Ishu, Iṣu, Īṣu: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Ishu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Jainism, Prakrit, biology, Tamil. 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 terms Iṣu and Īṣu can be transliterated into English as Isu or Ishu, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Dhanurveda (science of warfare)
Iṣu (इषु) refers to a weapon (“arrow”). It is a Sanskrit word defined in the Dhanurveda-saṃhitā, which contains a list of no less than 117 weapons. The Dhanurveda-saṃhitā is said to have been composed by the sage Vasiṣṭha, who in turn transmitted it trough a tradition of sages, which can eventually be traced to Śiva and Brahmā.
Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेद) refers to the “knowledge of warfare” and, as an upaveda, is associated with the Ṛgveda. It contains instructions on warfare, archery and ancient Indian martial arts, dating back to the 2nd-3rd millennium BCE.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Iṣu (इषु).—1. Arrow. 2. Height of an arc or segment of a circle. Note: Iṣu is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Iṣu (इषु) refers to “arrows”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] May goddess Bhāratī shine upon me, I pray. She carries a rosary and a book in her hands, she has the stainless complexion of the full moon, and she embodies the entirety of knowledge. I venerate the beloved husband of Rati, the beautiful Mind-born [God Kāmadeva]. He carries a bow and arrows of flowers (puṣpa-iṣu-cāpa—puṣpeṣucāpaṃ puṣpeṣumantaṃ) and his complexion resembles the petals of Dhak. [Again,] I approach the beloved husband of Prīti, bent round like the full moon, [serving as] the base for the ring of goddesses, in order to draw the Śrīcakra for the sake of prosperity. [...]”.
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.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Iṣu (इषु) represents the number 5 (five) 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., 5—iṣu] 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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Iṣu (इषु) refers to the “arrow” (of the bow of the charioteer), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.8 (“The detailed description of the chariot etc.”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “The divine chariot of lord Śiva consisting of all the worlds was built by Viśvakarman with devoted effort. [...] Goddess Sarasvatī in the form of the Vedas constituted the bells of the bow. The brilliant Viṣṇu became the arrow (iṣu) and Agni the spear-head [iṣurviṣṇurmahātejāstvagniśśalyaṃ]. O sage, the four Vedas are said to be his horses. The remaining planets became their embellishments. His army came up from water. The winds were his feathers, wings etc. Vyāsa and other sages were the drivers of the vehicle. [...]”
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Iṣu (इषु) is the usual name for ‘arrow’ from the Ṛgveda onwards. Other names are Sarya, Sārī, and Bāna. In the hymn of the Ṛgveda, which gives a catalogue of armour, two kinds of arrows are distinctly referred to: the one is poisoned (ālāktā), and has a head of horn (ruruśīrṣṇī); the other is copper-, bronze-, or iron-headed (ayomukha). Poisoned (digdhā) arrows are also referred to in the Atharvaveda. The arrows were feathered. The parts of an arrow are enumerated in the Atharvaveda as the shaft (śalya), the feather-socket (parṇadhi), the point (śrṅga), the neck of the point in which the shaft is fixed (kulmala), and the Apaskambha and Apāstha, which are of more doubtful significance.
In the Aitareya Brāhmana the parts of an arrow are given as the point (anīka), the śalya, tejana, and the feathers (parnani), where śalya and tejana must apparently mean the upper and lower parts of the shaft, since it is reasonable to suppose that the arrow is described as a whole consecutively. So in the Atharvaveda the arrow of Kāma is described as having feathers, a shaft (śalya), and a firm fastening (kulmala). The arrow was shot from the ear, and so is described in the Ṛgveda as “having the ear for its place of birth”.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Iṣu (इषु) refers to an “arrow” and represents one of the attributes of Sumitra or Rigden Shenyenzang refers to one of the Twenty-five Kulikas as well as one of the traditional Shambhala rulers.—His attributes are a bow and arrow (Sanskrit: śara, iṣu, bāṇa; Tib. da [mda']).
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
India history and geography
Iṣu.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘five’. Note: iṣu is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Ishu [ଇଷୁ] in the Odia language is the name of a plant identified with Aristolochia indica L. from the Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort) family having the following synonyms: Aristolochia maysorensis, Aristolochia pandurata, Aristolochia lanceolata. For the possible medicinal usage of ishu, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Iṣu (इषु).—m., f. [iṣ-u; cf. also Uṇādi-sūtra 1.13]
1) An arrow; यामिषुं (yāmiṣuṃ)... हस्ते बिभर्षि (haste bibharṣi) Śvet.3.6; इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि (iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 2.4.
2) The number five.
3) (In Math.) A versed sine.
4) Name of a Soma ceremony.
Derivable forms: iṣuḥ (इषुः).
Iṣu (इषु).—nt. (in Sanskrit only m., f.), arrow: Mahāvastu ii.82.4 and 5 iṣu kṣiptaṃ (n. sg.).
Iṣu (इषु).—mf.
(-ṣuḥ-ṣuḥ) 1. An arrow. 2. A versed sine. E. iṣ to go, and u Unadi aff.
Iṣu (इषु).—[iṣ + u] 1., m. and f. An arrow.
Iṣu (इषु).—[masculine] [feminine] arrow; poss. iṣumant (iṣumant).
1) Iṣu (इषु):—[from iṣ] a mf. an arrow, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Mahābhārata; Raghuvaṃśa; Śakuntalā] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] (in mathematics) a versed sine
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a Soma ceremony, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
4) [v.s. ...] the number five, [Sāhitya-darpaṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] Name of a particular constellation, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhajjātaka xii, 7.]
6) [v.s. ...] [According to Dayānanda iṣu may mean ‘ray of light’; cf. [Greek] ἰός; [Zend] ishu.]
7) [v.s. ...] m. [dual number] (also) Name of two Viṣṭutis, [???]
8) b iṣu-dhi, etc. See 1. iṣ.
Iṣu (इषु):—(ṣuḥ) 2. m. f. An arrow.
Iṣu (इषु):—(von iṣ schleudern) m. f. [Die Uṇādi-Affixe 1, 13.] [Siddhāntakaumudī 248], b, 5. in der alten Sprache selten m.
1) ἰός, Pfeil [Amarakoṣa 2, 8, 2, 55. 3, 4, 110.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 778.] tasya -sā.hvīriṣavo.yābhi.asyati [Ṛgveda 2, 24, 8.] iṣvāḥ pa.ṇami.ā dadhuḥ [10, 18, 14. 103, 11. 7, 75, 11. 8, 7, 4.] [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 16, 3.] [Atharvavedasaṃhitā 1, 13, 4. 5, 5, 4. 14, 12. 18, 15. 11, 9, 1.] [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 2, 3, 3, 10. 5, 3, 5, 29.] pañcaprādeśā ha sma tveva pureṣurbhavati (als Maass) [6, 5, 2, 10.] śa.abradhna.iṣu.tava [Ṛgveda 8, 66, 7.] [Atharvavedasaṃhitā 4, 6, 6.] catuḥsaṃdhirhīṣuranīkaṃ śalyastejanaṃ parṇāni [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 1, 25.] iṣuvadha Tod durch einen Pfeil [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 5, 4, 2, 2.] iṣuparṣin [12, 4, 2, 5.] eṣa tamiṣuṃ saṃdadhe [Śākuntala 94, 10.] iṣurmukto dhanuṣmatā [Pañcatantra I, 219.] iṣukṣepa [Vyutpatti oder Mahāvyutpatti 127],a. naśyatīṣuryathāviddhaḥ khe viddhamanuvidhyataḥ [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 9, 43.] iṣuprayoga [Raghuvaṃśa 2, 42.] niṣaṅgādasamagramuddhṛtam pratisaṃharanniṣum [3, 64.] amoghā iṣavaśceme [Rāmāyaṇa 3, 18, 38.] yadiṣavaḥ sidhyanti lakṣye cale [Śākuntala 38.] iṣuṇā [Daśaratha’s Tod 1, 25.] Ein adj. comp. auf iṣu hat den Ton auf der Endsilbe des ersten Wortes [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 6, 2, 107. 108.] Am Ende eines adj. comp. iṣuka, f. kāḥ trīṣukaṃ dhanuḥ [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 25, 4, 47.] carmatūṇyaḥ seṣukāḥ [15, 3, 19.] Die einzelnen Theile des Pfeils s. bei anīka, apāṣṭha, tejana, kulmala, parṇa, śalya . —
2) iṣustrikāṇḍā der dreitheilige Pfeil, Name eines Sternbildes (vielleicht der Gürtel des Orion) neben mṛga, mṛgavyādha und rohiṇī [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 3, 33]; vgl. iṣuṇā trikāṇḍena [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 2, 1, 2, 9.] —
3) bei den Mathematikern (wie alle Synonn. von Pfeil) der Sinus versus [Algebra 89.] —
4) Name einer vom Pfeil benannten Soma-Feier [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 22, 5, 30.] iṣuriṣṭiḥ [10, 23.] iṣuvajrau sind sāmavedavihitau kratū [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 2, 4, 4,] [Scholiast]
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Iṣu (इषु):—
4) [Ṣaḍviṃśabrāhmaṇa 3, 2. 9.] —
5) Bez. der Zahl fünf (wegen der 5 Pfeile des Liebesgottes) [Sāhityadarpana 264.] —
6) Bez. einer best. Constellation d. i. wenn alle Planeten in den Häusern 4, 5, 6 und 7 stehen, [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka 12, 7]; vgl. śara .
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Iṣu (इषु):—
5) (Nachträge) [Sūryasiddhānta 1, 30. 42. 8, 8.]
Iṣu (इषु):—m. f. —
1) Pfeil. —
2) iṣustrikāṇḍaḥ und kāṇḍā ein best. Sternbild. —
3) Sinus versus. —
4) eine best. Soma-Feier. —
5) Bez. der Zahl fünf. —
6) eine best. Constellation.
Iṣu (इषु) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Isu, Usu.
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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Isu (इसु) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Iṣu.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Iṣu (ಇಷು):—
1) [noun] a slender shaft, usu. pointed at one end and feathered at the other, for shooting from a bow; an arrow.
2) [noun] a symbol for the number five.
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Isu (ಇಸು):—
1) [verb] to shoot an arrow.
2) [verb] to press; to compress.
3) [verb] to eject as from a syringe.
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Isu (ಇಸು):—[verb] to receive; to accept.
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Isu (ಇಸು):—[noun] a slender shaft, usually pointed at one end and feathered at the other, for shooting from a bow ; an arrow.
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Īsu (ಈಸು):—
1) [verb] to move through water by movements of the arms and legs or of flippers, fins, tail, etc.; to swim.
2) [verb] to play in a subject freely; to be well versed in; ಈಸಬೀಳು [isabilu] īsabīḷu to dive into water for swimming; ಈಸಬೇಕು, ಇದ್ದು ಜಯಿಸಬೇಕು [isabeku, iddu jayisabeku] īsabēku, iddu jayisabēku (prov.) do not run away from the hard realities of life; ಈಸುವವನಿಗೆ ಮೀಸೆ ಭಾರವೇ [isuvavanige mise bharave]? īuvavanige mīse bhāravē? (prov.) what burden does a fly add to a sailing ship?.
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Īsu (ಈಸು):—
1) [verb] to cause to give.
2) [verb] to give; to hand over the possession to.
3) [verb] to take; to receive; to accept; ಈಸಿಕೊಡು [isikodu] īsikoḍu to cause to give; 2. to take (from one) and give (it) to (another); ಈಸಿಕೊಳ್ [isikol] īsikoḷto take; to receive; to accept; ಈಸುಕೊಳ್ [isukol] īsukoḷ= ಈಸಿಕೊಳ್ [isikol]; ಈಸುಕೊಳ್ಳು [isukollu] īsukoḷḷu = ಈಸಿಕೊಳ್ [isikol]; ಈಸುವಾರ್ [isuvar] īsuvār (pl.) those who give; givers.
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Īsu (ಈಸು):—[verb] to pull (towards); to draw.
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Īsu (ಈಸು):—[noun] the act or an instance of swimming; swimming.
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Īsu (ಈಸು):—
1) [adjective] amounting to this much.
2) [adjective] small in size, amount, number or degree; not big, large or great; not much.
3) [adjective] short in duration or distance.
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Īsu (ಈಸು):—
1) [noun] this much quantity, number, capacity; etc.
2) [noun] ಈಸರು [isaru] īsaru (pl.) this many people; ಈಸೈಸು [isaisu] īsaisu this much or that much quantity; ಈಸೊಂದು [isomdu] īsondu amounting to, totalling this much; this much.
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Īsu (ಈಸು):—[adverb] this much.
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Īsu (ಈಸು):—
1) [noun] the beam that connects the plough to the yoke.
2) [noun] the main beam of ಅ [a] cart that is fixed across the axle.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Īṣu (ஈஷு) [īṣūtal] 5 transitive verb < இழிசு-. [izhisu-.] To smear, daub. வீட்டிற்கு மண்ணை ஈஷினான். [vittirku mannai ishinan.] Brāh.
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+21): Ishubala, Ishubhrit, Ishudbhava, Ishudhanva, Ishudhanvan, Ishudhanvin, Ishudhara, Ishudhi, Ishuguha, Ishuhasta, Ishuhata, Ishukamashami, Ishukara, Ishukrit, Ishukshepa, Ishumarga, Ishumat, Ishumatra, Ishumatram, Ishumukha.
Full-text (+140): Ishudhi, Ishvasa, Pushpeshu, Panceshu, Maheshu, Kusumeshu, Ishvasana, Ishvastra, Vishameshu, Ayugishu, Brihadishu, Ishudhara, Ishubhrit, Ishupunkha, Ishupatha, Ishupa, Asameshu, Caleshu, Ishukara, Ishukrit.
Relevant text
Search found 44 books and stories containing Ishu, Eeshu, Iṣu, Īsu, Īṣu; (plurals include: Ishus, Eeshus, Iṣus, Īsus, Īṣus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 11.7 < [Chapter 11 - Raja Yoga]
Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras (by Rajeshri Goswami)
Description of Goddess Ishu < [Chapter 4]
Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)
Sustainability and Equity in Urban Development (S&EUD) < [Volume 15, Issue 9 (2023)]
Development of Ecosystem for Corporate Green Innovation < [Volume 15, Issue 6 (2023)]
Water Quality Variation Law and Prediction Method of a Small Reservoir in China < [Volume 14, Issue 21 (2022)]
A fragment of the Babylonian 'Dibbara' epic (by Morris Jastrow)