# पद्मा (padmā)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/padma

पद्मा (padmā) is a Sanskrit word meaning a lotus, a particular mark or mole on the human body, red or colored marks on the face or trunk of an elephant, a particular part of a column or pillar, a kind of temple, a specific body posture used in religious meditation. Its 45 recorded definitions are grouped into 11 contexts, among them Proper Names: Persons & Mythical Figures (Excluding Lakshmi/Śrī), Other Plants & Plant-Derived Products, Animals (Species or Named).

- **SLP1:** `padmA`  **IAST:** padmā  **Devanagari:** पद्मा
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padma_%28Vishnu%29
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/padma/declensions.md
- **Other headwords romanised the same way:** पाद्म (pādma), पद्म (padma)

## Meanings by context

### Proper Names: Persons & Mythical Figures (Excluding Lakshmi/Śrī) (11 definitions)
- Rama, son of Dasharatha  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of Rāma (son of Daśa-ratha), Śatr. [ ID=115528 ]
- one of the attendants of Skanda  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of one of the attendants of Skanda, MBh. [ ID=115530 ]
- of a mythical Buddha  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a mythical Buddha, Monier-Williams’ Buddhism in its connexion with Brāhmaṇism and Hindūism: and in its contrast with Christianity (Title) 136 n. 1. [ ID=115531 ]
- In Jainism, the name of the ninth Chakravartin in Bharata and one of the nine white Balas.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (with Jainas) N. of the 9th Cakra-vartin in Bhārata and of one of the 9 white Balas [ ID=115532 ]
- name of a king  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a king, MBh. [ ID=115533 ]
- a prince of Kashmir who founded Padmapura and a temple  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a prince of Kaśmīra (founder of Padma-pura and of a temple; see पद्म - स्वामिन् (padma-svāmin) ), Rājat. [ ID=115534 ]
- of another man  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of another man, ib. [ ID=115535 ]
- belonging to a Brahman  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a Brāhman, Lalit. [ ID=115536 ]
- The mother of Munisuvrata  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of the mother of Muni-suvrata (the 20th Arhat of the present Avasarpiṇī), L. [ ID=115544 ]
- a female serpent-demon, the goddess Manasa  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a female serpent-demon (= the goddess Manasā, wife of the sage Jarat-kāru; cf. पद्म - प्रिया (padma-priyā) ), L. [ ID=115545 ]
- a daughter of king Brihadratha and wife of Kalki  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a daughter of king Bṛhadratha and wife of Kalki, Pur. [ ID=115546 ]

### Other Plants & Plant-Derived Products (6 definitions)
- a particular fragrant substance  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a partic. fragrant substance, MBh. ( v.l. ° मक (°maka) ) [ ID=115521 ]
- a species of bdellium  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a species of bdellium, L. [ ID=115523 ]
- a species of plant  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > पद्म (padma) m. a species of plant, L. [ ID=115525 ]
- a species of plant  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a species of plant, Suśr. ( Clerodendrum Siphonanthus or Hibiscus Mutabilis, L. ) [ ID=115541 ]
- cloves  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > cloves, L. [ ID=115542 ]
- the flower of Carthamus Tinctoria  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the flower of Carthamus Tinctoria, L. [ ID=115543 ]

### Animals (Species or Named) (5 definitions)
- an elephant  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an elephant, L. [ ID=115526 ]
- a species of serpent  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a species of serpent, Suśr. [ ID=115527 ]
- a serpent demon  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of two serpent-demons, MBh.; R. &c. [ ID=115529 ]
- a mythical elephant  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a mythical elephant, R. ( cf. महा - पद्म (mahā-padma) ) [ ID=115537 ]
- of a monkey  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a monkey, R. [ ID=115538 ]

