Parshada, Pārṣada: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Parshada means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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 Pārṣada can be transliterated into English as Parsada or Parshada, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Pārṣada (पार्षद) is the Sanskrit name of one of Bharata’s sons, mentioned in the Nāṭyaśāstra 1.26-33. After Brahmā created the Nāṭyaveda (nāṭyaśāstra), he ordered Bharata to teach the science to his (one hundred) sons. Bharata thus learned the Nāṭyaveda from Brahmā, and then made his sons study and learn its proper application. After their study, Bharata assigned his sons (eg., Pārṣada) various roles suitable to them.

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Pārṣada (पार्षद) refers to the “attendants” (of Śiva), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.4 (“Search for Kārttikeya and his conversation with Nandin”).—Accordingly, as Kārttikeya said to Nandīśvara: “[...] O Nandikeśvara, I am not severed from the daughter of the lord of mountains who is virtually my mother just as these ladies on the basis of virtuous rites. You have been sent by Śiva. You are like a son unto Śiva. I am coming with you. I shall see the gods. After saying so and hurriedly taking leave of the Kṛttikās, Kārttikeya started along with the attendants of Śiva (śaṃkara-pārṣada)”.
Pārṣada (पार्षद).—Śivagaṇas with awkward forms; fought with Tāraka and Māya in the battle of Tripuram.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 135. 51, 73.

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)
Pārṣada (पार्षद).—[पर्षदि भवं पार्षदम् (parṣadi bhavaṃ pārṣadam)], lit. the interpretation or theory discussed and settled at the assembly of the learned. The word is used in the sense of works on Nirukti or derivation of words as also works of the type of the Prātiśākhyās; cf. पदप्रकृतीनि सर्वचरणानां पार्षदानि (padaprakṛtīni sarvacaraṇānāṃ pārṣadāni) Nir. I. 17 and the com. of, दुर्गाचार्यः (durgācāryaḥ) cf. also पार्षदकृतिरेषा तत्रभवतां नैव लोके नान्य-स्मिन्वेदे अर्ध एकारः अर्ध ओकारो वास्ति (pārṣadakṛtireṣā tatrabhavatāṃ naiva loke nānya-sminvede ardha ekāraḥ ardha okāro vāsti) M. Bh. on I. 1. 48: see also pp. 104, 105 Vol. VII Mahābhāsya D. E. Society's edition. See पारिषद (pāriṣada).

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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Pārṣada (पार्षद) refers to:—An eternal associate of the Lord. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
Pārṣada (पार्षद) refers to—See parikara.

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’).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
1) Pārṣada (पार्षद) or Pārṣadasaṃhitā is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Puruṣottamasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text consisting of more than 1800 verses devoted to temple-building and the practical concerns of the Pāñcarātra priestly community.—The Puruṣottama Saṃhitā presents a clear and concise treatment of its subjects, comparing favorably to such works as Aniruddhasaṃhitā (q.v.) and Kapiñjalasaṃhitā (q.v.). Like the latter of these two just-mentioned texts, the work at hand also contains a list of canonical titles in its opening chapter.
2) Pārṣada (पार्षद) or Pārṣadasaṃhitā is also mentioned in the Mārkaṇḍeyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2200 Sanskrit verses mainly dealing with temple-building, iconography, pūjā (worship procedures), utsava (festivities) and prāyaścitta (expiatory measures).
Pārṣada (पार्षद) refers to a sub-divisions of those aligned with the Pāñcarātra philosophy, as discussed in chapter 2 of the Viṣṇusaṃhitā: a Sanskrit text written in 2600 verses which covers typical Pāñcarātra topics through a narrative dialogue between Aupagāyana and Siddha Sumati.—Description of the chapter [tantra-vyākhyā]: This chapter concerns itself with a clarification of certain ideas and terms, viz., [...] how the Pāñcarātra believers’ extremist groups [pāramārthikas] differ among themselves—e.g., Vaikhānasa, Sāttvata, Śikhin, Ekāntin, Mūlaka—and how each of these so-called groups is to be understood and how each is interrelated to the other four (26-35), how one can find within each of the foregoing groups five other divisions (into Bhaktas, Bhagavadbhaktas, Dāsas, Pārṣadas and Bhāgavatas each is defined—36-39), [...]

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Parṣadā (पर्षदा) is the name of a Ḍākinī who, together with the Vīra (hero) named Parṣad forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Ākāśacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the ākāśacakra refers to one of the three divisions of the dharma-puṭa (‘dharma layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs [viz., Parṣadā] and Vīras are dark blue in color; they each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife. Alternatively, the Ḍākinīs have their own marks and motions according to the taste instead of a small drum and a skull staff.

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.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Parṣada (पर्षद) [=Parṣad?] refers to a “congregations (of gods)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “How then, son of good family, is the Bodhisattva supported by the presence of the Buddha as unhindered and uninterrupted eloquence (pratibhāna)? Son of good family, there are the Bodhisattvas’ twenty-four sorts of eloquence. What are those twenty-four? [...] 13) eloquence which is never subdued; 14) imperishable eloquence of teaching the analysis of words; 15) luminous and splendid eloquence; 16) eloquence to be praised; 17) unfailing eloquence of teaching the dharma; 18) eloquence adorned with the congregations of gods (devaparṣad-alaṃkṛta-pratibhāna); 19) eloquence of cutting off all doubts; [...]”.

