Parashu, Parasu, Paraśu, Parāsu: 24 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
See also

Introduction:

Parashu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Paraśu can be transliterated into English as Parasu or Parashu, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Images (photo gallery)

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Mahābhārata

Paraśu (परशु)—Sanskrit word for a type of Battle-ax mentioned in the Mahābhārata.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Paraśu (परशु).—A son of Uttama Manu.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 39; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 1. 15.

1b) Also Paraśvadha: axe; the weapon presented to Rāma by Śiva to put down the Asuras.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 24. 74, 81; 32. 58; 39. 21, 31; 40. 13; IV. 19. 84.

1c) A son of Rukmiṇī and Kṛṣṇa.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 47. 16.

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.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstra

Paraśu (परशु, “axe”):—In Hindu iconology (śilpaśāstra), this symbol represents severing the bonds of attachment. It is also one of the objects that Agni and Yama are displayed carrying.

Source: Google Books: Elements of Hindu iconography

Paraśu is the battle axe. The earlier specimens of this are light and graceful. The paraśu of the archaic type consists of a steel blade which is fitted on a turned, light, wooden handle. The handle is sometimes fixed in a ring which is attached to the balde of the axe. Sometimes, however, the blade is fixed in a hole bored in the handle. The later forms consist of a heavy club, closely resembling the gadā, into which the head of the paraśu is fitted. The balde is disproportionately small in these later forms, but is of proper proportion in the earlier types.

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Inner Circle IV

The axe (paraśu) of Gaṇeśa — represents non-attachment. In order to progress on the spiritual path the essential virtue to cultivate is that of non-attachment to the sense-object and their means of gratification — the noose held in the one hand needs to be cut with the axe of non-attachment in the other.

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Introduction

Paraśu (Axe) - Non-attachment - the severing of our ties and bonds to the material world.

Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (śilpa)

Paraśu (परशु, “battle-axe”).—The significance of paraśu, according to Vātulaśuddhāgama (paṭala 1, śloka 100, p. 40, kartā paraśur ucyate) is that which cuts off the forest (bhavāraṇya), the savage trees of life. The trident signifies the destruction of the three guṇa, sattva, rajas and tamas and the snake represents the destiny, fate.

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Paraśu (परशु, “axe”) represents “satya” (truth), referring to one of the attributes of Lord Śiva, commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The accessories should be made of the same material with which the main image has been fashioned. Each of these accessories denotes the attributes of the images while in certain circumstances they denote particular divinity or character by themselves. Paraśu, for example, signifies the attributes of Lord Śiva.

Paraśu is the battle-axe. The paraśu of the archaic type consists of a steel blade, which is fitted on a turned, light, wooden handle. The handle is sometimes fixed in a ring, which is attached to the blade of the axe. Sometimes, however, the blade is fixed in a hole bored in the handle. The later forms consist of a heavy club, closely resembling the gadā, into which the head of the paraśu is fitted.

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Śūla (शूल, “trident”) represents “satya” (truth), commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The accessories should be made of the same material with which the main image has been fashioned. Each of these accessories denotes the attributes of the images while in certain circumstances they denote particular divinity or character by themselves. Paraśu, for example, signifies the attributes of Lord Śiva.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Dhanurveda (science of warfare)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dhanurveda

Paraśu (परशु) refers to a weapon (“hatchet”, “axe”). It is a Sanskrit word defined in the Dhanurveda-saṃhitā, which contains a list of no less than 117 weapons. The Dhanurveda-saṃhitā is said to have been composed by the sage Vasiṣṭha, who in turn transmitted it trough a tradition of sages, which can eventually be traced to Śiva and Brahmā.

context information

Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेद) refers to the “knowledge of warfare” and, as an upaveda, is associated with the Ṛgveda. It contains instructions on warfare, archery and ancient Indian martial arts, dating back to the 2nd-3rd millennium BCE.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Paraśu (परशु) refers to one of the various Ṛṣis (sages) and Mahārṣis (great sages) 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 Paraśu).

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

Paraśu (परशु) refers to a “axe” and represents one of the items held in the right hand of Heruka: one of the main deities of the Herukamaṇḍala described in the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Heruka is positioned in the Lotus (padma) at the center; He is the origin of all heroes; He has 17 faces (with three eyes on each) and 76 arms [holding, for example, paraśu]; He is half black and half green in color; He is dancing on a flaming sun placed on Bhairava and Kālarātrī.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

parasu : (m.) hatchet.

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

paraśu (परशु).—m (S) pop. paraśa m An ax or a hatchet.

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

paraśu (परशु).—m prop. paraśa m An axe or a hatchet.

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

Paraśu (परशु).—[paraṃ-śṛṇāti, śṝ-ku ḍicca; cf. Uṇ.1.34.]

1) An axe, a hatchet, a battle-axe; तर्जितः परशुधारया मम (tarjitaḥ paraśudhārayā mama) R.11.78.

2) A weapon in general.

3) A thunderbolt.

Derivable forms: paraśuḥ (परशुः).

