Samhita, Saṃhitā, Saṃhita: 26 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Ayurveda
2. Vaishnavism
3. Purana
4. Mimamsa
5. Vyakarana
6. Jyotisha
7. General definition
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
2. General definition
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
5. Kannada
6. Nepali
See also
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Introduction:

Samhita means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

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

Saṃhita (संहित) refers to a literary tradition including dietetics and culinary art.—In the Vedic literature, we come across different Saṃhita texts like those: Vājasaneya, Bāṣkala, Kauṣītaka and Śāṅkhāyana. Here in Ayurveda we have another Saṃhita tradition in the name of Caraka, Suśruta, Śārṅgadhara, Kaśyapa and Bhela. Of them Carakasaṃhitā, Suśrutasaṃhitā and Śārṅgadharasaṃhitā have got some relevent informations on dietetics and culinary art.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Google Books: Essentials of Ayurveda

Saṃhitā (संहिता).—The medical knowledge acquired in the early age was documented systematically and organised scientifically in the compendia (saṃhitās) of Āyurveda of which the Caraka-saṃhitā, the enlarged and redacted edition of the Agniveśa-tantra, tops the list. During this period, the basic concepts were established and the whole system of medicine including physiology, pathology and pharmacology was rationalised.

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.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Saṃhitā (संहिता).—Supplementary Vedic literatures expressing the conclusions of particular self-realized authorities.

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’).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Saṃhitā (संहिता).—Collection of hymns addressed to various Devatās in nature. These songs are in the form of mantras. (See under Veda).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Saṃhitā (संहिता).—Vedic texts;¹ three Samhitās composed by eight sages.²

1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 29. 52; 31. 11-13. Matsya-purāṇa 264. 23; Vāyu-purāṇa 58. 13; 104. 86.
2) Ib. 61. 1-2, 4, 121.

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.

Mīmāṃsā (school of philosophy)

Source: Srimatham: Mīmāṃsa: The Study of Hindu Exegesis

Saṃhita (संहित) refers to the first section of Vedic literature.—The Saṃhitas are the core texts which consist of the revelations of the great sages (ṛṣis). They are presented in the form of hymns and poems (su-uktas = well said).

context information

Mimamsa (मीमांसा, mīmāṃsā) refers to one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, emphasizing the nature of dharma and the philosophy of language. The literature in this school is also known for its in-depth study of ritual actions and social duties.

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar

Saṃhitā (संहिता).—Position of words or parts of words in the formation of a word quite near each other which results into the natural phonetic coalescence of the preceding and the following letters. Originally when the Vedic hymns or the running prose passages of the Yajurveda were split up into their different constituent parts namely the words or padas by the Padakaras, the word संहिता (saṃhitā) or संहितापाठ (saṃhitāpāṭha) came into use as contrasted with the पदपाठ (padapāṭha). The writers of of the Pratisakhyas have conseguently defined संहिता (saṃhitā) as पदप्रकृतिः संहिता (padaprakṛtiḥ saṃhitā), while Panini who further split up the padas into bases (प्रकृति (prakṛti)) and affixes (प्रत्यय (pratyaya)) and mentioned several augments and substitutes, the phonetic combinations, which resulted inside the word or pada, had to be explained by reason of the close vicinity of the several phonetic units forming the base, the affix, the augment, the substitute and the like, and he had to define the word संहृिता (saṃhṛिtā) rather differently which he did in the words परः संनिकर्षः संहिता (paraḥ saṃnikarṣaḥ saṃhitā); cf P.I.4.109; cf. also संहितैकपदे नित्या नित्या धातूपसर्गयोः । नित्य समासे वाक्ये तु सा विवक्षामपेक्षते (saṃhitaikapade nityā nityā dhātūpasargayoḥ | nitya samāse vākye tu sā vivakṣāmapekṣate) Sabdakaustubha on Maheshvara Sutra 5.1.

