Goshirsha, Gośīrṣa, Go-shirsha: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Goshirsha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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 term Gośīrṣa can be transliterated into English as Gosirsa or Goshirsha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष) is another name (synonym) for Candana, which is a Sanskrit name for the plant Santalum album (Indian sandalwood). This synonym was identified by Narahari in his 13th-century Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 12.6-8), which is an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus.
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.
Dhanurveda (science of warfare)
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष) refers to a weapon (“kind of arrow”). It is a Sanskrit word defined in the Dhanurveda-saṃhitā, which contains a list of no less than 117 weapons. The Dhanurveda-saṃhitā is said to have been composed by the sage Vasiṣṭha, who in turn transmitted it trough a tradition of sages, which can eventually be traced to Śiva and Brahmā.
Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेद) refers to the “knowledge of warfare” and, as an upaveda, is associated with the Ṛgveda. It contains instructions on warfare, archery and ancient Indian martial arts, dating back to the 2nd-3rd millennium BCE.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष) refers to a kind of sandalwood (brass-colored and very fragrant), according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 3).—Accordingly, “[...] It is said in the Buddhastotragātha: ‘[...] Even among heretics there can be good words. Thus the insect that gnaws wood soon takes on the name [of the wood that it eats]. The doctrine of beginning, middle and end, the destruction of specific and general characteristics is like the iron that comes out of the gangue. Who would think that a forest of eraṇḍa could contain the gośīrṣa sandalwood? Who would believe that a bad seed could contain the wondrous honey fruit? Then we would believe that the works of heretics themselves contain good words. [...]’.”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष) is a type of sandal mentioned in 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, as Jīvānanda said: “[...] the lack of remedies hinders. I have here the oil with a hundred thousand ingredients, but I have not gośīrṣa-sandal and a jeweled blanket. Bring them. [...]”. While giving them, [an old merchant] said, “a lac of dinars is the price of each of them. Take them, and tell me what yon intend to do with these objects”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष).—a kind of sandal; Kau. A.2.11.
2) a kind of weapon (arrow ?); Mahābhārata (Bombay) 7.178. 23.
Derivable forms: gośīrṣaḥ (गोशीर्षः), gośīrṣam (गोशीर्षम्).
Gośīrṣa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and śīrṣa (शीर्ष).
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष).—name of a nāga-king: Kāraṇḍavvūha 2.12.
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष).—n.
(-rṣaṃ) 1. A kind of Sandal, described as of the colour of brass, and of great fragrance. 2. The head of a cow. E. go a cow, and śīrṣa the head.
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष).—I. adj. shaped like a cow’s head, Mahābhārata 7, 8097. Ii. n. a kind of sandal, [Rāmāyaṇa] 4, 41, 59.
Gośīrṣa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and śīrṣa (शीर्ष).
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष).—[masculine] [Name] of a serpent-demon (lit. cowhead); [neuter] a cert. weapon, a kind of sandal-wood.
1) Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष):—[=go-śīrṣa] [from go] a m. ‘cow-headed’, Name of a Nāga, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha i, 19]
2) [v.s. ...] n. a kind of arrow, [Mahābhārata vii, 8097] (ṣa or ṣan)
3) [v.s. ...] the head of a cow, [Horace H. Wilson]
4) [v.s. ...] n. (also m., [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]) a kind of sandal-wood (brass-coloured and very fragrant), [Rāmāyaṇa iv, 41, 59; Buddhist literature; Jaina literature]
5) [v.s. ...] n. camphor, [Demetrius Galanos’s Lexiko: sanskritikes, anglikes, hellenikes]
6) [=go-śīrṣa] [from go-vara] b etc. See, [ib.]
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष):—[go-śīrṣa] (rṣaṃ) 1. n. A kind of sandal.
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष):—(go + śīrṣa)
1) adj. die Gestalt eines Kuhkopfs habend: gośīrṣolūkhalaiḥ [Mahābhārata 7, 8097.] —
2) m. n. eine Art Sandelholz [Amarakoṣa 2, 6. 3, 33.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 642.] [Ratnamālā 139.] gośīrṣaṃ candanaṃ yatra (vṛṣabhe parvate) padmakañjāgnisaṃnibham . divyamutpadyate yatra taccaivāgniśikhopamam .. [Rāmāyaṇa 4, 41, 59.] [Burnouf 619. 243. 255.] [Lot. de Lassen’s Anthologie b. l. 421.]
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष):——
1) m. Nomen proprium eines Schlangendämons [Kāraṇḍavyūha 2,12.] —
2) n. — a) wohl eine Art Waffe [Mahābhārata 7,178,23.] Könnte auch śīrṣan sei. — b) eine Art Sandelholz. Auch *m. und candana ([Kāraṇḍavyūha 41,19]). — c) *Kampher [Galano's Wörterbuch]
Gośīrṣa (गोशीर्ष) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Gosīsa.
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
Gōśīrṣa (ಗೋಶೀರ್ಷ):—
1) [noun] the head of a cow.
2) [noun] a kind of sandal wood that is brass-coloured and very fragrant.
3) [noun] the sandal paste.
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)
Starts with: Goshirshacandana, Goshirshaka.
Full-text: Goshirshacandana, Niu tan xiang, Niu tou zhan tan, Niu tan zhan tan, Utpalagandhika, Gosisa, Goshirshaka, Gocandana, Niu tou tian wang, Kanja, Bhadrashalaka, Bhadrashala, Sankrandana, Candana, Kanka, Saumanasa, Rohita.
Relevant text
Search found 20 books and stories containing Goshirsha, Gośīrṣa, Go-shirsha, Gosirsa, Go-sirsa, Go-śīrṣa, Gōśīrṣa; (plurals include: Goshirshas, Gośīrṣas, shirshas, Gosirsas, sirsas, śīrṣas, Gōśīrṣas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala (study) (by Shri N. M. Kansara)
20. Description of Unguents and Cosmetics < [Chapter 12 - Cultural Data]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 17: Ninth incarnation as a physician Jīvānanda < [Chapter I]
Part 17: Funeral rites of Ajita and the munis < [Chapter VI - Emancipation of Ajita Svāmin and Sagara]
Part 18: The funeral ceremonies < [Chapter VI]
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Gośīrṣa (Cow-Horn Spear) < [Chapter 3]
Sarga V: Amuktāyudha-nirūpaṇa (51 Verses) < [Chapter 2]
Sarga II: Dhanurveda-viveka-kathana (64 Verses) < [Chapter 2]
Paumacariya (critical study) (by K. R. Chandra)
10.2. Customs (in ancient India) < [Chapter 7 - Social Conditions]
Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter CCXXVII - Different names of the Ayurvedic Drugs < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 2 - Amoghapaśa (i): Bari < [Book 14 - Great Compassion Cycle]