Madhurya, Mādhurya: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Madhurya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Madhury.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra1) Mādhurya (माधुर्य, “sweetness”) refers to one of the ten merits (guṇa) of a dramatic play (kāvya), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 17. They are characterised by their sweetness and depth of meaning. (Description): When a sentence heard or uttered many times does not tire or disgust anyone, it is an instance of Sweetness (mādhurya).
2) Mādhurya (माधुर्य, “delicacy”) refers to one of the ten “ involuntary graces” of women (svābhāvikā), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24. These involuntary (spontaneous) graces, represent one of the three aspects of graces (alaṃkāra) which forms which forms the support of sentiments (rasa) in drama.
According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “moderation in the movement of limbs in all conditions, especially in radiance (dīpti), and in lolling (lalita), is called ‘delicacy’ (mādhurya)”.
3) Mādhurya (माधुर्य, “self-possession”) also refers to one of the eight aspects of the male’s sattva, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24. Accordingingly, “if due to a long practice in this direction one’s sense-organs retain their firmness even when great changes of the natural state have occurred, it is called ‘self-possesion’ (mādhurya, lit. sweetness)”.
These involuntary graces (such as mādhurya) and sattvas are defined according to the science of sāmānyābhinaya, or “harmonious representation”.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)Mādhurya (माधुर्य) refers to “with sweetness, or beauty. It refers to devotion inspired by attraction to Bhagavān’s sweet and intimate feature as a beautiful young cowherd boy and to the greatest exchange of love between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhajana-rahasya - 2nd EditionMādhurya (माधुर्य) refers to:—(1) sweetness or beauty ; (2) Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s four unique qualities: līlā-mādhurya–astonishing pastimes; prema-mādhurya–He is surrounded by devotees who possess incom parable mādhuryaprema; veṇu-mādhurya–the mellifluous sound of His flute; and rūpa-mādhurya–His extraordinary beauty. (cf. Glossary page from Bhajana-Rahasya).
Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad BhagavatamrtamMadhurya (मधुर्य) refers to:—Sweetness; sweet human-like pastimes; the relationship, or rasa, of conjugal love. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Kavyashastra (science of poetry)
Source: Shodhganga: Bhismacaritam a critical studyMādhurya (माधुर्य, “sweetness”) or Mādhuryaguṇa refers to one of the different Guṇas (‘qualities’) employed in the Bhīṣmacarita (Bhishma Charitra) which is a mahākāvya (‘epic poem’) written by Hari Narayan Dikshit.— According to Mammaṭa, the cause melting emotions in the mind, present in the erotic sentiment, and the form of joy is known as Sweetness (mādhurya). Viśvanātha also defined it. Sweetness is the elegance consisting of (i) alliteration technically called śrutyanuprāsa which is the grouping of similar sounds belonging to the same place of articulation, and (ii) absence of vulgarity. The verbal and ideal forms of sweetness (mādhurya) have been called vāg-rasa and vastu-rasa respectively.
In Bharata, it is sweetness (mādhurya) where a sentence heard or repeated many times does not bore or disgust. According to Bhāmaha, the mādhurya of kāvya consists in (i) its being pleasing to the ear and in (ii) the use of a smaller number of compounds, while Vāmana calls it, as a verbal guṇa, the distinctness of words due to absence of long compounds and, as an ideal guṇa, the strikingness of utterance (uktivaicitrya).
Kavyashastra (काव्यशास्त्र, kāvyaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian tradition of poetry (kavya). Canonical literature (shastra) of the includes encyclopedic manuals dealing with prosody, rhetoric and various other guidelines serving to teach the poet how to compose literature.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMādhurya (माधुर्य) refers to “sweet (loving)” and is used to describe the Goddess, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] The goddess who had (just) emerged from the Liṅga and heard the gods words, assumed a sweet (loving) (mādhurya) form (mūrti) and was bent over (kubjikā) with shyness (lajjā). Then she thought (to herself): ‘How is it that the teacher and lord of the gods, demons and the three worlds desires grace (from me)?’”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchMādhurya (माधुर्य) refers to one of the ten Yamas (disciplines) prescribed for forest dwelling, as mentioned in the Vaikhānasasmārtasūtra.—The Mānasollāsa verse 9.21-24ab lists thirty Yamas and Niyamas. The Vaikhānasasmārtasūtra (8.4), whose date has been estimated between the fourth and eighth centuries, is the earliest source for a list of twenty Yamas and Niyamas [e.g., mādhurya]. These were prescribed to a sage at the forest dwelling (vanāśrama) stage of life.
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).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha ChikitsaMādhurya (माधुर्य) refers to a “sweet taste” and is a symptom of a (venemous) bite caused by the Sudanta rats, according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—[Cf. sudantasyāsyamādhuryaṃ pulakāḥ padmanābhavat]
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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarymādhurya (माधुर्य).—n (S) Sweetness, lit. fig., lusciousness, melodiousness, fragrance, agreeableness &c.: also softness, gentleness, mildness of disposition or manners.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishmādhurya (माधुर्य).—n Sweetness; gentleness.
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 dictionaryMādhurya (माधुर्य).—[madhurasya bhāvaḥ ṣyañ]
1) Sweetness; माधुर्यमीष्टे हरिणान् ग्रहीतुम् (mādhuryamīṣṭe hariṇān grahītum) R.18.13; माधुर्यं मधुबिन्दुना रचयितुं क्षाराम्बुधे- रीहते (mādhuryaṃ madhubindunā racayituṃ kṣārāmbudhe- rīhate) Bhartṛhari 2.6.
2) Attractive beauty, exquisite beauty; रूपं किमप्यनिर्वाच्यं तनोर्माधुर्यमुच्यते (rūpaṃ kimapyanirvācyaṃ tanormādhuryamucyate)
3) (In Rhet.) Sweetness, one of the three (according to Mammaṭa) chief Guṇas in poetic compositions; चित्तद्रवी भावमयो ह्लादो माधुर्य- मुच्यते (cittadravī bhāvamayo hlādo mādhurya- mucyate) S. D.66; see K. P.8 also.
4) Kindness, amiability.
5) (With Vaiṣṇavas) A feeling of tender affection for Kṛṣṇa (like that of a woman for her lover); Daśakumāracarita 2.2. -a. Sweetly speaking; स्वच्छप्रकृतितः स्निग्धो माधुर्यस्तीर्थभूर्नृणाम् (svacchaprakṛtitaḥ snigdho mādhuryastīrthabhūrnṛṇām) Bhāgavata 11.7.44.
Derivable forms: mādhuryam (माधुर्यम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMādhurya (माधुर्य) or Mādhuryya.—n.
(-ryaṃ) Sweetness of flavour or disposition. E. madhura sweet, literally or figuratively, aff. ṣyañ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMādhurya (माधुर्य).—i. e. madhura + ya, n., and f. rī. 1. Sweetness, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 6. 2. Gracefulness, [Daśakumāracarita] in
1) Mādhurya (माधुर्य):—[from mādhura] n. sweetness, [Kāvya literature; Suśruta]
2) [v.s. ...] loveliness, exquisite beauty, charm, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] (with Vaiṣṇavas) a feeling of tender affection (for Kṛṣṇa like that of a girl for her lover), [Religious Thought and Life in India 141]
4) [v.s. ...] (in [rhetoric]) grace of style ([especially] consisting in the employment of separated words in a sentence, as opp. to śleṣa q.v.), [Vāmana’s Kāvyālaṃkāravṛtti; Kāvyaprakāśa] etc.
5) [v.s. ...] mfn. sweetly speaking, [Manvarthamuktāvalī, kullūka bhaṭṭa’s Commentary on manu-smṛti on Manu-smṛti x, 33.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMādhurya (माधुर्य):—(ryyaṃ) 1. n. Sweetness of flavour or disposition.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Mādhurya (माधुर्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Māhuria.
[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 dictionaryMādhurya (माधुर्य) [Also spelled madhury]:—(nm) sweetness; pleasantness; one of the poetic qualities which is marked by the exclusive usage of soft or liquid sounds and sound-combinations; -[pradhāna] abounding in (the quality of) [mādhurya].
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMādhurya (ಮಾಧುರ್ಯ):—[noun] a man admired for his courage, nobility, etc. in a war; a hero.
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Mādhurya (ಮಾಧುರ್ಯ):—
1) [noun] the quality of being sweet, delicious; suavity; deliciousness.
2) [noun] the quality of being suave; graceful politeness; suavity.
3) [noun] the quality of being pleasant, delightful; pleasantness; delight.
4) [noun] the quality of being soft; softness.
5) [noun] the quality of being sympathetic, compassionate; compassion.
6) [noun] (rhet.) a style in poetics marked by graceful and delighting qualities.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryMādhurya (माधुर्य):—n. 1. sweetness; deliciousness; pleasantness; elegance; 2. the graceful beauty of divinity; 3. Rhet. sweetness; one of the three chief Gunas in poetic composition;
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: Madhuryaguna, Madhuryakadambini, Madhuryamandala, Madhuryaranjani, Madhuryarasa.
Full-text (+28): Mukhamadhurya, Van Madhurya, Madhuryakadambini, Shabdamadhurya, Madhuryarasa, Bhrukshepalapamadhurya, Bhrukshemadhurya, Lilamadhurya, Premamadhurya, Rupamadhurya, Venumadhurya, Mahamadhurya, Madhuryamandala, Guna, Kriyamadhurya, Palapamadhurya, Madhuryaguna, Angamadhurya, Madhury, Aishvarya.
Relevant text
Search found 65 books and stories containing Madhurya, Mādhurya, Maadhurya; (plurals include: Madhuryas, Mādhuryas, Maadhuryas). 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 8.8 < [Chapter 8 - Literary Qualities]
Text 8.9 < [Chapter 8 - Literary Qualities]
Text 8.12 < [Chapter 8 - Literary Qualities]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.257 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Verse 2.1.213 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Verse 2.1.215 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.15.12 < [Chapter 15 - Description of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s Falling in Love]
Verse 2.17.32 < [Chapter 17 - The Meeting of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa]
Verse 6.18.22 < [Chapter 18 - In the Course of Describing the Glories of Siddhāśrama, a Description of the Rāsa-dance Festival]
Hanuman Nataka (critical study) (by Nurima Yeasmin)
2. Guṇa (quality) in the Haumannāṭaka < [Chapter 4]
3. Examination of the Language from Literary Perspective < [Chapter 6]
1. Rīti (Style) in the Haumannāṭaka < [Chapter 4]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.4.235 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Verse 1.5.62-63 < [Chapter 5 - Priya (the beloved devotees)]
Verse 2.4.66 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Malatimadhava (study) (by Jintu Moni Dutta)
Part 4.3a - Mādhurya Guṇa (sweetness) < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]
Part 4.1-2 - Definition of Guṇa (quality—principal element) < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]
Part 4.3 - Delineation of Guṇa in the Mālatīmāhava (Introduction) < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]
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