Mantrashastra, Mantraśāstra, Mantra-shastra: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Mantrashastra 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 Mantraśāstra can be transliterated into English as Mantrasastra or Mantrashastra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र) refers to one of the topics dealt with in the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā, which represents the Ayurvedic study on Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Vedas, being the fountainhead of all our knowledge and culture, it is but inevitable that Toxicology is also sourced from the Ṛgveda and Atharva veda. [...] Kāśyapa, the author of the Kāśyapasaṃhitā, displays his encyclopaedic knowledge on a battery of topics like Toxicology, Medicine, Botany, Zoology, Astronomy, Astrology, Yoga, Svarodaya, Pharmacology, Herpetology, Opiliatry, Occultism, Mantra Śāstra, Śakuna Śāstra and General Hygiene.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र) refers to the “knowledge of mantra”, according to the Sāttvata-saṃhitā (XI.1cd-3ab).—Mantraśāstra is the basis of all deeds and hence it constitutes the essence of this world as also, that of lord Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu is mantra itself without which nothing is possible in the three worlds.
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Mantra-shastra is very ancient, and in previous ages people knew this science well. [...] Mantra-shastra was not written like any ordinary type of book. There were ancient Rishis, Munis and Sages, who had the actual realization of mantra. In meditation, when the Rishis were able to transcend the material consciousness, rising to a very high level, those sounds heard by them in that highest state were called mantra.
Mantra Sastras refers to “the Science of spells etc.”.—In the Mantra Sastras we see that each letter has its own favourite deity. Thus in the Siddhasabara-tantra are described the various forms which preside over each and every letter. The spirits which preside over the letters ai, o, na, dita and na are depicted as being seated on the peacock. [...] The Sanskrit term for the letter is akshara, which means the noumenal or the eternal as against the phenomenal or the fleeting world. The Alphabet is the akshara or varnamalika, i.e., the garland of letters. These letters with their divisions (varga) constitute the limbs of the goddess of wisdom (cf. Sri Sankaracharya in his invocatory verse of the Prapanchasara); These letters in turn have their mystical import or significance and are used in the Mantra-sastra as seed letter (bijaksharas).
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
mantraśāstra (मंत्रशास्त्र).—n (S) The Shastra which teaches the prayers and hymns to be addressed to particular deities, the mystic formulæ and spells &c.
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
1) Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[tantric] Paris. (Tel. 14. 15). Taylor. 1, 240. 242. 243. 362. 364. Oppert. Ii, 4827. 5864. Quoted by Kamalākara Oxf. 279^a. Mantraśāstre Ūrdhvāmnāya. Bhr. 394.
2) Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र):—[tantric] Gov. Or. Libr. Madras 64 (and—[commentary]).
3) Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र):—Ulwar 2269 (Homavidhi).
4) Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र):—Śg. 1, 160 (inc.).
Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र):—[=mantra-śāstra] [from mantra > man] n. ‘magic science’, Name of [work]
Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र):—[(ma + śāstra)] n. Zauberlehre, Titel einer Schrift, [Colebrooke] [?I,21. Oxforder Handschriften 279,a,13.]
Mantraśāstra (मन्त्रशास्त्र):—n. Zauberlehre , Titel eines Werkes.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shastra, Mantra.
Starts with: Mantrashastrapratyangira, Mantrashastrasarasamgraha.
Full-text (+209): Mantrashastrapratyangira, Urdhvamnaya mantrashastra, Mantrashastrasarasamgraha, Hayashirsha, Rishyashringasamhita, Hayashirshasamhita, Linguistic occultism, Candralambamahatmyatika, Nathanavaratnamala, Lalitarcanapaddhati, Varivasyarahasya, Ratnalavala, Gurukala, Purashcarana, Khadyota, Bhavanopanishadbhashya, Shrisuktabhashya, Kaulpanishadbhashya, Tripuropanishadbhashya, Saubhagyabhaskara.
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Search found 37 books and stories containing Mantrashastra, Mantra-sastra, Mantra-śāstra, Mantra-shastra, Mantraśāstra, Mantrasastra, Mantrasastras; (plurals include: Mantrashastras, sastras, śāstras, shastras, Mantraśāstras, Mantrasastras, Mantrasastrases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Samrajya Lakshmi Pithika (Study) (by Artatrana Sarangi)
Manuscript Material of Samrajya-lakshmi-pithika < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Hindu Pluralism (by Elaine M. Fisher)
The Making of a Hindu Sectarian Community < [Conclusion—A Prehistory of Hindu Pluralism]
Śaṅkarācāryas and Smārta Brahmins < [Chapter 2 - The Making of the Smārta-Śaiva Community of South India]
Tummalapalli Ramalingeswara Rao < [October - December 1977]
Our National Bird: The Peacock its Myths and Legends < [October 1966]
Our National Bird: The Peacock its Myths and Legends < [October 1966]
Advayavajra-samgraha (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri)
Chapter 3 - Tattvaratnavali < [Sanskrit texts of the Advayavajra-samgraha]
Narada Purana (English translation) (by G. V. Tagare)
1.5. Dharmaśāstra in the Narada Purāṇa < [Introduction]
Chapter 44 - A Discourse on Meditation (dhyāna) < [Part 2 - Pūrva-bhāga: Dvitīya-pāda]