Ayana, Āyāna, Āyanā, Ayāna, Āyana: 20 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Ayana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical TermsAyana (अयन).—Northward or southward motion of a planet. Note: Ayana is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationAyana (अयन) refers to the “period of tropical transit”, according to Śivapurāṇa 1.15. Accordingly, regarding the benefit in the rites of Devayajña:—“[...] the period of equinoxes, the period of tropical transit (ayana), the period of transit to the capricornus, and the time of lunar eclipse are each of ten times more benefit than the previous one”.
Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary studyAyana (अयन) refers to a time period consisting of three seasons (=6 months) according to the Nīlamatapurāṇa. The divisions of the time are also mentioned as objects of worship. The passage of the sun through one sign of the zodiac, we are informed, is called a solar month. Two months make a season, three seasons an Ayana and two Ayanas a year.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Ayana (अयन).—A sādhya.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 203. 11.
1b) Six months constitute an ayana. Distinguished as the southern and northern corresponding to the course of the sun towards the north and south of the equator;1 suitable for śrāddha and dāna.2 According to divine calculation dakṣiṇāyana is the night and the uttarāyaṇa, the day of the Devas;3 the months of tapa, tapasya, madhu, mādhava, śukra and śuci are uttarāyaṇa and the months of nabha, nabhasya, iṣa, ūrja, saha ānd sahasya are dakṣiṇāyana.4
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 11. 11; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 21. 126; 22. 10; 28. 17; Vāyu-purāṇa 3. 14; 23. 106, etc.
- 2) Matsya-purāṇa 17. 2; 82. 25; 83. 7; 98. 2; 101. 38; 124. 92; 184. 72.
- 3) Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 3. 10; II. 8. 31, 36.
- 4) Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 8. 81.

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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd EditionĀyana (आयन) refers to the “course of the sun”.—The six months in which the sun moves toward the north are called uttara-āyana, and the six months in which it moves south are called dakṣiṇa-āyana. One course represents a day for the demigods, and the other represents their night. Uttara-āyana (the northern course) begins from makara-saṅkrānti, which is in the Christian calendar month of January and is the day the sun enters the zodiacal sign of Capricorn. Dakṣiṇa-āyana (the southern course) begins on the Karkaṭa-saṅkrānti, which is also śayana-ekādaśī, and in the Christian calendar month of July. It is the day the sun enters the sign of Cancer. Another name for uttara-āyana is cittara-āyana. [...] In accordance with the time of the year, one would utter either uttara-āyana or dakṣiṇa-āyana.

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Academia.edu: The Rite of Durgā in Medieval BengalSmārta tradition (paurāṇika) holds that the year is divided into two periods (ayana) according to the northern and southern procession of the Sun, which respectively form the day and the night of the gods (Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa 43.3–44; Kṛtyatattvārṇava, p. 5). The southern ayana (dakṣiṇāyana) is the period between the summer solstice and the winter solstice. As Āśvina falls in the dakṣiṇāyana, the ‘awakening’ of Durgā in this month is regarded as “untimely”(akāle-bodhanam), since it forms the time of Durgā’s sleep. Hence the eastern āśvinanavarātra includes as an opening rite the rousing of Durgā from her slumber, the Bodhana (Awakening).
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryAyana.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘two’. Note: ayana is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryayana : (nt.) path.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryAyana, (nt.) (Vedic ayana, fr. i) (a) “going”, road.—(b) going to, goal S. V, 167 (ekāyano maggo leading to one goal, a direct way), 185 (id.); DA. I, 313; Dāvs. IV, 40. ‹-› See also eka°. (Page 75)
— or —
Āyanā, (f.) (?) at DhsA. 259 and Vism. 26 is a grammarian’s construction, abstracted from f. abstr. words ending in °āyanā, e.g. kaṅkhā › kaṅkhāyanā, of which the correct expln. is a derivation fr. caus. -formation kaṅkhāyati › kaṅkhāy + a + nā. What the idea of Bdhgh. was in propounding his expln. is hard to say, perhaps he related it to i and understood it to be the same as āyāna. (Page 105)
— or —
Āyāna, (nt.) (fr. ā + yā to go) coming, arrival: see āyanā. (Page 106)

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 Dictionaryayana (अयन).—m (Or aīna or aina) A tree, Pentaptera tomentosa. Grah.
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ayana (अयन).—n S The sun's journey (north or south); solar northing or southing. See uttarāyana & dakṣiṇā- yana. 2 A half-year, the period of the sun's approach to the tropic of Cancer, or that of his recession to the tropic of Capricorn. Ex. kōṭhēṃ varṣa kōṭhēṃ a0. 3 In comp. Going, coming, progress. 4 A road or a way.
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ayanā (अयना).—m ( P) A looking-glass or mirror. 2 pl Spectacles.
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āyanā (आयना).—m ( P) A mirror or looking glass.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishayana (अयन).—n The sun's journey (North or South.). A half-year. Solstice.
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ayanā (अयना).—m A mirror, a looking-glass. pl spectacles.
