Alpatva: 8 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Alpatva means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Alpatva (अल्पत्व, “reduction”) refers to a note (svara) that is qualitative as well as quantitative, and is one of the ten characteristics (gati) of the jāti (melodic class), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 28. It is also known as alpatvagati or alpatvasvara. Jāti refers to a recognized melody-type and can be seen as a precursor to rāgas which replaced them.

According to the Nāṭyaśāstra 28.95, “reduction (alpatva) is of two kinds: that due to skipping over (laṃghana) a note, and that due to non repetition of the same. Among these two (lit. there) the reduction of notes due to skipping over, leads to the hexatonic and the pentatonic treatment of the Aṃśas of songs, when they reach the antaramārga; and the reduction of notes due to their non-repetition, consists of enunciating them once according to the jātis in which a particular songs is to be sung. The reduction as well as the amplification always occurs from convention (lit. early fixation) in relation to particular notes of the jāti, and the reduction is of two kinds”.

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).

Gitashastra (science of music)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (gita)

Alpatva (अल्पत्व) refers to one of the thirteen Jātis or “proper combination of two grāmas” (in Indian music), according to the Kallinātha’s commentary Kalānidhi on the Saṃgītaratnākara.—In the Nāṭyaśāstra, jātis are broadly divided into two types viz., śuddhā and vikṛtā. The Saṃgītaratnākara also agrees on it. But in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, the reference about the types of jātis is not found. The Saṃgītaratnākara accepts thirteen kinds of characteristic features of jātis. For example: Alpatva, which is also accepted by the Nāṭyaśāstra.

Source: Shodhganga: Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (gita)

Alpatva (अल्पत्व) refers to one of the thirteen characteristics of Rāga (considered an offshoot of Jāti in Indian music).—In the section on jāti, Govinda Dīkṣita deals with śuddājātis, vikṛtajātis and saṃsargajājātis. He then starts explaining the thirteen aspects of rāga (rāgāṇām trayodaśa lakṣaṇam) [e.g., Alpatva] while commenting that these are applicable to the jātis as well as to rāgas (which are off-shoots of the jātis).

context information

Gitashastra (गीतशास्त्र, gītaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of Music (gita or samgita), which is traditionally divided in Vocal music, Instrumental music and Dance (under the jurisdiction of music). The different elements and technical terms are explained in a wide range of (often Sanskrit) literature.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Alpatva (अल्पत्व) refers to the “contraction (of the hood)” (of a snake) and represents one of the characteristics of the appearance of a snake before biting, as taught in the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Agadatantra or Sarpavidyā).—The Kāśyapasaṃhitā (verse VI.65) details the appearance of a snake before biting: The sarpas when desirous of biting display certain change of bodily features in their body like—stiffness of the neck, the contraction of the hood (phaṇa-alpatva), discolourisation and rising up with the desire to bite.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Alpatva (अल्पत्व).—

1) smallness, minuteness; Bhartṛhari 3.47.

2) Smallness of intellect, folly; Kirātārjunīya 6.37.

3) Inferiority, insignificance.

Derivable forms: alpatvam (अल्पत्वम्).

[Sanskrit to German]

Alpatva 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

Alpatva (ಅಲ್ಪತ್ವ):—[noun] = ಅಲ್ಪತನ [alpatana].

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 10 books and stories containing Alpatva, Alpa-tva; (plurals include: Alpatvas, tvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Kohala and Gītā (9): The concept of Rāga < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]

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Verse 2.13.260 < [Chapter 13 - The Deliverance of Jagāi and Mādhāi]

Verse 2.13.261 < [Chapter 13 - The Deliverance of Jagāi and Mādhāi]

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5. The Ragas having equal subject matter < [Chapter 7 - A comparative analysis of musical potentials of both the works]

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6.1. Music in the Vishnudharmottara Purana < [Chapter 1 - Music in the Puranas]

10. Notes and References for chapter 1 < [Chapter 1 - Music in the Puranas]

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Chapter III.d - Division of jaina categories or substances < [Chapter III - Categories]

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