Manusha, Manusa, Mānusa, Mānuṣa: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Manusha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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 Mānuṣa can be transliterated into English as Manusa or Manusha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraMānuṣa (मानुष).—Description of a women of human (mānuṣa) type;—A woman who loves uprightness, is always clever and very virtuous, has regular features (vibhaktāṅgī), is grateful to her benefactors, disposed to worship the elders and gods, always careful about duty (dharma) as well as material gain, and is free from pride and fond of friends and has good habits is said to have the nature of a human being (mānuṣa or nara).
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).
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraManuṣa (मनुष, “man”) refers to one of the three gaṇa (clusters), according to the Mānasāra. Gaṇa is one of the three alternative principles, besides the six āyādiṣaḍvarga, used to constitute the “horoscope” of an architectural or iconographic object. Their application is intended to “verify” the measurements of the architectural and iconographic object against the dictates of astrology that lay out the conditions of auspiciousness.
The particular gaṇa (e.g., manuṣa) of all architectural and iconographic objects (settlement, building, image) must be calculated and ascertained. This process is based on the principle of the remainder. An arithmetical formula to be used in each case is stipulated, which engages one of the basic dimensions of the object (breadth, length, or perimeter/circumference). Of the three gaṇas, the asura (demonic) and manuṣa (human) class are to be avoided.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesMānuṣa (मानुष) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.2) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mānuṣa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Mānuṣa (मानुष) refers to “milk coming from a human (i.e., breast)”, as mentioned in verse 5.26 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] among the (different kinds of milk [viz., payas]), [...] Human milk [viz., mānuṣa] (is) destructive of eye-diseases (coming) of wind, choler, blood, and injury, (and that) in the form of refreshments and instillations (as well as) sternutatories”.
Note: Mānuṣa (“human milk”) has been paraphrased by bud-med nu-źo (“a woman’s breast-milk”).
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsMānuṣa (मानुष) refers to “men”, according to the Vārāṇasīmāhātmya verse 1.116-125.—Accordingly, “Engaged in the path of the observance of the skull, the Lord wanders, free from attachment, displaying the Lokamārga and the supreme Lokātīta. And the lokas are designated ‘bound souls’, including gods, demons (devāsura) and men (mānuṣa). No one realizes the supreme certainty with respect to knowledge of the self. And except for Śarva, the supreme god, there is no such behaviour of another [God]. No other god has certainty of knowledge. There is no such behaviour anywhere in the world with all its Gods. [...]”.
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (h)Mānuṣa (मानुष) refers to “those Āgamas spoken by mortals”.—There is another classification of Āgamas as Sāttvika, Rājasa and Tāmasa. These three can again be classified into three types as (i) divya—promulgated by Lord Vāsudeva himself and found only in the devaloka, (ii) munibhāṣita—spoken by gods and sages and (iii) mānuṣa—spoken by mortals (Īśvara Saṃhitā. I.54-6, 63cd):
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismMānuṣa (मानुष) refers to a class of yakṣa deities according to Digambara while the Śvetāmbara tradition does not reccognize this class. The yakṣas refer to a category of vyantaras gods which represents one of the four classes of celestial beings (devas). The assigned color of yakṣas is black and their caitya-vṛkṣa (sacred tree) is the “banyan tree” (vaṭa).
The deities such as the Mānuṣas are defined in ancient Jain cosmological texts such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapaṇṇati by Yativṛṣabha (5th century) in the Digambara tradition.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymānusa : (adj.) human (m.), a man.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryMānusa, (adj. n.) (cp. Vedic mānuṣa; fr. same base (manus) as manussa) 1. (adj.) human Sn. 301 (bhoga); It. 94 (kāmā dibbā ca mānusā); Pv. II, 921 (m. deha); 956 (id.).—amānusa divine Vv 356; Pv. II, 1220; ghostly (=superhuman) Pv IV. 36; f. amānusī Pv III, 7. 9 — 2. (n. m.) a human being, a man Mhvs 15, 64; f. mānusī a (human) woman J. IV, 231; Pv. II, 41.—amānusa a superhuman being Pv IV. 157.—pl. mānusā men Sn. 361, 644; Pv. II, 117. As nt. in collective sense=mankind Pv. II, 113 (v. l. mānussaṃ; C. =manussaloka). (Page 529)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarymāṇūsa (माणूस).—m f n (manuṣya S) A man, a person, a human being: also man or mankind. In designation of the stages downwards from the delicateness, tenderness, and susceptibility pertaining to Civilized humanity unto the rudeness, hardiness, and callousness of Absolute barbarism, three words have been devised to alliterate or jingle with māṇūsa, this word expressing the standard state. These three, with māṇūsa at their head, are (māṇūsa) kāṇūsa, ṭhēkasa, ṭhōmasa. bharalyā māṇasāntūna uṭhaviṇēṃ-kāḍhaṇēṃ-ghālaviṇēṃ To cast out of society. māṇasākāṇasīṃ By or through human beings. māṇusācēṃ kāṇūsa hōṇēṃ To become emaciated or reduced; or to become poor and wretched; i. e. to cease being māṇūsa and to become any non-descript thing. māṇūsa kāṇūsa ōḷakhāvēṃ- jāṇāvēṃ-pāhāvēṃ-dhyānānta dharāvēṃ &c. Make distinction betwixt man and man.
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mānuṣa (मानुष).—m S A man. mānuṣī f S A woman.
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mānuṣa (मानुष) [or षी, ṣī].—a S Pertaining or relating to man, human.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishmāṇūsa (माणूस).—See maṇuṣya &c.
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mānuṣa (मानुष).—a Human. m A man.
