Astikya, Āstikya: 14 definitions

Introduction:

Astikya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Āstikya (आस्तिक्य) refers to “theism”, as defined in the Śivapurāṇa 1.15. Accordingly, “theism (āstikya) is that feeling in which one fully realises that all actions are fruitful. It is necessary that Vedas and sacred texts should be learnt direct from preceptors”.

Purana book cover
context information

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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Jaina Yoga

Āstikya (आस्तिक्य) refers to an aspect of samyaktva (right belief) classified under the liṅga heading, according to various Jain authors (e.g., Hemacandra). Āstikya is explained as the acceptance of the Jaina doctrineas the veritable creed even in the presence of other opinions.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Āstikya (आस्तिक्य) refers to “faith in the principles of truth” and represents one of the five Lakṣaṇas (“characteristics”), according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “[...] Vajranābha acquired strong Tirthakṛt-body-making and family-karma by the twenty sthānakas as follows:—[...] The ninth [sthānaka] is right-belief, free from the faults of doubt, etc., adorned with the qualities of firmness, etc., characterized by tranquillity, etc. [viz., āstikya-lakṣaṇa] [...]”.

Note: The characteristics (lakṣaṇa) are: tranquillity (śama); desire for emancipation (saṃvega); disgust with the world (nirveda); compassion (anukampa); faith in the principles of truth (āstikya).—(cf. Yogaśāstra 2.15.)

Āstikya (“belief in principles of truth”) as one of the five characteristics of Saṃyagdarśana (“right-belief”), is also mentioned in chapter 1.3 in Ṛṣabha’s sermon:—

“[...] mokṣa is attained by those who practice unceasingly the brilliant triad of knowledge, faith, and conduct. Attachment to the principles told by the scriptures is called ‘right-belief’ (saṃyakśraddhāna or saṃyagdarśana), and is produced by intuition or instruction of a Guru. [...] Right-belief is marked by five characteristics: equanimity, desire for emancipation, disgust with existence, compassion, belief in principles of truth. Confidence in the principles of the Arhats, even when hearing other principles, free from desire, is called belief in principles of truth (āstikya)”.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra

Āstikya (आस्तिक्य).—What is the meaning of āstikya? Belief in life here and after and the existence of soul is āstikya.

General definition book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

āstikya (आस्तिक्य).—n S Theism, belief of a Deity and a future state.

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Āstikya (आस्तिक्य).—

1) Belief in God and another world; आस्तिक्यशुद्धमवतः प्रियधर्म धर्मम् (āstikyaśuddhamavataḥ priyadharma dharmam) Kirātārjunīya 18.43.

2) Piety, faith, belief; ज्ञानं विज्ञानमास्तिक्यम् (jñānaṃ vijñānamāstikyam) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 18.42; आस्तिक्यं श्रद्दधानता परमार्थेष्वागमार्थेषु (āstikyaṃ śraddadhānatā paramārtheṣvāgamārtheṣu) Śaṅkara.

Derivable forms: āstikyam (आस्तिक्यम्).

See also (synonyms): āstikatā, āstikatva.

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

Āstīkya (आस्तीक्य).—n.

(-kyaṃ) Belief in Providence and a future world. E. āstīka a believer, and yañ aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Āstikya (आस्तिक्य).—i. e. āstika + ya, n. Devoutness, [Bhagavadgītā, (ed. Schlegel.)] 18, 72.

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

1) Āstikya (आस्तिक्य):—[from āstika] n. ([from] āstika), belief in God, piety, faithfulness

2) [v.s. ...] a believing nature or disposition, [Mahābhārata; Bhagavad-gītā; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Āstīkya (आस्तीक्य):—(kyaṃ) 1. n. Belief in God.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Āstikya (आस्तिक्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Atthikka.

[Sanskrit to German]

Astikya 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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Āstikya (ಆಸ್ತಿಕ್ಯ):—

1) [noun] = ಆಸ್ತಿಕ [astika]1 - 1.

2) [noun] theism a) belief in a god or gods; b) belief in the authority of sacred scriptures.

3) [noun] any of the philosophical view upholding the view of the Vēdas, karma theory and belief in rebirth.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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