Sparshana, Sparśana: 18 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Ayurveda
2. Purana
3. Vastushastra
4. Yoga
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Sparshana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

The Sanskrit term Sparśana can be transliterated into English as Sparsana or Sparshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Sparśana (स्पर्शन):—Perception through skin

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Sparśana (स्पर्शन) refers to “touching” (the limbs of a woman), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.18 (“Description of the perturbation caused by Kāma”).—Accordingly, as Śiva said to Pārvatī: “How wonderful and mysterious is the situation that has arisen! How is it that I have been deluded and fascinated? Though I am the lord and master, I have been perturbed by Kāma. If I, the master, were to yearn for the touch [i.e., sparśana] of a woman’s limbs what will not be done by other incompetent and insignificant creatures”.

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.

Vastushastra (architecture)

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

Sparśana (स्पर्शन) refers to “touching”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “[...] If someone scratches his arm, there is armlet [at the depth] up to the arm. [That extraneous thing] exists [at a depth of] three and a half cubits [underground]. There is no doubt about it. If [someone] touches his [left?] hand, [the officiant] should prognosticate the leg of a couch [beneath the site]. If [someone] touches his finger (karaja-aṅguli-sparśana), [the officiant] should know [that the extraneous thing] is situated at a depth up to the knee). [...]”.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Sparśana (स्पर्शन) refers to “making contact (with the highest reality)”, 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. [...] Through an absorption for a mere moment, the Yogin definitely makes contact (sparśana) with the highest reality, and the active state [of mind arises] again and again. [...]”.

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).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Sparśana (स्पर्शन) refers to “touching (that which is ‘precious’)”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 41).—Accordingly, “[Digression on a case brought against the Buddha; B. The defense].—[6. Use of a Stone Bowl].—‘The Buddha forbade the Bhikṣus to use eight kinds of bowls (pātra)’.—[Bowls 1–4]: Precious bowls of gold (suvarṇa), silver (rūpya), [beryl (vaiḍūrya) and pearl (maṇi)]. – Since people covet precious things, since the latter are hard to find (durlabha) and because people are attached to them, the Buddha prohibits the keeping (dhāraṇa) of these precious substances. He does not allow even touching (sparśana) that which is ‘precious’ and neither does he allow keeping it. If such a gift is made [to the Bhikṣus], he allows them to realize their value, but not too expensive. [...]”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Sparśana (स्पर्शन) refers to “to have pleasurable touch” and is one of the twenty-four activities (kriyā) of sāmparāyika (transmigression-extending influx). Sāmparāyika is one two types of āsrava (influx) which represents the flow of karma particles towards the soul, which is due to the three activities: manoyoga ( activities of mind), kāyayoga ( activities of body) and vacanayoga (activities of speech).

Kriyā (‘activities’, such as sparśana) is a Sanskrit technical term defined in the Tattvārthasūtra (ancient authorative Jain scripture) from the 2nd century, which contains aphorisms dealing with philosophy and the nature of reality.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra

Sparśana (स्पर्शन, “pervasion”).—What is the meaning of ‘extent of space touched’ (sparśana)? It is the extent of space occupied relating to the past, present and future.

According to Tattvārthasūtra 1.8, “the categories and their details are undefrstood in detail in terms of existence, number (enumeration), place or abode, extent of space touched (pervasion) (sparśana), continuity /time, interval of time, thought-activity, and reciprocal comparison”.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 2: the Category of the living

Sparśana (स्पर्शन, “touching”) or sparśanendriya refers to one of the “five sense-organs” (pañcendriya), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 2.19. What is the meaning of touch sense organ? The sense organs which cognizes for touching an object of knowledge is called touch sense organ (sparśana-indriya).

The respective object of touching (sparśana) is touch (sparśa). What is the meaning of touch? Cognition which results by touching the object of knowledge is called touch.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

sparśana (स्पर्शन).—n S Touching, taction, coming into contact.

