Shishira, Śiśira, Sisira: 29 definitions

Introduction:

Shishira means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

The Sanskrit term Śiśira can be transliterated into English as Sisira or Shishira, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Shishir.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: Wisdom Library: Raj Nighantu

Śiśira (शिशिर) refers to the “cold season” in the traditional Indian calendar, and consists of the months Māgha and Phālguna, according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The physician (bhiṣaj) should pay attention to the seasonal (ṛtu) factor in the use of medicinal drugs. Accordingly, “the bulbous roots in winter season, other roots in cold season (śiśira) and flowers during spring season are supposed to contain better properties. The new leaves or shoots in summer and the drugs, which grow in mud, like Lotus etc., should be used in autumn season”.

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci

Śiśira (शिशिर) refers to the season consisting (partially) of December and January, whose vāta-provocative symptoms are dealt with in the 10th century Yogaśataka written by Pandita Vararuci.—The Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci is an example of this category. This book attracts reader by its very easy language and formulations which can be easily prepared and have small number of herbs. It describes only those formulations which are the most common and can be used in majority conditions of diseases (viz., in Śiśira).

The 101st stanza is related with provocation of Doṣas in particular seasons. Seasons for provocation of Vāta are Hemanta (Jan-Feb), Varṣa (Rainy season) and Śiśira (Dec-Jan). Season for provocation of Pitta is Grīṣma (summer) and Śarad (Oct-Nov) while for provocation of Kapha is Vasanta (Feb-Mar).

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Śiśira (शिशिर, “late winter”):—One of the six season of the year, comprising the months Māgha and Phālguna.—This season takes place dusing visarga, when the sun is dominant, and draws out the nutrient essence of the living beings. A skilled physician should moniter conditions during the treatment of a patient.

Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume II

Shishira is the Hindu season corresponding to winter. The two months known as Tapas and Tapasya (Magha and Phalguna) constitute the season of winter.

Cold winds from the north blow in the season of Hemanta. The quarters of the sky are enveloped in smoke and assume a dusky aspect. The sun is hid in the frost, and lakes and pools are frozen or lie covered over with flakes, or thin layers of ice. Winter exhibits the same features as above, only in a greater degree of intensity ; and the quarters of the sky are agitated by strong gales of wind and showers of rain.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Śiśira (शिशिर):—Cold, Wnter Season

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.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Shishira in Purana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

Śiśira (शिशिर) is the name of a mountain situated at lake Mānasa and mount Gandhamādana, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 75. The Gandhamādana mountain lies on the eastern side of mount Meru, which is one of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, ruled over by Āgnīdhra, a grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Śiśira (शिशिर).—Son of Soma the Vasu, of his wife Manoharā. To the couple were born four sons called Varcas, Prāṇa, Ramaṇa and Śiśira. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 66, Verse 22).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Śiśira (शिशिर) refers to the “late winter (season)” (associated with certain austerities), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.1 (“Description of Tripura—the three cities”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “O great sage, when the Asura Tāraka was killed by Skanda, the son of Śiva, his three sons performed austerities. [...] In the late winter (śiśira) they stayed under water or wore wet dripping silken cloth or allowed themselves to be covered with dew drops. They were not at all vexed or distressed thereby. They gradually increased the severity of their austerities. Thus the three excellent sons of Tāraka performed penance with Brahmā as the object of their worship. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Śiśira (शिशिर).—Mt. on the base of Meru, and on the south of the Mānasa.*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 16. 26; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 38; 19. 15; Vāyu-purāṇa 36. 22; 38. 2; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 2. 28.

1b) A pupil of Śākalya.*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 6. 57.

1c) A son of Medhātithi and the founder of the Śiśiram kingdom in Plakṣadvīpa.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 36-8; Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 32; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 3, 5.

1d) A kṣatriya who became a dvija.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 66. 88.

1e) Son of Ariṣṭisena.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 67. 6.

1f) A son of Dhara.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 5. 24.

1g) A Kauśika Brahmiṣṭha.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 145. 113.

1h) A mind-born son of Brahmā in the 16th Kalpa.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 21. 35.

1i) The winter; the first of Ṛtus.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 53. 26, 113.

