Shirodhara, Śirodhāra, Shiras-dhara: 11 definitions

Introduction:

Shirodhara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Śirodhāra can be transliterated into English as Sirodhara or Shirodhara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

[«previous next»] — Shirodhara in Ayurveda glossary
Source: Ayurveda College: Shirodhara

Shirodhara is a unique, blissful therapy that balances and stabilizes the mind. To receive shirodhara, the client lies down upon a massage table with their eyes covered. Next, specially prepared warm herbal oil is poured in a thin steady stream directly onto the forehead and sixth chakra. Shirodhara purifies the mind, alleviates anxiety, reduces headaches, and expands awareness. Shirodhara can be administered on its own or as part of a panchakarma detoxification regime.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Śirodhara (शिरोधर):—[śirodharaḥ] Neck

Ayurveda book cover
context information

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.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Shirodhara in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Śirodharā (शिरोधरा) refers to the “neck”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.15 (“The penance and reign of Tārakāsura”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated: “[...] At the same time, several phenomena of evil portent forboding misery and distress happened, when the son of Varāṅgī was born making the gods miserable. [...] Within villages, inauspicious vixens howled hideously vomitting fires; as it were, through their mouths along with the hissing and twanging sounds of the hootings and howlings of owls and jackals. Lifting up their necks [i.e., śirodharā], the dogs barked in diverse ways producing sounds of singing or lamenting here and there. [...]”.

Purana book cover
context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Shirodhara in Hinduism glossary
Source: Aryacharya: Hinduism

शिरो (Śiro) means "Head" and धार (Dhāra) means "Stream". शिरो धार (Śiro Dhāra) is the application of warm medicated oil to the forehead over the आज्ञा चक्र (Ājñā Cakra). In शिरो धार (Śiro Dhāra), a stream of warm oil pours continuously through the spout of a bowl that is suspended above one's head. शिरो धार (Śiro Dhāra) is a relaxing treatment for matters of the mind, such as chronic headaches, insomnia, anxiety and nervousness.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shirodhara in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śirodharā (शिरोधरा).—f.

(-rā) The neck. E. śiras the head, and dhara what upholds.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śirodharā (शिरोधरा).—i. e. śiras-dhṛ + a, f. The neck, [Daśakumāracarita] in Chr. 198, 23 (read ºśirodharoddeśaº).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śirodhara (शिरोधर).—[masculine] ā [feminine] the neck (head-bearer).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śirodhara (शिरोधर):—[=śiro-dhara] [from śiro > śiras] m. ([Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]) ([Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature etc.]; ifc. f(ā). ) ‘h°-supporting’, the neck.

2) Śirodharā (शिरोधरा):—[=śiro-dharā] [from śiro > śiras] f. ([Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature etc.]; ifc. f(ā). ) ‘h°-supporting’, the neck.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śirodharā (शिरोधरा):—[śiro-dharā] (rā) 1. f. The neck.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shirodhara in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shirodhara in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śirōdhara (ಶಿರೋಧರ):—[noun] the neck, the holder of the head.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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