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Parāsu (परासु).—a.

1) Lifeless, dead; प्राक् परासुर्द्विजात्मजः (prāk parāsurdvijātmajaḥ) R.15.56; 9.78.

2) One whose vital spirit is departed.

-parāsutā, -parāsutvam 1 Exhaustion, death; व्रजति पुरा हि परासुतां त्वदर्थे (vrajati purā hi parāsutāṃ tvadarthe) Ki.1.5.

2) A dependent life (parādhīnaprāṇatva); लोभान्मोहश्च माया च मानस्तम्भः परासुता (lobhānmohaśca māyā ca mānastambhaḥ parāsutā) Mb.12.158.4.

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

Paraśu (परशु).—m.

(-śuḥ) An axe, a hatchet. E. para another, śu to injure, Unadi aff. ku, ḍicca .

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Parāsu (परासु).—mfn. (-suḥ-suḥ-su) Dead, expired. E. para away, remote, asu vital breath.

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

Paraśu (परशु).—i. e. para-, compounded with a derivative of śo, m. An axe, a hatchet, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 74, 18.

— Cf.

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Parāsu (परासु).—i. e. parā-asu, adj. 1. Dying, [Suśruta] 1, 114, 15. 2. Dead, Mahābhārata 1, 3835.

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

Paraśu (परशु).—[masculine] hatchet, axe.

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Parāsu (परासु).—[adjective] dying or dead (lit. whose breath is going or gone out).

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

1) Paraśu (परशु):—m. a hatchet, axe, the axe of a woodcutter

2) ([Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska ii, 20]) a thunderbolt, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

3) Name of a king, [Mahābhārata]

4) [wrong reading] for parśu q.v. (cf. [Greek] πέλεκυς, πέλεκκον, etc.)

5) Parāsu (परासु):—mfn. one whose vital spirit is departed or departing

6) dying or dead, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature etc.]

7) Parāsū (परासू):—[=parā-√sū] [Parasmaipada] -suvati ([Aorist] -sāvīḥ), to frighten away, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Taittirīya-saṃhitā]

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

1) Paraśu (परशु):—(śuḥ) 2. m. An axe, a hatchet.

2) Parāsu (परासु):—[(suḥ-suḥ-su) a.] Dead.

[Sanskrit to German] (Deutsch Wörterbuch)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Böhtlingk and Roth Grosses Petersburger Wörterbuch

Paraśu (परशु):—

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Paraśu (परशु):—2. s. parśu .

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Parāsu (परासु):—(parā + asu) adj. dessen Lebensgeister davongehen oder davongegangen sind, sterbend, moribundus; leblos, todt [Amarakoṣa 2, 8, 2, 85.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 374.] [Halāyudha 3, 7.] [LĀṬY. 3, 3, 7.] [Suśruta 1, 114, 15.] (so v. a. dem Tode verfallen). = vyasu [Nalopākhyāna 11, 36. 37.] [Mahābhārata 1, 3835. 6794. 5, 1819.] parāsūṃkhādantaṃ śṛgālam [13, 412.] [Raghuvaṃśa 9, 78. 15, 56.] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 4, 34.] karaṇa todt machend, todbringend: dhanus [Mahābhārata 6, 1700. 3214.]

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Parāsu (परासु):—adj. f. [Kathāsaritsāgara 76, 13.]

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Pārāsu (पारासु):—Nomen proprium eines Landes ebend. [339,a,10.]

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

Paraśu (परशु):—1. m. —

1) Beil , Axt des Holzhauers , Streitaxt. paraśuvṛkṇa Adj. mit einem Beile abgehauen. —

2) *der Donnerkeil —

3) Nomen proprium eines Fürsten. —

4) [Ṛgveda (roth). 3,53,22.] [Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 14,9,4,26] und [Āśvalāyana’s Gṛhyasūtra 1,15,3.] fehlerhaft für parśu.

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Paraśu (परशु):—2. [Atharvaveda 7,28,1.] = parśu.

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Parāsu (परासु):—Adj. (f. eben so) —

1) dessen Lebensgeister davongehen , sterbend , moribundus , dem Tode verfallen. —

2) dessen Lebensgeister davongegangen sind , leblos , todt.

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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Paraśu (परशु) [Also spelled parshu]:—(nm) a battle axe; ~[dhara] one who wields a [paraśu]; see ~[rāma; ~rāma] the great son of the seer Jamdagni, and a sworn enemy of the kshatriyas, who annihilated the kshatriyas twenty-one times and ultimately suffered a defeat at the hands of [rāma].

context information

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Search found 24 books and stories containing Parashu, Parasu, Paraśu, Parāsu, Parāsū, Para-su, Parā-sū, Pārāsu; (plurals include: Parashus, Parasus, Paraśus, Parāsus, Parāsūs, sus, sūs, Pārāsus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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Figure 241 - Ten principal Hindu deities: Gaṇapati

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Chapter 5 - On the defeat of the Dānava forces of Mahiṣa < [Book 5]

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