Hasya, aka: Hāsya; 10 Definition(s)

Introduction

Hasya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

1) 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.

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.

context information

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).

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Hāsya (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).

Hāsya (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.

Hāsya (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.

Hāsya (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.

context information

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

hāsya (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.

hāsya (हास्य).—n Laughter. Laughing at. Mirth.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Hāsya (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) Ms.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.

Hasya (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.

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