Hasya, Hāsya: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Hasya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Hasy.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra1) Hāsya (हास्य) refers to the “comic” sentiment (rasa). It is one of the eight rasas mentioned in the Nāṭyaśāstra 6.15. The color associated with the hāsya is white (sita), and the presiding deities of of the comic (śṛṅgāra) sentiment are the Pramathas.
According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “The Comic (hāsya) has as its basis the Durable Psychological State of laughter. This is created by Determinants such as, showing unseemly dress or ornament, impudence, greediness, quarrel, defective limb, use of irrelevant words, mentioning of different faults, and similar other things.”.
2) Hāsyā (हास्या, “smiling”) refers to a specific “glance” (dṛṣṭi), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. This is a type of glance that expresses the ‘comic sentiment’ (hāsyarasa). There are a total thirty-six glances defined. In the Hāsyā (smiling) Glance the two eyelids are by turns contracted, and they open with the eyeballs moving and slightly visible; it should be used in representing jugglery.
Source: Shodhganga: Mankhaka a sanskrit literary genius (natya)Hāsya (हास्य) or the “sentiment (rasa) of humour”.—Hāsya, in which the permanent mood is hāsa or mirth, is according to the imagination of the mythologists, is of white colour and the attendants of Śiva are its presiding deities. It may arise from the fun of distorted shapes, words, dresses, gestures etc. Whatever a person laughs at, when he sees it, distorted in case of form, speech or gesture, this they call the ālambana and the gestures thereunto pertaining, is held to be the uddīpana. Among its anubhāvas are, closing of the eyes, smiling of the countenance etc. and the vyabhicāribhāvas may be drowsiness, indolence, dissembling etc.

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationHāsya (हास्य) refers to “joking remarks”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.21. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] When Kāma (God of Love) reached the vicinity of Śiva, Spring spread all his splendour in accord with the inclination of the lord. [...] With diverse conversations, glances, joking remarks (hāsya) and exchanges of pleasantries he instructed Śiva in the knowledge of Self. Drinking the nectar from her moon-face, Śiva stabilised his body. Sometimes he experienced exhilarating and particularly pleasing state”.

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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraHāsya (हास्य) refers to “laughter”, representing one of the various actions of Māra, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 10).—Accordingly, “[Question: What are the works of Māra?]—[Answer].—[...] Māra has three types of actions: (a) play, laughter (hāsya), idle chatter, singing, dancing, and everything that provokes desire; (b) iron fetters, beating, whipping, wounds, spikes, knives, slashing and everything that is caused by hatred; (c) [demented mortifications] such as being burned, being frozen, tearing out one’s hair, starving, jumping into the fire, throwing oneself into the water, falling onto spears and everything that results from stupidity”.

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)
Source: archive.org: Jaina YogaHāsya (हास्य, “ridiculous”) refers to “sense of the absurd” and represents a subclass of the interal (abhyantara) division of parigraha (attachment) and is related to the Aparigraha-vrata (vow of non-attachment). Amṛtacandra (in his Puruṣārthasiddhyupāya 116), Somadeva, and Āśādhara among the Digambaras and Siddhasena Gaṇin (in his commentary on the Tattvārtha-sūtra 7.24) among the Śvetāmbaras mention fourteen varieties of abhyantara-parigraha (for example, hāsya).
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 6: Influx of karmasHāsya (हास्य).—What is meant by ‘jest / laughter’ (hāsya)? Ridiculing right faith and the true religion, laughing at the distress or misery of others, making jokes at the expense of others, excessive laughter and the rest are meant by laughter.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 7: The Five VowsHāsya (हास्य, “jest”).—The renunciation of cowardice or jest (hāsya-pratyākhāna) refers to one of the contemplations of the vow of truthfulness (satyavrata) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 7.5.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 8: Bondage of karmasHāsya (हास्य, “jest”) refers to “risible or laughter-producing” and represents one of the nine types of the Akaṣāya (“quasi passions”) classification of of Cāritramohanīya “conduct deluding (karmas)” according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra chapter 8. Cāritramohanīya refers to one of the two main classifications of Mohanīya, or “deluding (karmas)”, which represents one of the eight types of Prakṛti-bandha (species bondage): one of the four kinds of bondage (bandha). What is meant by jest (hāsya) karma? The karmas rise of which causes laughter is called jest karma.

