Lakṣaṇa
lakṣaṇa
(Sanskrit, mark). Term used mainly in Buddhist Template:Wiki (Abhidharma) to denote the specific identifying attribute or defining characteristic of an entity.
As an example, all Template:Wiki (dharma) are said to bear the three ‘marks’ of impermanence (anitya), suffering (duḥkha), and no-self (anātman).
In Abhidharma tabulations, various defining characteristics were identified for different phenomena, such as heat as the defining characteristic of fire, or Template:Wiki as that of earth.
In some Mahāyāna sources the lakṣana of a thing came to be defined as that mental Template:Wiki (vikalpa) by which one knows, defines, and understands an object which has a particular Template:Wiki form (nimitta), such as being of a particular Template:Wiki, and so forth.
lakṣaṇa mfn. indicating, expressing indirectly Template:Wiki.
• m. Ardea Sibirica L.
• N. of a man Rājat. (often confounded with, lakṣmaṇa)
• (ā), f. s.v
• n. (ifc. f. ā) a mark, sign, symbol, token, characteristic, attribute, quality (ifc. = 'marked or characterized by', 'possessed of') Mn. MBh. &c
• a stroke, line (esp. those drawn on the sacrificial ground) ŚBr. GṛŚrS.
• a lucky mark, favourable sign GṛŚrS. Mn. MBh. &c
• a symptom or indication of Template:Wiki, Template:Wiki
• a Template:Wiki Template:Wiki MBh. xiii, 2303
• a spoon (?) Divyâv.
• accurate description, definition, illustration Mn. Sarvad. Suśr.
• settled rate, fixed tariff Mn. viii, 406
• a designation, appellation, name (ifc. = 'named', 'called') Mn. MBh. Kāv.
• a form, Template:Wiki, kind, sort (ifc.= 'taking the form of', 'appearing as') Mn. Śaṃk. BhP.
• the act of aiming at, aim, goal, scope, object (ifc. = 'concerning', 'relating to', 'coming within the scope of') APrāt. Yājñ. MBh. BhP.
• reference, quotation Pāṇ. 1-4, 84
• effect, operation, influence ib. i, 1, 62 &c
• cause, occasion, opportunity R. Daś.
• observation, sight, seeing W.
lakṣaṇa: Characteristic.