Mrita, Mṛtā: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Mrita means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
The Sanskrit term Mṛtā can be transliterated into English as Mrta or Mrita, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Mrat.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Mṛta (मृत) refers one who is “killed” (i.e., in battle), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.42.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] then Rudra saw the extent of destruction carried out by Vīrabhadra, of the sacrifice and of the celestial sages. Svāhā, Svadhā, Pūṣan, Tuṣṭi, Dhṛti, Sarasvatī, the sages, the manes, Agnis, many others like Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Rākṣasas who were mutilated, wounded or killed (i.e., mṛta) in the battle were seen by him laughingly”.
Mṛtā (मृता).—A river Dhenukā of the Sākadvīpa.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 49. 94.
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.
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Mṛta (मृत).—The crude base of a declinable word; the pratipadika; the term is found used in the Jainendra Vya= karana; cf Jain. Vyak. I..1.5.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Mṛta (मृत):—Killed / complete reduction of material / incinerated bhasma of metals & minerals
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)
Mṛta (मृत) refers to “dying (on the saline ground)”, according to the Vārāṇasīmāhātmya verse 1.116-125.—Accordingly, “[...] And there is no rebirth (udbhava) in this world for those Pāśupata sages who follow the observance of the skull, they who abide by the Atimārga. For the practitioners of the Atimārga there is only indifference. Those who have set out on the Atimārga only delight in indifference. Those who die (mṛta) on the saline ground go along that path, but of all saline grounds Vārāṇasī is the best, O sage. And there is no sprouting for those who die there. The body abandoned on the cremation ground merges in the Lord of Time. [...]”.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Mṛta (मृत) refers to “(being) killed”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “[...] If a heretic is seen, that brings an undesirable outcome to householders. If one hears someone hurt, wounded, or killed (mṛta), or something broken, then [the officiant] should not divide the site with cords. If there are persons who are not praised, undesirable, or blameworthy, then one should avoid seeing such persons, hearing [the names of] such persons announced, and hearing the voices of such persons. [...]”.
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.
Nirukta (Sanskrit etymology)
Mṛta (मृत) stems from the root √mṛ, meaning “death”.—Cf. Amṛteśa.
Nirukta (निरुक्त) or “etymology” refers to the linguistic analysis of the Sanskrit language. This branch studies the interpretation of common and ancient words and explains them in their proper context. Nirukta is one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Mṛta (मृत) refers to “being dead”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I shall define the nature of that highest, mind-free absorption which arises for those devoted to constant practice. [...] And [that Yogin] is neither alive nor dead (mṛta), does not see nor close his eyes. He remains lifeless like a piece of wood and [thus] is said to be abiding in absorption. [...]”.
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).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Mṛta (मृत) refers to “rotting” (e.g., ‘a rotting corpse’), according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] Just as the great ocean is of a single taste, so the dharma of the Bodhisattva is also of a single taste since he knows the taste of liberation. Just as [the tide of] the great ocean is punctual, so the Bodhisattva is never late for the seat of awakening by investigating when is the right time and wrong time. Just as the great ocean decomposes a rotting corpse (mṛta-kuṇapa), so the Bodhisattva breaks down any habitual pattern of vices or any thought of disciples and isolated Buddhas”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Mṛta (मृत) refers to “(being) dead”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “This world totters to the limit of the world of Brahmā with the fear of the beginning of a frown, and mountains immediately fall asunder by force of [the fact that] the earth is overcome by the weight of the heavy feet [com.—they are dead (mṛtāḥ) if they have entered into a state the same as this (etādṛśasāmarthyopetāḥ)], of those heroes who are all led to death by the king of time in [the space of] some days. Nevertheless, desire is intense only in a living being who is bereft of sense”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
mṛta (मृत).—p (S) Dead, expired, defunct. 2 Calcined.
mṛta (मृत).—p Dead, defunct. Calcined.
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
Mṛta (मृत).—p. p. [mṛ kartari kta]
1) Dead, deceased; ये पराधीनतां यातास्ते वै जीवन्ति के मृताः (ye parādhīnatāṃ yātāste vai jīvanti ke mṛtāḥ) H.2.22.
2) As good as dead, useless, inefficacious; मृतो दरिद्रः पुरुषो मृतं मैथुनमप्रजम् । मृतमश्रोत्रियं श्राद्धं मृतो यज्ञस्त्वदक्षिणः (mṛto daridraḥ puruṣo mṛtaṃ maithunamaprajam | mṛtamaśrotriyaṃ śrāddhaṃ mṛto yajñastvadakṣiṇaḥ) || Pañcatantra (Bombay) 2.98.
3) Calcined, reduced; मूर्च्छां गतो मृतो वा निदर्शनं पारदोऽत्र रसः (mūrcchāṃ gato mṛto vā nidarśanaṃ pārado'tra rasaḥ) Bv.1.82.
