Acetana, Acetanā, Acetāna: 21 definitions

Introduction:

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

Alternative spellings of this word include Achetana.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Acetana (अचेतन) refers to “becoming senseless”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.55 (“Śiva returns to Kailāsa”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] All the ladies cried. Everything became senseless (acetana). Who else, even the great lord, the leader of Yogins, cried at the time of departure. In the meantime, Himavat came hurriedly along with his sons, ministers and brahmins. Holding his dear daughter to his bosom and saying ‘Where are you going?’ with frequent vague vacant glances, he cried due to his fascination. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Acetanā (अचेतना).—The wife of Manu.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 1. 82.
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 acetana in the context of Purana from relevant books on Exotic India

Samkhya (school of philosophy)

[ next»] — Acetana in Samkhya glossary
Source: Shodhganga: Prakrti and purusa in Samkhyakarika an analytical review

Acetana (अचेतन, “unconscious”).—The term acetana means unconscious. As prakṛti is matter (jaḍa), so it is unconscious. The vyakya and avyakta forms of prakṛti lack consciousness, because they are jaḍa (material) and as such different from puruṣa—the pure consciousness. Hence, the vyakta and avyakta forms of prakṛti are unconscious (acetana). The reason that the avyakta and the vyaktas, inspite of being constitutionally unconscious, seem to be conscious is that owing to the proximity (saṃyoga) of prakṛti and puruṣa, unconscious buddhi appears as conscious and fulfills the enjoyment of puruṣa. So, essentially pradhāna and its manifest forms, like buddhi, are all consciouss.

Samkhya book cover
context information

Samkhya (सांख्य, Sāṃkhya) is a dualistic school of Hindu philosophy (astika) and is closeley related to the Yoga school. Samkhya philosophy accepts three pramanas (‘proofs’) only as valid means of gaining knowledge. Another important concept is their theory of evolution, revolving around prakriti (matter) and purusha (consciousness).

Discover the meaning of acetana in the context of Samkhya from relevant books on Exotic India

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Acetana (अचेतन):—[acetanaṃ] Loss of tactile sensation.

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 acetana in the context of Ayurveda from relevant books on Exotic India

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śāktism

Acetana (अचेतन, “unconscious”) refers to one of the sixty defects of mantras, according to the 11th century Kulārṇava-tantra: an important scripture of the Kaula school of Śāktism traditionally stated to have consisted of 125.000 Sanskrit verses.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Śrī Devī: “For those who do japa without knowing these defects [e.g., acetana—unconscious], there is no realization even with millions and billions of japa. [...] Oh My Beloved! there are ten processes for eradicating defects in Mantras as described. [...]”.

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 acetana in the context of Shaktism from relevant books on Exotic India

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: academia.edu: Religious Inclusivism in the Writings of an Early Modern Sanskrit Intellectual (Shaivism)

Acetana (अचेतन) refers to “that which is non-sentient”, according to the Pauṣkara-āgama, quoted in Aghoraśivācārya’s (12th century) vṛtti (commentary) on Bhojadeva’s Tattvaprakāśa kārikā 25, which concerns the origination of [Śaiva] ontological principles (tattva) out of the Śiva-principle (śivatattva).—Aghora quotes the Pauṣkara verse while commenting on the meaning of śivatattva in the present kārikā. In his view, śivatattva cannot refer, at least in this context, to Śiva or His Śakti because both are beyond tattvas (tattvātīta). If it were the cause (kāraṇa=upādāna) of all other tattvas, as stated in the verse, then it would result that it is non-sentient (acetana) and subject to change (pariṇāmin) (admitting, of course, that the material cause really transforms into the world). For Aghora, who aligns on this point with Kashmirian Saiddhāntikas, the material cause of the world must be insentient in order to explain its transformation into an insentient world. [...]

