Maithuna: 19 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Shaktism
2. Yoga
3. Purana
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
5. Nepali
See also
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Introduction:

Maithuna means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Maithun.

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Maithuna (मैथुन) refers to “ritual intercourse”, according to the Kulapañcāśikā, an unpublished text attributed to Matsyendranātha teaching secrecy.—Accordingly, “O goddess, one who has matted hair, (or a) shaved head, is covered in ashes and, adorned with the five insignias, observes (the ascetic’s) vow and conduct, one who practices ritual intercourse [i.e., maithuna] and is dedicated to drinking as Kaulas do (vīrapāna) within my body is, O Maheśvarī, one who knows (the teachings of the) Kula and is fit by virtue of each one of these (practices) for union (with the Yoginīs). Endowed with right knowledge, O goddess, he unites (with the Yoginīs) in (each) sacred seat, field and village, if he is dedicated to the wisdom of (his) teacher”.

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.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

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

Maithuna (मैथुन) refers to “having sex”, according to the Haṭhapradīpikā 3.90.—Accordingly, “Pure ashes, which were produced by burning cow-dung, [should first be] placed in water. After having sex (maithuna) in which Vajrolī Mudrā [was performed], the woman and man, who are sitting comfortably and have finished love making, [should] immediately smear their own bodies [with the ashes mixed with water]

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).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Maithuna (मैथुन) refers to “copulation”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.5 (“The Tripuras are fascinated).—Accordingly, as Arihan said to the Lord of the Three Cities: “O ruler of the Asuras, listen to my statement, pregnant with wisdom. It is the essence of the Vedānta and bears high esoteric importance. [...] Just as our bodies perish when their time arrives, so also the bodies of all beings from Brahmā to a mosquito perish when their time arrives. When we consider, none of these bodies is superior to any other since in respect of taking food, copulation (maithuna), sleep and fear these are invariably the same everywhere. Taking in water and foodstuffs to the required quantity, all living beings derive a kindred satisfaction, neither more nor less. [...]”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Jaina Yoga

Maithuna (मैथुन, “copulation”) is twofold, relating to the vaikriya and audārika classes and the latter is again divided up into animal and human categories. Under this last head are distinguished: sva-dāra (one’s own wife or concubine), para-dāra (any woman under the authority of another man), and veśyā (a prostitute who is considered to have no owner).

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 7: The Five Vows

Maithuna (मैथुन, “copulation”) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 7.15, “copulation is unchastity”. What is meant by copulation (maithuna)? It means unchaste (abrahma) or perverted conduct (kuśīla). It is also described as the desire to touch each other (opposite sex) with lust. What is meant by mithuna? The union of male and female is called mithuna. What is meant by maithuna /copulation? The indulgence of man and woman in lustful activity owing to the rise of conducts deluding karmas.

Why copulation (maithuna) is called as unchaste (abrahma)? Copulation devoid of virtues involves injury etc as he who indulges in copulation causes injury to mobile and immobile living beings as well as commits other sins. Therefore copulation is called unchaste.

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Maithuna.—(SITI), wife's brother; elder sister's husband. Note: maithuna is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

maithuna (मैथुन).—n (S) Copulation, congressus. 2 Union, junction, association.

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

maithuna (मैथुन).—n Copulation. Union, association.

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

Maithuna (मैथुन).—a. (-nī f.) [मिथुनेन निर्वृत्तम् अण् (mithunena nirvṛttam aṇ)]

1) Paired, coupled; गन्धर्वस्तादृशीरस्य मैथुन्यश्च सितासिताः (gandharvastādṛśīrasya maithunyaśca sitāsitāḥ) Bhāgavata 4.27.14.

2) United by marriage.

3) Relating to copulation.

-nam 1 Copulation, sexual union; मृतं मैथुनमप्रजम् (mṛtaṃ maithunamaprajam) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 2.98.

2) Marriage.

3) Union, connection.

4) Consecrating the fire (agnyādhāna).

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

Maithuna (मैथुन).—i. e. mithuna + a, I. adj. Worn at a time of sexual intercourse, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 116. Ii. n. 1. Sexual intercourse, [Hitopadeśa] pr. [distich] 25, M.M. 2. Marriage, holy union, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 5 (perhaps adj. Being in accordance with a legitimate marriage). 3. Matrimony, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 101. 4. Union.

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

Maithuna (मैथुन).—[feminine] ī paired, coupled; relating to copulation; [neuter] copulation, marriage.

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

1) Maithuna (मैथुन):—mf(ī)n. ([from] mithuna) paired, coupled, forming a pair or one of each sex, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

2) connected by marriage, [Pāraskara-gṛhya-sūtra]

3) relating or belonging to copulation, [Kaṭha-upaniṣad; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] (with bhoga m. carnal enjoyment; with dharma m. ‘sexual law’, copulation; with vāsas n. a garment worn during cop°)

4) n. (ifc. f(ā). ) copulation, sexual intercourse or union, marriage, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc. ([accusative] with √ās, i, gam, car; [dative case] with upa-√gam, or upa√kram, to have sexual intercourse)

5) n. union, connection, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Maithuna (मैथुन):—(naṃ) 1. n. Copulation; union, association; marriage.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Maithuna (मैथुन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Mehuṇa, Mehuṇaya.

[Sanskrit to German]

Maithuna 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

Maithuna (मैथुन) [Also spelled maithun]:—(nm) coitus, cohabitation, sexual/carnal intercourse, copulation; (a) pertaining to a couple; —[viṣayaka/saṃbaṃdhī] sexual, copulatory.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Maithuna (ಮೈಥುನ):—

1) [noun] sexual intercourse; copulation.

2) [noun] the act of marrying; wedding; marriage.

3) [noun] union; connection.

context information

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

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Maithuna (मैथुन):—n. 1. mating; copulation; sexual intercourse; coitus; 2. wedding; 3. couple; pair; 4. union; combination;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

Relevant text

Search found 29 books and stories containing Maithuna; (plurals include: Maithunas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 4.116 < [Section XIII - Days unfit for Study]

Verse 11.67 < [Section VI - Offences: their Classification]

Verse 11.174 < [Section XIX - Expiation for Wrongful Sexual Intercourse]

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Verses 4.8.26-27 < [Chapter 8 - In the Story of the Yajña-sītās, the Glories of Ekādaśī]

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Verse 7.16 - Definition of abrahma (unchastity) < [Chapter 7 - The Five Vows]

Verse 7.1 - Classification of the (fivefold) vow (vrata) < [Chapter 7 - The Five Vows]

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3. Tāntric Sexuality < [Chapter 5 - Looking for Alternatives: Possibilities in Kāmaśāstra]

2. Human Life: Sexuality and Spirituality < [Chapter 5 - Looking for Alternatives: Possibilities in Kāmaśāstra]

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