Akarshana, Ākarṣaṇa: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Akarshana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
The Sanskrit term Ākarṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Akarsana or Akarshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Akarshan.
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kakṣapuṭa-tantraĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) refers to “attracting others”. It is a siddhi (‘supernatural power’) described in chapter one of the Kakṣapuṭatantra (a manual of Tantric practice from the tenth century).
Source: Shodhganga: Mantra-sādhana: Chapter One of the KakṣapuṭatantraĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) or Ākṛṣṭa or Ākṛṣṭi refers to “attracting others” and represents a ritual that is accomplished (siddhi) by performing mantrasādhana (preparatory procedures) through japaprakāra, reciting a mantra in a specific manner, according to the Kakṣapuṭatantra verse 1.48, “One should recite a mantra using the thumb and ring finger for the best rituals; using the thumb and middle finger for the ākṛṣṭa (syn. ākarṣaṇa, attracting others) ritual”.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) refers to the “extraction (of the five nectars)”, according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra.—The extraction of the five nectars (pañcāmṛta-ākarṣaṇa), as well as other, Kāpālika-type cremation ground practices, also figure in the Brahmayāmala, as Hatley (2007, 143ff.) points out. The five substances are not listed in a systematic way, but they usually seem to include these four: semen (śukra), blood (rakta), fat/marrow (medas) and sneha (see also the entry pañcāmṛta in Tāntrikābhidhānakośa, vol. III).
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) (Cf. Vaśa) refers to the “one who is capable of attracting” (i.e., the three worlds), according to the Kulapañcāśikā, an unpublished text attributed to Matsyendranātha teaching secrecy (quoted by Kṣemarāja in his commentary on the Śivasūtra 3.26).—Accordingly, “Even though they know the three times and are capable of attracting the three worlds [i.e., trailokya-ākarṣaṇa], they conceal their practice and guard (the teaching) that has come from (their) Kula. Seeing one who does not have manifest outer signs (of his attainment and practice) the rays (of the deity) converge (upon him). O beloved, they are most hidden and so do not approach one who bears outer signs”.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Ākarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) or Ākarṣiṇī refers to the sixteen goddesses of attraction, to be installed on the petals of the sixteen-petalled lotuses, according to the Kāmasiddhi-stuti (also Vāmakeśvarī-stuti) and the Vāmakeśvaratantra (also known as Nityāṣoḍaśikārṇava).
Source: Google books: Genesis and Development of Tantra (Shaktism)Ākarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) refers to “attracting people” and represents one of the various Siddhis (“supernatural powers”) according to the Siddhayogeśvarīmata: an ancient Sanskrit text devoted to cults of Goddesses as the Vidyāpīṭha or Vidyā Corpus.—Although Vedic rituals were a reliable way for the people of ancient India to fulfill their objectives, Tantric rites too claim to bring about the attainment of wishes. [...] In the Siddhayogeśvarīmata, the objectives of the rites are classified as siddhis [e.g., attracting people (esp. women, ākarṣaṇa)]. They belong to the category of supernatural phenomena and seem to be considerably different from the types of wish people expected to gain from the Vedic rituals that still remained within the sphere of everyday life.
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.
Mantrashastra (the science of Mantras)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (mantra)Ākarṣaṇa (आकर्षण, “attraction”) refers to one of the eight divisions of the object or purpose of a Mantra, according to the Śrīpraśṇa-saṃhitā (verse 50.70-2).—Mantras refers to “that which is chanted by people to obtain their spiritual aspirations”.
Mantrashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, mantraśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mantras—chants, incantations, spells, magical hymns, etc. Mantra Sastra literature includes many ancient books dealing with the methods reciting mantras, identifying and purifying its defects and the science behind uttering or chanting syllables.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: archive.org: The Elephant Lore of the HindusĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) refers to “drawing back the elephant” (i.e., when the elephant-driver wants to ‘check’ the elephant), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 12, “On the qualities of elephant drivers, etc.”]: “12. To make him go forward he shall press hard with the two great toes; to make him lift his face, (the great toes) are turned up, and to bring his face down they are turned down. In guiding an elephant to the right side he shall poke him with the left great toe, and with the other to the other side; and to draw the elephant back (ākarṣaṇa-artha) (check him), the clever (driver) shall poke him hard with his two heels [cākarṣaṇārthaṃ gajamatha matimān pārṣṇiyugmena gāḍham]”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (ay)Ākarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) refers to one of the six aims for which the Garuḍamantra may be employed, according to the second chapter of the Kāśyapasaṃhita: a Pāñcarātra Āgama text composed of 13 chapters dealing with snake-bites, poisons and curing their venom by use of the garuḍamantra while also dealing with worship and devotion. Description of the chapter [viniyoga-vidhi]:—Returning to the mantra, Gautama asks to know how it may be employed for special viniyoga-purposes. Kaśyapa says that there are six aims for which this mantra may gainfully be employed: śāntika, pauṣṭika, rakṣāvidhi, vaśya, ākarṣaṇa and kṣudravidhi (1-3). The peculiar, variant practices to be employed in each case are given—for the most part, entailing the use of different kinds or quantities of offerings in the required homas (4-40). [...]
