Ashaya, Āśaya, Āsaya, Asaya: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Ashaya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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 Āśaya can be transliterated into English as Asaya or Ashaya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyĀśaya (कला) refers to the “viscera” (abdominal organs). The term is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Suśruta-saṃhitā and the Caraka-saṃhitā.
Source: Google Books: Essentials of AyurvedaĀśaya (“viscera”) are so-called as food, doṣas, malas etc. are located there. Srotas are the cannels by which these are transported.
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsĀśayā (आशया):—[āśayāḥ] Some particular organs, or group of organs which are container of something

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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationĀśaya (आशय) refers to the “mind”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.36 (“The statements of the seven sages”).—Accordingly, after the Seven Sages spoke to Himavat (Himācala): “After saying thus, the sages of pure mind (vimala-āśaya) offered their blessings to the girl—‘Be pleasing to Śiva’ They touched her with their hands and continued—‘Everything will be well with you. As the moon in the bright half of the month, may your qualities increase’. After saying thus and offering fruits and flowers to the lord of mountains, the sages made him believe that the alliance was a settled fact. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexĀśaya (आशय).—The cause of karmas which in turn lead to birth.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 8. 30.

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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraĀśaya (आशय) refers to an “abode”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 10.7cd-17ab, while describing the worship of Bhairavī and Bhairava]—“[Bhairavī] has the appearance of vermillion or lac. [...] [She is] called Icchāśakti [and she] moves toward union with one’s own will. Having celebrated this form, [the Mantrin] thinks of her as Aghoreśī. In all Tantras [this] is taught and secret. It is not made clear. My abode (āśaya—mamāśayaḥ) is visible by anyone on earth, [but] difficult to obtain. [...]”.

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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāĀśaya (आशय) refers to “intention”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly as The Lord said: “O Śāriputra, in the buddha-field of the Tathāgata Ekaratnavyūha, there is a Bodhisattva, the great being Gaganagañja who is resplendent by the splendor of merit (puṇya-tejas), [...] who is adorned with recollection (smṛti) because of his learning (śruti), is adorned with truth (satya) because of his introspection (nidhyapti), who is adorned with the understanding of meaning (arthagati) because of understanding (gati), who is adorned with promises because of intention (āśaya), [...]”.

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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsĀśaya (आशय) refers to the “intention (of living beings)”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “That (i.e. meditation) is reckoned to be of three kinds by some who have a liking for conciseness from the [Jain] canon which ascertains the nature of the self because the intention of living beings is of three kinds (jīva-āśaya). Now the three— In that regard, it is said that the first is auspicious intention, its opposite is inauspicious intention [and] the third is called pure intention”.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Ashaya in India is the name of a plant defined with Artocarpus integrifolius in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Artocarpus integrifolia L.f..
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Supplementum Plantarum Systematis Vegetabilium Editionis Decimae Tertiae (1782)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Ashaya, for example extract dosage, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, diet and recipes, side effects, health benefits, have a look at these references.

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryāsaya : (m.) 1. abode; haunt; 2. deposit; 3. inclination.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryĀsaya, (ā + śī, cp. in similar meaning & derivation anusaya. The semantically related Sk. āśraya from ā + śri is in P. represented by assaya. Cp. also BSk. āśayataḥ intentionally, in earnest Divy 281; Av. Ś II. 161) — 1. abode, haunt, receptacle; dependence on, refuge, support, condition S. I, 38; Vin. III, 151; J. II, 99; Miln. 257; VvA. 60; PvA. 210; jal° river VvA. 47; Pgdp 80; adj. depending on, living in (-°) Miln. 317; Nd1 362 (bil°, dak° etc.). See also āmāsaya, pakkāsaya.—2. (fig.) inclination, intention, will, hope; often combd. & compared with anusaya (inclination, hankering, disposition), e.g. at Ps. I, 133; II, 158; Vbh. 340; Vism. 140 (°posana); PvA. 197. ‹-› SnA 182 (°vipatti), 314 (°suddhi), KhA 103 (°sampatti). Cp. nirāsaya.—3. outflow, excretion Pv III, 53 (gabbh° = gabbha-mala PvA. 198); Vism. 344. (Page 114)

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryāśaya (आशय).—m (S) Purpose, intention, aim, object, meaning, mind. 2 Place, seat, abode, receptacle. In comp. as annāśaya, ahāṅkārāśaya, jalāśaya, pittā- śaya, malāśaya, mūtrāśaya.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishāśaya (आशय).—m Purpose, meaning. Seat, abode, as in jalāśaya.
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 dictionaryĀśaya (आशय).—&c. See under आशी (āśī).
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Āśaya (आशय).—[ā-śī-ac]
1) A bed-chamber, resting-place, asylum.
2) A place of residence, abode, seat, retreat; वायुर्गन्धानिवाशयात् (vāyurgandhānivāśayāt) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 15.8; अपृथक्° (apṛthak°) Uttararāmacarita 1.45. v. l.
3) Sleeping, lying down.
4) Receptacle, reservoir; विषमोऽपि विगाह्यते नयः कृततीर्थः पयसामिवाशयः (viṣamo'pi vigāhyate nayaḥ kṛtatīrthaḥ payasāmivāśayaḥ) Kirātārjunīya 2.3; cf. also words like जलाशय, आमाशय, रक्ताशय (jalāśaya, āmāśaya, raktāśaya) &c.; कामात्पिबति चाशयान् (kāmātpibati cāśayān) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.236.24.
5) Any recipient vessel of the body; the Āśayas are 7:वात°, पित्त°, श्लेष्मन्°, रक्त°, आम°, पक्व° (vāta°, pitta°, śleṣman°, rakta°, āma°, pakva°) (and garbha° in the case of women).
6) The stomach; आशयाग्निदीप्तिः (āśayāgnidīptiḥ) Daśakumāracarita 16.
7) Meaning, intention, purport, gist; अर्थेन्द्रियाशयज्ञानैर्भगवान्परिभाव्यते (arthendriyāśayajñānairbhagavānparibhāvyate) Bhāgavata 12.11.22. इत्याशयः (ityāśayaḥ); एवं कवेराशयः (evaṃ kaverāśayaḥ) (oft. used by commentators; see abhiprāya).
8) The seat of feelings, mind, heart; तन्मे दहति गात्राणि विषं पीतमिवाशये (tanme dahati gātrāṇi viṣaṃ pītamivāśaye) Rām.6.5.6. अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः (ahamātmā guḍākeśa sarvabhūtāśayasthitaḥ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 1.2; Mv.2.37.
9) Disposition of mind; द्रव्यस्वभावाशयकर्मकालैरेकादशामी मनसो विकारः (dravyasvabhāvāśayakarmakālairekādaśāmī manaso vikāraḥ) Bhāgavata 5.11.11.
1) Prosperity.
11) A barn.
12) Will or pleasure.
13) Virtue or vice (as the eventual cause of pleasure or pain).
14) Fate, fortune.
15) Property, possession.
16) A miser.
17) A kind of pit (made for catching animals); आस्ते परमसंतप्तो नूनं सिंह इवाशये (āste paramasaṃtapto nūnaṃ siṃha ivāśaye) Mb.
18) Name of a tree (panasa).
Derivable forms: āśayaḥ (आशयः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryĀśaya (आशय).—as in Sanskrit, and Pali āsaya, mental disposition, intent (La Vallée-Poussin, Abhidharmakośa iv.24 intention); common, but not specifically Buddhist, except the adverbs āśayena heartily, earnestly Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 12.9 (ms. āśrayena; compare adhyāśayena), and āśayataḥ ibid. Mahāvyutpatti 7119; Divyāvadāna 281.4, 10; Avadāna-śataka ii.151.2; Daśabhūmikasūtra.g. 16(352).11. The mgs. abode, basis etc. are also standard Sanskrit Cf. adhyāśaya, which is speci- fically Buddhist. If Senart is right in keeping āsayāni in Mahāvastu iii.400.3, it would have to be understood as = āśayāni, (evil) intentions or inclinations; but see āsaya. Often [compound] with anuśaya, q.v.