-tam 1 Death; मृतेभ्यः प्रमृतं यान्ति दरिद्राः पापकारिणः (mṛtebhyaḥ pramṛtaṃ yānti daridrāḥ pāpakāriṇaḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12. 181.3.
2) Food obtained by begging, alms; मृतं तु याचितं भैक्षम् (mṛtaṃ tu yācitaṃ bhaikṣam) Manusmṛti 4.5; see अमृतम् (amṛtam) (8).
Mṛta (मृत).—mfn.
(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) 1. Dead, expired, extinct, defunct. 2. Calcined, reduced, (metals.) n.
(-taṃ) 1. Solicited alms. 2. Death. E. mṛ to die, aff. kta.
Mṛta (मृत).—[adjective] dead, deceased, vanished, gone, useless; [masculine] dead body, corpse, [neuter] death.
1) Mṛta (मृत):—[from mṛ] a mfn. dead, deceased, death-like, torpid, rigid, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
2) [v.s. ...] departed, vanished (as consciousness), [Mahābhārata]
3) [v.s. ...] vain, useless, [Kāvya literature]
4) [v.s. ...] calcined, reduced (said of metals), [ib.]
5) [v.s. ...] n. death, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]
6) [v.s. ...] = caitya, a grave, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] begging, food or alms obtained by begging, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) b etc. See p. 827, col. 2.
9) Mrita (म्रित):—[from mrit] ‘begging for food’ (for, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] read, [Manu-smṛti iv, 5])
Mṛta (मृत):—[(taḥ-tā-taṃ) a.] Dead; calcined. n. Solicited alms; death.
Mṛta (मृत):—s. u. 1. mar . Nachzutragen für das n. wäre noch: pṛśnirityucyate cānnaṃ vedā āpo mṛtaṃ (mṛtaṃ?) tathā [Mahābhārata 12, 13173.] = caitya Grabmal [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 348.] [Medinīkoṣa r. 37.]
Mṛta (मृत):——
1) Adj. s.u. 1. mar —
2) m. ein Verstorbener , Leichnam (auch der eines Thieres). —
3) n. — a) Tod. — b) das Betteln , erbettelte Speise. —
4) m. oder n. Grabmal.
Mṛta (मृत) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Mailla, Maḍa, Maya, Maria, Mua, Mūillaa, Muyallia.
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
Mṛta (मृत) [Also spelled mrat]:—(a) dead; extinct; ~[jāta] still-born; ~[saṃjīvanī (būṭī)] the mythological herb that restores the dead to life; anything that infuses new life.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Mṛta (ಮೃತ):—
1) [adjective] having died; no longer living; dead.
2) [adjective] such as to suggest death; deathlike; dead.
3) [adjective] lacking positive qualities, as of warmth, vitality etc.; dead.
4) [adjective] (said of a language) no longer in use as a sole means of oral communication among people.
--- OR ---
Mṛta (ಮೃತ):—
1) [noun] the fact or act of dying; cessation of life; end of a living being; death.
2) [noun] he who is liable to die; a human being.
3) [noun] that which is dead.
4) [noun] a man who is no more living; a dead man.
5) [noun] food received as alms.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Mṛta (मृत):—adj. 1. dead; deceased; 2. useless; inefficacious; defunct; 3. calcined; reduced;
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 (+28): Mritabhartrika, Mritabhashe, Mritabhava, Mritabhraj, Mritacela, Mritadara, Mritadeha, Mritadhara, Mritadharaka, Mritadhava, Mritagarbha, Mritagriha, Mritahara, Mritaharin, Mritajata, Mritajataka, Mritajiva, Mritajivana, Mritakalpa, Mritakambala.
Full-text (+320): Amrita, Mritasamjivana, Caranamrita, Mritasanjivani, Jivanmrita, Mritasnana, Pancamrita, Mritashauca, Mritakalpa, Pramrita, Mritajivana, Paramrita, Mritapa, Mritanda, Mritagriha, Mritamatta, Mritodbhava, Mritavatsa, Mritasamjivini, Mritakantaka.
Relevant text
Search found 133 books and stories containing Mrita, Mṛtā, Mrta, Mṛta; (plurals include: Mritas, Mṛtās, Mrtas, Mṛtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Krishna Sandarbha of Jiva Goswami (by Kusakratha Prabhu)
Verse 106.135 < [Anuccheda 106]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.9.14 < [Chapter 9 - The Happiness of the Yadus]
Verse 2.2.24 < [Chapter 2 - Description of Girirāja Govardhana’s Birth]
Verse 2.5.13 < [Chapter 5 - The Liberation of Bakāsura]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 1.113.8 < [Sukta 113]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 639 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 2]
Page 50 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 2]
Page 133 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 2]
Gommatsara by Acharya Nemichandra (by Bai Bahadur J. L. Jaini)
Chapter 15.7 - The concept of Gati (Conditions of Existence) < [Volume 1 - Jiva-kanda (the soul)]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)