In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Ardharātra (अर्धरात्र) refers to the “middle of the night”, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “In the meantime, once the goddess had crossed over the most excellent Yoga and once the fifth night had passed, she emerged from the middle of the Liṅga. (This took place) in an auspicious (śiva) month on the auspicious (śiva) eighth (day of the lunar month) at the end of the middle of the night [i.e., ardharātra-avasāna]. She has the form of a sixteen (year-old girl), is dark blue and red and has three eyes. She laughs subtly and is adorned with six faces. She has twelve arms, a crooked form and faces downwards”.

2) Ardharātra (अर्धरात्र) or Ardharātrāhnikarefers to the “midnight rite”, according to the Brahmayāmala verse 21.5cd-10.—Accordingly, “[...] Having performed the morning (rites), he should wander about by day. Once he has performed the midday rite and that of the evening at night, the adept (sādhaka) should always eat at night as a part of the vow. He should perform the midnight (rite) [i.e., ardharātra-āhnika] along with the rite of adoration and the rest. (He should) always wander about at night and should be free of doubt (and fear). O mistress of the gods, there is no need to reflect here (on what should or should not be done) here in these Vows of Knowledge”.

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Ardharātra (अर्धरात्र) or Kaketu refers to “midnight”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 11), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).— Accordingly, “Śveta Ketu is a comet which appears in the east about midnight [i.e., prāñc-ardharātra-dṛśya] with its tail pointing to the south. Ka Ketu is a comet of the shape of a carriage pole and appears in the west. Both the above Ketus are seen simultaneously for 7 days. If both should appear glossy, there will be prosperity and happiness in the land; if the Ka Ketu should be visible for over 7 days, there will be much suffering from wars for ten years”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Ardharātra (अर्धरात्र) refers to the “middle of the night”, according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 7th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—Accordingly, [while describing a haṭha-sādhana (foreceful practice)]: “[...] On the fifth day, in the middle of the night (ardharātra), he draws near the Yakṣas and Nāgas, stops the oceans, and death [no longer] exists for him. Within six days, the yogin masters [the power] of attracting fruit and [subdues] the [Yoginī] Guhyakā. When he remains [in the hole] until the seventh day, he sees the gods in the sky and the various Siddhas. He hears divine speech. The signs spoken of earlier are certain to arise. [...]”

context information

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).

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

ardharātra (अर्धरात्र).—f (In Sanskrit masc) Midnight.

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

ardharātra (अर्धरात्र).—f Midnight.

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ardharātra (अर्धरात्र).—[ardha rātreḥ]

1) midnight; अथार्धरात्रे स्तिमितप्रदीपे (athārdharātre stimitapradīpe) R.16.4; स्थितेऽर्धरात्रे (sthite'rdharātre) Daśakumāracarita 19.

2) a night containing half a whole day of 24 hours.

Derivable forms: ardharātraḥ (अर्धरात्रः).

Ardharātra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ardha and rātra (रात्र).

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

Ardharātra (अर्धरात्र) or Arddharātra.—m.

(-traḥ) 1. Midnight. 2. The period from two and a half to three and a half watches of the night. E. ardha, and rātra night.

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

Ardharātra (अर्धरात्र):—[=ardha-rātra] m. midnight, [Manu-smṛti] etc.

[Sanskrit to German]

Ardharatra 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ratra, Ardha.

Starts with: Ardharatrahnika, Ardharatrapuja, Ardharatrardhadivasa.

Full-text: Ardharatrardhadivasa, Ardharatrika, Ardhadivasa, Ardhamasa, Arddharatra, Kutasamkranti, Ardharatri.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Ardharatra, Ardharātra, Ardha-ratra, Ardha-rātra; (plurals include: Ardharatras, Ardharātras, ratras, rātras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)

Division of Time < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]

show preview