Introduction

Alternative spellings of this word include Meen.

In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstra

Mīna (मीन) refers to “fish”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (See the Manubhāṣya, verse 11.68)

context information

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1) Mīna (मीन).—The Tamil month of Panguni: Sūrya in the month of.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 105. 46.

2) Mīnā (मीना).—A daughter of Ṛṣā; gave birth to fishes—makara, pāṭhina, and timirohita.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 414-5; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 291-2.

context information

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

Mīna (मीन).—Description of a women of fish (mīna) type;—A woman who has long, large and high breasts, is fickle and without any twinkle in her eyes, has many servants and offsprings, is fond of water, is said to have the nature of a fish (mīna or matsya).

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., 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) and poetic works (kavya).

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

Mīna (मीन) corresponds with the Pisces zodiac sign and refers to the twelfth and last of twelve rāśi (zodiacal sign), according to the Mānasāra. Rāśi 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 rāśi (e.g., mīna) 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). All twelve rāśis, except the eighth (vṛścika) are auspicious.

context information

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.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Yoga

Mīna is one of the eighty-four Siddhas associated with eighty-four Yogic postures (āsanas), according to popular tradition in Jodhpur, Rājasthān. These posture-performing Siddhas are drawn from illustrative sources known as the Nava-nātha-caurāsī-siddha from Vȧrāṇasī and the Nava-nātha-caruāsī-siddha-bālāsundarī-yogamāyā from Puṇe. They bear some similarity between the eighty-four Siddhas painted on the walls of the sanctum of the temple in Mahāmandir.

The names of these Siddhas (e.g., Mīna) to 19th-century inscription on a painting from Jodhpur, which is labelled as “Maharaja Mansing and eighty-four Yogis”. The association of Siddhas with yogis reveals the tradition of seeing Matsyendra and his disciple Gorakṣa as the founders of haṭhayoga.

context information

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).

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms

Mīna (मीन).—Sign Pisces. Note: Mīna is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

context information

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.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd Edition

Mīna (मीन) corresponds to “pisces” (mid March to mid April) and refers to one of the zodiac signs (rāśī) in the Vedic calendar.—Rāśī refers to the different signs of the zodiac through which the sun travels. For precise dates, please refer to a Vedic calendar. In accordance with the zodiac sign the sun is situated in, one would utter [for example, mīna-rāśī sthite bhāskare]

context information

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’).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Mīna (मीन) is the name of a Rāśi (zodiac sign) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Mīna).

Source: BDK Tripiṭaka: The Susiddhikara-sūtra

Mīna (मीन) refers to one of the various types of cakes mentioned in Chapter 12 (“offering food”) of the Susiddhikara-sūtra. Accordingly, “Offer [viz., mīna cakes], [...]. Cakes such as the above are either made with granular sugar or made by mixing in ghee or sesamum oil. As before, take them in accordance with the family in question and use them as offerings; if you offer them up as prescribed, you will quickly gain success. [...]”.

When you wish to offer food [viz., mīna cakes], first cleanse the ground, sprinkle scented water all around, spread out on the ground leaves that have been washed clean, such as lotus leaves, palāśa (dhak) leaves, and leaves from lactescent trees, or new cotton cloth, and then set down the oblatory dishes. [...] First smear and sprinkle the ground and then spread the leaves; wash your hands clean, rinse out your mouth several times, swallow some water, and then you should set down the food [viz., mīna]. [...]

context information

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 geogprahy

Source: archive.org: Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1963

Mina is the name of a tank mentioned Mihintale tablets of Mahinda IV (956-972). It represents a locality that once existed in the ancient kingdom of Anurādhapura, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

mīna : (m.) a fish.

context information

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 Dictionary

minā (मिना).—m ( P) Enamel.

--- OR ---

minā (मिना).—ad ( A From that.) Deducted or allowed for; considered in settling the account--a sum advanced, a quantity furnished. Ex. śambhara rupayē dēṇēṃ tyānta tētīsa minā ghātalē. 2 Deducted or subtracted in general.

--- OR ---

mīna (मीन).—m (S) A fish. 2 The sign Pisces.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

minā (मिना).—m Enamel. ad Deducted or allowed of.

--- OR ---

mīna (मीन).—m A fish. The sign Pisces.

context information

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 dictionary

Mīna (मीन).—[mī-nak]

1) A fish; सुप्तमीन इव ह्रदः (suptamīna iva hradaḥ) R.1.73; मीनो नु हन्त कतमां गतिमभ्युपैतु (mīno nu hanta katamāṃ gatimabhyupaitu) Bv.1.17.

2) The twelfth sign of the zodiac (Pisces).

3) The first incarnation of Viṣṇu; see मत्स्यावतार (matsyāvatāra).

-nā A stick.

Derivable forms: mīnaḥ (मीनः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mīna (मीन).—m.

(-naḥ) 1. A fish 2. The sign of the Zodiac Pisces. 3. Vishnu in his first incarnation. E. mī to hurt, Unadi aff. nak .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mīna (मीन).— (probably vb. mih), m. 1. A fish, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 3. 2. The sign of the zodiac, Pisces.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mīna (मीन).—[masculine] fish, poss. vant.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Mīna (मीन) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—a teacher of yoga. Mentioned Oxf. 101^a. 233^b. See Mīnanātha.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Mīna (मीन):—m. (derivation [from] √1. mī very doubtful in spite of [Uṇādi-sūtra iii, 3, ]) a fish, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.

2) the sign of the zodiac Pisces, [Rāmāyaṇa; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Purāṇa]

3) Name of a teacher of Yoga, [Catalogue(s)]

4) Mīnā (मीना):—[from mīna] f. a stick, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) [v.s. ...] Name of a daughter of Uṣā and wife of Kaśyapa, [Purāṇa]

[Sanskrit to German] (Deutsch Wörterbuch)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Sanskrit-Wörterbuch in kürzerer Fassung

Mīna (मीन):——

1) m. — a) Fisch. dvaya n. und yuga n. zwei in einander geschlungene Fische (eine bekannte Figur). am Ende eines adj. Comp. f. ā. — b) die Fische im Thierkreise. Auch yuga n. — c) eine best. Gangart [Saṃgitasārasaṃgraha 253.] —

2) f. ā Nomen proprium einer Tochter der Uṣā.

context information

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.

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