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āyanā (आयना).—m A looking–glass, mirror.
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 dictionaryAyana (अयन).—a. [ay-lyuṭ] Going (at the end of comp.); यथेमा नद्यः स्यन्दमानाः समुद्रायणाः (yathemā nadyaḥ syandamānāḥ samudrāyaṇāḥ) Praśn. Up.
1) Going, moving, walking; as in रामायणम् (rāmāyaṇam).
2) A walk, path, way, road; आयन्नापोऽयनमिच्छमानाः (āyannāpo'yanamicchamānāḥ) Rv.3.33.7. अगस्त्य- चिह्नादयनात् (agastya- cihnādayanāt) R.16.44.
3) A place, site, abode, place of resort; Bṛ. Up.2.4.11. ता यदस्यायनं पूर्वम् (tā yadasyāyanaṃ pūrvam) Ms. 1.1 (occurring in the derivation of the word nārāyaṇa).
4) A way of entrance, an entrance (to an array of troops or vyūha); अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमव- स्थिताः (ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathābhāgamava- sthitāḥ) Bg.1.11.
5) Rotation, circulation period; अङ्गिरसां अयनम् (aṅgirasāṃ ayanam); इष्टि°, पशु° (iṣṭi°, paśu°).
6) A particular period in the year for the performance of particular sacrificial or other religious works; Name of certain sacrificial performances; as गवामयनम् (gavāmayanam).
7) The sun's passage, north and south of the equator.
8) (Hence) The period of this passage, half year, the time from one solstice to another; see उत्तरायण (uttarāyaṇa) and दक्षिणायन (dakṣiṇāyana); cf. also सायन (sāyana) and निरयण (nirayaṇa).
9) the equinoctial and solstitial points; दक्षिणम् अयनम् (dakṣiṇam ayanam) winter solstice; उत्तरम् अयनम् (uttaram ayanam) summer solstice;
1) Method, manner, way.
11) A Śāstra, scripture or inspired writing.
12) Final emancipation; नान्यः पन्था विद्यतेऽयनाय (nānyaḥ panthā vidyate'yanāya) Śvet. Up.
13) A commentary; treatise.
14) The deities presiding over the ayanas.
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Ayāna (अयान).—
1) Not going or moving, stopping, halt.
2) Natural disposition, nature.
Derivable forms: ayānam (अयानम्).
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Āyana (आयन).—Ved. Coming, approaching.
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Āyana (आयन).—a. Belonging to the solistice (as in uttarāyaṇa, dakṣiṇāyana).
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Āyāna (आयान).—
1) Coming, arrival; अस्मिन्ना वामायाने वाजिनीवसू (asminnā vāmāyāne vājinīvasū) Rv.8.22.18.
2) Natural temperament, disposition, nature.
3) An ornament of the horse; Hch.7.
Derivable forms: āyānam (आयानम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAyana (अयन).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. A road, a path. 2. The half year, that is, the sun’s road north and south of the equator. See uttarāyaṇa, &c. 3. The equinoetial and solstitial points. 4. A Sastra or inspired writing. E. iṇa to go, and lyuṭ aff.
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Ayāna (अयान).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. Natural disposition or temperament. 2. Halt, stop. E. a neg. yā to go, lyuṭ affix; what never departs.
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Āyāna (आयान).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. The natural temperament or disposition. 2. Coming, arrival. E. āṅ before yā to obtain, affix lyuṭ.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAyana (अयन).—i. e. i + ana, n. 1. A place of motion, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 1, 10. 2. A road. 3. A line, [Bhagavadgītā, (ed. Schlegel.)] 1, 11. 4. The half year, i. e. the sun’s road north and south of the equator, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 26.
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Āyāna (आयान).—i. e. ā-yā + ana, n. Coming near, Mahābhārata 3, 11029 (p. 570).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAyana (अयन).—[adjective] going, coming; [neuter] motion, walk. course, [especially] the sun’s road between the solstitial points, also solstice, half-year; way, manner; refuge, residence.
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Āyāna (आयान).—[neuter] coming, arrival.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ayana (अयन):—[from ay] a mfn. going, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xxii, 7; Nirukta, by Yāska]
2) [v.s. ...] n. walking, a road, a path, [Ṛg-veda iii, 33, 7etc.] (often ifc. cf. naimiṣāyana, puruṣāyaṇa, praśamāyana, samudrāyaṇa, svedāyana), (in [astronomy]) advancing, precession, [Sūryasiddhānta]
3) [v.s. ...] (with [genitive case] e.g. angirasām, ādityānām, gavām, etc. or ifc.) ‘course, circulation’, Name of various periodical sacrificial rites, [Atharva-veda; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc. the sun’s road north and south of the equator, the half year, [Manu-smṛti] etc., the equinoctial and solstitial points, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] etc.
4) [v.s. ...] way, progress, manner, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] place of refuge, [Manu-smṛti i, 10]
6) [v.s. ...] a treatise (śāstra cf. jyotiṣām-ayana), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) b See √ay, [column] 2.