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 acetana in the context of Shaivism from relevant books on Exotic India

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Acetana (अचेतन) refers to “consisting of material objects”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Why do the stupid, afflicted by the planet of [their] birth, not perceive the difference [between the body and the self] which is recognised everywhere in the occurrence of birth and death. Therefore, what is the connection of the self to that body which is made by atoms which are material, insentient [com.—by those which are insentient (acetanaiḥ)], different [and] independent?”.

Synonyms: Vicetana.

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 acetana in the context of General definition from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

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

acetana : (adj.) senseless; inorganic.

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.

Discover the meaning of acetana in the context of Pali from relevant books on Exotic India

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

acētana (अचेतन).—a (S) That is without sensation or life, inanimate. 2 Deprived of sensation, insensible, exanimate.

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

acētana (अचेतन).—a Insensible. Inanimate.

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 acetana in the context of Marathi from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Acetana (अचेतन).—a. [na. ba.]

1) Inanimate, not sentient, irrational; चेतन °नेषु (cetana °neṣu) Meghadūta 5; °नं ब्रह्म (naṃ brahma) inanimate Brahman; °नं नाम गुणं न लक्षयेत् (naṃ nāma guṇaṃ na lakṣayet) Ś.6.13 destitute of life, lifeless (object &c.); °नेष्वपि चेतनावदुपचारः (neṣvapi cetanāvadupacāraḥ) Mahābhārata

2) Not conscious, insensible; senseless; निराशा निहते पुत्रे दत्ता श्राद्ध- मचेतना (nirāśā nihate putre dattā śrāddha- macetanā) Rām.6.92.55. बुद्धिशतमचेतने नष्टम् (buddhiśatamacetane naṣṭam) H.2.14.

--- OR ---

Acetāna (अचेतान).—a. [cit śānac na. ta.] Ved. Void of consciousness, ignorant; silly, infatuated. अचेतानस्य मा पथो वि दुक्षः (acetānasya mā patho vi dukṣaḥ) | Ṛgveda 7.4.7.

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

Acetana (अचेतन).—mfn.

(-naḥ-nā-naṃ) Insensible, unconscious, devoid of reason or feeling. E. a neg. cetanā consciousness.

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

Acetana (अचेतन).—[adjective] reasonless, unconscious.

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

1) Acetana (अचेतन):—[=a-cetana] mfn. without consciousness, inanimate

2) [v.s. ...] unconscious, insensible, senseless, fainting, etc.

3) Acetāna (अचेतान):—[=a-cetāna] [from a-cetana] mfn. thoughtless, infatuated, [Ṛg-veda vii, 4, 7.]

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

Acetana (अचेतन):—[bahuvrihi compound] m. f. n.

(-naḥ-nā-nam) 1) Devoid of reason or feeling, insensible (especially as an attribute of matter and inanimate objects).

2) Unconsicous. E. a priv. and cetanā.

--- OR ---

Acetāna (अचेतान):—[tatpurusha compound] m. f. n.

(-naḥ-nā-nam) Not reflecting, thought-less, infatuated. (ved.) E. a neg. and cetāna.

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

Acetana (अचेतन):—[a-cetana] (naḥ-nā-naṃ) a. Insensible.

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

Acetana (अचेतन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Aceyaṇa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Acetana 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 acetana in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Hindi dictionary

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

1) Acetana (अचेतन) [Also spelled achetan]:—(a) unconscious; inanimate; hence ~[] (nf).

2) Acetanā (अचेतना):—(nf) unconsciousness; inanimation.

context information

...

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

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Acētana (ಅಚೇತನ):—

1) [adjective] having no consciousness; inanimate; inert; senseless.

2) [adjective] not capable of thinking rationally; irrational.

--- OR ---

Acētana (ಅಚೇತನ):—

1) [noun] (phys.) the matter, tendency of which is to remain at rest if at rest or, if moving, to keep moving in the same direction, unless affected by some outside force; an inert object.

2) [noun] (phil.) the tendency to be ignorant; ignorance.

3) [noun] (psych.) the deepest, inaccessible level of the psyche in which are present, in dynamic state, repressed impulses and memories; the unconscious.

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 acetana in the context of Kannada from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: