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)

[«previous next»] — Nanashastra in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

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”.

Purana book cover
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.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Nānāśastra (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 book cover
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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Nanashastra in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) 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 Dictionary

Nānāśāstra (नानाशास्त्र):—[=nānā-śāstra] [from nānā] (in [compound]) d° sciences or scientific works

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.

Discover the meaning of nanashastra or nanasastra in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

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