Gayaka, Gāyaka: 15 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Gayaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Gayak.
In Hinduism
Arthashastra (politics and welfare)
Source: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his times (artha)Gāyaka (गायक, “musician”) is an official title designating one of the seventy-two officers (niyoga) of the Bāhattaraniyogādhipati circle, according to the Inscriptional glossary of Andhra Pradesh (Śāsana-śabdakośāmu). The bāhattaraniyoga-adhipati is the highest executive officer of this circle (including a Gāyaka). For example: During the reign of Gaṇapatideva, the area extending between Pānagal to Mārjavāḍi was entrusted to Gaṇḍapeṇḍāru Gangayasāhiṇi as Bāhattaraniyogādhipati. Later on, this office was entrusted to Kāyastha Jannigadeva.

Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaGāyaka (गायक).—A warrior of Subrahmaṇya. (Śloka 67, Chapter 85, Śalya Parva).

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: Shodhganga: Temple management in the ĀgamasGāyaka (गायक) refers to one of the Pañcācārya, representing members of the dance troupe employed in Śiva temples.—Performance of śuddhanṛtta or classical dance by Rudrakanyā accompanied by Pañcācārya [viz., Gāyaka] is known as saukhyakarma. This is recommended to be performed as part of nityotsava, sthāpana, prokṣana, prāyaścitta, adbhutaśānti, utsava, snapana, māsapūjā, homakarma, dhvajārohaṇa and other kāmya-karma. The Pañcācāryas are Nartaka, Mardaka, Gāyaka, Vāṃśika and Mauravika. Those who know the seven svaras and the science of music are known as Gāyaka.

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarygāyaka : (m.) a singer.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryGāyaka, (fr. next) a singer PvA.3 (naṭaka°). (Page 249)

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 Dictionarygāyaka (गायक).—m ( H) A singer or vocalist.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishgāyaka (गायक).—m A singer or vocalist.
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 dictionaryGāyaka (गायक).—[gai-ṇvul]
1) A singer, musician; न नटा न विटा न गायकाः (na naṭā na viṭā na gāyakāḥ) Bh.3.27.
2) An actor.
Derivable forms: gāyakaḥ (गायकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryGāyaka (गायक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) Singing, one who sings. m.
(-kaḥ) A singer. E. gai to sing, ṇvul aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryGāyaka (गायक).—i. e. gai + aka, m. A singer, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 65, 2.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryGāyaka (गायक).—[masculine] ī [feminine] singer.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Gāyaka (गायक):—[from gā] a mfn. one who sings, [Horace H. Wilson]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a singer, [Mahābhārata xii, xiv; Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa iii, x; Bhartṛhari]
3) b gāyat See 3. gā.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Gayakalpapaddhati, Gayakaryanushthanapaddhati, Gayakashyapa.
Ends with: Samagayaka, Samasamgayaka, Samasangayaka, Suragayaka, Vrindagayaka.
Full-text: Vrindagayaka, Gayaki, Thatanem, Samagayaka, Suragayaka, Pashrva, Bahih-prana, Mukhy, Gayatrin, Humbaranem, Vamshika, Mauravika, Gadha, Mardaka, Pancacarya, Gayatra, Nartaka, Garbha, Gayatri.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Gayaka, Gāyaka; (plurals include: Gayakas, Gāyakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Mirror of Gesture (abhinaya-darpana) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 3 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 3 - The Precursors of the Viśiṣṭādvaita Philosophy < [Chapter XVIII - An Historical and Literary Survey of the Viśiṣṭādvaita School of Thought]