Alternative spellings of this word include Hastak.

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Hastaka (हस्तक) refers to “holding (a great vessel)”, according to the Kularatnoddyota verse 2.12-20.—Accordingly, “[...] (He worshipped thus) with (offerings) of the most excellent and divine Great Incense and many kinds of ornaments, established in supreme non-duality with (substances) born from (his) great bodily essence. Endowed with supreme bliss and holding the great argha vessel (mahāpātra-argha-hastaka) , the Lord of the gods, worshipped, O dear one, the great and excellent Wheel and he, the emperor and Lord of the Śrīkula, deftly put all the Śrīkramas, including the sequence of the Child and the rest, in place in accord with the sequence”.

context information

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Hastaka (हस्तक) [=hasta?] refers to the “hands”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.30 (“The Celebration of Pārvatī’s Return”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “On hearing that Pārvatī was returning, Menā and Himavat excessively delighted went ahead seated in a divine vehicle. [...] Women along with their sons and husbands held lamps in their hands (dīpa-hastaka). Brahmins were shouting mantras etc. in an auspicious voice. Various instruments were played. Conch shells were sounded. In the meantime Pārvatī reached the outskirts of the city. Entering the city she saw her parents again. [...]”.

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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Hastaka (हस्तक) refers to the assistants to the Arcakas type of “temple personnel”, as discussed in the second chapter of the Paramapuruṣasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text in ten chapters composed of 940 verses dealing with the personnel of a temple, their prerequisites and duties, their different ranks, the privileges and responsibilities of each etc.—Description of the chapter [arcaka-paricāraka-ādi-saṃkhyā-nirṇaya]: The Ṛṣis ask first how to distinguish between the various temple servants (1-3). Nārada replies that on the very day of pratiṣṭhā-consecration the yajamāna-patron should hire all the temple personnel required (4-5). [...] The hastaka-assistants to the arcakas are also to be appointed, and their duties and privileges are outlined (76b-79); also cooks (80-84a), and other attendants, and musicians, are to be appointed (84b-88a). All of these temple servants should have undergone pañcasaṃskāra-qualifying rites (88b-89).

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Hastaka (हस्तक) is the name of a Vaiṣya according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XV). Accordingly, “Thus, leaving the pure abodes (śuddhavāsa), the Vaiṣya Cheou (Hastaka), came to see the Buddha; he had a subtle (sūkṣma) body; he was flexible; like a straw, he could not stand upright. The Buddha said to the Vaiśya Hastaka: “Make a coarse body appropriate to this realm for yourself.” The Vaiśya followed the Buddha’s advice and made for himself a body of a size appropriate for the earth. Having bowed down to the Buddha’s feet, he stood to one side”.

Note: Hastaka Āṭavika (in Pāli Hatthaka Āḷavaka) was called ‘Hastaka’ because he had been ‘passed from hand to hand’; actually, when the Yakṣa Ātavika was about to cut him to pieces, the Buddha intervened and the yakṣa surrendered him to the Buddha who gave him back to his family.

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Hastaka.—(EI 31), same as hasta. Note: hastaka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, 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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

hastaka (हस्तक).—m (hasta) The hand, a hand. Pr. dōna ha0 āṇi tisarā mastaka Used to express that all that can be given is a motion of the hands and the head in salutation. 2 fig. A mate, an assistant, the hand of.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

hastaka (हस्तक).—m The hand, a hand. A mate. A subordinate, an agent, a lieutenant.

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Hastaka (हस्तक).—

1) A hand.

2) The position of the hand.

3) A measure of length.

4) A turn-spit.

Derivable forms: hastakaḥ (हस्तकः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Hastaka (हस्तक).—(1) (m.; = Pali hatthaka, compare hasta 3) fan, see mayūra-ha°; (2) name of a śreṣṭhin's son of Śrāvastī who became a disciple: Avadāna-śataka ii.147.14 ff. (Pali, Malalasekara (Dictionary of Pali Proper Names), has two disciples named hatthaka, but neither seems to be this one.)

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

Hastaka (हस्तक).—[masculine] hand, adj. —° ([feminine] ikā) = [preceding]

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

1) Hastaka (हस्तक):—[from hasta] m. the hand (ifc.with f(ikā). = ‘holding in the hand’), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] the hand as a support, [Gīta-govinda]

3) [v.s. ...] the h° as a measure of length, [Śārṅgadhara-saṃhitā]

4) [v.s. ...] position of the h°, [Catalogue(s)]

5) [v.s. ...] a turn-spit ([varia lectio] hastika), [Harṣacarita]

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

Hastaka (हस्तक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Hatthaya.

[Sanskrit to German]

Hastaka 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Hastaka (हस्तक) [Also spelled hastak]:—(nm) a handle.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Hastaka (ಹಸ್ತಕ):—

1) [noun] any of several positions of hands (as in dance.).

2) [noun] a mass of hair.

3) [noun] a unit of linear measure ( = ಹಸ್ತ - [hasta -] 3 ?).

4) [noun] a man who is working at the behest (being under the obligation for having accepted bribes or other favours).

context information

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: Hastakadaga, Hastakala, Hastakamala, Hastakamkana, Hastakanduya, Hastakarana, Hastakarya, Hastakataka, Hastakatakam, Hastakattu, Hastakaushala, Hastakavapra.

Ends with (+25): Abhishastaka, Anguliphanahastaka, Apahastaka, Ardhahastaka, Arghahastaka, Bhastaka, Daruhastaka, Dipahastaka, Gandharvahastaka, Gandhashtaka, Garbhashtaka, Grahashtaka, Grihashtaka, Jagannathashtaka, Jambunathashtaka, Kapalahastaka, Kapitthashtaka, Kapotahastaka, Karabhashtaka, Kritahastaka.

Full-text (+14): Daruhastaka, Hastakita, Gandharvahastaka, Pratihastaka, Hastakavapra, Mayurahasta, Morahasta, Apahastaka, Kapotahastaka, Hatthaya, Attimanam, Hastakya, Kantaruva, Hastak, Mayurahastaka, Morahastaka, Ardhahastaka, Hasta, Kritahastaka, Mastaka.

Relevant text

Search found 4 books and stories containing Hastaka; (plurals include: Hastakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

Appendix 2 - The story of Hastaka Śākyaputra < [Chapter LII - Elimination of the Triple Poison]

Appendix 4 - The story of Hastaka Āṭavika < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]

Appendix 2 - Episode of Hastaka of Āḷavi < [Chapter XLII - The Great Loving-kindness and the Great Compassion of the Buddhas]

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Sushruta Samhita, Volume 6: Uttara-tantra (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)

Chapter XXXV - Treatment of an attack by Mukha-mandika < [Canto II - Kaumarabhritya-tantra (pediatrics, gynecology and pregnancy)]

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The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 254 - Tāṇḍava Dance of Śaṅkara < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]

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Buddhacarita (by Charles Willemen)

Chapter XXI - Subduing the Maddened Elephant Dhanapālaka < [Fascicle Four]

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