Nanashastra, Nana-shastra, Nānāśāstra, Nānāśastra: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Nanashastra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 terms Nānāśāstra and Nānāśastra can be transliterated into English as Nanasastra or Nanashastra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Nānāśastra (नानाशस्त्र) refers to “various miraculous weapons”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.4 (“Search for Kārttikeya and his conversation with Nandin”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “Urged by the gods, sages and mountains, the lord sent his Gaṇas as his emissaries to the place where his son was staying. [...] All the emissaries of Śiva went and haughtily encircled the abode of the Kṛttikās with various miraculous weapons (nānāśastra) in their hands [nānāśastrāstrapāṇayaḥ]. On seeing them the Kṛttikās were extremely terrified. They spoke to Kārttikeya blazing with divine splendour”.
2) Nānāśāstra (नानाशास्त्र) refers to “various sacred texts”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.5 (“The Tripuras are fascinated).—Accordingly, as Arihan said to the Lord of the Three Cities: “O ruler of the Asuras, listen to my statement, pregnant with wisdom. It is the essence of the Vedānta and bears high esoteric importance. [...] There are many kinds of charitable gifts. Of what avail are these which give very insignificant results. There is no other gift equal to that of protection. Four types of gifts have been mentioned by the great sages for the welfare of the people here and hereafter as a result of discussions and deliberations of various sacred texts (nānāśāstra). [...]”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesNānāśastra (नानाशस्त्र) refers to “various weapons”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, [while explaining the knowledge circle (jñānacakra)]: “[...] A circle of charnel grounds is outside [the four gates and four corners] in the interior of the Knowledge Circle. [...] A flame (or torch), a sword, a short sword, a lance, a razor, a rock, and a bolt of lightning—he should place various weapons (nānāśastra) in the middle of [each of] the charnel grounds. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Nānāśāstra (नानाशास्त्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—(?) med. Paris. (B 107).
2) Nānāśāstra (नानाशास्त्र):—read Paris. (B 202).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryNānāśāstra (नानाशास्त्र):—[=nānā-śāstra] [from nānā] (in [compound]) d° sciences or scientific works
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, Nana.
Starts with: Nanashastrarthanirnaya.
Ends with: Gananashastra, Jnanashastra, Kalagananashastra, Padarthavijnanashastra, Vijnanashastra.
Full-text: Nanashastrarthanirnaya, Nanashastriya, Samavaya, Lamb.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Nanashastra, Nana-shastra, Nānāśāstra, Nānāśastra, Nānā-śāstra, Nanasastra, Nana-sastra, Nānā-śastra; (plurals include: Nanashastras, shastras, Nānāśāstras, Nānāśastras, śāstras, Nanasastras, sastras, śastras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.13.5 < [Chapter 13 - Defeating Digvijayī]
Verse 2.6.113 < [Chapter 6 - The Lord’s Meeting with Advaita Ācārya]
Verse 2.10.237-239 < [Chapter 10 - Conclusion of the Lord’s Mahā-prakāśa Pastimes]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 297 [Trika principle of Nara-Śakti-Śiva] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verses 1.8-9 < [Chapter 1 - Sainya-Darśana (Observing the Armies)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.1.31 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
Bhagavad-gita-rahasya (or Karma-yoga Shastra) (by Bhalchandra Sitaram Sukthankar)