Mrigashiras, Mṛgaśiras, Mriga-shiras: 14 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Vastushastra
2. Jyotisha
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Mrigashiras means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Mṛgaśiras can be transliterated into English as Mrgasiras or Mrigashiras, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्) refers to the fifth of twenty-seven constellations (ṛkṣa), according to the Mānasāra. Ṛkṣa is the third of the āyādiṣaḍvarga, or “six principles” that constitute the “horoscope” of an architectural or iconographic object. Their application is intended to “verify” the measurements of the architectural and iconographic object against the dictates of astrology that lay out the conditions of auspiciousness.

The particular nakṣatra, also known as ṛkṣa (e.g., mṛgaśiras) of all architectural and iconographic objects (settlement, building, image) must be calculated and ascertained. This process is based on the principle of the remainder. An arithmetical formula to be used in each case is stipulated, which engages one of the basic dimensions of the object (breadth, length, or perimeter/circumference). In the context of village planning and measurement, the text sates that among the stars (ṛkṣa), the ones that are pūrṇa (odd), are auspicious and the ones that are karṇa (even), inauspicious.

context information

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्) is another name for Mṛgaśirṣa, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 15) (“On the nakṣatras—‘asterisms’”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Those who are born on the lunar day of Mṛgaśirṣa [i.e., mṛgaśiras] will delight or deal in perfumes, dress, pearls, flowers, fruits, precious stones, wild beasts, birds and deer; will be Somayajis or singers; will be lascivious; will be good writers or painters. [...]”.

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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

1) Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्) refers to one of the twenty-seven constellations (nakṣatra) according to according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV).—Mṛgaśiras is the Sanskrit equivalent of Chinese Tsouei, Tibetan Mgo and modern Orionis.

Note: Mṛgaśiras is classified in the fourth group: “The moon revolves around the earth in 28 days. If the moon enters one of the nine following constellations (e.g., Mṛgaśiras), then at that moment the earth trembles as if it would collapse and this trembling extends as far as Devendra. Then peace (yogakṣema) is plentiful, rain favors the growth of the five grains, the emperor is kind (śiva), the great ministers are virtuous and everyone is peaceful”.

2) Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्) is the name of a Brahmacārin according to the Parūrasutta embedded in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXX).—Accordingly, “Again the Buddha asked the Brahmacārin: ‘According to you, did the Brahmacārin Lou t’sou (Mṛgaśiras) find the (true) Path?’ Vivādabala replied: ‘Mṛgaśiras is the foremost of all those who have found the Path’.”

Note: Mṛgaśiras, in Chinese Lou t’eou or Mi li ngo che lo, seems to be unknown to the old canonical tradition and appears only in relatively late texts; however his reputation is well established: among the Buddha’s disciples, he excelled in analysis of knowledge and the accuracy of his memory (Tseng yi a han); he skillfully explained the omens in human relationships (A lo han kiu tö king).

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्) is the name of a Nakṣatra mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Mṛgaśiras] with a group of kingdoms for the sake of protection and prosperity.

The Mṛgaśiranakṣatra comprises the following realms:

Ni[Kiu]-so[p'o] (Nisa or Niva or Nikusa or Nikuva?),
Kia-che (Kāśī),
Chö-kieou-ni (Śakuni?),
A-tch'a-mo-chö (Aṭamaja?),
Kin-t'o (Kinda?),
Mo-p'o-mo (Mavama?),
Ta-p'i-kia (Tapika?),
Pa-tch'e-eng (Aṣṭanagara),
Tch'ou-t'i-cha (Jyotiṣa?),
P'o-p'i-kia (Vapika?),
P'o-k'ieou-tcha (Vaguṭa?),
Mo-ho-lo-tch'a (Mahārāṣṭra),
K'ien-t'o-lo (Gandhāra),
Kia-p'o-mo (Kavama?),
Pan-tchö-lo (Pañcāla),
To-tch'a-cha (Taṭaṣa?),
Cheou-p'o-kia (Śauvaka?),
Mo-che-po-na (Maśivana?),
Teou-lo-p'o (Turava?),
Sou-mo (Soma?),
P'o-k'ieou (Vagu?),
Mo-to-mo-li (Matamari?),
Mo-lo-p'o (Mālava),
Kieou-lou (Kuru),
K'iu-cha (Ghoṣa?).

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्).—n.,

Mṛgaśiras is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mṛga and śiras (शिरस्). See also (synonyms): mṛgaśira.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्).—(= Pali Migasira), name of a son of an ascetic and a doe, master of the kapāla-koṭanī vidyā, converted by Buddha: Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya ii.80.7 ff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्).—n.

(-raḥ) The fifth lunar mansion, containing three stars, one of which is Orionis, and figured by an antelope’s head, whence its name. E. mṛga a deer, and śiras the head; also mṛgaśirā f.

(-rā) or mṛgaśiras m. (-raḥ) .

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

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्).—n. the fifth lunar mansion.

Mṛgaśiras is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mṛga and śiras (शिरस्).

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

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्).—[neuter] [Name] of a lunar mansion.

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

1) Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्):—[=mṛga-śiras] [from mṛga > mṛg] n. (mṛga-) Name of the 3rd (or 5th) Nakṣatra (q.v.) containing 3 stars (one of which is λ Orionis; it is figured by an antelope’s head), [Atharva-veda; Gṛhya-sūtra and śrauta-sūtra; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

2) [v.s. ...] mfn. born under that Nakṣ°, [Pāṇini 4-3, 37 [Scholiast or Commentator]]

3) [v.s. ...] m. a [particular] position of the hands, [Catalogue(s)]

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

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्):—[mṛga-śiras] (rā) 5. n. The fifth lunar mansion.

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

Mṛgaśiras (मृगशिरस्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Magasira.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mrigashiras 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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Search found 17 books and stories containing Mrigashiras, Mṛgaśiras, Mrgasiras, Mriga-shiras, Mṛga-śiras, Mrga-siras; (plurals include: Mrigashirases, Mṛgaśirases, Mrgasirases, shirases, śirases, sirases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Appendix 6 - The story of Mṛgaśiras < [Chapter XXX - The Characteristics of Prajñā]

The Parūrasutta (story of Vivādabala) < [Part 3 - The Prajñā and the teaching of the Dharma]

Act 5.3: Description of the six tremblings of the earth (bhūmicala) < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

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Part 3: Sambhava’s birth < [Chapter I - Sambhavajinacaritra]

Part 12: Sambhava’s kevala < [Chapter I - Sambhavajinacaritra]

Part 17: Sambhava’s mokṣa (nirvāṇa, emancipation) < [Chapter I - Sambhavajinacaritra]

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Chapter LXI - Influences of the moon in her different mansions < [Agastya Samhita]

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Adhyāya I, Khaṇḍa 26

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