Anushtubh, Anuṣṭubh: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Anushtubh means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Anuṣṭubh can be transliterated into English as Anustubh or Anushtubh, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vastushastra (architecture)
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्).—Among metres, the Anuṣṭubh with its 4x8 syllables is the symbol of the celestial sphere. The Aitareya-brāhmaṇa (1.1.5.8) pictures the hierarchy of the universe evoked by the metre Anuṣṭubh,—64 syllables being in two Anuṣṭubhs: Each of the three worlds (earth, air, sky) contains 21 or 3x7 places, one rising above the other. “By 21 steps he (the sacrificer) ascends to each of these severally, by taking the 64th step he stands firm in the celestial world”. Numerically, it lies within the precincts of the square of 64 parts into which it appears precipiated.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्).—A poetic metre;1 a horse yoked to the sun's chariot;2 from the fourth face of Brahmā.3
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XI. 21. 41; Vāyu-purāṇa 9. 52.
- 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 51. 64; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 22. 72; Matsya-purāṇa 125. 47; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 8. 5.
- 3) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 8. 53. Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 5. 56.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्) refers to a class of rhythm-type (chandas) containing eight syllables in a pāda (‘foot’ or ‘quarter-verse’), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 15. It can also be spelled as Anuṣṭup. There are twenty-six classes of chandas and out of them arise the various syllabic meters (vṛtta), composed of four pādas, defining the pattern of alternating light and heavy syllables.
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्) is the name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) of the Vṛtta-type (akṣarachandas: metres regulated by akṣaras, syllabes).—This metre (Anuṣṭubh), otherwise known as Śloka possesses eight syllables in each of the quarters. The fifth syllable in each quarter should be laghu, the sixth guru and the seventh alternately laghu and guru. This metre is found to be employed in the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita.
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).
Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्) is one of the twenty-six varieties of Sanskrit metres (chandas) mentioned in the Chandaśśāstra 1.15-19. There are 26 Vedic metres starting with 1 to 26 letters in each pāda. It is a common belief that the classical metres are developed from these 26 metres. Generally a metre has a specific name according to it’s number of syllables (akṣara). But sometimes the same stanza is called by the name of another metre from the point of view of the pādas.
Anuṣṭubh is one of the seven prominent metres mentioned by Piṅgala as being associated with the Devatā (deity): Soma, Svara (note): Gāndhāra, Colour: yellow and Gotra (family): Gautama.
According to Kṣemendra, the metre Anuṣṭubh should be used in books which reflect the Purāṇas, show the right path of duties and mainly aiming at imparting advice. A wise poet should use the metre Anuṣṭubh in the beginning (ārambha) of a Mahākāvya written in various sargas, the description of a quoted topic (kathāprasaṅga) and also in the context of a didactical (śamopadeśa) work.
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्) is the name of a metre used in Sanskrit prosody (chandas): one of the six vedāṅgas: disciplines developed in order to articulate and interpret sacred texts (such as the Ṛgveda).—Of the many metrical arrangements, anuṣṭubh is the most frequently employed metre in the classical Sanskrit literature and the epics Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata have used this metre.
Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्) [=anuṣṭubha?] represents the number 8 (eight) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 8—anuṣṭubha] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.
Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Anuṣṭup is the name of a meter and a metrical unit, found in both Vedic and Classical Sanskrit poetry, but with significant differences. By origin, an anuṣṭup stanza is a quatrain of four lines. Each line, called a pāda (lit. "foot") has eight syllables.
India history and geography
Anuṣṭubh.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘eight’. Note: anuṣṭubh is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्).—1 P. (°stubh) To praise after, follow in praising.
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Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्).—f. [anu nirantaram stubhyate'nayā anuṣṭup vāk]
1) Following in praise; speech.
2) Sarasvatī.
3) Name of a class of metres consisting of four Pādas of 8 syllables each, the whole stanza consisting of 32 syllables (so called because it follows with its praise i. e. anuṣṭobhati the Gāyatrī, which has 3 Pādas), अनुष्टोभनादनुष्टुप् (anuṣṭobhanādanuṣṭup). In later metrical systems it stands as a general name for all metres which have 8 syllables in each foot (the highest possible number being computed to be 256); पञ्चमं लघु सर्वत्र सप्तमं द्विचतुर्थयोः । गुरु षष्ठं च पादानां शेषेष्वनियमो मतः (pañcamaṃ laghu sarvatra saptamaṃ dvicaturthayoḥ | guru ṣaṣṭhaṃ ca pādānāṃ śeṣeṣvaniyamo mataḥ) || which rule is sometimes violated. अनुष्टुभा सोम उक्थै- र्महस्वान् (anuṣṭubhā soma ukthai- rmahasvān) Ṛgveda 1.13.4.