### Lotus Plant, its Parts, and Form (5 definitions)
- a lotus  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 584,2] पद् (pad) म (padma) m. n. ( 2. or 3. पद् (pad) ?) a lotus ( esp. the flower of the lotus-plant Nelumbium Speciosum which closes towards evening; often confounded with the water-lily or Nymphaea Alba ), MBh.; Kāv. &c. ( ifc. f( आ (ā) ). ) [ ID=115507 ]
- the form or figure of a lotus  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the form or figure of a lotus, R.; MārkP. (a N. given by the Tāntrikas to the 6 divisions of the upper part of the body called Cakras q.v. ) [ ID=115508 ]
- an army arrayed in the form of a lotus  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > an army arrayed in the form of a lotus, Mn.; MBh. [ ID=115513 ]
- a specific body posture used in religious meditation  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a partic. posture of the body in religious meditation, Vedānt. ( cf. पद्मा (padmā) सन (sana) ) [ ID=115514 ]
- the root of Nelumbium speciosum  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > the root of Nelumbium Speciosum, L. [ ID=115522 ]

### The Goddess Padmā (Lakshmi/Śrī) (4 definitions)
- an epithet of Shri  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1B) [Printed book page 584,2] पद्मा (padmā) ( आ (ā) ), f. ‘the lotus-hued one’, N. of Śrī, Mn.; MBh. &c. ( cf. पद्म - श्री (padma-śrī) ) [ ID=115540 ]
- an epithet of Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune and wife of Vishnu  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > पद्मा (padmā) [Printed book page 410-09 ] पद्मा (padmā) f. An epithet of Lakshmī, the goddess of fortune and wife of Vishṇu, पद्मा (padmā) पयोधरतटीपरिरंभलग्नकाश्मीरमुद्रितमुरोमधुसूदनस्य (padmāpayodharataṭīpariraṃbhalagnakāśmīramudritamuromadhusūdanasya) Git.G. i. [ ID=21012 ]
- Shri  
  *Index to the Names in the Mahabharata*
  > पद्मा (padmā) [Printed book page 523-1 ] Padmā = Śrī: II, 2294 (? B. reads padbhyāṃ ); IV, 186 ( yathā P°ā Nārāyaṇaparigrahaḥ ); XII, 8347 ( Ś° ), 8353 (do.); XIII, 507 (do.); XIV, 1489. [ ID=7824 ]
- a name of Shri  
  *The Purana Index*
  > पद्मा (padmā) [Printed book page 2-285 ] Padmā (I) — a name of Śrī. Bhā. X. 47. 13; Vi. I. 8. 24. [ ID=7533 ]

### Cosmological, Geographical, or Astronomical Names (3 definitions)
- a particular constellation  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a partic. constellation, Var. [ ID=115519 ]
- A particular cold hell in Buddhism.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of a partic. cold hell, Buddh. [ ID=115520 ]
- of a mountain  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > of a mountain, Var. [ ID=115539 ]

### Marks, Moles, or Lotus Color (3 definitions)
- a particular mark or mole on the human body  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a partic. mark or mole on the human body, R. [ ID=115509 ]
- red or colored marks on the face or trunk of an elephant  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > red or coloured marks on the face or trunk of an elephant, L. [ ID=115510 ]
- lotus-hued  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1B) [Printed book page 584,2] पद्म (padma) mfn. lotus-hued, being of the colour of a lotus, ṢaḍvBr. [ ID=115547 ]

### Structures, Architectural Elements, and Pīṭhas (3 definitions)
- a particular part of a column or pillar  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a partic. part of a column or pillar, Var. [ ID=115511 ]
- a kind of temple  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a kind of temple, ib. [ ID=115512 ]
- a pedestal for images with sixteen corners that brings good luck  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Padmā (II) — one of the ten pīṭhas for images; with sixteen corners, a little short at the bottom; gives one good luck (saubhāgya). M. 262. 7, 16, 18. [ ID=7534 ]

### Miscellaneous Specific Meanings (2 definitions)
- a kind of coitus  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a kind of coitus, L. [ ID=115515 ]
- lead  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > lead, L. [ ID=115524 ]

### Mythological Treasures (2 definitions)
- one of the nine treasures of Kubera  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > one of the 9 treasures of Kubera (also personified), R. [ ID=115516 ]
- one of the eight treasures connected with the magical art called Padmini  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > one of the 8 treasures connected with the magical art called Padminī, MBh.; Hariv. &c. [ ID=115517 ]

### A Large Number (1 definition)
- a particularly high number, one thousand million or billion  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > a partic. high number (1000 millions or billions), MBh.; R. &c. [ ID=115518 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Index to the Names in the Mahabharata; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546