Rahasya: 25 definitions

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

Rahasya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Rahasy.

In Hinduism

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Rahasya (रहस्य) refers to “confidential, or secret”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: academia.edu: Religious Inclusivism in the Writings of an Early Modern Sanskrit Intellectual (Shaivism)

Rahasya (रहस्य) or Rahasyaśāstra (Cf. Mantramārga) refers to a “special or esoteric teaching”.—While Śaiva Siddhānta adheres to a strictly dualist doctrine (dvaitavāda, bhedavāda) according to which Śiva is the efficient cause of the world and is distinct from souls and worlds, non-dualist schools hold that Śiva is ultimately non-different from the soul and that liberation is achieved not through ritual but through gnosis. Thus Abhinavagupta, like most other esoteric Śaivas, sees Śaiva Siddhānta as a general and exoteric revelation (sāmānyaśāstra) that his non-dualist theory and practice transcend as a special or esoteric teaching (viśeṣa-śāstra, rahasya-śāstra). The theoreticians of Śaiva Siddhānta, on the other hand, disagree with this non-dualist metaphysics and claim that their dualist position is final.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (philosophy)

Rahasya (रहस्य) refers to “(being) concealed”, according to the Īśvarapratyabhijñāvivṛtivimarśinī.—Accordingly, “The highest level [of reality], although it is concealed to the highest point (parama-rahasya) within the [Śaiva nondualistic] scriptures, is absolutely never unmanifest; rather, it is always [in the process of] manifesting [itself]—this is the gist [of Utpaladeva’s answer]. And [Utpaladeva] has explained this in the verse on [the Self being] always already established”.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Rahasya (रहस्य) (Cf. Guhya) refers to a “secret”, according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[The intercourse (saṃga)]:—[...] This is the secret (guhya) of alchemy. He should not reveal it to others. This secret (rahasya) of the Siddha tradition, which is difficult to obtain, has now been taught. It is to be revealed through the compassion of the Guru. What else do you wish to hear?”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Rahasya (रहस्य) refers to a “secret”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 19.84-85, while describing the ritual that protect the king and his kingdom]—“The tradition is secret (rahasya) and confers happiness and the best of all fortune. The pleased and pious adepts strive to obtain the favor of [Mṛtyujit]. They are liberated from all suffering. What I say is true, not false”.

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

Rahasya (रहस्य) refers to a “secret”, according to the Ambāmatasaṃhitā verse 12.102-103.—Accordingly, “One should know that the empowered condition (śākta) of this sort is the secret [i.e., rahasya] in the Kaulika scripture. Āṇava and Śākta, along with the Śāmbhava planes—one should know that all (of these are) empowered (śākta), and are nowhere devoid of power (śakti)”.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)

Rahasya (रहस्य) refers to a “secret (heart)”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] I seek refuge with the glorious goddess Sundarī, the benefactress of prosperity, the secret heart (rahasya—hṛdayaṃ rahasyaṃ), whose heart is soaked with compassion. She is blazing with an utmost tenacity steeped in joy, and consequently beaming with plenteous light that shimmers spontaneously. [...]”.

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: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (yoga)

Rahasya (रहस्य) refers to the “secrets” (of Yoga), according to Śivānandasarasvatī’s Yogacintāmaṇi, a 17th-century text on Haṭhayoga by consisting of 3423 verses.—Accordingly, “[...] I have revealed here all that which is secret (rahasya) in Haṭha- and Rājayoga for the delight of Yogins. However, that Haṭhayoga which was practised by Uddālaka, Bhuśuṇḍa and others has not been mentioned by me, because it cannot be accomplished by contemporary [practitioners. Also], the procedures and so forth promoted by the kāpālikas have not been mentioned [because] they contravene the Vedas, Dharmaśāstras and Purāṇas”.

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

Rahasya (रहस्य) refers to “knowledge of esoteric importance”, 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 (rahasya) [rahasyaṃ paramottamam]. The entire universe is eternal. It has no creator nor it is an object of creation. It evolves itself and gets annihilated by itself. There are many bodies from Brahmā down to a blade of grass. They themselves are the gods for them. There is no other God. [...]”.

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Rahasya.—(IE 8-3; EI 3-6, 23, 27, 30), a private secre- tary; same as Rāhasika, Rahasy-ādhikṛta, etc. Note: rahasya 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

rahasya (रहस्य).—n (S) A secret, a mystery, a matter private, and thus not to be generally divulged; or mysterious, and thus not readily to be penetrated and known. 2 Friendliness, kindliness, amicable relation, cronyship. 3 Play or pleasantry; sportive sallies; jocund repartees; facetious or witty merriment. 4 The involved moral or beauty; the significant point or particular; the sting, the wit. Ex. tumhī bōlatāṃ hyāntīla ra0 mājhē dhyānānta ālēṃ nāhīṃ. 5 Spirit, flavor, savoriness, excellence. Ex. sarāphīcē vyavahārānta ātāṃ kāṃhīṃ ra0 rāhilēṃ nāhīṃ. rahasyānta yēṇēṃ To be excited into mirth or lively joy.

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

rahasya (रहस्य).—n A secret, a mystery. Friendliness. Spirit.

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

Rahasya (रहस्य).—a. [rahasi-bhavaḥ yat]

1) Secret, private, clandestine; रहस्यं च प्रकाशं च यद् वृत्तं तस्य धीमतः (rahasyaṃ ca prakāśaṃ ca yad vṛttaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ) (kathaya) Rām.1. 2.33; रोमाणि च रहस्यानि सर्वाण्येव विवर्जयेत् (romāṇi ca rahasyāni sarvāṇyeva vivarjayet) Manusmṛti 4.144.

2) Mysterious.