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Saṃhitā (संहिता) refers to “natural astrology”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “We shall now proceed to give a brief description of (the qualifications of) a jyotiṣaka. [...] He must be of cleanly habits, able, noble-minded, eloquent and of originality and imagination; must possess a knowledge of place and time; be meek and without nervousness, must be difficult of conquest by his fellow students; must be able and devoid of vices; must be learned in matters of expiatory ceremonies, of Hygiene, of Occult Magic and of ablutions; must be a worshipper of the Devas and an observer of fast and penance; must be of remarkable genius and capable of solving any difficulties save in matters of direct divine interference; and finally, he must be learned in astronomy, natural astrology (Saṃhitā) and horoscopy”.

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: India Netzone: Indian Philosophy

Samhita, or “vedic chants” are the oral tradition of the Vedas. They consist of several pathas, “recitations” or ways of chanting the Vedic mantras. These hymns were sung at times of worship and Yajna, giving rise to the rites of the early Vedic period.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (h)

Saṃhitā (संहिता) literally means a “collection of hymns” etc. According to Pauṣkarasaṃhitā (as quoted in Īśānaśivagurudevapaddhati) it is defined as “that which contains more than twelve thousand verses and deals with religious matters and their practise, daily routines, medicinal aspects, astrology are called saṃhitā”

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Saṃhitā (संहिता) refers to “compositions (of profound Sūtras)” (for the fruit of liberation), according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] At that time, sixty koṭis of Bodhisattvas, having stood up from the congregation, joined their palms, paid homage to the Lord, and then uttered these verses in one voice: ‘[...] (209) The profound Sūtras which are composed for the fruit of liberation (vimuktiphala-saṃhitā) will not be accepted; they will be fond of colorful tales. (210) In such a time, the meaning and words of the well-spoken dharma will be destroyed. [...]’”.

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Buddhist Door: GlossaryOne of four types of Vedic literature in ancient India. It consists of four sections, including poems, songs, rituals, mandra, etc. 1. Rg veda - life and health; 2. Sama veda - ritual and worship; 3. Yajur veda - war study; 4. Atharva veda - mandra and poems. The four is known as Four Vedas.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

saṃhita : (adj.) equipped with; possessed of. || saṃhitā (f.) connection; euphonic agreement.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

saṃhita (संहित).—p S Attached, united, joined. 2 Collected, gathered, assembled. 3 Abridged, epitomized, contracted or compressed.

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saṃhitā (संहिता).—f S Proximity or adjunction: esp., in grammar, the proximity of two letters without an intervening pause; the state preparatory to Sandhi or junction. 2 An arrangement of the text of the Vedas into short sentences; denominated after the person by whom made. Ex. sūtasaṃhitā, vārāhasaṃhitā, gargasaṃhitā. 3 A branch or school of the Vedas. 4 A compilation, code, digest.

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

saṃhita (संहित).—p United Collected. Abridged.

--- OR ---

saṃhitā (संहिता).—f Proximity. A code. A school of the Vedas.

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

Saṃhita (संहित).—p. p.

1) Placed together, joined, united; संहितप्रयाणम् (saṃhitaprayāṇam) Kau. A.7; उक्ताः स्मो यद्भगवता तदात्वायतिसंहितम् (uktāḥ smo yadbhagavatā tadātvāyatisaṃhitam) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.328.2.

2) Agreeing with, conformable to, in accordance with.

3) Relating to, proceeding from; पश्य लक्ष्मण शीतेषुं मानवं मनुसंहितन् (paśya lakṣmaṇa śīteṣuṃ mānavaṃ manusaṃhitan) Rām.1.3.2.

4) Collected.

5) Provided, furnished, endowed, accompanied, conformable to; अब्रवीत्त्रिदशान् सर्वान् समेतान् धर्मसंहितान् (abravīttridaśān sarvān sametān dharmasaṃhitān) Rām.1.15. 27; Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.1.16.

6) Caused by.

7) Placed, fixed.

8) Compiled.

9) Coming close or near; तदभ्यासादुपावर्त संहितानां च सेवनात् (tadabhyāsādupāvarta saṃhitānāṃ ca sevanāt) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.9.29.

1) Placed on (the bow); विचकर्ष च संहितेषुरुच्चैश्चरणास्कन्दननामिताचलेन्द्रः (vicakarṣa ca saṃhiteṣuruccaiścaraṇāskandananāmitācalendraḥ) Kirātārjunīya 13.18. See संधा (saṃdhā).