1j) A son of Dharma (Vasu).*

  • * Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 15. 113.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Śiśira (शिशिर) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.60.20) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Śiśira) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.

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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

Śiśira (शिशिर).—One is to indicate the winter (śiśira) by the representation of smelling the flowers, of the season, drinking wine and of feeling an unpleasant wind.

Natyashastra book cover
context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

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Kavyashastra (science of poetry)

Source: Shodhganga: Bhismacaritam a critical study

Śiśirā (शिशिरा) is the name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) [defined as इ.वं.इ.वं] of the Vaṃśastha type as employed in the Bhīṣmacarita (Bhishma Charitra) which is a mahākāvya (‘epic poem’) written by Hari Narayan Dikshit.—We find twenty-seven examples of Śiśirā variety of Vaṃśastha metre in the Bhīṣmacarita. The example of it is verse XV.34. [...] The other examples are as follows: XV.38, XV.41, XV.44, XVI.42, XVI.45, XVI.51, XVII.30, XVII.31, XVII.36, XVII.48, XVII.50, XVIII.4, XVIII.40, XVIII.48, XVIII.50, XIX.16, XIX.17, XIX.20, XIX.33, XIX.39, XIX.47, XIX.51, XX.10, XX.31, XX.44 and XX.50.

Kavyashastra book cover
context information

Kavyashastra (काव्यशास्त्र, kāvyaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian tradition of poetry (kavya). Canonical literature (shastra) of the includes encyclopedic manuals dealing with prosody, rhetoric and various other guidelines serving to teach the poet how to compose literature.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Śiśira (शिशिर) refers to the months February and March, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 3), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If in Śiśira (February, March) the sun be of copper colour or red black, if, in Vasanta (April, May), blue crimson, if, in Grīṣma (June, July), slightly white and of gold color, if, in Varṣā (August, September), white, if, in Śarada (October, November), of the colour of the centre of the lotus, if, in Hemanta (December, January), of blood color, mankind will be happy. If, in Varṣā (August, September), the rays of the sun be soft, mankind will be happy even though the sun should be of any of the colors mentioned above”.

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.

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Biology (plants and animals)

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

1) Shishira in India is the name of a plant defined with Cissampelos pareira in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Cocculus orbiculatus (L.) DC. (among others).

2) Shishira is also identified with Vetiveria zizanioides It has the synonym Andropogon muricatum Retz. (etc.).

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

· Nova Genera et Species Plantarum (1821)
· Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae (1810)
· Observationes Botanicae (1783)
· Reliquiae Haenkeanae (1830)
· Essai d’une Nouvelle Agrostographie (1812)
· Grasses of Ceylon (1956)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Shishira, for example side effects, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, health benefits, diet and recipes, chemical composition, 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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shishira in Pali glossary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

sisira : (m.) the winter; cold season. (adj.), cool.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Sisira, (adj.) (Sk. śiśira) cool, cold Dāvs. V, 33; VvA. 132. (m.) cold, cold season Vin. II, 47=J. I, 93. (Page 711)

Pali book cover
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.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

śiśira (शिशिर).—m S śiśiraṛtu or śiśirarttu m S The cold season. It comprises two months, viz. from about the middle of January to the middle of March.

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

śiśira (शिशिर).—m śiśira ṛtu m The cold season.

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śiśira (शिशिर).—a. [śaś-kirac na. Uṇādi-sūtra 1.52]

1) Cool, cold, chill, frigid; कुरु यदुनन्दनचन्दनशिशिरतरेण करेण पयोधरे (kuru yadunandanacandanaśiśiratareṇa kareṇa payodhare) Gītagovinda 12; R.14.3;16.49.

2) Cooling, removing heat; नवनलिनदलायमानशिशिरतारारुणायतनयनरुचिरः (navanalinadalāyamānaśiśiratārāruṇāyatanayanaruciraḥ) Bhāgavata 5.5.31.

3) Relating or belonging to शिशिर (śiśira); एवं तेषां ययौ मासो द्वितीयः शिशिरः सुखम् (evaṃ teṣāṃ yayau māso dvitīyaḥ śiśiraḥ sukham) Rām.7.39.29.

