Sarpa, Sārpa: 31 definitions

Introduction:

Sarpa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Agni Purāṇa

Sarpa (सर्प):—One of the Eleven Rudras (ekādaśa-rudra), according to the Agni-purāṇa. The Agni Purāṇa is a religious text containing details on Viṣṇu’s different incarnations (avatar), but also deals with various cultural subjects such as Cosmology, Grammar and Astrology.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Sarpa (सर्प).—A son of Tvaṣṭā. According to Agni Purāṇa the sons of Tvaṣṭā were called Ekādaśarudras; But according to Mahābhārata, Sarpa, one of the Ekādaśarudras is the son of Sthāṇu and the great-grandson of Brahmā. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 66, Verse 2).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Sarpa (सर्प) refers to “snakes”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.27 (“Description of the fraudulent words of the Brahmacārin”).—Accordingly, as Śiva (in guise of a Brahmacārin) said to Pārvatī: “[...] I know Śiva through and through with all His weighty attributes. I shall tell you the truth. Listen with attention. [...] He holds the skull. Serpents twine [i.e., sarpa-augha] round His limbs. Poison has left a mark on his neck. He eats even forbidden stuffs. He has odd eyes and is definitely awful. His birth and pedigree cannot be traced. He is devoid of the enjoyment of a householder. He has ten arms. He is mostly naked and is ever accompanied by ghosts and goblins. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Sarpa (सर्प).—A Rākṣasa with the sun in nabhonabha months; a son of Yātudhāna.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 23. 11; III. 3. 70; 7. 90; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 128.

1b) A son of Brahmadhāna.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 98; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 133.

1c) To be worshipped in house-building.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 253. 27.

1d) One of the eleven Rudras.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 66. 69.

1e) A class of Rākṣasas sprung from Sarpa; also Pannagas.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 32. 1; 35. 191; III. 7. 97; 8. 70.

1f) Snakes whose overlord is Takṣaka;1 moving creatures, sarīsṛpās.2

  • 1) Matsya-purāṇa 8. 7.
  • 2) Ib. 38. 10.

2) Sārpa (सार्प).—One of the eight muhūrtas of the afternoon.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 3. 39.
Source: valmikiramayan.net: Srimad Valmiki Ramayana

Sarpa (सर्प) refers to “snakes” (dwelling in rivers in the forest), according to the Rāmāyaṇa chapter 2.28. Accordingly:—“[...] soothening with kind words to Sītā, when eyes were blemished with tears, the virtuous Rāma spoke again as follows, for the purpose of waking her turn back: ‘[...] Snakes (sarpa) dwelling in rivers, moving crookedly like rivers, stay obstructing the pathways. Hence, living in forest is a great misery’”.

Purana book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Purana from relevant books on Exotic India

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Introduction

Sarpa (Snakes) - Kundalini - sexual energy latent within the lowest chakra – the Mūlādhāra at the base of the spine. Also symbolizes the control of anger the worst of all the negative emotions.

Shilpashastra book cover
context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Shilpashastra from relevant books on Exotic India

Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature

Sarpa (सर्प) refers to one of the 23 types of dohā metres (a part of mātrā type) described in the 1st chapter of the Vṛttamauktika by Candraśekhara (17th century): author of many metrical compositions and the son of Lakṣmīnātha Bhaṭṭa and Lopāmudrā.

Chandas book cover
context information

Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Chandas from relevant books on Exotic India

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Sarpā (सर्पा):—[sarpāḥ] Snakes.

Ayurveda book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Ayurveda from relevant books on Exotic India

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Sarpa (सर्प) refers to “snakes”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] His body is adorned on the left (by his consort) and he is adorned with a garland of wild flowers. He wears earrings made of snakes [i.e., sarpa-kuṇḍala-lambana] and his sacred thread is Vāsuki. The Lord is adorned with tinkling anklets and sits on a ghost in the lotus posture. He is adorned with the five insignia and a garland of severed heads that hangs from his neck up to his feet. He dances with the bliss of wine and is accompanied by heroes and Bhairavas. Sixty-four Yoginīs and great mothers encompass him. He is endowed with sixty-four energies and adorned with ghosts and demons. O Śambhu, Bhairava is said to have as his seat (āsana) the Supreme Goddess”.

