Sarmishtha, Sharmishtha, Sarmiṣṭhā, Śarmiṣṭhā: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Sarmishtha means something in 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 terms Sarmiṣṭhā and Śarmiṣṭhā can be transliterated into English as Sarmistha or Sarmishtha or Sharmishtha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata PuranaŚarmiṣṭhā (वियति):—Daughter of Vṛṣaparvā and one of the two wifes of Nahuṣa (son of Āyu). She gave birth to Druhyu, Anu and Pūru. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.18.4, 9.18.33)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaŚarmiṣṭhā (शर्मिष्ठा).—Daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, King of the asuras. (For details see under Devayānī).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Śarmiṣṭhā (शर्मिष्ठा).—A daughter of Vṛṣaparvan (hence Vārṣaparvaṇi, Viṣṇu-purāṇa) and wife of Yayāti. She once went with her attendants and Devayānī, and became engaged in water sports. Śiva and Pārvatī passed them when they put on their dress. In doing so Śarmiṣṭhā put on Devayānī's dress by mistake and was taken to task by Devayānī who called her a slave, arrogating superiority as a Brahmana girl. Śarmiṣṭhā grew angry and stripping her of her clothes threw her into a well and returned home;1 Śukra resented the action of the princess and left the palace though the king begged his pardon. Śukra agreed to stay on condition that Śarmiṣṭhā would follow Devayānī wherever she went. It was agreed. She was given to Yayāti when Devayānī was married to him. Yayāti advised not to share his bed with Śarmiṣṭhā. One day after her monthly period Śarmiṣṭhā requested him to embrace her, which he did. She became mother of three sons—Druhya, Anu and Pūru.2
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 6. 32; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 6. 23; 68. 15; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 22; 24. 52; Chh. 27-30; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 10, 4.
- 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 18. 6-33; Matsya-purāṇa Chh. 31-32; Vāyu-purāṇa 68. 23; 93. 16.
1b) A daughter of Svarbhānu.*
- * Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 21. 7.
Śarmiṣṭhā (शर्मिष्ठा) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. ) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Śarmiṣṭhā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical studyŚarmiṣṭhā (शर्मिष्ठा) (the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan) was one of the two wives of Yayāti: one of the sons of Virajā and Nahuṣa, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] Nahuṣa married Virajā (the daughter of Pitṛ) and was blessed with five sons of whom Yayāti was the most famous. Yayāti had two wives—Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā. Śarmiṣṭhā gave birth to Duhya, Cāru and Puru.
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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossarySarmiṣṭhā (सर्मिष्ठा).—The second wife of King Yayāti. On account of overattachment to her, the king was cursed by Śukrācārya to lose his youth.
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’).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismSharmishtha (सरमिष्ठा): Princess and daughter of asura king Vrishaparva, wife of Yayati, who got angry with Devayani and slapped and pushed her into a dry well. Sarmishtha gave birth to Druhyu, Anu, and Puru.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚarmiṣṭhā (शर्मिष्ठा).—Name of one of the wives of Yayāti and daughter of Vṛṣaparvan, the king of the Daityas; cf. देवयानी (devayānī) and ययाति (yayāti).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚarmiṣṭhā (शर्मिष्ठा).—i. e. superl. of the last, f. A proper name, the wife of Yayāti, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 82; [Mālavikāgnimitra, (ed. Tullberg.)] 19, 11.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚarmiṣṭhā (शर्मिष्ठा).—[feminine] [Name] of [several] women, [especially] of the wife of Yayāti.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚarmiṣṭhā (शर्मिष्ठा):—[from śarman] f. ‘most fortunate’, Name of one of the wives of Yayāti (she was the daughter of Vṛṣaparvan and mother of Druhyu, Anu, and Puru; cf. under yayāti and deva-yānī), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature etc.]
[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)
Full-text (+32): Yayati, Puru, Varshaparvani, Druhyu, Devayani, Vrishaparvan, Sharmishthavijaya, Turvasu, Vrishaparva, Sharmishthayayati, Anu, Varshaparvana, Paurohitya, Caru, Duhya, Ashokavana, Janamejaya, Anudruhyu, Yavana, Haihaya.
Relevant text
Search found 26 books and stories containing Sarmishtha, Sarmiṣṭhā, Śarmiṣṭhā, Sarmistha, Sharmishtha; (plurals include: Sarmishthas, Sarmiṣṭhās, Śarmiṣṭhās, Sarmisthas, Sharmishthas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
Chapter X - An account of Nahusha and Yayati < [Book IV]
Chapter XXI - Families of the Daityas < [Book I]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
The Matsya Purana (critical study) (by Kushal Kalita)
Part 1b - The Legend of Yayāti-Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā < [Chapter 3 - Historical aspects in the Matsyapurāṇa]
Part 2.1c - The Lunar Dynasty < [Chapter 3 - Historical aspects in the Matsyapurāṇa]
Part 2 - Application of Alaṃkāra (figure of speech) in the Matsyapurāṇa < [Chapter 2 - Literary aspect of the Matsyapurāṇa]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 18 - The History of Nahuṣa’s Line—The Story of Yayāti < [Book 9 - Ninth Skandha]
Chapter 12 - Birth of Parīkṣit < [Book 1 - First Skandha]
Chapter 6 - Progeny of Dakṣa’s Daughters < [Book 6 - Sixth Skandha]
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 80 - Yadu Refuses to Kill His Mothers < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
Chapter 22 - Dharmāṅgada Born as Suvrata < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
Chapter 6 - Birth of Devas, Daityas, Birds and Serpents etc. < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]