--- OR ---

spārśana (स्पार्शन).—n S Touching, taction. 2 Apprehension or perception by touch. Ex. badhira tvagāsa spārśana phārakarūna nasatēṃ. 3 The faculty of apprehending through touching; the sense of touch.

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

Sparśana (स्पर्शन).—a. (-nī f.) [स्पर्श्-स्पृश्-वा ल्युट् (sparś-spṛś-vā lyuṭ)]

1) Touching, handling.

2) Affecting, influencing.

-naḥ Air, wind.

-nam 1 Touching, touch, contact.

2) Sensation, feel ing.

3) Sense or organ of touch; Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 15.9.

4) A gift, donation.

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

Sparśana (स्पर्शन).—n.

(-naṃ) 1. Touch, contact. 2. Gift, donation. 3. Organ of sense, sense of touch. m.

(-naḥ) Air, wind. f. (-nī) Adj. 1. Touching, handling. 2. Acting upon, affecting. E. spṛś to touch, lyuṭ or yuc aff.

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

Sparśana (स्पर्शन).—i. e. spṛś + ana, I. m. Wind. Ii. n. 1. Touching, [Pañcatantra] 163, 5. 2. Sensation, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 12, 120. 3. Gift, donation.

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

Sparśana (स्पर्शन).—[neuter] touching, feeling, sensation.

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

1) Spārśana (स्पार्शन):—a See p. 1269, col. 2.

2) Sparśana (स्पर्शन):—[from spṛś] mf(ī)n. touching, handling, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

3) [v.s. ...] affecting, acting upon, afflicting, [ib.]

4) [v.s. ...] m. air, wind, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) [v.s. ...] n. the act of touching, touch, contact, [Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad; Yājñavalkya] etc.

6) [v.s. ...] sensation, sense of touch, organ of sensation or feeling, sensitive nerve, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]

7) [v.s. ...] gift, donation, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) Sparśāna (स्पर्शान):—[from spṛś] m. = manas, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) Spārśana (स्पार्शन):—[from spṛś] b mfn. ([from] sparśana) what is touched or felt, palpable, tangible, [Pāṇini 4-2, 92 [Scholiast or Commentator]]

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

Sparśana (स्पर्शन):—(naṃ) 1. n. Touch; gift. m. Air.

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

Sparśanā (स्पर्शना) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Āluṃkhaṇa, Chivaṇa, Pharisaṇa, Phāsaṇa, Phāsaṇayā, Phāsaṇā, Phusaṇā, Phosaṇā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Sparshana 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Sparśana (ಸ್ಪರ್ಶನ):—

1) [noun] = ಸ್ಪರ್ಶ - [sparsha -] 1, 7 & 9.

2) [noun] the act of grasping, seizing.

3) [noun] the skin, as the organ of touch.

4) [noun] a prolonged fighting in open between two hostile military forces.

context information

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

Relevant text

Search found 23 books and stories containing Sparshana, Sparśana, Sparsana, Spārśana, Sparśāna, Sparśanā; (plurals include: Sparshanas, Sparśanas, Sparsanas, Spārśanas, Sparśānas, Sparśanās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 6.18.36 < [Chapter 18 - In the Course of Describing the Glories of Siddhāśrama, a Description of the Rāsa-dance Festival]

Verse 3.10.40 < [Chapter 10 - The Glory of Śrī Girirāja]

Verse 3.10.13 < [Chapter 10 - The Glory of Śrī Girirāja]

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Verse 15.9 < [Chapter 15 - Puruṣottama-toga (Yoga through understanding the Supreme Person)]

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Verse 2.22 - The possessor of the sense of touch (sparśa) < [Chapter 2 - Category of the Living]

Verse 7.8 - The observances for the vow of non-attachment (aparigraha) < [Chapter 7 - The Five Vows]

Verse 2.19 - The names of the five senses (indriya) < [Chapter 2 - Category of the Living]

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Text 11 < [Chapter 8 - Aṣṭama-yāma-sādhana (Rātri-līlā–prema-bhajana sambhoga)]

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