Grihitva, Gṛhītvā: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Grihitva 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 Gṛhītvā can be transliterated into English as Grhitva or Grihitva, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Gṛhītva (गृहीत्व) refers to “assuming (the nature of the senses)”, according to the Mahānayaprakāśa by Arṇasiṃha (Cf. verse 182-197).—Accordingly, “He who, by virtue of the innate expansion (of his own consciousness) and freedom, assumes the nature of the senses (gṛhītva-indriyarūpatā), without (this thereby) diminishing the glorious power of the Inexplicable (Fourth State of consciousness) in the sphere the objects of sense and who, abandoning (all) exertion (for what is conventionally considered to be) right or wrong, moves (freely) at all times, is known as Meṣanātha who, endowed with the expansion (of consciousness), is ever intent (on realisation)”.
Gṛhītvā (गृहीत्वा) refers to “having adopted (an observance)”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 9.—Accordingly, “[...] [The Lord spoke]:—[...] In the left hand, he should hold a winnowing fan in the observance of Ardhanārīśvara. Adopting (gṛhītvā) this observance he should eat alms, keep his senses under control, be devoted to regular obligatory recitation and oblation, rejecting the receipt of gifts. He should venerate God three times [a day] and perform ablutions three times [a day]. Eating vegetables and barley-gruel, eating bulbs, roots and fruits, for one month. [...]”.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Gṛhītvā (गृहीत्वा) refers to “having embraced”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.32 (“The seven celestial sages arrive”).—Accordingly, as the Seven Sages said arrived at Himavatpura: “[...] Desiring welfare of others, the seven sages embraced (gṛhītvā) Himavat, the lord of mountains and spoke words of auspicious blessings with pleasant faces. Keeping them ahead he said—“My household life is blessed”. With great devotion he got and offered them seats. When they were duly seated, he too sat with their permission. Then Himavat spoke to the refulgent sages:—‘[...]’”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Gṛhītva (गृहीत्व) refers to “taking hold of something”, according to the Ṭīkā (commentary) on the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] Once one has laid hold of and taken possession of (gṛhītva) [gṛhītvā samālambya] (that reality whose) nature is the act of worship, the worshipper and (the deity who is) worshipped on that path by means of (the true nature of) the rite of adoration (pūjārūpa) of the aforementioned sort, he explains, that is, tells, the desired (true) nature (of the deity and all things). [...] and he explains (all that) is meritorious, beautiful or that causes sin and is of many forms, auspicious and inauspicious, and has come forth from the sacred seats. [...]”..
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Gṛhītvā (गृहीत्वा) refers to “having caught” (an elephant), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 1, “on the origin of elephants”]: “[...] 7. All this was reported to Romapāda (the lord of Aṅga) by his servants. So he went and, while the hermit (Pālakāpya) was gone into the hermitage, caught (gṛhītvā) the elephants [gajānasminnāśramage munāvatha gṛhītvāgatya], and came straightway to Campā, and gave them over to the excellent sages Gautama, Nārada, and the rest. But they fastened them securely to posts, and then dwelt there in peace, as did the other folk likewise. [...]”.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Gṛhītvā (गृहीत्वा) refers to “having taken (ashes from oblations)” (suitable for an offering ceremony), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly [as the Bhagavān taught the detailed offering-manual], “Having taken (gṛhītvā) ashes from oblations, it should be mixed in rice gruel enchanted sixty times with the mantra. It should be thrown into the middle of the [Nāga] residence. Merely upon throwing all Nāgas become agitated. Then they send down rain showers. If it does not rain on the same day, the bodies of all those Nāgas will have spotted leprosy”.
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)
Gṛhītvā (गृहीत्वा) refers to “having taken possession of” (one’s body in this life), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Having taken hold of [com.—gṛhītvā—‘having taken possession of’] this body in this life, suffering is endured by you. Hence, that [body] is certainly a completely worthless abode. Whatever difficulties arise from life, they are each endured here by the embodied soul, only having taken hold of the body powerfully”.
Synonyms: Ādāya.
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
Gṛhītvā (गृहीत्वा).—ind. Having taken. E. graha to take, ktvā aff.
Gṛhītvā (गृहीत्वा):—[from gṛbh] [indeclinable participle] √grah q.v.
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)
Full-text (+45): Grahaya, Camunda, Grihaya, Apasalavi, Paduka, Bhataka, Prapada, Ganitra, Patalamukha, Putreshtika, Antarvasas, Panthalika, Abhyahri, Antarvastra, Putreshti, Grihya, Kumbhika, Abhangura, Madhyasthata, Vilepana.
Relevant text
Search found 83 books and stories containing Grihitva, Gṛhītvā, Grhitva; (plurals include: Grihitvas, Gṛhītvās, Grhitvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Mundaka Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary (by S. Sitarama Sastri)
Verse 2.2.3 < [Mundaka II, Khanda II]
Alchemy in India and China (by Vijaya Jayant Deshpande)
5. Case of purple gold < [Chapter 7 - Indian and Chinese Alchemy—Parallels]
7. Case of “Ban Cha Zhuo Shui” or Visodaka < [Chapter 6 - Transmission of Alchemical and Chemical ideas (Part 2)]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.6.53 < [Chapter 6 - Description of Kaṃsa’s Strength]
Verse 1.6.13 < [Chapter 6 - Description of Kaṃsa’s Strength]
Verse 1.6.20 < [Chapter 6 - Description of Kaṃsa’s Strength]
Brahmasphutasiddhanta by Brahmagupta (Introduction) (by Acharyavara Ram Swarup Sharma)
Part 8 - Brahmagupta and Srisena < [Chapter 12 - Brahmagupta's Astronomy: Its Highlights]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Studies in Indian Literary History (by P. K. Gode)
17. Paleographic Imagery in the Text of the Mahimnastotra < [Volume 3 (1956)]
19. An Echo of the Siege of Jinji in a Sanskrit Grammatical Work < [Volume 3 (1956)]
13. Harikavi alias Bhanubhatta (a Court-Poet of King Sambhaji) < [Volume 3 (1956)]