Shvasa, Śvāsa, Svasā, Svasa, Śvāsā, Svasha: 34 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Vyakarana
3. Ayurveda
4. Shiksha
5. Shaivism
6. Shaktism
7. Jyotisha
8. Yoga
9. Arts
10. General definition
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also
Buy products

Introduction:

Shvasa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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 terms Śvāsa and Śvāsā can be transliterated into English as Svasa or Shvasa, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Swas.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Śvāsā (श्वासा).—A daughter of Dakṣaprajāpati. Dharmadeva married her. Amla, the Vasu, was born as their son. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 66, Verse 17).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Svasā (स्वसा).—A daughter of Vṛkadevī.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 180.

1b) Gave birth to Yakṣas and Rākṣasas.^*

* Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 21. 25.

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.

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar

Śvāsa (श्वास).—lit. breath; the voiceless breath required for uttering some letters; the term is used in the Pratisakhya and Vyakarana books in the sense of breath which is prominently required in the utterance of the hard consonants, sibilants, visarga and the Jihvamuliya and Upadhmaniya letters; the term is used in connection with these letters also; the usual term in use is, of course, श्वासानुप्रदान (śvāsānupradāna), the term श्वास (śvāsa) showing the property of the breath, with which these letters are characterized.

context information

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Śvāsa (श्वास) or Śvāsaroga refers to “dyspnoea” according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—Accordingly, the dietetic effect śvāsa-ghna (cures dyspnoea) is associated with the following conditions: Food utensils made of Pāṭalapatra (patra=leaves).

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to “dyspnoea”, and is mentioned in the 10th century Yogaśataka written by Pandita Vararuci.—The Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci is an example of this category. This book attracts reader by its very easy language and formulations which can be easily prepared and have small number of herbs. It describes only those formulations which are the most common and can be used in majority conditions of diseases (viz., Śvāsa).

Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgraha

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to “dyspnoea” and is one of the various diseases mentioned in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning śvāsa] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Śvāsa (श्वास) or Śvāsaroga refers to “asthma” according to the fifth volume of the Rasajalanidhi (chapter 4). Accordingly, “wind arising out of the stomach, and already much vitiated by phlegm and pitta, and sometimes obstructed in its upward movement by accumulated phlegm, comes to a stand-still, and is confined in the lungs. This wind vitiates those passages which carry food and fluids, and tries to move in wrong directions, giving rise to difficulty in breathing or asthma (shvasa)”.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to “dyspnea”, mentioned in verse 4.14-18 and 5.17, 22, 27 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] From the stoppage of cough (result) its increase, dyspnea [viz., śvāsa], anorexia, heart-disease, desiccation, and hiccup. In this case a still more cough-destroying application (is) to be made [...] Erysipelas, urticaria, leprosy itching of the eyes, jaundice, and fever as well as cough, dyspnea [viz., śvāsa], palpitation of the heart, freckles of the face, and swellings of the skin (result) from (suppressed) vomiting. A gargle, an inhalant, a fast, after one has eaten pungent (food)—its ejection, gymnastics, a bloodletting, and a purgative (are) commended in this case”.

Source: archive.org: Science And Technology In Medievel India (Ayurveda)

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to “difficulty in breathing” and is one of the various diseases dealt with in the Dhanvantarīyapathyāpathya, as is mentioned in A. Rahman’s Science and Technology in Medievel India: A bibliography of source materials in Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian.—Ancient and medieval India produced a wide range of scientific manuscripts and major contributions lie in the field of medicine, astronomy and mathematics, besides covering encyclopedic glossaries and technical dictionaries.—The Dhanvantarīyapathyāpathya deals with the treatment of various diseases [e.g., Śvāsa]. The word pathyāpathya classifies those elements as either beneficial or hurtful in disease.

Source: Research Gate: Internal applications of Vatsanabha (Aconitum ferox wall)

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to “asthma” (a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways). Medicinal formulations in the management of this condition include 37 references of Vatsanābha usages. Guṭikā is maximum (33) dosage form in the management of Śvāsa. Vatsanābha (Aconitum ferox), although categorized as sthāvara-viṣa (vegetable poisons), has been extensively used in ayurvedic pharmacopoeia.