Shaktism book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Shaktism from relevant books on Exotic India

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Sārpa (सार्प) refers to Āśleṣā, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 8), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The Nakṣatras—Rohiṇī and Kṛttikā, form the body of the Vatsara Puruṣa, the two Āṣāḍhas form his navel, Āśleṣā [i.e., sārpa] forms the heart and Maghā, the heart-bladder; when benefíc planets pass through these, there will be happiness in the land; if malefic planets should pass through the body, there will be suffering from fire and winds; if they should pass through the navel, there will be suffering from starvation; if they should pass through the heart-bladder, roots and fruits will suffer, and if they should pass through the heart, crops will perish”.

Jyotisha book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Jyotisha from relevant books on Exotic India

Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)

Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics

Sarpa (सर्प) represents the number 8 (eight) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 8—sarpa] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.

Ganitashastra book cover
context information

Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Ganitashastra from relevant books on Exotic India

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

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

Sarpa (सर्प) refers to a “snake”, 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 11.1-24ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Tumburu]—“[...] [He worships] Deva as Tumburu in the middle of an eight petaled lotus, in the maṇḍala, [starting] in the East, O Devī. [...] He [has] a half-moon in his topknot, sits in the blue lotus Āsana. [Tumburu is] white like a drop of frosty jasmine, similar to mountain snow. [He wears] a serpent as a sacred thread and is adorned with snake ornaments (sarpa-bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣita). [Tumburu is] adorned with all jewels, a tiger skin on the ground [below his] hips, a garment of elephant skin, mounted on a very strong bull, and wears a rhino hide. [...]”.

Shaivism book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Shaivism from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Sarpa (सर्प, ‘serpent’) occurs once in the Rigveda, where Ahi is the usual word, but often later.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Sarpa (सर्प) refers to “(the outer suffering of) the snake”, as mentioned in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI in the section called “four foundations of mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna)”.—Accordingly:—“[...] there are two kinds of suffering (duḥkha): inner suffering and outer suffering. [...] Outer suffering (bāhyaduḥkha) is of two types: i) the king (rājan), the victorious enemy (vijetṛ), the wicked thief (caura), the lion (siṃha), tiger (vyāghra), wolf (vṛka), snake (sarpa) and other nuisances (viheṭhana); ii) the wind (vāta), rain (vṛṣṭi), cold (śīta), heat (uṣna), thunder (meghagarjita), lightning (vidyut), thunderbolts, etc: these two kinds of suffering are outer suffering”.

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Sarpa (सर्प) refers to “snakes” (causing crop destruction), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [As the Bhagavān teaches an offering manual]: “[...] All crops, all flowers and fruits will be well protected. [...] All pests will be destroyed. Snakes (sarpa), mice, mongooses, porcupines, goats, frogs, stinging insects, mosquitos, locusts and so on, flocks of birds will perish. All worms will be destroyed. Furthermore, flying insects and so on do not occur. They are never able to destroy. [...]”.

Mahayana book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Sarpa (सर्प) refers to a “serpent”, according to the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi [i.e., Cakrasamvara Meditation] ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “Oṃ eat eat to the hanging garland of greasy bloody entrails, to Surābhakṣī Hūṃ Phaṭ Svāhā! Oṃ seize seize the snake or serpent (sarpa) come forth from the seven underworlds Hūṃ Phaṭ Svāhā”.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Tibetan Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Sarpa (सर्प) is the name of a magic weapon employed by Rāvaṇa against King Vālin, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.2 [Rāvaṇa’s expedition of conquest] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly, “Thus enlightened by him, Daśāsya [i.e., Rāvaṇa], knowing dharma, began to fight in person, skilled in all weapons. Whatever weapon Daśagrīva hurled, the king of the Kapis destroyed it by his own weapons, like the sun the brilliance of strong fires. Rāvaṇa even discharged his magic missiles, Sarpa, Varuṇa, etc, and Vālin destroyed them by his missiles, Tārkṣya, etc. Then Daśamukha, angered by the failure of his weapons and magic missiles, drew his sword Candrahāsa, cruel as a great serpent. [...]”.

General definition book cover
context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of General definition from relevant books on Exotic India

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Sarpa.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘eight’. Note: sarpa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of India history from relevant books on Exotic India

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Sarpa in India is the name of a plant defined with Arisaema tortuosum in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Arum curvatum Roxb. (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Flora of the Presidency of Madras
· Monographiae Phanerogamarum (1879)
· Flora (1831)
· Synopsis Aroidearum
· Research Bulletin
· Bonplandia (Hannover) (1859)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Sarpa, for example chemical composition, health benefits, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, extract dosage, side effects, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Biology from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

sarpa (सर्प).—m (S) A serpent or snake. The word is, in the Konkan̤, applied exclusively to the Coluber Naga or Cobra de capello, in the Desh, to every reptile of the serpent-tribe excepting the Coluber Naga, which bears its specific name nāga. See and apply to this word sarpa the notice afforded under its derivative sāpa; adding only that the word sarpa (preserving its majesty as Sanskrit) occurs to be used upon rather extraordinary occasions, as conveying, more forcibly than the Prakrit sāpa, the idea of magnitude or formidableness.