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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryhāsya (हास्य).—n (S) Laughter: also delight or pleasurable emotion. This is one of the nine rasa. See nava- rasa. 2 Laughing at; ridicule or derision. 3 Mirth or pleasantry. Note. From the subrisus or smile to the horse-laughter some are pleased to reckon four stages; viz. smita, hāsita, hāsya, aṭṭahāsa.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishhāsya (हास्य).—n Laughter. Laughing at. Mirth.
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 dictionaryHāsya (हास्य).—a. [has-ṇyat] Laughable, ridiculous; संरुद्धचेष्टस्य मृगेन्द्र कामं हास्यं वचस्तद्यदहं विवक्षुः (saṃruddhaceṣṭasya mṛgendra kāmaṃ hāsyaṃ vacastadyadahaṃ vivakṣuḥ) R.2.43.
-syam 1 Laughter; क्रीडां शरीरसंस्कारं समाजोत्सवदर्शनम् । हास्यं परगृहे यानं त्यजेत् प्रोषितभर्तृका (krīḍāṃ śarīrasaṃskāraṃ samājotsavadarśanam | hāsyaṃ paragṛhe yānaṃ tyajet proṣitabhartṛkā) || Y.1.84.
2) Mirth, amusement, sport; तस्माद्द्यूतं न सेवेत हास्यार्थमपि बुद्धिमान् (tasmāddyūtaṃ na seveta hāsyārthamapi buddhimān) Manusmṛti 9.227.
3) Jest, joke.
4) Derision, ridicule; तुष्टैर्बद्धं तदलघु रघु- स्वामिनः सच्चरित्रं क्रुद्धैर्नितस्त्रिभुवनजयी हास्यमार्गं दशास्यः (tuṣṭairbaddhaṃ tadalaghu raghu- svāminaḥ saccaritraṃ kruddhairnitastribhuvanajayī hāsyamārgaṃ daśāsyaḥ) Vikr. 18.17.
-syaḥ The sentiment of mirth or humour, one of the eight or nine sentiments in poetry; it is thus defined :-विकृताकारवाग्वेषचेष्टादेः कुहकाद्भवेत् । हास्यो हास- स्थायिभावः (vikṛtākāravāgveṣaceṣṭādeḥ kuhakādbhavet | hāsyo hāsa- sthāyibhāvaḥ) (so must the line be read instead of hāso hāsya- sthāyibhāvaḥ) श्वेतः प्रमथदैवतः (śvetaḥ pramathadaivataḥ) S. D.228.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryHasya (हस्य).—mfn.
(-styaḥ-styā-styaṃ) 1. Given with the hand. 2. Done with the hand, manual. E. hasta the hand, and yat aff.
--- OR ---
Hāsya (हास्य).—mfn.
(-syaḥ-syā-syaṃ) Laughable, ridiculous. n.
(-syaṃ) 1. Laughter. laughing, mirth. 2. Ridicule, derision. E. has to laugh, ṇyat aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryHāsya (हास्य).—[adjective] ridiculous; [neuter] laughing, laughter, joke, hāsyārtham [adverb] for sport.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Hāsya (हास्य):—[from has] mfn. to be laughed at, laughable, ridiculous, funny, comical, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] laughing, laughter, mirth (in [rhetoric] one of the 10 Rasas or of the 8 Sthāyi-bhāvas, qq.vv.), [Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] jest, fun, amusement, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryHāsya (हास्य):—(syaṃ) 1. n. Laughter, mirth. a. Laughable.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Hāsya (हास्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Hassa, Hāsia, Hāsīa.
[Sanskrit to German]
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 dictionaryHāsya (हास्य) [Also spelled hasy]:—(nm) humour; ridicule, fun; —[kathā] a humorous tale; ~[kara/kāraka/janaka] humorous; provoking laughter; -[kautuka] fun and humour; -[citra] a cartoon; ~[citrakāra] a cartoonist; —[bhāva] sense of humour; —[rasa] the final and successful culmination of the sense of humour ([hāsya]) into a rasa; ~[rasātmaka] full of or abounding in [hāsyarasa; —rūpalekhā] humorous feature; -[vyaṃgya] humour and satire/wit.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusHāsya (ಹಾಸ್ಯ):—
1) [noun] joy; pleasure; delight.