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Vaidyavallabha: An Authoritative Work on Ayurveda Therapeutics

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to “dyspnoea” which is mentioned as a disease that can be treated with metallic drugs including ingredients such as Śuddhapārada (purified mercury), Śuddhagandhaka (purified sulphur), Nāgabhasma (calcified tin) and Taṅkaṇa (borax), as mentioned in the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha (chapter 3) written by Hastiruci.—The Vaidyavallabha is a work which deals with the treatment and useful for all 8 branches of Ayurveda. The text Vaidyavallabha (mentioning śvāsa) has been designed based on the need of the period of the author, availability of drugs during that time, disease manifesting in that era, socio-economical-cultural-familial-spiritual-aspects of that period Vaidyavallabha.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Śvāsa (श्वास):—Breathing; Often used in sense of Abnormal Breathing; Dyspnoea

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.

Shiksha (linguistics: phonetics, phonology etc.)

Source: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Language and Grammar (shiksha)

Śvāsa (श्वास, “unvoiced”) refers to a type of ābhyantara (“internal effort”) of articulation (uccāraṇa) according to Indian linguistic tradition (viz., śikṣā, ‘phonetics’, vyakaraṇa, ‘grammar’, nirukta, etymology’ and chandas, ‘prosody’.). Śvāsa (unvoiced) occurs, for instance, when pronouncing ka.

context information

Shiksha (शिक्षा, śikṣā) deals with Sanskrit linguistics and represents a branch of vedanga (vedic ancillary science). Shiksha deals with subjects such as phonetics, phonology, study of sound, letters of the Sanskrit alphabet and related topics. Much attention is also given to the study of recitation (patha) of Vedic verses.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the Āgamas

Svāsa (स्वास) refers to a basic unit of time and equals 0.4 seconds, while 60 svāsas corresponds to 1 prāṇas, equalling 24 seconds. The Arcanāṅgavidhi of Pūrvakāmikāgama first details the time measurement used before explaining the pūjā schedule. The Āgama divides a day into eight major time periods, further divided into smaller units. The smallest and most basic unit of time is one svāsa. Sixty svāsa constitute one prāṇa. Sixty prāṇa constitute one ghaṭikā. Calculation is made from sunrise. Seven and a half ghaṭikā is equal to one yāma. A day consists of eight yāma, or sixty ghaṭikā.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Svāsa (स्वास) refers to “out-breathing”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] Thus, it is beyond Form (rūpa) and Part (pada) and its sphere (of existence) is beyond the beyond. It is not an object of meditation. It is not involved in concentration, meditation or Yoga. There is no exhalation, no inhalation or retention of the breath. It is free of in-breathing and out-breathing [i.e., ucchvāsa-svāsa-nirmukta] and it has no form or characterizing feature. It resides in the teacher's lotus mouth -it cannot be obtained otherwise (except from there)”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to “(suffering due to) consumption of the lungs”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 8), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The five years of the eleventh yuga are—1. Piṅgala, 2. Kālayukta, 3. Siddhārtha, 4. Raudra, 5. Durmati. In the first year there will be much rain and fear from thieves and mankind will suffer from consumption of the lungs [i.e., śvāsa] and the like asthmatic complaints. In the year Kālayukta mankind will suffer from various evils; but in Siddhārtha they will be happy in more ways than one. In the year Raudra mankind will suffer much and there will be loss and ruin in the land. In Durmati there will be moderate rain”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to the “breath”, according to the Yogatārāvalī: a short Yoga text of twenty-nine verses presenting Haṭhayoga as the means to Rājayoga (i.e., Samādhi).—Accordingly, while describing the no-mind state: “When the movement of the breath (śvāsa-pracāra) is quashed through the prolonged restraint of the mind and senses, the bodies of the best Yogins become still like a lamp in a windless place and their minds are immersed in the no-mind [state]”.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)

Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)

Śvāsa (श्वास) refers to the “breath” (of Hawks), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the treatment of hawks]: “[...] Four diseases relate to the irregularity of breath (śvāsa-vaiṣamyavṛtti). The common name of these diseases is Śākhā, one of which is caused by some sort of hurt or shock to the lungs, another by the morbid condition of the phlegm, the third by that of the bile, the fourth by a general waste of the system. The last named is called Śoṣitā and is very difficult to cure. Birds suffering from Śākhā should be kept in a dark, lonely place, and given small quantities of meat and water. [...]”.

context information

This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Śvāsa (asthma) is a Sanskrit medical term used in Ayurveda.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Śvāsa (श्वास) is the name of a Vākchomā (‘verbal secrect sign’) which has its meaning defined as ‘catuṣpatha’ according to chapter 8 of the 9th-century Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja, a scripture belonging to the Buddhist Cakrasaṃvara (or Saṃvara) scriptural cycle. These Vākchomās (viz., śvāsa) are meant for verbal communication and can be regarded as popular signs, since they can be found in the three biggest works of the Cakrasaṃvara literature.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Svasā (स्वसा) refers to the “sister”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Here [in the cycle of rebirth] a king becomes an insect and an insect becomes the chief of the gods. An embodied soul might wander about, tricked by [their] karma without being able to help it. For corporeal [souls] the mother becomes the daughter, the sister (svasā), even the wife. The father, moreover, becomes the son and he obtains the paternal home”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

śvāsa (श्वास).—m (S) Breath or breathing. 2 Thick and hard respiration, panting, puffing, blowing; asthma or dyspnœa.