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.
India history and geography
Pārṣada.—cf. Prakrit pāṣaṃḍa (CII 1), a religious community; one belonging to a parṣad or religious group. Note: pārṣada is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Pārṣada (पार्षद).—[pārṣadamarhati aṇ]
1) A companion, an associate, attendant.
2) A train, retinue (of a god); शर्वस्य सह पार्षदैः (śarvasya saha pārṣadaiḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3.13.14.
3) One present at an assembly, a spectator, an assessor.
4) A text-book received by any particular grammatical school.
Derivable forms: pārṣadaḥ (पार्षदः).
Parṣadā (पर्षदा).—(= pariṣ°, Sanskrit parṣad; § 15.9), assembly: °dānāṃ Mahāvastu i.29.13 (prose); °dāyāṃ Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 21.14 (verse), so Nobel em. m.c., for pariṣ°, some mss., or v.l. parṣadi with different following text but correct meter.
Pārṣada (पार्षद).—m.
(-daḥ) 1. A spectator, a person present in a congregation or assembly. 2. A companion, an attendant. 3. A retinue, a train. E. parṣada an assembly, aṇ aff.; also with ṇya aff., pārṣadyaḥ or derived from pariṣada, pāriṣada.
Pārṣada (पार्षद).—i. e. parṣad + a, m. 1. An attendant. 2. Retinue, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 7252.
Pārṣada (पार्षद).—[masculine] attendant, [especially] of a god, partaker of an assembly, spectator; [neuter] text-book of a gramm. school.
1) Pārṣada (पार्षद) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—an ancient name of the Prātiśākhya, is the eighth Pariśiṣṭa of Kātyāyana. See Kātyāyana, Ṛgveda, Vājasaneyisaṃhitā. Np. V, 62. 148. Peters. 2, 174. Sb. 75.
—[commentary] K. 184. (Uvaṭa). Np. V, 60. 62 (Vs.). P. 5. Oppert. 1903. Ii, 950. 6334 (Uvaṭa).
—[commentary] by Annambhaṭṭa, pupil of Sumaṅgala. Hall. p. 69.
2) Pārṣada (पार्षद):—See Ṛv. Taittirīya, Vs. Av. Given without accurate statement. Rādh. 1. Np. V, 40. P. 5. Proceed. Asb. 1869, 143. Oppert. 2382. 4327. 4707. 7143. Ii, 1115. 1341. 2548. 4744.
—by Kumārasvāmin q. v.
—[commentary] by Uvaṭa. NW. 14. Oudh. Xiii, 2. P. 5. Bhr. 515. 516. Poona. 11. Oppert. 1923.
Pārṣada has the following synonyms: Prātiśākhya.
3) Pārṣada (पार्षद):—a Pariśiṣṭa of Kātyāyana. Ulwar 195.
4) Pārṣada (पार्षद):—the eighth Pariśiṣṭa of Kātyāyana. Bd. 74. Peters. 6 p. 136.
1) Pārṣada (पार्षद):—[from pārṣad] m. ([from] parṣad) an associate, companion, attendant ([especially] of a god), [Rāmatāpanīya-upaniṣad; Mahābhārata; Suśruta] ([plural] attendance, retinue, [Harivaṃśa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Lalita-vistara])
2) [v.s. ...] a member of an assembly, spectator, [Prasannarāghava]
3) [v.s. ...] n. a text-book received by any [particular] grammatical school (a Name given to the Prātiśākhyas), [Nirukta, by Yāska i, 17]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of [work]
Pārṣada (पार्षद):—(daḥ) 2. m. A spectator or visitant in an assembly.
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Pārṣada (पार्षद) [Also spelled parshad]:—(nm) a councillor, senator; courtier; an attendant.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Pārṣada (ಪಾರ್ಷದ):—[noun] a member of a council, assembly, board etc.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Pārṣada (पार्षद):—n. 1. an assembly; council; committee; 2. a member of an assembly or council; 3. attendant; 4. party member;
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: Parshadaka, Parshadamsha, Parshadaparishishta, Parshadapravara, Parshadasamhita, Parshadashadya, Parshadashva, Parshadasutravriti, Parshadata, Parshadatika, Parshadavritti, Parshadavyakhya.
Full-text (+58): Parshadata, Parshadavyakhya, Sarvaparshada, Parshad, Parshadatika, Parshadaparishishta, Parshadavritti, Parishada, Shamkaraparshada, Parshadapravara, Shivaparshada, Parshvada, Panitaka, Vishnuparshada, Sarvaparshadatva, Mahakala, Lohitaksha, Pratishakhya, Ativarcas, Vataganda.
Relevant text
Search found 40 books and stories containing Parshada, Pārṣada, Parsada, Parṣadā, Parshadas; (plurals include: Parshadas, Pārṣadas, Parsadas, Parṣadās, Parshadases). 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 1.2.25 < [Chapter 2 - The Lord’s Appearance]
Verse 2.22.1 < [Chapter 22 - Delivering Śacīdevī from Offense and Descriptions of Nityānanda’s Qualities]
Verse 2.5.53 < [Chapter 5 - Lord Nityānanda’s Vyāsa-pūjā Ceremony and His Darśana of the Lord’s Six-armed Form]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 1 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.3.42 < [Chapter 3 - Prapañcātīta (beyond the Material Plane)]
Verse 1.5.101 < [Chapter 5 - Priya (the beloved devotees)]
Verse 1.3.84 < [Chapter 3 - Prapañcātīta (beyond the Material Plane)]
Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure) (by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja)
Why do you address Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu as God? < [Chapter 1.5 - Back to Home Village]
Essential Practices and Chanting of Mantras < [Chapter 2.12 - Early ISKCON Conversations with Śrīla Gurudeva]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 3.9.19 < [Chapter 9 - The Birth of Śrī Girirāja]
Verses 2.11.27-31 < [Chapter 11 - The Liberation of Dhenukāsura]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)