2) [noun] an act of amusing or the condition of being amused.
3) [noun] a deriding or being derided; ridicule; derision.
4) [noun] comic sentiment (as in a drama, cinema, etc.).
5) [noun] (jain.) one of the several karmas that makes the person indulge in the humorous element in art or life.
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 (+22): Hasyabhara, Hasyabhava, Hasyacataki, Hasyacudamani, Hasyadidrikshu, Hasyadrishti, Hasyagara, Hasyagati, Hasyahina, Hasyajna, Hasyaka, Hasyakara, Hasyakaraka, Hasyakarya, Hasyakatha, Hasyakrit, Hasyakuhaka, Hasyamarga, Hasyamgey, Hasyamukha.
Ends with (+707): Abdarahasya, Abhashya, Abhibhashya, Abhidhavadarahasya, Abhihasya, Abhinavabhashya, Abhishasya, Acaravratadirahasya, Acaryamatarahasya, Adashasya, Adhvaramimamsabhashya, Adhyanushasya, Adhyasabhashya, Adhyatmarahasya, Adhyatmaramayanarahasya, Adhyayanabhashya, Advaitarahasya, Advaitasutrabhashya, Agamarahasya, Agnirahasya.
Full-text (+71): Hasyarasa, Mandahasya, Attahasya, Buka, Upahasya, Hasyaspada, Hasyata, Hasyapadavi, Hassa, Hasyakatha, Kavyahasya, Upahasyata, Hasyakara, Hasyarnava, Lokahasya, Rasa, Hasa, Hasyarasavat, Hasyapadavibhava, Hasyatara.
Relevant text
Search found 38 books and stories containing Hasya, Hāsya, Hāsyā; (plurals include: Hasyas, Hāsyas, Hāsyās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.20.11 < [Chapter 20 - The Liberation of Ṛbhu Muni During the Rāsa-dance Festival]
Verse 6.7.33 < [Chapter 7 - The Marriage of Śrī Rukmiṇī]
Verse 4.4.5 < [Chapter 4 - The Story of the Kauśalā Women]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 4.8.14 < [Part 8 - Compatible & Incompatible Mellows (maitrī-vaira-sthiti)]
Verse 4.1.6 < [Part 1 - Laughing Ecstasy (hāsya-rasa)]
Verse 4.8.10 < [Part 8 - Compatible & Incompatible Mellows (maitrī-vaira-sthiti)]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 7.5 - The observances for the vow of truthfulness (satya) < [Chapter 7 - The Five Vows]
Verse 8.9 - The subdivisions of deluding karma (mohanīya) < [Chapter 8 - Bondage of Karmas]
Verse 6.14 - The nature of Conduct-deluding Karmas < [Chapter 6 - Influx of Karmas]
Dasarupaka (critical study) (by Anuru Ranjan Mishra)
Introduction to the Prahasana type of Drama < [Chapter 3 - Prahasana (critical study)]
Part 9 - Sentiments (rasa) used in a Prahasana < [Chapter 3 - Prahasana (critical study)]
Part 3-6 - Ḍima rules < [Chapter 4 - Ḍima (critical study)]
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
2.6. Dṛṣṭi (sight or glance) < [Chapter 3 - Drama and Dance]
7(h): Connection of Sentiments with the Paintings < [Chapter 5 - Painting and Image Making]
3. Vocal Music (Gīta) < [Chapter 2 - Music]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.16.162 < [Chapter 16 - The Glories of Śrī Haridāsa Ṭhākura]
Verse 1.14.170 < [Chapter 14 - The Lord’s Travel to East Bengal and the Disappearance of Lakṣmīpriyā]
Verse 3.2.196 < [Chapter 2 - Description of the Lord’s Travel Through Bhuvaneśvara and Other Placesto Jagannātha Purī]
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