Lāja & Lājā (f.) [cp. Vedic lāja: Zimmer, Altind. Leben 269] 1. fried grain, parched corn: occurring only in combn madhu -- lāja fried grain with honey, sweet corn J iii.538; iv.214, 281. -- 2. the flower of Dalbergia arborea, used for scattering in bunches (with other flowers making 5 kinds or colours) as a sign of welcome & greeting, usually in phrase lāja -- pañcamāni pupphāni ("a cluster of flowers with lāja as the fifth") DhA i.112; VvA 31; J i.55 (˚pañcamakāni p.); cp. J ii.240 (vippakiṇṇa -- lāja -- kusuma -- maṇḍita -- talā); vi.42 (vippakiṇṇa -- lāja -- kusuma -- vāsa -- dhūp' andhakāra); DhA i.140 (vippakiṇṇa -- valikaŋ pañcavaṇṇa -- kusuma -- lāja -- puṇṇaghaṭa -- paṭimaṇḍita).