Anantasana, Ananta-asana, Anantāsana: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Anantasana 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.
In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Google Books: Elements of Hindu iconographyAnantāsana (अनन्तासन).—When used as a pītha (seat or pedestal), this Āsana should be used as the seat for the image when it has to witness amusements, according to the Suprabhedāgama. According to the Candrajñānāgama, the seat is of a triangular shape.
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)Anantāsana (अनन्तासन) refers to a type of Āsana (sitting poses), according to T. A. G. Rao in his text ‘Elements of Hindu Iconography’, as defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—Rao refers to five different kinds of such āsanas as mentioned in the Suprabhedāgama. They are anantāsana, siṃhāsana, yogāsana, padmāsana and vimalāsana. Anantāsana is a triangular seat and should be used as the seat for the image when it has to witness amusements.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: YogaAnantāsana (अनन्तासन, “Ananta posture”) is a Sanskrit word referring to a type of posture (āsana) used in Yoga. It is composed of the words Ananta (endless bed of Viṣṇu) and and āsana (posture).
Source: archive.org: Yoga Tradition of the Mysore PalaceAnantāsana (अनन्तासन) is a type of posture (āsana), according to the 19th-century Śrītattvanidhi verse 1.—Accordingly, “Lie down on the back. Place either foot behind the head. Take the toes with the opposite hand and stretch the other hand and foot out. This is anantāsana, the āsana of the endless”.
The word “ananta” is also the name of the legendary cosmic serpent. The word is used in Patañjali’s sūtra 2.47 in descriptive reference to āsanas. Vyāsa states that, the mind, engrossed in ananta, completes the āsana. Vācaspati says it refers to the cosmic serpent as a “steady” object of meditation. Vijñāna Bhikṣu gives this interpretation and the alternative interpretation, namely, the endless or the inconceivable object (adṛṣṭa).
Iyengar has an anantāsana that is not like the illustration in this text. This āsana appears to be like Iyengar’s suptapādāṅguṣṭhāsana and his bhairavāsana. It is slightly different from both.
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).
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚaivismAnantāsana (अनन्तासन) is one of five pedestals that makes up the Śivāsana, unto which Śiva is installed and invoked during the ritualistic process of śivārcana, according to the Sakalāgamasāra-saṃgraha. In the process of invocation (āvāhana) Lord Śiva is contemplated as seated on Yogāsana: “in the (fifth) process of praising singing and dancing, he is contemplated upon as seated on anantāsana”. This particular āsana is associated with the shape of a triangle and is connected with the element Earth.
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)Anantāsana (अनन्तासन) refers to the “posture of Ananta”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult. Accordingly, “O goddess, Svacchanda is in the middle, within the abode of the triangle. Very powerful, he has five faces with three times five flaming eyes. [...] He sits on a great lotus and is adorned with a belt on his hips. He is adorned with small bells and a garland of gems. There are anklets on his feet and they are well adorned with necklaces of pearls. He sits on Ananta as a seat [i.e., anantāsana-samāsīna] and is like heated gold. On Ananta’s seat are seventy billion mantras. He is beautiful, divine, (white) like the stars, snow and the moon.]. [...]”.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 5Anantāsana (अनन्तासन) or Anantāsanamudrā is the name of a mudrā described in the Īśvarasaṃhitā 47-50.—Accordingly, “it is now the formation of mudrā stated for the mantas of the seats. The ring finger and forefinger, both the left hand are to be turned downwards and bent. They are to be kept with the middle finger firmly on the back of the hand. The mudrā must be made straight and turned downwards with the middle fingers below those two. O Sage! the little finger must be stretched with the thumb. This is anantāsanamudrā stated here. This encompasses this world”.
Mūdra (eg., Anantāsana-mudrā) is so called as it gives joy to the tattvas in the form of karman for those who offer spotless worship, drive out the defects which move about within and without and sealing up of what is done.
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Google Books: Consecration Rituals In South AsiaAnantāsana (अनन्तासन) refers to one of the chapters of the Devyāmata: an Early Śaiva Pratiṣṭhātantra dating back to the 5th century CE dealing with topics related to temple construction, consecration rituals, and iconography.—The Devyāmata is written in the form of a dialogue between Śiva and the Goddess. It begins with the praśnapaṭala, ‘the chapter on questions’, in which Devī tells Śiva what topics she would like to learn about. The answers are provided in the following chapters [e.g., anantāsana], of which each is dedicated to one specific subject.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryAnantāsana (अनन्तासन).—name of a Bodhisattva: Gaṇḍavyūha 443.4.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Asana, Ananta.
Starts with: Anantasanamudra, Anantasanaprashna, Anantasanaprashnavicara.
Full-text: Shivarcana, Vimalasana, Samasina, Anantasanamudra.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Anantasana, Ananta-asana, Ananta-āsana, Anantāsana; (plurals include: Anantasanas, asanas, āsanas, Anantāsanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chandogya Upanishad (Madhva commentary) (by Srisa Chandra Vasu)
Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure) (by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja)
Avatāras as stated Śrī Madhvācārya < [Chapter 1.5 - Back to Home Village]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
The Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 6 - Description of the Virāṭ Puruṣa—Exposition of the Puruṣa Sūkta < [Book 2 - Second Skandha]
Sri Krishna-Chaitanya (by Nisikanta Sanyal)
Chapter 8 - Founder-Acharyas (d): Madhva (Madhvacharya or Srimat Purnaprajna) < [Volume I - Introductory]