Hridaya, aka: Hṛdaya; 12 Definition(s)

Introduction

Hridaya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.

The Sanskrit term Hṛdaya can be transliterated into English as Hrdaya or Hridaya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

A type of glance (or facial expression): Hṛdaya: unsteady, flurried, the pupils moving somewhat (anaglulita), the lids recurved; it is used for mediocre things.

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).

Shilpashastra (iconography)

According to the Matsya Purāṇa, Hṛdaya (heart) from neck to heart is 12 aṅgulas.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Ayurveda (science of life)

The name Hṛdaya (हृदय, “for heart”) is quite meaningful as it indicates the three phasas—receiving, supplying and movement of the cardiac cycle. Heart is the source of life as none can live if it stops. That is why it has been said by earlier sages as the seat of consciousness. Heart is the receptacle of rasa and rakta (blood) which it distributes to the whole body for nourishment and also draws out impurities from the same. This goes on incessantly like a cycle. The lotus-like heart is situated in chest, flanked by lungs on both sides. Below on the right side is liver and on the left is spleen.

Structure and Functioning of Heart: Appearance of heart is similar to that of an inverted bud of lotus. When the individual is ‘awake’, this lotus blossoms forth and when he is ‘asleep’, it closes up (Suśrutasaṃhitā Śārirasthāna 4/32). The narrow apex of the heart is directed downwards and broader base is directed upwards when the individual is standing. This observation is reflected in this explanation saying that the heart looks like an inverted bud of lotus. To indicate ‘life’ and ‘death’, the terms ‘awake’ and ‘asleep’ are often used in Sanskrit literature. So, meaning of this statement is that functioning of heart continues till the death of an individual.

context information

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Hṛdaya (हृदय).—The horse of Bhoja which would go at a stretch 100 yojanas.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 71-2.

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.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Hṛdaya (हृदय, “heart”).—Mānasāra LXX, 111 exhorts the sthapati and the sthāpaka to install the image in the sanctuary of their hearts (hṛdaya) as well. In fact, the “radiance” of the duo stem from having installed the radiant deity in their he arts. The heart is the “center of being”, so to speak, where the cognitive and affective faculties meet. Thus. the act of installing the deity therein perspicuously connects divine seeing and knowing.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Hṛdaya (हृदय).—Circum-radius. Note: Hṛdaya is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Hṛdaya (हृदय, “heart”) (Pali, Hadaya) refers to one of the thirty-substances of the human body according to the Visuddhimagga, as mentioned in an appendix of the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 32-34. The Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra mentions thirty-six substances [viz., hṛdaya]; the Sanskrit sources of both the Lesser and the Greater Vehicles, physical substances are 26 in number while the Pāli suttas list thirty-once substances.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

hṛdaya (हृदय).—n (S) The heart or the mind; the faculty or the seat of feeling and thought. 2 The bosom or the breast, lit. fig. 3 fig. Mind, meaning, intent, design or drift of the mind: also the scope, purport, or significance (of a speech, a sentence, an action).

hṛdaya (हृदय).—n The heart or the mind. The bosom. Intent. The scope, purport.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Hṛdaya (हृदय).—

1) The heart, soul, mind; हृदये दिग्धशरैरिवाहतः (hṛdaye digdhaśarairivāhataḥ) Ku.4.25; so अयोहृदयः (ayohṛdayaḥ) R.9.9; पाषाणहृदय (pāṣāṇahṛdaya) &c.

2) The bosom, chest, breast; बाणभिन्नहृदया निपेतुषी (bāṇabhinnahṛdayā nipetuṣī) R.11.19.

3) Love, affection.

4) The interior or essence of anything.

5) The secret science; अश्व°, अक्ष° (aśva°, akṣa°) &c.; ऋतुपर्णो नलसखो योऽश्वविद्यामयान्नलात् । दत्वाऽक्षहृदयं चास्मै सर्वकामस्तु तत्सुतः (ṛtuparṇo nalasakho yo'śvavidyāmayānnalāt | datvā'kṣahṛdayaṃ cāsmai sarvakāmastu tatsutaḥ) || Bhag.9.9.17.

6) True or divine knowledge.

7) The Veda.

8) Wish, intention; एवं विरिञ्चादिभिरीडितस्तद्विज्ञाय तेषां हृदयं तथैव (evaṃ viriñcādibhirīḍitastadvijñāya teṣāṃ hṛdayaṃ tathaiva) Bhāg.8.6.16.

9) = अहंकारम् (ahaṃkāram) q. v.; मनो विसृजते भावं बुद्धिरध्यवसायिनी । हृदयं प्रियाप्रिये वेद त्रिविधा कर्मचोदना (mano visṛjate bhāvaṃ buddhiradhyavasāyinī | hṛdayaṃ priyāpriye veda trividhā karmacodanā) Mb.12.248.1.

Derivable forms: hṛdayam (हृदयम्).

Hṛdaya (हृदय).—n.

(-yaṃ) 1. The mind, the seat or faculty of thought and feeling. 2. Knowledge. 3. Science. 4. The essence of anything. E. hṛ to take, kayan Unadi aff., duk augment.

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