Akuncita, Akumcita, Ākuñcita: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Akuncita means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Akunchita.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित) refers to a type of lying-down posture (śayana); it is a Sanskrit technical term defined in the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 12. These postures are used when lying down in bed.
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित).—A type of lying-down posture (śayana).—Instructions: Lying down with limbs narrowed down and the two knees sticking to the bed is called the Ākuñcita posture. It is to be used in representing persons attacked with cold.
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).
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित) refers to “bending” (the two thumbs), according to the Mataṅgapārameśvaratantra (Mataṅgapārameśvara’s Yogapāda) verse 2.23-27.—Accordingly, while discussing ancillary and seated poses in Yoga: “[Having adopted either paryaṅka, kamala, bhadra or svastikāsana], the wise [Yogin] places his hands obliquely, in the middle of the shanks, makes [them] upward-facing and evenly balanced, and fixes the right hand on the left, so that the right fingers are at the base of the left [hand]. The two thumbs are bent slightly (kiñcid-ākuñcita) and should be held together. [...]”.
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).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित) refers to “being bent (with shyness)”, according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly, “[...] Now the goddess was troubled and her body was bent (ākuñcita) with shyness. (Thus her) form as the ‘crooked one’ came into being with (its) subtle, crooked limp but even then, the lord, blooming with joy, took the hand of the goddess and sat her on his lap. [...]”.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित) refers to “bending down (both knees)” (while sitting on an elephant’s hump), 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.”]: “16. [regarding the fivefold nature of the manner of sitting on an elephant’s hump]—(1) Having the feet stretched out on both sides of the (elephant’s) backbone, with both knees bent down (jānudvaya-ākuñcita), this shall be known as the manner of sitting (behind) with bent-down knees. (2) But that with (the foot) raised aloft is the elevated (manner, the second). (3) One (manner, the third) is with knees aloft. (4) Another (the fourth) is the bent (crouching) ‘tortoise-sitting’. (5) The (fifth) manner with both knees bent close together shall be known by the name of the ‘frog’.”.
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
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित) refers to “(that which is) folded”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 2).—Accordingly, “[Question.—Why do Buddhist sūtras begin with the word evam, ‘thus’?]—[...] The believer says: ‘That is indeed so’ (evam etat). The disbeliever is like hard leather (gocarman) that cannot be folded (ākuñcita); the believer is like supple leather that can be folded for [any] use. Furthermore, it is said in a sūtra: ‘Faith is like a hand (hasta)’. Endowed with hands, the man who goes to a jewel mountain (ratnaparvata) gathers the jewels (ratna) at will. In the same way, the believer, penetrating into the Buddha’s doctrine – this jewel mountain that contains the pure faculties (anāsravendriya), the powers (bala), the path of enlightenment (bodhimārga) and the dhyānas—the believer, I say, is able to take [anything] he wishes. [...]”.
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित) refers to the “coiled (body)” (of a Nāga), 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 taught the detailed offering-manual], “[...] One should prepare a square [space] measuring a hasta, very smooth and well smeared. It should be sprinkled with perfumed water all around. Four Nāga kings should be prepared in the middle of the ditch. Full of brownish cow dung and clay a nine-headed [Nāga king should be prepared] with a hood and a coiled body (ākuñcita-śarīra). [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
ākuñcita (आकुंचित).—p (S) Contracted, closed, drawn up, in, together.
ākuñcita (आकुंचित).—p Contracted; shrivelled up; narrowed.
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
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित).—mfn.
(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) 1. Bent, contracted. 2. Twisted, contorted. E. āṅ before kuci to contract, affix kta.
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित).—[adjective] contracted, crooked, curled.
1) Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित):—[=ā-kuñcita] [from ā-kuñc] mfn. bent (as the arm or the knee, etc.), [Suśruta; Kumāra-sambhava iii, 70; Raghuvaṃśa] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] contracted (as the lips), [Rāmāyaṇa iii, 31, 21]
3) [v.s. ...] curled (as the hair), [Mahābhārata xiii, 882.]
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित):—[ā-kuñcita] (taḥ-tā-taṃ) a. Bent.
Ākuñcita (आकुञ्चित) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Auṃcia, Ākuṃciya.
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
Ākuṃcita (ಆಕುಂಚಿತ):—[adjective] shrunk; contracted.
--- OR ---
Ākuṃcita (ಆಕುಂಚಿತ):—
1) [noun] a particular manner of delivering a stroke in mace fight.
2) [noun] (dance.) name of one of the six reclining postures.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Kuncita, A.
Starts with (+0): Akuncitaka, Akuncitasharira.
Full-text (+0): Kincidakuncita, Akuncitasharira, Samakuncita, Vyakuncita, Aumcia, Akumciya, Sakuc, Sayana, Kuc, Kincit, Curving, Gocarman, Ratnaparvata, Carman, Anasravendriya, Bodhimarga, Janudvaya, Kunc.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Akuncita, A-kuncita, Ā-kuñcita, Akumcita, Ākuṃcita, Ākuñcita; (plurals include: Akuncitas, kuncitas, kuñcitas, Akumcitas, Ākuṃcitas, Ākuñcitas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 213 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 231 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 174 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Arts in the Puranas (study) (by Meena Devadatta Jeste)
11. Postures (Sthana, Asana and Sayana) < [Chapter 2 - Dance in the Puranas]
Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (Study) (by Artatrana Sarangi)
Celebrations on Naraka-caturdasi < [Chapter 3 - General Ritual mentioned in Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika]
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 1 - Explanation of the word ‘evam’ < [Chapter II - Evam Mayā Śrutam Ekasmin Samaye]