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 dictionaryMānuṣa (मानुष).—a. (-ṣī f.) [मनोरयम् अण् सुक् च (manorayam aṇ suk ca)]
1) Human; मानुषी तनुः, मानुषी वाक् (mānuṣī tanuḥ, mānuṣī vāk) &c.; R.1.6;16.22; मानुषे लोके (mānuṣe loke) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 4.12; अवजानन्ति मां मूढा मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम् (avajānanti māṃ mūḍhā mānuṣīṃ tanumāśritam) 9.11; Manusmṛti 4.124.
2) Humane, kind.
-ṣaḥ 1 A man, human being.
2) An epithet of the three signs of the zodiac, Gemini, Virgo, and Libra.
-ṣī 1 A woman.
2) A branch of medicine, administering drugs and herbs.
-ṣam 1 Humanity.
2) Human effort or action; मानुषं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च (mānuṣaṃ ca svādhyāyapravacane ca) T. Up.1.9.1.
3) Manhood; श्रीरेषा द्रौपदीरूपा त्वदर्थे मानुषं गता (śrīreṣā draupadīrūpā tvadarthe mānuṣaṃ gatā) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 18.4.12.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMānuṣa (मानुष).—name of a nāga king: Mahā-Māyūrī 247.25.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMānuṣa (मानुष).—mfn.
(-ṣaḥ-ṣā-ṣaṃ) Human. m.
(-ṣaḥ) A man. f. (-ṣī) 1. A woman. 2. A branch of medicine, the administering of drugs and herbs. E. manuṣa a man, aṇ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMānuṣa (मानुष).—i. e. manus (q. cf.), + a, I. adj., f. ṣī. 1. Human, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 53, 3; 54, 17. 2. Relating to mankind, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 124. Ii. m. A man, [Pañcatantra] 61, 10. Iii. f. ṣī, A woman, [Nala] 13, 55. Iv. n. Human effort,
Manuṣa (मनुष).—[masculine] man.
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Mānuṣa (मानुष).—[feminine] ī human or humane. [masculine] (adj. —° [feminine] ā) human being, man, [plural] the (5) tribes of men; [feminine] mānuṣī a woman; [neuter] = seq.
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Mānuṣa (मानुष).—[feminine] ī human or humane. [masculine] (adj. —° [feminine] ā) human being, man, [plural] the (5) tribes of men; [feminine] mānuṣī a woman; [neuter] = seq.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Manuṣa (मनुष):—[from man] m. (or ṣa, [Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā]) ([from] manus) a man, [Ṛg-veda]
2) Mānuṣa (मानुष):—mf(ī)n. or mānuṣa ([from] manus) belonging to mankind, human, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
3) favourable or propitious to men, humane, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda]
4) m. (ifc. f(ā). ) a man, human being ([plural] the races of men, 5 in number), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
5) m. Name of the signs of the zodiac Gemini, Virgo, and Libra, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
6) n. the condition or manner or action of men, humanity, manhood, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
7) Name of a place, [Catalogue(s)]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMānuṣa (मानुष):—(ṣaḥ) 1. m. A man. f. (ṣī) Woman; administering medicine.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Mānuṣa (मानुष) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Māṇusa.
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Maṇusa (मणुस) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Manuṣya.
Maṇusa has the following synonyms: Maṇussa.
2) Māṇusa (माणुस) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Mānuṣa.
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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMānuṣa (ಮಾನುಷ):—[noun] of, belonging to or typical of human beings.
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Mānuṣa (ಮಾನುಷ):—
1) [noun] a human being.
2) [noun] that which is humanly possible.
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Mānusa (ಮಾನುಸ):—[noun] = ಮಾನಿಸ [manisa]1.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+7): Manusaka, Manushacantati, Manushada, Manushadaivika, Manushadatva, Manushajanma, Manushajavisha, Manushakumaran, Manushalaukika, Manushalinga, Manusham, Manushamakan, Manushamamsada, Manushan, Manushanikashana, Manushaparshad, Manushapradhana, Manusharakshasa, Manusharakshasi, Manushasambhava.
Ends with (+1): Amanusa, Apratimanusha, Ardhamanusha, Atimanusha, Dhurtamanusha, Dhurttamanusha, Divyamanusha, Jalamanusa, Kevalamanusha, Matimanusha, Mulamanusha, Nirmanusha, Prakritamanusha, Rajamanusha, Samanusha, Saptamanusha, Sumanusha, Uttaramanusha, Vanamanusha, Vimanusha.
Full-text (+136): Amanusa, Atimanusha, Manushya, Prakritamanusha, Manusaka, Manussa, Manusharakshasa, Manushi, Manushasambhava, Manushalaukika, Manushibhu, Manushopeta, Javalika, Manushibuddha, Nirmanusha, Divyamanusha, Manushata, Manusharakshasi, Manushendra, Manushapradhana.
Relevant text
Search found 46 books and stories containing Manusha, Manusa, Mānusa, Mānuṣa, Manuṣa, Māṇūsa, Maṇusa, Maṇūsa, Māṇusa; (plurals include: Manushas, Manusas, Mānusas, Mānuṣas, Manuṣas, Māṇūsas, Maṇusas, Maṇūsas, Māṇusas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika (by R. Balasubramanian)
Verse 1.145 < [Book 1 - Śīkṣāvallī]
Verse 2.500 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]
Verse 2.506-507 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 11.51 < [Chapter 11 - Viśvarūpa-darśana-yoga (beholding the Lord’s Universal Form)]
Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra (by C. G. Kashikar)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.124 < [Section XIII - Days unfit for Study]
Verse 3.31 < [Section IV - The Eight Forms of Marriage]
Verse 3.20 < [Section IV - The Eight Forms of Marriage]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.9.53 < [Chapter 9 - The Happiness of the Yadus]
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