--- OR ---

svasā (स्वसा).—f S A sister.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

svasā (स्वसा).—f A sister.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śvāsa (श्वास).—[śvas-ghañ]

1) Breathing, breath, respiration, heaving; अद्यापि स्तनवेपथुं जनयति श्वासः प्रमाणाधिकः (adyāpi stanavepathuṃ janayati śvāsaḥ pramāṇādhikaḥ) Ś.1.3; Kumārasambhava 2.42.

2) A sigh, panting; नैव बाष्पविमोक्षेण न वा श्वासकृते न च (naiva bāṣpavimokṣeṇa na vā śvāsakṛte na ca) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.153.77.

3) Air, wind.

4) Asthma.

5) Aspiration (in the pronunciation of consonants).

6) Inspiration.

Derivable forms: śvāsaḥ (श्वासः).

--- OR ---

Svasā (स्वसा).—f. [sū as-ṛn; Uṇādi-sūtra 2.97]

1) A sister; तस्य शक्तिं रणे कार्ष्णिर्मृत्योर्घोरां स्वसामिव (tasya śaktiṃ raṇe kārṣṇirmṛtyorghorāṃ svasāmiva) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 6.116.3; स्वसारमादाय विदर्भनाथः पुरप्रवेशाभिमुखो बभूव (svasāramādāya vidarbhanāthaḥ purapraveśābhimukho babhūva) R.7.1.29.

2) A finger (Ved.).

[Sanskrit to German]

Shvasa 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

1) Śvāsa (श्वास) [Also spelled swas]:—(nm) breath, respiration; -[kaṣṭa] hard breathing; -[kriyā] the act of breathing; -[nalī] bronchital tube; -[praśvāsa] breathing in and out; -[rodha] obstruction of breath, suffocation.

2) Svasā (स्वसा):—(nf) a sister.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śvāsa (ಶ್ವಾಸ):—

1) [noun] the air taken in to the lungs and let out; breath.

2) [noun] the act of exhaling.

3) [noun] a taking in and leting out of a long, deep, audible breath as from sorrow, relief, fatigue, disappointment, etc.; a sigh.

4) [noun] air or wind.

5) [noun] a generally chronic disorder characterised by wheezing, coughing, difficulty in breathing, and a suffocating feeling, caused by an allergy to inhaled substances, stress, etc.; asthma.

--- OR ---

Svāsa (ಸ್ವಾಸ):—

1) [noun] (correctly, ಶ್ವಾಸ [shvasa]) 1. the air taken in to the lungs and let out; breath.

2) [noun] the act of exhaling.

context information

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

Relevant text

Search found 43 books and stories containing Shvasa, Śvāsa, Svasā, Svasa, Śvāsā, Svasha, Śvasā, Svaśa, Śvasa, Svāsa; (plurals include: Shvasas, Śvāsas, Svasās, Svasas, Śvāsās, Svashas, Śvasās, Svaśas, Śvasas, Svāsas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Fifteen Diseases (Mentioned In Act II) < [Chapter 4 - Āyurvedic principles in Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]

Āyurvedic aspects of Act I < [Chapter 4 - Āyurvedic principles in Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]

Analysis of Kāmala (Wife of Pāṇḍu) < [Chapter 6 - Dramatic aspects of the Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]

+ 5 more chapters / show preview

Chapter LI - Symptoms and Treatment of Asthma (Shvasa) < [Canto III - Kaya-chikitsa-tantra (internal medicine)]

Chapter XLIX - Symptoms and Treatment of Vomiting (Chardi) < [Canto III - Kaya-chikitsa-tantra (internal medicine)]

Chapter XL - Symptoms and treatment of Diarrhea (Atisara) < [Canto III - Kaya-chikitsa-tantra (internal medicine)]

show preview

Chapter 17 - The therapeutics of Hiccup and Dyspnea (hikka-shvasa-cikitsa) < [Cikitsasthana (Cikitsa Sthana) — Section on Therapeutics]

Chapter 19 - The Eight Abdominal affections (udara-roga) < [Sutrasthana (Sutra Sthana) — General Principles]

show preview

Verse 2.4.100 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]