-raḥ, -ram 1 Dew, hoar-frost; पद्मानां शिशिराद्भयम् (padmānāṃ śiśirādbhayam); जातां मन्ये शिशिरमथितां पद्मिनीं वान्यरूपाम् (jātāṃ manye śiśiramathitāṃ padminīṃ vānyarūpām) Meghadūta 85.

2) The cold season (comprising the two months Māgha and Phālguna); कण्ठेषु स्खलितं गतेऽपि शिशिरे पुंस्कोकिलानां रुतम् (kaṇṭheṣu skhalitaṃ gate'pi śiśire puṃskokilānāṃ rutam) Ś.6.3; अमृतं शिशिरे वह्निः (amṛtaṃ śiśire vahniḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.128.

3) Coldness, frigidity.

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

Śiśira (शिशिर).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Cold, frigid, chilly, freezing. m.

(-raḥ) Frost. mn.

(-raḥ-raṃ) The cold season, comprising two months from about the middle of January to that of March. n.

(-raṃ) 1. Coolness. 2. Dew, hoar-frost. 3. The cool season. E. śaś to go, (the sun, north of the equator,) kirac Unadi aff. and the radical vowel changed to i .

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

Śiśira (शिशिर).— (akin to śo, cf. the ved. inflection of this vb.), I. adj. Cold, cool, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 41; comparat. Very cool, refreshing, [Pañcatantra] 9, 4. Ii. (m. and) n. 1. Cold, frost, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 81. 2. Coolness, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] 19, 17 (of a wood). 3. The cold season, [Pañcatantra] v. [distich] 4.

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

Śiśira (शिशिर).—[masculine] [neuter] the cool or dewy season, i.[grammar] hoar, frost, dew; as adj. cool, chilly.

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

1) Śiśira (शिशिर):—mf(ā)n. ([probably] connected with √śyai, śīta etc.) cool, chilly, cold, frigid, freezing, [Rāmāyaṇa; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] etc.

2) m. n. cold, coolness, hoarfrost, dew, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

3) m. the cool or dewy season (comprising two months, Māgha and Phālguna, or from about the middle of January to that of March; cf. ṛtu), [Atharva-veda] etc. etc.

4) Name of the seventh month of the year ([according to] to one reckoning)

5) of a mountain, [Rāmāyaṇa; Harivaṃśa; Purāṇa]

6) of a son of Dhara and Manoharā, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa]

7) of a son of Medhātithi, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

8) of a teacher (a pupil or descendant of Śākalya Vedamitra), [Catalogue(s)]

9) Śiśirā (शिशिरा):—[from śiśira] f. a [particular] drug (= reṇukā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) [v.s. ...] a kind of Cyperus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) Śiśira (शिशिर):—n. the root of Andropogon Muricatus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

12) a [particular] mythical weapon, [Rāmāyaṇa; Harivaṃśa]

13) Name of a Varṣa in Plakṣa-dvīpa, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

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

Śiśira (शिशिर):—(raṃ) 1. m. Frost. m. n. Cold season. a. Cold.

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

Śiśira (शिशिर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sisira.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shishira 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.

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Hindi dictionary

[«previous next»] — Shishira in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Śiśira (शिशिर) [Also spelled shishir]:—(nm) the winter; ~[rāṃta] the end of winter.

context information

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Prakrit-English dictionary

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

Sisira (सिसिर) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Śiśira.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śiśira (ಶಿಶಿರ):—

1) [adjective] cool; chilly; cold; frigid; freeezing.

2) [adjective] of or relating to the cold season of the year.

--- OR ---

Śiśira (ಶಿಶಿರ):—

1) [noun] cold; coldness.

2) [noun] the last two months of the Hindu lunar calendar (corresponding to February and March); the cool or dewy season.

3) [noun] moisture condensed from the atmosphere, esp. at night, and deposited in the form of small drops upon any cool surface.

4) [noun] the moon.

--- OR ---

Sisira (ಸಿಸಿರ):—[noun] the last two months of the Hindu lunar calendar (corresponding to February and March); the cool or dewy season.

context information

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

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