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्).—f. (-ṣṭup) 1. A measure of verse, the stanza consisting four lines of eight syllables each, or three lines of eight, twelve, and twelve, making, in either case, thirty-two. 2. A name of Saraswati. E. anu, and ṣṭubh to stop, kvip aff.
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्).—[adjective] shouting after. [feminine] shout, praise; [Name] of a metre.
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Anustubh (अनुस्तुभ्).—follow in shouting.
Anustubh is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms anu and stubh (स्तुभ्).
1) Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्):—[=anu-ṣṭubh] 1. anu-ṣṭubh (√stubh) to praise after, to follow in praising, [Nirukta, by Yāska]
2) [v.s. ...] 2. anu-ṣṭubh f. p ([nominative case] ṣṭuk, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā]) following in praise or invocation
3) [v.s. ...] a kind of metre consisting of four Pādas or quarter-verses of eight syllables each (according to the [Daivata-brāhmaṇa], quoted in [Nirukta, by Yāska vii, 12], so called because it anuṣṭobhati id est. follows with its praise the Gāyatrī, which consists of three Pādas), [Ṛg-veda x, 130, 4, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] (in later metrical systems, the Anuṣṭubh constitutes a whole class of metres, consisting of four times eight syllables)
5) [v.s. ...] hence the number eight
6) [v.s. ...] speech, Sarasvatī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] mfn. praising, [Ṛg-veda x, 124, 9.]
8) [v.s. ...] see 2. stubh (p. 1259)
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्):—[tatpurusha compound] f. (-ṣṭup)
1) Speech, in general.
2) A name of Sarasvatī.
3) The name of a class of metres which consists of 32 syllables and, in the Vedas, is regulated by the number of syllables only, in classical poetry by number and quantity. In the Vedas the 32 syllables are distributed either in Tetrastichs of 8 syllables in each line, or in Triplets of either 12 + 8 + 12 or 12 + 12 + 8 or 8 + 12 + 12 syllables. For the varieties of the Anuṣṭubh in the classical poetry see citrapadā, vidyunmālā, māṇavaka or māṇavakākrīḍā, haṃsaruta, pramāṇikā or nagasvarūpiṇī or matallikā, samānikā or mallikā, vitāna, tuṅgā, kamala, haṃsapadī, mātaṅgī, rambhā and the metre which is most in use but the quantity of which is not so invariable as that of the named varieties viz. the śloka. In a vaidik hymn the Anuṣṭubh is represented as one of the primitive creations, that originated together with the moon; according to some Purāṇas it was created from the northern mouth of the fourheaded Brahman (m.) together with the Atharvaveda, a portion of the Sāmaveda and some hymns as well as the Āptoryāma portion of the Jyotiṣṭoma sacrifice; accord. to another Purāṇa from the tendons of Brahman. (The Kāsikā considers the vaidik anuṣṭyā equivalent to the classical instrum. anuṣṭubhā; but anuṣṭyā is probably an erroneous reading for anuṣṭyā q. v.) E. stubh with anu, kṛt aff. kvip, so called according to the Nirukta ‘because it follows in praise (anuṣṭobhati) with its fourth Pāda the Gāyatrī metre which consists only of three Pādas or stanzas’.
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्):—[anu-ṣṭubh] (ṣṭup) 5. f. Heroic verse.
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्):—
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Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्):—
3) Bez. der Zahl acht [Weber’s Indische Studien 8, 167.] — Vgl. ānuṣṭubha .
Anuṣṭubh (अनुष्टुभ्):——
1) Adj. nachjauchzend [Ṛgveda (roth). 10,124,9.] —
2) f. — a) Lobgesang. — b) *Rede. — c) ein Metrum von 4x8 Silben. — d) Bez. der Zahl acht.
Anuṣṭubh (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 阿耨窣都婆 [ā nòu sū dōu pó]: “anuṣṭubh”.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Stubh, The, The, Anu, Te, Anushtubh.
Starts with (+0): Anushtubha, Anushtubhaushniha, Anushtubhu.
Full-text (+121): Anushtubha, Anushtupshiras, A nou su dou po, Barhatanushtubha, Anushtubhaushniha, Nagarasvarupini, Anushtupsampad, Vaktranushtubh, Pramanika, Anushthubha, Devakya, Narasimhanushtup, Manavaka, Anushtobhana, Sloka, Anushtubgarbha, Anusayavagga, A nou su dou po song, Sarvanushtubha, Stubh.
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