--- OR ---

sārpa (सार्प).—a S Relating to a serpent, serpentine.

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

sarpa (सर्प).—m A snake, a serpent.

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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Marathi from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Sarpa (सर्प).—[sṛp-ghañ]

1) Serpentine or winding motion, gliding.

2) Flowing, going.

3) A snake, serpent.

4) Name of a tree (nāgakeśara).

5) The Āśleṣā constellation.

6) Name of a tribe of Mlechchhas or barbarians.

Derivable forms: sarpaḥ (सर्पः).

--- OR ---

Sārpa (सार्प).—Name of the constellation Āślesā; सार्पे जातौ तु सौमित्री कुलीरेऽभ्युदिते रवौ (sārpe jātau tu saumitrī kulīre'bhyudite ravau) Rām.1.18.15.

Derivable forms: sārpaḥ (सार्पः).

See also (synonyms): sārpya.

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

Sarpa (सर्प).—m.

(-rpaḥ) 1. A snake, a serpent. 2. Gentle or twining motion, gliding, flowing, creeping. f. (-rpī) The female of the snake. E. sṛp to go, to glide, aff. ac .

--- OR ---

Sārpa (सार्प).—mfn.

(-rpaḥ-rpī-rpaṃ) Relating to a snake. f. (-rpī) The ninth lunar asterism, of which the serpents (Aślesha) are the presiding deities. E. sarpa a snake, and aṇ aff.; also read sārpya .

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

Sarpa (सर्प).—i. e. sṛp + a, I. m. 1. Sliding motion. 2. A snake, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 1, 37; [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 46. Ii. f. , The female of the snake.

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

Sarpa (सर्प).—[feminine] ī crawling, creeping. [masculine] & [feminine] sarpī snake, adder, a serpent-demon.

--- OR ---

Sārpa (सार्प).—[adjective] relating to serpents; [neuter] [Epithet] of a lunar mansion.

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

1) Sarpa (सर्प):—a mf(ī)n. creeping, crawling, stealing along, [Gautama-dharma-śāstra] (cf. pīṭha-, vṛkṣa-s)

2) m. (ifc. f(ā). ) a snake, serpent, serpent-demon (cf. nāga; sarpāṇām ayanam, ‘a [particular] annual festival’), tortuous motion, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

3) m. a [particular] constellation (when only the three unfavourable planets are situated in the three Kendras), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

4) Mesua Roxburghii, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) Name of one of the 11 Rudras, [Mahābhārata] of a Rākṣasa, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

6) ([plural]) Name of a [particular] tribe of Mlecchas (formerly Kṣatriyas and described as wearing beards), [Harivaṃśa]

7) n. = sapa-sāman q.v.

8) cf. [Greek] ἑρπετόν [Latin] serpens; See also under √srip.

9) Sārpa (सार्प):—mfn. ([from] sarpa, of which it is also the Vṛddhi form in [compound]) relating to snakes or serpents

10) n. (with or [scilicet] bha) Name of the Nakṣatra Ārṣa, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Rāmāyaṇa etc.]

11) Sarpa (सर्प):—[from sṛp] b etc. See p. 1184, col. 1.

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

Sarpa (सर्प):—(rpaḥ) 1. m. A snake; gliding motion. f. (ī) Idem.

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

Sarpa (सर्प) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sappa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Sarpa 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.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Sarpa (सर्प) [Also spelled sarp]:—(nm) a serpent, snake; ~[daṃśa] snake-bite; -[nirmāka] the slough (of a snake); -[phaṇa] the hood of a snake; ~[rāja] Vasuki —the mythological serpent king; a huge snake; -[vidyā] the art of snake charming; hence [sarpiṇī] (nf).

context information

...

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Hindi from relevant books on Exotic India

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Sarpa (ಸರ್ಪ):—

1) [noun] a moving in a zig-zag manner by crawling on the ground (as a snake does).

2) [noun] a flowing of or as of a liquid.

3) [noun] a snake, esp. a large one; a serpent.

4) [noun] the tree Mesua ferra of Guttiferae family; serpent champaka.

5) [noun] (myth.) name of one of the hells.

6) [noun] (astrol.) the long southern constellation; Epsilon Hydra.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Discover the meaning of sarpa in the context of Kannada from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Related products

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: