The Sanskrit term Āścaryakāraka can be transliterated into English as Ascaryakaraka or Ashcaryakaraka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Ashcharyakaraka.

In Hinduism

Yoga (school of philosophy)

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

Āścaryakāraka (आश्चर्यकारक) refers to “that which causes (great) wonder”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I shall define the nature of that highest, mind-free absorption which arises for those devoted to constant practice. [...] By means of an absorption for five [days and] nights, the faculty of hearing from afar, which causes great wonder (mahad-āścaryakāraka), certainly arises for the [Yogin]. [...]”.

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).

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Āścaryakāraka (आश्चर्यकारक) [=āścaryakāra?] refers to “astonishingly”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “[com.—Next he speaks about the nature of asceticism]—Astonishingly [com.—āścaryakāraka—āścaryakārakam] , external [and] internal asceticism is undergone by honourable mendicants who are wise [and] alarmed by the continuous series of births [in the cycle of rebirth]. In that regard, external asceticism is declared to be of six kinds beginning with fasting while internal [asceticism] is also of [six] kinds on account of the divisions beginning with atonement”.

Synonyms: Camatkāra.

context information

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ashcarya, Karaka.

Full-text: Ashcarya, Ashcaryakara, Camatkara.

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