Saptaratra, Saptarātra, Saptan-ratra: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Saptaratra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Saptarātra (सप्तरात्र) refers to “every seven nights”, and is mentioned in verse 2.5 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “the eye (is) composed of fire, (and) the danger of phlegm (is) particularly (imminent) for it; so one shall apply elixir-salve every seven nights (saptarātra) for demueification”.
Note: Saptaratra (“every seven nights”) has been altered to źag bdun-źiṅ (“every seven days”). Though idiomatically correct (cf. Mahāvyutpatti 8413), this modification is materially incorrect, as appears from Carakasaṃhitā I 5.17 sq.:—“Strong eye-salve, now, (is) not to be applied to the eyes by day. A seeing-organ weakened by drainage gets affected when exposed to sunlight. So eye-salve for drawing (phlegm) is invariably indicated only by night”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchSaptarātra (सप्तरात्र) refers to the “time of seven nights”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I shall define the nature of that highest, mind-free absorption which arises for those devoted to constant practice. [...] By means of an absorption of seven nights (saptarātra), [while] absorbed in the highest reality, the Yogin knows everything from Brahma [down] and [all] traditional teachings. [...]”.
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).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureSaptarātra (सप्तरात्र) refers to “seven nights” (of raining), according to the 2nd-century Meghasūtra (“Cloud Sutra”) in those passages which contain ritual instructions.—Accordingly, “He who desires a mighty rain must perform this rite ‘the great-cloud-circle’ in an open space, overspread by a blue canopy, shaded by a blue banner, on a clear spot of earth; [...] And the prophet of the Law, with his own safety secured, and living in goodwill, shall behave towards all beings with compassion, [and] after prayers to all the Buddhas and Bodhisatvas shall perform this rite to the snakes with the motive of his own prosperity. Afterward, at a season of drought, he shall recite this chapter “The great-cloud-circle”, for one day or for two, until it needs shall rain seven nights (saptarātra). [...]”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysaptarātra (सप्तरात्र).—n (S) A period of seven nights.
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 dictionarySaptarātra (सप्तरात्र).—a period of seven nights.
Derivable forms: saptarātram (सप्तरात्रम्).
Saptarātra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms saptan and rātra (रात्र).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySaptarātra (सप्तरात्र).—n.
(-traṃ) A period of seven nights. E. sapta, rātra for rātri night.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySaptarātra (सप्तरात्र).—[neuter] seven days (lit. nights), week.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Saptarātra (सप्तरात्र):—[=sapta-rātra] [from sapta > saptan] n. a period of 7 nights (or days), a week, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] m. a [particular] Ahīna, [Atharva-veda; ???; Maśaka]
3) [v.s. ...] n. [plural] Name of various Vaiṣṇava sacred books.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySaptarātra (सप्तरात्र):—[sapta-rātra] (traṃ) 1. n. Seven nights.
[Sanskrit to German]
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: Ratra, Sapta.
Starts with: Saptaratraka.
Ends with: Janakasaptaratra.
Full-text: Saptaratrika, Janakasaptaratra, Yavaka, Kshepayati, Abhojya, Path, Upadaya.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Saptaratra, Saptarātra, Saptan-ratra, Saptan-rātra, Sapta-ratra, Sapta-rātra; (plurals include: Saptaratras, Saptarātras, ratras, rātras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 11.152 < [Section XVII - Expiation for the Sin of taking Forbidden Food]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita (by Laxmi Maji)
5b. Kṛmi (Worms) in the Atharvaveda < [Chapter 5 - Diseases and Remedies in Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā]
The Agnistoma Somayaga in the Shukla Yajurveda (by Madan Haloi)
Part 2.1: Types of Somayāga (Introduction) < [Chapter 3 - The Somayāga]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 60 - Manifestation of Bindumādhava < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]