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Āsaya (आसय).—(?) , nt., in Mahāvastu iii.400.3 hitvā ālayāni (see ālaya) āsayāni (v.l. āsanāni); the Pali parallel Sn 535 reads āsavāni = [Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit] āśravāṇi, ās°, which must probably be read, since āśaya (q.v.) seems not to be used in a pejorative sense, and no other interpretation for āsaya seems possible.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀśaya (आशय).—m.
(-yaḥ) 1. Meaning, intention. 2. Free will or pleasure. 3. An asylum, an abode or retreat. 4. receptacle, a recipient. 5. Any recipient or containing vessel or viscus of the body, as raktāśaya the heart, āmāśaya the stomach, &c. 6. The stomach in particular. 7. The mind. 8. Property, possessions. 9. A miser, a niggard. 10. Virtue and vice. 11. Fate, fortune. 12. The Jack, a kind of breadfruit tree. E. āṅ before śīṅ to rest, ac aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀśaya (आशय).—i. e. ā-śī + a, m. 1. A seat, [Kathāsaritsāgara, (ed. Brockhaus.)] 20, 128. 2. A den, Mahābhārata 3, 1387. 3. An asylum, Pañc, 141, 1. 4. The stomach, [Daśakumāracarita] 189, 11 (Wils.). 5. The heart, [Daśakumāracarita] in
Āśaya (आशय).—[masculine] resting-place, couch, abode, retreat, seat, [especially] of feelings and thoughts, i.e. heart, mind; intention, disposition.
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Āsayā (आसया).—([instrumental] [adverb]) before one’s eyes.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Aśāya (अशाय):—[from aś] a [Nominal verb] [Ātmanepada] ([imperfect tense] aśāyata) to reach, [Ṛg-veda x, 92, 1.]
2) b [Nominal verb] [Ātmanepada] See √1. aś.
3) Āśaya (आशय):—a etc. See 3. ā-√śī.
4) [=ā-śaya] [from ā-śī] b m. resting-place, bed, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] seat, place
6) [v.s. ...] an asylum, abode or retreat, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata; Pañcatantra; Bhagavad-gītā] etc.
7) [v.s. ...] a receptacle
8) [v.s. ...] any recipient
9) [v.s. ...] any vessel of the body (e.g. raktāśaya, ‘the receptacle of blood’ id est. the heart; āmāśaya, the stomach etc.), [Suśruta]
10) [v.s. ...] the stomach
11) [v.s. ...] the abdomen, [Suśruta]
12) [v.s. ...] the seat of feelings and thoughts, the mind, heart, soul, [Yājñavalkya; Rāmāyaṇa; Kathāsaritsāgara] etc.
13) [v.s. ...] thought, meaning, intention, [Prabodha-candrodaya; Kathāsaritsāgara; Pañcatantra]
14) [v.s. ...] disposition of mind, mode of thinking
15) [v.s. ...] (in Yoga [philosophy]) ‘stock’ or ‘the balance of the fruits of previous works, which lie stored up in the mind in the form of mental deposits of merit or demerit, until they ripen in the individual soul’s own experience into rank, years, and enjoyment’ (Cowell’s translation of [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha 168, 16 ff.])
16) [v.s. ...] the will
17) [v.s. ...] pleasure
18) [v.s. ...] virtue
19) [v.s. ...] vice
20) [v.s. ...] fate
21) [v.s. ...] fortune
22) [v.s. ...] property
23) [v.s. ...] a miser, niggard, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
24) [v.s. ...] Name of the plant Artocarpus Integrifolia, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
25) Āsayā (आसया):—See 4. ās.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀśaya (आशय):—[ā-śaya] (yaḥ) 1. m. Meaning; asylum.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Āśaya (आशय) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Āsaya.