--- OR ---

Saṃhitā (संहिता).—

1) Combination, union, conjunction.

2) A collection, compilation, compendium.

3) Any systematically arranged collection of texts or verses.

4) A compendium or compilation of laws, code, digest; मनु- संहिता (manu- saṃhitā).

5) The continuous hymnical text of the Veda as formed out of the Padas or individual words by proper phonetic changes according to different Śākhās or schools; पदप्रकृतिः संहिता (padaprakṛtiḥ saṃhitā) Nir.

6) (In gram.) Combination or junction of letters according to the rules of Saṃdhi or euphony; परः संनिकर्षः संहिता (paraḥ saṃnikarṣaḥ saṃhitā) P.I.4.19; वर्णानामतिशयितः संनिधिः संहितासंज्ञः स्यात् (varṇānāmatiśayitaḥ saṃnidhiḥ saṃhitāsaṃjñaḥ syāt) Sk.; or वर्णानामेकप्राणयोगः संहिता (varṇānāmekaprāṇayogaḥ saṃhitā).

7) The Supreme Being who holds and supports the universe.

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

Saṃhita (संहित).—mfn.

(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) 1. Attached, joined. 2. Collected, assembled. 3. Placed, fixed. 4. Provided, furnished, equipped. f.

(-tā) 1. An arrangement of the text of the Vedas into short sentences, regulated when the style is verse by the species of verse, and when prose by the subject, and denominated after the person or persons by whom the arrangement was originally made: it is also sometimes considered as synonymous with a Sakha, a branch or or school of the Vedas of which sixteen are reckoned to the Rig-Veda, one hundred and one to the Yajush, one thousand in the Sama, and nine in the Atharvan. 2. A compendium, a collection more or less compressed of laws, legends, &c. 3. (In grammar,) Proximity of two letters without an intermediate pause, Sand'hi or junction, though usually considered rather as the state preparatory to the actual junction than the junction itself. 4. A compilation, a code, a digest. E. sam before dhā to have, aff. ka .

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

Saṃhita (संहित).—[adjective] put together, connected or endowed with, pertaining to (—°); allied with i.e. friendly to ([instrumental] ±saha). [feminine] ā connection, junction, [especially] the euphonic junction of letters and words; any methodical collection of texts or verses.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Saṃhitā (संहिता) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—vaid. Rādh. 2.
—manoharā. Radh 2.

2) Saṃhitā (संहिता):—jy. by Bhadrabāhu. Ba. 20.

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

1) Saṃhita (संहित):—[=saṃ-hita] a mfn. (√1. dhā) put together, joined, attached, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

2) [v.s. ...] fixed, settled, [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] composed of ([compound]), [ib.]

4) [v.s. ...] placed together (pārśva-s, ‘placed side by side’), [Lāṭyāyana]

5) [v.s. ...] uninterrupted (as a series of words), [Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya]

6) [v.s. ...] joined or connected or endowed or furnished with, abounding in, possessed of, accompanied by ([compound]), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.

7) [v.s. ...] agreeing with, conformable to (dharma-s, ‘in accordance with justice’), [Rāmāyaṇa]

8) [v.s. ...] relating to, concerning ([compound]), [ib.]

9) [v.s. ...] connected with, proceeding from ([compound]), [Mahābhārata]

10) [v.s. ...] being on friendly terms with ([instrumental case]), [ib.]

11) [v.s. ...] mfn. mixed in colour, variegated, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Taittirīya-saṃhitā]

12) Saṃhitā (संहिता):—[=saṃ-hitā] [from saṃ-hita] a f. See next

13) Saṃhita (संहित):—[=saṃ-hita] n. Name of a Sāman, [Ārṣeya-brāhmaṇa]

14) Saṃhitā (संहिता):—[=saṃ-hitā] [from saṃ-hita] b f. conjunction, connection, union, [Taittirīya-upaniṣad]

15) [v.s. ...] (in gram.) the junction or combination of letters according to euphonic rules (= saṃdhi, but sometimes considered rather as the state preparatory to the actual junction than the junction itself), [Prātiśākhya]