8) Ayāna (अयान):—[=a-yāna] n. not moving, halting, stopping, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] (= sva.bhāva), ‘natural disposition or temperament’, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) Āyana (आयन):—[from āya] 1. āyana n. coming, approaching, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]
11) [v.s. ...] (for 2. āyana See sub voce)
12) 2. āyana mfn. ([from] ayana), belonging to the solstice [commentator or commentary] on [Sūryasiddhānta]
13) (for 1. āyana See under āya.)
14) Āyāna (आयान):—[=ā-yāna] [from ā-yā] n. coming, arrival, [Ṛg-veda viii, 22, 18; Mahābhārata] etc.
15) [v.s. ...] the natural temperament or disposition, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (cf. ayāna.)
16) [v.s. ...] a [particular] ornament for horses, [Harṣacarita]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ayana (अयन):—(naṃ) 1. n. A road; half year.
2) Ayāna (अयान):—[a-yāna] (naṃ) 1. n. Disposition; halt.
3) Āyāna (आयान):—[ā-yāna] (naṃ) 1. n. The natural disposition; coming, arrival.
[Sanskrit to German] (Deutsch Wörterbuch)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Sanskrit-Wörterbuch in kürzerer FassungAyana (अयन):——
1) Adj. gehend , kommend [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 22,7.] —
2) n. — a) Gang , Weg. In der Astr. das Vorrücken. — b) Lauf , Umlauf. Mit einem Gen. oder am Ende eines Comp. Bez. bestimmter ein Jahr und länger dauernder Soma-Opfer [Lāṭyāyana’s Śrautasūtra 10,13,2.] [Jaimini's Mimāṃsādarśana 2,3,5.] — c) der Lauf der Sonne nach Süden oder Norden , die Zeit von einem Solstitium zum andern , Halbjahr. — d) Solstitium. — e) Zufluchtsort , Ruhestätte [Mānavadharmaśāstra. 1,10.] — f) Vorgang , Art und Weise. — g) *Bestechung [Galano's Wörterbuch]
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Ayāna (अयान):—n. natürliche Beschaffenheit , Natur.
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Āyana (आयन):—1. n. das Kommen.
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Āyana (आयन):—2. Adj. zum Solstitium in Beziehung stehend.
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Āyāna (आयान):—n. —
1) das Herankommen. —
2) * = āyāna.
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 dictionaryĀyana (आयन) [Also spelled ayan]:—(nm) ion; movement, goings; ~[maṃḍala/vṛtta] ionosphere.
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See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+6): Ayanabhaga, Ayanabhuta, Ayanacalana, Ayanacaryasunu, Ayanacayanadiganita, Ayanadrikkarma, Ayanadrikkarman, Ayanagraha, Ayanaigamanodyama, Ayanaja, Ayanaka, Ayanakala, Ayanama, Ayanamsha, Ayananirnaya, Ayananta, Ayanaparivritti, Ayanapradesha, Ayanarekha, Ayanasamkrama.
Ends with (+1387): Abdanayana, Abdhishayana, Abhinavacampuramayana, Abhinavashakatayana, Abhinayana, Abhipranayana, Abhrarasayana, Abhyadhyayana, Abhyavayana, Abhyudayana, Abhyupayana, Abjanayana, Acararasayana, Adbhutaramayana, Adhinirnayana, Adhisayana, Adhishrayana, Adhonayana, Adhvarayana, Adhvayana.
Full-text (+153): Ayanamsha, Udagayana, Ayanakala, Ayanabhaga, Uttarayana, Dakshinayana, Varttayana, Ramayana, Svastyayana, Bhavayana, Ayanavritta, Sukhayana, Astamayana, Pratyayana, Anjasayana, Malayana, Viparitayana, Kalavastha, Narayana, Tiryagayana.
Relevant text
Search found 36 books and stories containing Ayana, Āyāna, Āyanā, Ayanā, Ayāna, Āyana, A-yana, A-yāna, Ā-yāna; (plurals include: Ayanas, Āyānas, Āyanās, Ayanās, Ayānas, Āyanas, yanas, yānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Harivamsha Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter 8 - Division of Time < [Book 1 - Harivamsa Parva]
Chapter 4 - A Query Regarding the Origin of the Articles of Food < [Book 1 - Harivamsa Parva]
Chapter 33 - Various Kings are Appointed by Brahma < [Book 3 - Bhavishya Parva]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 1.64 < [Section XXXVII - Measures of Time]
Verse 1.67 < [Section XXXIX - ‘Day’ and ‘Night’ of the ‘Gods’]
Verse 1.10 < [Section VI - Meaning of the term ‘Nārāyaṇa’]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Part 2 - On measurable time < [Chapter 7]
Part 3 - On the commencement of rainfall < [Chapter 1]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Appendix 3 - Purāṇic measurements of time < [Appendices]
Chapter 24 - Origin of Viṣṇupadī Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 272 - Characteristics of Different Yugas < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]