Ikshana, Īkṣaṇa: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Ikshana means something in 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 Īkṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Iksana or Ikshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) refers to “eyes”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult. Accordingly, “O goddess, Svacchanda is in the middle, within the abode of the triangle. Very powerful, he has five faces with three times five flaming eyes. [...] O beautiful lady, this, the western one, is yellow like vermillion mixed with musk. Divine, it generates great energy. (The southern face) is somewhat fierce with large sharp teeth and long red eyes [i.e., rakta-āyata-īkṣaṇa]. It is blue like a blue lotus and blue collyrium. Beautiful and fierce, he wears a gem and a snake and his hair is brown. He is called Aghora, contemplating (him) he bestows success in every enterprise”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) refers to the “eyes”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, while describing Trikhaṇḍā: “[...] She has three sections, three faces, a divine form and large belly. [...] (The second face) is dark like a storm cloud and the eyes red as blood [i.e., raktāruṇa-nibha-īkṣaṇa]. It has fierce fangs and is adorned with snakes for earrings. The expression is mildly fierce and a skull (adorns) the topknot on the head. The third face is on the left. It is yellow and red and shines with brilliant rays, its light (pure) divine radiant energy. It is beautiful with many gems and the ears are adorned with earrings. It bears a radiantly brilliant diadem and crown”.
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) refers to the “eyes”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] I worship the three-eyed (tri-īkṣaṇa) sharp-natured Kṣetreśa. His body is black, he has destroyed his adversaries, he carries a skull-bowl and a spear, [but] he is compassionate. I resort to Śaṅkhanidhi and Padmanidhi, who who sit upon a conch and lotus [respectively] as their seats. They are patient, bear the gestures of generosity and protection in their hands, and bring about everyone’s dreams. [...]
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)
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) refers to the “eyes”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.12.—Accordingly, after Himācala (i.e., Himālaya) brought his daughter (Pārvatī) before Śiva: “Then Śiva looked at her in the first flush of her youth. [...] On seeing Śiva the lord of all, the chief of those devoted to penance, the lord with the moon as his ornament, who can be known through spiritual insight and who was sitting in the meditative posture closing His eyes [i.e., vi-nimīlita-īkṣaṇa], Himācala saluted Him again. Though he was not disheartened, he entertained some doubts. Thus he, the lord of mountains, foremost of the eloquent, spoke to Śiva, the sole kinsman of the universe”.
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)
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) refers to the “eyes”, according to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, belonging to the Pāñcarātra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.—Accordingly, “One desirous of a kingdom, one who has been deprived of it or one conquered by [other] rulers, after having paid respect with large masses of wealth to the supreme Guru, the giver of Sudarśana’s Yantra, considering [him] superior to all, should propitiate God Nārāyaṇa—who has large eyes like lotuses (puṇḍarīka-āyata-īkṣaṇa), is [of] dark [complexion], clad in a yellow garment, adorned with all ornaments and with four arms - following the rules given by the teacher. [...]”.
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.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) represents the number 2 (two) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 2—īkṣaṇa] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.
Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) refers to the “eyes”, according to the Yogatārāvalī: a short Yoga text of twenty-nine verses presenting Haṭhayoga as the means to Rājayoga (i.e., Samādhi).—Accordingly, while describing the no-mind state: “Let this mind wander into thoughtless Samādhi or into a pair of voluptuous breasts of [women] whose eyes (īkṣaṇa) are [as alluring as those of] the spotted black deer. Let it roam among the thoughts of idiots or the thoughts of the wise. The merits and faults produced by thought do not touch me, the king [of Rājayoga]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Shyanika-shastra (the science of Hawking and Hunting)
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) refers to the “eyes” or “sight” (which should be fixed on the chief hawker), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the outlines of hawking]: “[...] At the middle of the party there should be the leading hawker, with two soldiers on each side. The circle should be made with twenty-one horsemen. All men in the circle, with their eyes (īkṣaṇa) fixed on the chief hawker, should remain at a distance of four cubits from each other, in two equal divisions on each side. [...]”.
Shyanika-shastra (श्यैनिकशास्त्र, śyainikaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian skill of hawking/falconry (one of the ways of hunting) which were laid down in a systematic manner in various Sanskrit treatises. It also explains the philosophy behind how the pleasures derived from sense-experience could lead the way to liberation.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) refers to the “eyes” (of 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 2, “on favorable marks”]: “5. With large, long, round necks, trumpeting with a roar like clouds full of water, with sparrow-like honey-colored eyes (īkṣaṇa) [kalaviṅkamadhuprabhekṣaṇāḥ], with trunks like tree stems and marked with three folds (wrinkles), such elephants are fine”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण).—n S Seeing or sight. 2 An eye.
īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण).—n Seeing or sight; an eye.
उ
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
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण).—[īkṣ-lyuṭ]
1) Seeing, beholding &c.
2) A look, sight, aspect, view.
3) An eye; अश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् (aśrupūrṇākulekṣaṇam) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 2.1. इत्यद्रिशोभाप्रहितेक्षणेन (ityadriśobhāprahitekṣaṇena) R.2.27; so अलसेक्षणा (alasekṣaṇā).
4) Regarding, looking after, caring for.
-śravas m. A serpant; एषा नो नैष्ठिकी बुद्धिः सर्वेषामीक्षणश्रवः (eṣā no naiṣṭhikī buddhiḥ sarveṣāmīkṣaṇaśravaḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.37.29.
Derivable forms: īkṣaṇam (ईक्षणम्).
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण).—n.
(-ṇaṃ) 1. Sight, seeing. 2. An eye. E. īkṣ to see, lyuṭ aff.
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण).—i. e. īkṣ + ana, n. 1. Sight, [Kathāsaritsāgara, (ed. Brockhaus.)] 18, 300. 2. Care, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 141; superintendence, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 11. 3. The eye, [Hiḍimbavadha] 3, 20.
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण).—[neuter] look, view, aspect, eye; looking after, caring for ([genetive]).
1) Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण):—[from īkṣ] n. a look, view, aspect sight, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Lāṭyāyana; Kathāsaritsāgara; Pañcatantra; Ratnāvalī] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] regarding, looking after, caring for, [Manu-smṛti]
3) [v.s. ...] eye, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Suśruta; Śakuntalā etc.]
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण):—(ṇaṃ) 1. n. Sight; an eye.
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण):—(wie eben) n.
1) Blick, Anblick [Amarakoṣa 3, 3, 31. 4, 226.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 121.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 576.] [Medinīkoṣa ṇ. 36.] va.aṃ sarve pi sotsukāḥ kṛtekṣaṇāstiṣṭhāmaḥ hinblickend [Pañcatantra 52, 12.] mit dem obj. comp.: āhavanīyekṣaṇāt [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 8, 7, 15. 8, 14.] doṣekṣaṇa [Sāhityadarpana 76, 3.] kṛtaghnā dhanalobhāndhā nopakārekṣaṇakṣamāḥ [Geschichte des Vidūṣaka 240.] —
2) das nach-Etwas - Nachsehen, sich-um-Etwas-Kümmern, Besorgen: pāriṇāhyasya cekṣaṇe (striyaṃ niyojayet) [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 9, 11.] khinnaḥ kāryekṣaṇe nṛṇām [7, 141.] —
3) Auge [Amarakoṣa 2, 6, 2, 44.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 575.] [Medinīkoṣa] abhimukhe mayi saṃvṛtamīkṣaṇam [Śākuntala 44, v. l.] animiṣekṣaṇau [Mahābhārata 1, 1501.] lohitekṣaṇa [Hiḍimbavadha 3, 20.] [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 4, 14.] [Śākuntala 26.] [Suśruta 1, 105, 18. 121,13. 255, 17.] adriśobhāprahitekṣaṇena (nṛpeṇa) [Raghuvaṃśa 2, 27.] yaścādūreritekṣaṇaḥ [Amarakoṣa 3, 4, 1, 17.] īkṣaṇapāka [Suśruta 2, 330, 19.] am Ende eines adj. comp. f. ā [Nalopākhyāna 12, 1. 16, 17. 24, 40.] [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 9, 24. 17, 24. 3, 12, 18. 24, 18.] [Śākuntala 67.] [Vikramorvaśī 32.] [Śrutabodha 32.]
--- OR ---
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण):—
1) yāvadīkṣaṇam einen Augenblick [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 11, 24, 19.]
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण):—n. —
1) das Sehen , Hinsehen , Erblicken , Gewahrwerden [Lāṭyāyana’s Śrautasūtra 5,5,2.] [Böhtlingk’s Sanskrit-Chresthomathie 135,15.299,28.] yāvadīkṣaṇam so v.a. einen Augenblick. —
2) das Nachsehen , Sichkümmern um , Besorgen. —
3) Auge. Am Ende eines adj. Comp. f. ā.
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ikkhaṇa.
Ikṣaṇa (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 伊刹尼 [yī shā ní]: “(Skt. ikṣaṇi)”.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Īkṣaṇa (ಈಕ್ಷಣ):—
1) [noun] the organ of sight in human or animals.
2) [noun] the act of seeing; perception by the eyes; a seeing; sight.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Īkṣaṇa (ईक्षण):—n. 1. seeing; holding; 2. a look; sight; 3. an eye;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+0): Ikshanabhadra, Ikshanakarshana, Ikshanapatha, Ikshanasahasrataya, Ikshanashravas.
Full-text (+46): Nirikshana, Samikshana, Kamalekshana, Carekshana, Anvikshana, Madirekshana, Ayatekshana, Karyekshana, Talekshana, Udikshana, Pingekshana, Vishamekshana, Kunitekshana, Alasekshana, Kvanitekshana, Mrigekshana, Vrishabhekshana, Asitekshana, Raktekshana, Pranikshana.
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Search found 38 books and stories containing Ikshana, Īkṣaṇa, Iksana, Ikṣaṇa; (plurals include: Ikshanas, Īkṣaṇas, Iksanas, Ikṣaṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 4.23 < [Chapter 4 - First-rate Poetry]
Text 7.55 < [Chapter 7 - Literary Faults]
Text 9.30 < [Chapter 9 - Ornaments of Sound]
Krishna Sandarbha of Jiva Goswami (by Kusakratha Prabhu)
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 61 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Page 419 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 326 < [Hindi-Kashmiri-English Volume 1]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.14.13 < [Chapter 14 - The Meeting of King Nanda and Uddhava]
Verse 1.12.18 < [Chapter 12 - Description of Śrī Nanda’s Festival]
Verse 2.22.11 < [Chapter 22 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.3.452 < [Chapter 3 - Mahāprabhu’s Deliverance of Sarvabhauma, Exhibition of His Six-armed Form, and Journey to Bengal]
Brahma Sutras (Govinda Bhashya) (by Kusakratha das Brahmacari)
Sūtra 2.1.16 < [Adhyaya 2, Pada 1]