[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 dictionaryĀśaya (आशय) [Also spelled ashay]:—(nm) intention, intent, design; purport, import, meaning; receptacle.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Asāya (असाय) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Asāta.
2) Āsaya (आसय) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Āśrī.
3) Āsaya (आसय) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Āśaka.
4) Āsaya (आसय) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Āśraya.
5) Āsaya (आसय) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Āśaya.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusĀśaya (ಆಶಯ):—
1) [noun] anything intended or planned; an aim; an end or purpose; intention.
2) [noun] opinion a) a belief not based on absolute certainty or positive knowledge but on what seems true, valid or probable to one’s own mind; judgಎment; b) an evaluation, impression or estimation of the quality or worth of a person or thing.
3) [noun] the mind or heart as a seat of feeling.
4) [noun] a place of dwelling or shelter; or that which supports; a support; a prop.
5) [noun] a container or a place that holds water; a water vessel; a reservoir; a lake.
6) [noun] a bag; a pouch; a cover.
7) [noun] the process of educating and refining one’s mind, way of thinking, attitude, etc.
8) [noun] water.
9) [noun] a thing or things owned; possessions collectively; esp., land or real estate owned; property.
10) [noun] the tree Artocarpus integra (=A. heterophyllus) of Moraceae family; jack tree.
11) [noun] its fruit; jack fruit.
12) [noun] a man giving or spending grudgingly or only through necessity; a miserly man.
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)
Starts with: Ashayagni, Ashayakshaya, Ashayakshayata, Ashayana, Ashayapravesha, Ashayasha, Ashayashuddhi, Ashayatas.
Ends with (+140): Adhyashaya, Agnyashaya, Ahankarashaya, Akashaya, Amapakvashaya, Amasaya, Amdashaya, Amlatiktakashaya, Angakashaya, Anishkashaya, Annashaya, Antashaya, Antrashaya, Anupashaya, Apakashaya, Aparakashaya, Ardrashaya, Ashubhashaya, Avamurddhashaya, Avamurdhanashaya.
Full-text (+82): Jalasaya, Amasaya, Pakvashaya, Ashayasha, Garbhashaya, Parvatashaya, Mutrashaya, Toyashaya, Krurashaya, Adhyashaya, Mahashaya, Grihashaya, Durashaya, Palalashaya, Papashaya, Yathashayam, Asayati, Dushtashaya, Guhashaya, Nirasaya.
Relevant text
Search found 27 books and stories containing Ashaya, Āśaya, Āsaya, Asaya, Āsayā, Aśāya, A-shaya, Ā-śaya, A-saya, Āśayā, Asāya; (plurals include: Ashayas, Āśayas, Āsayas, Asayas, Āsayās, Aśāyas, shayas, śayas, sayas, Āśayās, Asāyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter XIII - The conversion of the Asuras < [Volume III]
Chapter XXXVIII - The questions of Sabhika < [Volume III]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.2.34 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]
Verse 2.2.120 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]
Verse 2.1.205 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
I. Where does the excellence of the gift come from? < [Part 8 - Predicting the fruits of ripening of various kinds of gifts]
I.3. Increase of merit < [I. Puṇyakriyāvastu consisting of generosity]
Preliminary note (2): The lists of Bodhisattva dharmas < [Part 2 - The ten powers and the four fearlessnesses according to the Mahāyāna]
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Buddha attributes (5): Lokavidū < [Chapter 42 - The Dhamma Ratanā]
Part 6f - Fifteen Kinds of Conduct and Fivefold Higher Knowledge < [Chapter 7 - On Miscellany]
Part 1 - Story of Brahmin Sāketa and his wife < [Chapter 38 - Buddha’s Brahmin Parents in His Previous Existence]
Sushruta Samhita, volume 3: Sharirasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
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