16) [v.s. ...] a text treated according to euphonic rules ([especially] the real continuous text of the Vedas as formed out of the Padas or separate words by proper phonetic changes [according to various schools; cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 152]] : beside the Saṃhitās of the Ṛg-, Sāma-, and Atharvaveda there is the Vājasaneyi-Saṃhitā belonging to the White Yajur-veda, and five other Saṃhitās belonging to the black Yajur-veda, viz. the Taittirīya-S°, the Saṃhitā of the Ātreyas [known only by its Anukramaṇī], the S° of the Kaṭhas, the Kapiṣṭhala-Kaṭha-S°, and the S° of the Maitrāyaṇīyas or Maitrāyaṇī-S°), [Nirukta, by Yāska; Prātiśākhya] etc.

17) [v.s. ...] any methodically arranged collection of texts or verses (e.g. the Rāmāyaṇa, the various law-books, the medical works of Caraka and Śārṅgadhara, the complete system of natural astrology etc. cf. bṛhat-s; there is also a Saṃhitā of the Purāṇas said to have been compiled by Vyāsa, the substance of which is supposed to be represented by the Viṣṇu-purāṇa), [Mahābhārata; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Purāṇa] etc.

18) [v.s. ...] science, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

19) [v.s. ...] the force which holds together and supports the universe (a term applied to the Supreme Being [according to] to some), [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

20) [v.s. ...] Name of various works.

21) Saṃhita (संहित):—[=saṃ-hita] [from saṃ-dhā] b See p. 1123, col. 1.

22) Sāṃhita (सांहित):—mf(ī)n. relating to the Saṃhitā, found in the S° text or based upon it etc., [Prātiśākhya; Pāṇini [Scholiast or Commentator]]

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

Saṃhita (संहित):—[saṃ-hita] (taḥ-tā-taṃ) a. Attached; joined; collected; fixed; provided with. 1. f. A compilation, a digest; junction of letters.

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

Saṃhita (संहित) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Saṃdhia, Saṃhiyā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Samhita 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

Saṃhitā (संहिता) [Also spelled sanhita]:—(nf) a code; —[ācāra] code of conduct; ~[karaṇa] codification; ~[kāra] a codifier; ~[baddha] codified.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Saṃhita (ಸಂಹಿತ):—

1) [adjective] joined; attached.

2) [adjective] gathered; collected; accumulated.

3) [adjective] placed; kept; deposited.

4) [adjective] happened; occured.

5) [adjective] that has come or gone near; approached.

6) [adjective] befitting; suitable.

7) [adjective] containing; inclusive of.

--- OR ---

Saṃhita (ಸಂಹಿತ):—[noun] the state of being associated, joined; union.

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

1) Saṃhita (संहित):—adj. 1. collect; accumulated; 2. codified;

2) Saṃhitā (संहिता):—n. 1. compilation; compendium; systematically arranged collection of texts; verses; 2. a compendium or compilation of laws; code; digest;

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 175 books and stories containing Samhita, Saṃhitā, Saṃhita, Sam-hita, Saṃ-hita, Saṃ-hitā, Sāṃhita; (plurals include: Samhitas, Saṃhitās, Saṃhitas, hitas, hitās, Sāṃhitas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verses 5.24.64-65 < [Chapter 24 - The Killing of the Kola Demon]

Verses 6.13.7-8 < [Chapter 13 - The Glories of Prabhāsa-tīrtha, the Sarasvatī River, etc.]

Verse 6.1.41 < [Chapter 1 - Jarāsandha’s Defeat]

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Part 1 - Atithi-saparyā in Saṃhitas < [Chapter 2 - Ātithyeṣṭi]

Treatment of Atithi in Vedas < [Chapter 2 - Ātithyeṣṭi]

Part 2 - Atithi-saparyā in the Brāhmaṇas < [Chapter 2 - Ātithyeṣṭi]

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The Saṃhitās (Introduction) < [Chapter 1]

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The Physician in the Caraka and Suśruta Saṃhitās < [Chapter 2]

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