressed or low spot (in the ground &c.); a hollow or sinking more generally; as pāyācī la0 The hollow of the knee; mānēcī la0 The hollow or bend of the neck; hātācī la0 The hollow of the arm. 2 A bend or winding (of a road, river &c.)

--- OR ---

lāvaṇa (लावण).—a S lāvaṇika a S Salt, saline, relating to salt.

(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

lavaṇa (लवण).—n Salt. n f A low spot. a Saline.

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Sanskrit-English dictionary

[Lavana in Sanskrit glossaries]

Lavaṇa (लवण).—a. [lū-lyuṭ pṛṣo° ṇatvam]

1) Saline, saltish, briny; यतो यतस्त्वाददीत लवणमेवैवम् (yato yatastvādadīta lavaṇamevaivam) Bṛ. Up.2.4.12.

2) Lovely, handsome.

-ṇaḥ 1 Saline taste.

2) The sea of salt water.

3) Name of a demon, son of Madhu, who was killed by Śatrughna; लवणेन विलुप्तेज्यास्तामिस्रेण तमभ्ययुः (lavaṇena viluptejyāstāmisreṇa tamabhyayuḥ) R.15.2,5,17,26.

4) Name of a hell.

-ṇam 1 Salt, seasalt.

2) A factitious salt.

--- OR ---

Lavaṇā (लवणा).—Lustre, beauty.

--- OR ---

Lavana (लवन).—[lū-bhāve karmaṇi ca lyuṭ]

1) Mowing, cutting, reaping (of corn &c.).

2) An instrument for mowing, a sickle, scythe.

Derivable forms: lavanam (लवनम्).

--- OR ---

Lāvaṇa (लावण).—a. (-ṇī f.) [लवणं संस्कृतम् अण् (lavaṇaṃ saṃskṛtam aṇ)]

1) Salt.

2) Salted, dressed with salt; लावणस्य समुद्रस्य विष्कम्भो द्विगुणः स्मृतः (lāvaṇasya samudrasya viṣkambho dviguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ) Mb.6.11.6.

(Source): DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary
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Relevant definitions

Search found 96 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:

Lavaṇaśāka (लवणशाक).—pickles; Gīrvāṇa. Derivable forms: lavaṇaśākam (लवणशाकम्).Lavaṇaśāka is a ...
Sindhulavaṇa (सिन्धुलवण).—rock-salt. Derivable forms: sindhulavaṇam (सिन्धुलवणम्).Sindhulavaṇa ...
Lavaṇasamudra (लवणसमुद्र).—the saltsea, the ocean.Derivable forms: lavaṇasamudraḥ (लवणसमुद्रः)....
Lavaṇajala (लवणजल).—&c. the ocean; निनदमतिभृशं नराः प्रचक्रुर्लवणजलोद्भवसिंहनादमिश्रम् (ninadam...
Akṣāralavaṇa (अक्षारलवण).—(-rā°) [kṣāreṇa ūṣaramṛttikayā nirvṛttaṃ-aṇ kṣāraṃ kṛtrimaṃ lavaṇaṃ; ...
Lavaṇoda (लवणोद).—1) the ocean. 2) the sea of salt water. Derivable forms: lavaṇodaḥ (लवणोदः).L...
Kālalavaṇa (काललवण).—the बिड (biḍa) salt. (Mar. saṃcaḷakhāra) Derivable forms: kālalavaṇam (काल...
Pāṃsulavaṇa (पांसुलवण).—a kind of salt.Derivable forms: pāṃsulavaṇam (पांसुलवणम्).Pāṃsulavaṇa i...
Lavaṇāmburāśi (लवणाम्बुराशि).—the ocean; आभाति वेला लवणाम्बुराशेः (ābhāti velā lavaṇāmburāśeḥ) ...
Darbhalavaṇa (दर्भलवण).—an instrument for cutting grass. Derivable forms: darbhalavaṇam (दर्भलव...
ḍōṅgarācē-lavaṇa (डोंगराचे-लवण).—n A bend or recess in a hill
Lavaṇottama (लवणोत्तम).—1) rocksalt. 2) nitre. Derivable forms: lavaṇottamam (लवणोत्तमम्).Lavaṇ...
Lavaṇākāra (लवणाकार).—1) a salt-mine. 2) a receptacle of salt water; i. e. the sea. 3) (fig.) a...
Lavaṇadhenu (लवणधेनु).—a cow symbolically represented with salt. Derivable forms: lavaṇadhenuḥ ...
Lavaṇāmbhas (लवणाम्भस्).—m. the ocean; स सेतुं बन्धयामास प्लवगैर्लवणाम्भसि (sa setuṃ bandhayāmā...

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