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) refers to the “attraction (of vajra)” [i.e., oṃ vajrākarṣaṇe hūṃ ityādi], according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) 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.—
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryākarṣaṇa (आकर्षण).—n (S) Drawing, pulling, attracting, lit. fig. 2 Contraction, drawing up, in, together.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishākarṣaṇa (आकर्षण).—n Drawing, attracting, contrac- tion. Attraction.
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 dictionaryĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण).—a. Attracting, carrying to another place.
-ṇam 1 Pulling, drawing, attracting.
2) Seduction.
-ṇī 1 A curved stick for pulling down fruits, flowers &c. (standing on elevated places); any instrument for pulling.
2) A variety of Mudrā (or mark on the body).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryĀkarṣaṇā (आकर्षणा) or Ākarṣaṇatā.—and °ṇī (compare Sanskrit ākarṣaṇa, nt., attraction), (a Buddha's) power of attraction (of men, to himself and his doctrine): Mahāvastu i.314.2—3 (prose) ākarṣaṇā eṣā buddhānāṃ; bhagavatā vaineyasattvānāṃ ākarṣaṇa- tāyai (instr.! for °ye; here perhaps rather by the exercize of that power)…; Mahāvyutpatti 4315 sarvatathāgatākarṣaṇī.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण).—n.
(-ṇaṃ) Pulling, drawing, attracting. f. (-ṇī) 1. A crooked stick, for pulling down fruit, &c. 2. Any instrument for pulling. E. āṅ before kṛṣ to pull, lyuṭ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण).—i. e. ā-kṛṣ + ana, n. Attracting, drawing near, drawing on, Mahābhārata 1, 7109.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण).—[feminine] ī the same as adj.; [neuter] = [preceding], also bending (a bow).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ākarṣaṇa (आकर्षण):—[=ā-karṣaṇa] [from ā-kṛṣ] n. pulling, drawing near, attracting, [Mahābhārata; Mṛcchakaṭikā] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] (in Tāntric texts) attracting an absent person into one’s presence by magic formulas
3) [v.s. ...] tearing by (as by the hairs; in [compound]), [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa; Veṇīs.] (quoted in [Sāhitya-darpaṇa])
4) [v.s. ...] bending (of a bow), [Caraka]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण):—[ā-karṣaṇa] (ṇa) 1. n. Attraction.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Ākarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ākaḍḍhaṇa, Āgarisaṇa, Āyaḍḍhaṇa.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण) [Also spelled akarshan]:—(nm) attraction, charm, allurement; -[śakti] the power of gravitation; attraction.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusĀkarṣaṇa (ಆಕರ್ಷಣ):—
1) [noun] the act or fact of drawing near or towards; attraction.
2) [noun] the act of drawing and holding another’s attention; fascination.
3) [noun] a taking away of another’s possession forcibly; robbing; extortion.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryĀkarṣaṇa (आकर्षण):—n. 1. attracting; attraction; 2. attractiveness; charm;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Akarshana-paridhi, Akarshanacakti, Akarshanadharini, Akarshanadharma, Akarshanam, Akarshanamudra, Akarshanartha, Akarshanashakti, Akarshanata.
Full-text (+49): Samakarshana, Andakarshana, Akarshanam, Vajrakarshana, Akarshanacakti, Akarshana-paridhi, Vyakarshana, Khalinakarshana, Akarshanamudra, Sarpakarshana, Akarshanata, Akarshan, Akaddhana, Pancamritakarshana, Akarushana, Dhanurakarshana, Akarisana, Akarshanartha, Akrusanem, Akrasanem.
Relevant text
Search found 27 books and stories containing Akarshana, Ākarṣaṇa, Akarsana, Ākarṣaṇā, A-karshana, Ā-karṣaṇa, A-karsana; (plurals include: Akarshanas, Ākarṣaṇas, Akarsanas, Ākarṣaṇās, karshanas, karṣaṇas, karsanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.7.46 < [Chapter 7 - The Killing of Kuvalayāpīḍa]
Verse 6.18.37 < [Chapter 18 - In the Course of Describing the Glories of Siddhāśrama, a Description of the Rāsa-dance Festival]
Verse 5.17.17 < [Chapter 17 - The Gopis Describe Their Remembrance of Sri Krsna]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 481 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 1]
Page 163 < [Hindi-Sindhi-English Volume 1]
Page 481 < [Hindi-Kannada-English Volume 1]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 1002: Akarshana Chakra < [Tantra Four (nankam tantiram) (verses 884-1418)]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.8.111 < [Chapter 8 - The Disappearance of Jagannātha Miśra]
Verse 2.7.36 < [Chapter 7 - The Meeting of Gadādhara and Puṇḍarīka]
Verse 2.28.22 < [Chapter 28 - The Lord’s Pastime of Accepting Sannyāsa]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)