Ashtakshara, Aṣṭakṣāra, Aṣṭākṣarā, Aṣṭākṣara, Ashtan-akshara, Astakshara: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Ashtakshara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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 terms Aṣṭakṣāra and Aṣṭākṣarā and Aṣṭākṣara can be transliterated into English as Astaksara or Ashtakshara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarAṣṭākṣarā (अष्टाक्षरा).—A metre having eight syllables in a foot;cf.गायत्री सा चतुर्विंशत्यक्षरा । अष्टाक्षरास्त्रयः पादाः चत्वारो वा षडक्षराः (gāyatrī sā caturviṃśatyakṣarā | aṣṭākṣarāstrayaḥ pādāḥ catvāro vā ṣaḍakṣarāḥ) R. Pr.XVI.9.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha ChikitsaAṣṭākṣara (अष्टाक्षर) or Aṣṭākṣaramantra is the name of a Mantra, as described 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 (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama TextsAṣṭākṣara (अष्टाक्षर) refers to a particular method of making an image of Rāma, as discussed in the thirtieth chapter of the Agastyasaṃhitā (agastya-suīkṣṇa-saṃvāda edition), an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama text dealing with the worship of Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanumān.—[Cf. the chapter daśākṣaravidhi]:—[...] Three other methods—the “saptākṣara”, the “aṣṭākṣara” and the “ekākṣara”—are described : One reveals Rāma primarily as a warrior with Lakṣmaṇa, another as a warrior without Lakṣmaṇa, and the third as central figure among His male retinue and without Sītā. Other methods are alluded to, any one of which might be used for worship or meditation icons of Rāma. The way one worships any one of these ( groups of ?) images is by nyāsa, mūla-mantras (=japa), etc.—just so long as it has been “vitalized” [prāṇapratiṣṭhā] according to the rules. The mantras used for Lakṣmaṇa, Śatrughna and Hanumān are to be prepared according to the rules, also. [...]
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (p)Aṣṭākṣara (अष्टाक्षर) (or the Garuḍa-Aṣṭākṣara-Mantra) refers to one of the three Garuḍa-Saṃjñā-Mantras, according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā (Toxicology).—Kāśyapa gives the details of the Garuḍa-samjñāmantra which is composed of the words ‘vainateyāya namaḥ’ and concluding with praṇava as—oṃ vainateyāya namaḥ oṃ. The Ṛṣi of this mantra is Pulastya, metre is paṅkti; Garuḍa is the deity with ‘va’ as bīja; ‘namaḥ’ is said to be the śakti.
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryaṣṭakṣāra (अष्टक्षार).—m pl (S) The eight salts; viz. palāśa- kṣāra, snuhīkṣāra, sarjikākṣāra, apāmārgakṣāra, arkakṣāra, tilakṣāra, yavakṣāra, ṭaṅkaṇakṣāra, or popularly, paḷasācā khāra, nivaḍuṅgācā -sajī -aghāḍyācā -ruīcā -tiḷācā -javācā -ṭāṅkaṇa -khāra Ashes of Butea frondosa, ashes of Prickly pear, impure carbonate of soda, ashes of Achyranthes aspera, ashes of Gigantic swallowwort, ashes of Sesamum, ashes of Barley, and Borax.
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 dictionaryAṣṭākṣara (अष्टाक्षर).—a. consisting of eight letters or parts; अष्टाक्षरं ह वा एकं गायत्र्यै पदम् (aṣṭākṣaraṃ ha vā ekaṃ gāyatryai padam) Bṛ. Up.5.14.1.
-raḥ Name of a metre.
Aṣṭākṣara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms aṣṭan and akṣara (अक्षर).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumAṣṭākṣara (अष्टाक्षर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—a name of Nārāyaṇa (8 letters), son of Paśupati (Śāṅkhāyanasūtrapaddhati). W. p. 28.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Aṣṭākṣara (अष्टाक्षर):—[from aṣṭa > aṣṭan] mf(ā)n. containing eight syllables, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of an author.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAstākṣara (ಅಸ್ತಾಕ್ಷರ):—[noun] the omission a vowel, syllable, etc. in pronunciation; elision.
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)
Partial matches: Ashta, Akshara.
Starts with: Ashtaksharam, Ashtaksharamantra, Ashtaksharamantravyakhya, Ashtaksharanirupana, Ashtaksharaparibhasha, Ashtaksharavyakhya.
Ends with: Aspashtakshara, Spashtakshara.
Full-text: Saptakshara, Ashtaksharam, Etteluttu, Tirumantiram, Agneya, Vyapakamantra, Saumya, Saumyagneya, Ashtaksharamantra, Shriramanavami, Ramanavami, Pranapratishtha, Dvadashamantra, Mantra, Ekakshara, Kram, Mantiram, Shriramanavamiprashamsa, Dashaksharavidhi.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Ashtakshara, Aṣṭakṣāra, Aṣṭākṣarā, Aṣṭākṣara, Ashtan-akshara, Astakshara, Astaksara, Aṣṭan-akṣara, Astan-aksara, Astākṣara; (plurals include: Ashtaksharas, Aṣṭakṣāras, Aṣṭākṣarās, Aṣṭākṣaras, aksharas, Astaksharas, Astaksaras, akṣaras, aksaras, Astākṣaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Thirty minor Upanishads (by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar)
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.1.12 < [Chapter 1 - Bhauma (the earthly plane)]
Parama Samhita (English translation) (by Krishnaswami Aiyangar)
Chapter 20 - Fire-rite (agnikārya)
Chapter 19 - Installation of the deity in a temple (sthāpana)
Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra (by T. S. Syamkumar)
1.4. Expiatory Rites in Viṣṇusaṃhitā < [Chapter 3 - Expiatory Rites in Kerala Tantric Ritual Manuals]
2. Expiatory Rites in Vaiṣṇava Tantras < [Chapter 2 - Expiatory Rites in Āgamic Literature]
2. Expiatory Rites in Tantrasamuccaya < [Chapter 3 - Expiatory Rites in Kerala Tantric Ritual Manuals]
Lord Hayagriva in Sanskrit Literature (by Anindita Adhikari)
Worship (with and without form of image) < [Chapter 6]
The Matsya Purana (critical study) (by Kushal Kalita)
Part 1 - Use of Chandas (metres) in the Matsyapurāṇa < [Chapter 2 - Literary aspect of the Matsyapurāṇa]