-syam 1 A secret (fig. also); स्वयं रहस्यभेदः कृतः (svayaṃ rahasyabhedaḥ kṛtaḥ) V.2.

2) A mystic spell or incantation, the mystery (of a missile); सरहस्यानि जृम्भकास्त्राणि (sarahasyāni jṛmbhakāstrāṇi) Uttararāmacarita 1.

3) The mystery or secret of conduct, mystery; रहस्यं साधूना- मनुपधि विशुद्धं विजयते (rahasyaṃ sādhūnā- manupadhi viśuddhaṃ vijayate) Uttararāmacarita 2.2; सरहस्यो धनुर्वेदः (sarahasyo dhanurvedaḥ) Bhāgavata 1.7. 44.

4) A secret or esoteric teaching, a mystic doctrine; भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् (bhakto'si me sakhā ceti rahasyaṃ hyetaduttamam) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 4.3; साङ्गोपाङ्गोपनिषदः सरहस्यः प्रदीयताम् (sāṅgopāṅgopaniṣadaḥ sarahasyaḥ pradīyatām) Rām.1.55.16.

5) An upaniṣad; चतुर्भ्यः सरहस्येभ्यो वेदेभ्यो ह्यधिकं यदा (caturbhyaḥ sarahasyebhyo vedebhyo hyadhikaṃ yadā) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.1.272; Manusmṛti 2. 165.

-syam ind. Secretely, privately; अनभिख्यातदोषस्तु रहस्यं व्रतमाचरेत् (anabhikhyātadoṣastu rahasyaṃ vratamācaret) Y.3.3 (where it may be taken as an adj. also).

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

Rahasya (रहस्य).—mfn.

(-syaḥ-syā-syaṃ) Private, secret, either fit to be concealed or occuring in secret. n.

(-syaṃ) 1. A secret, a mystery, anything hidden, recondite or mysterious. 2. Any esoteric teaching. f.

(-syā) 1. Clandestine. 2. Mysterious. 3. The name of a river, perhaps the Saraswati, from its being supposed to flow in an unknown channel. E. rahas secret, yat aff.

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

Rahasya (रहस्य).—[rahas + ya], I. adj. Secret, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 11, 247; concealed, 4, 144; mysterious. Ii. n. A secret, [Pañcatantra] 129, 2; a mystery, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 20, 20. Iii. f. yā, The name of a river.

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

Rahasya (रहस्य).—[adjective] secret, private; [neuter] a secret, mystical doctrine, mystery, also [adverb] = rahas.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Rahasya (रहस्य) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Sv. Oppert. 1164. 4670. 8209. Ii, 408.

2) Rahasya (रहस्य):—[dharma] an abridgment of some more definite title. Quoted by Halāyudha in Brāhmaṇasarvasva, by Kamalākara in Nirṇayasindhu, by Keśava in Dvaitapariśiṣṭa. See Dharmarahasya, Smṛtirahasya, Viṣṇurahasya, Śivarahasya.
—Rahasyaprāyaścitta, a chapter of a lawbook. Quoted by Halāyudha ibid.

3) Rahasya (रहस्य):—alaṃk. Quoted thrice in Alaṃkāraśekhara. Mallinātha on Kirātārjunīya 3, 60. 14, 40, on Śiśupālavadha 13, 10.

4) Rahasya (रहस्य):—Sv. Gov. Or. Libr. Madras 75.

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

1) Rahasya (रहस्य):—[from rah] mfn. secret, private, clandestine, concealed, mysterious, [Vasiṣṭha; Mahābhārata] etc. (syāni romāṇi, hair on the private parts, [Manu-smṛti iv, 144])

2) Rahasyā (रहस्या):—[from rahasya > rah] f. = rāsnā or pāṭhā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] Name of a river, [Mahābhārata]

4) Rahasya (रहस्य):—[from rah] n. a secret, any secret doctrine or mystery, any subtle or recondite point, mystical or esoteric teaching, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.

5) [v.s. ...] an Upaniṣad (See sa-r)

6) [v.s. ...] full or abridged Name of various works.

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

Rahasya (रहस्य):—[(syaḥ-syā-syaṃ) a.] Private, secret. n. A secret, mystery. f. River.

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

Rahasya (रहस्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Rahassa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Rahasya 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

Rahasya (रहस्य) [Also spelled rahasy]:—(nm) a secret; mystery; secrecy; ~[pūrṇa/maya] mysterious; secretive; ~[mayatā] mysteriousness; ~[vāda] a poetic movement of the third and fourth decades in Hindi that stressed the identity of the Universal and the Individual and addressed itself to the Non-Manifest; ~[vāditā] mysteriousness, the attribute or approach of a [rahasyavādī; ~vādī] an adherent of [rahasyavāda]; pertaining to [rahasyavāda].

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Rahasya (ರಹಸ್ಯ):—

1) [noun] that which is kept from another’s or others knowledge; a secret.

2) [noun] something that is unexplained, unresolved or is obscure (as to excite curiosity); mystery.

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

Rahasya (रहस्य):—n. 1. secret; mystery; 2. essence; inner intention; substance; 3. secret/mystical doctrine;

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 80 books and stories containing Rahasya, Rahasyā; (plurals include: Rahasyas, Rahasyās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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verse 195

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Verse 4.7.8 < [Chapter 7 - The Story of the Ayodhya Women]

Verse 5.24.68 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]

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Verse 4.3 < [Chapter 4 - Jñāna-Yoga (Yoga through Transcendental Knowledge)]

Verse 13.2 < [Chapter 13 - Prakṛti-puruṣa-vibhāga-yoga]

Verse 9.1 < [Chapter 9 - Rāja-guhya-yoga (Yoga through the most Confidential Knowledge)]

+ 3 more chapters / show preview

Verse 2.2.133 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]