Paurusha, Pauruṣa: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Paurusha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Pauruṣa can be transliterated into English as Paurusa or Paurusha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Pauruṣa (पौरुष) refers to “manliness and valour” and is used to describe Tāraka-Asura, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.15 (“The penance and reign of Tārakāsura”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated: “That Varāṅgī, when the time was complete, delivered of a son of huge body and great strength dazzling the ten quarters. [...] Then Kaśyapa Prajāpati thought well and named the powerful demon Tāraka. That heroic demon, with his manliness and valour [i.e., pauruṣa] manifesting quickly grew and developed with his steely frame like the lord of mountains. Then the demon Tāraka, of great strength and exploit, endowed with a lofty mind, requested permission of his mother for performing penance. [...]”.
Pauruṣa (पौरुष).—See Utthānam.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 221. 2.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Pauruṣa (पौरुष) refers to the “size of a man with his arms and hands uplifted”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 1.57.—(In “jave’pi māne'pi ca pauruṣādhikam”)
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Pauruṣa (पौरुष) refers to “virility”, as mentioned in verse 5.12 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] (those) [rivers, viz., nadī] again springing from the Sahya and Vindhya; [produce] leprosy, jaundice, and diseases of the head; (those) coming from the Pāriyātra (are) destructive of the (three) humours (and) promotive of strength and virility [viz., bala-pauruṣa-kārin]”.
Pauruṣa (पौरुष):—[pauruṣaṃ] (1) Penis. (2) Prostrate. (3) A measure . Full length of a man with his hands. (4) The male organ of copulation and in mammals urination. (5) A gland that surrounds the neck of the bladder and the urethra in the male.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Pauruṣa (पौरुष) refers to “(that which relates to) person”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] I will now expound the sixfold introduction to the differentiated (sakala aspect). The Śāmbhava (state), supreme and tranquil, is above the six (Wheels). It is liberation (kaivalya), unique (kevala), tranquil, devoid of the Five Voids and beneficial. It is consciousness, supreme and pure. It is the inexplicable (kiñcit) Śāmbhava (state) that is pure consciousness (cinmātra). It is supreme. It is the supreme Nirvāṇa, the body made of consciousness along with Śiva. The subtle, pure consciousness of the Person [i.e., cinmātra-pauruṣa] is said to be subtle and omnipresent. (Thus) consciousness is said to be of three kinds, Individual (āṇava), Empowered (śākta), and Śāmbhava.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Pauruṣa (पौरुष) refers to “male” (=masculine), according to the Amṛtasiddhi, a 12th-century text belonging to the Haṭhayoga textual tradition.—Accordingly, “Know bindu to be of two kinds (dvividha), male (pauruṣa) and female. Semen (bīja) is said to be the male [bindu] and rajas (female generative fluid) is female. As a result of their external union people are created. When they are united internally, then one is declared a yogi. [...]
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).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Pauruṣa (पौरुष) or Pauruṣaśāstra refers to one of the four kinds of śāstras (containing the rules for worship), as discussed in chapter 10 (Kriyākāṇḍa) of the Pārameśvarasaṃhitā: an important Pāñcarātra text of 8700 verses followed closely by the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam—dealing with priestly concerns such as their daily routines, occasional liturgies and expiatory services.—[Cf. the chapter svayamvyakta-ādi-prāsādadevatā-nirṇaya].—Accordingly: “Sanaka then asks about where the rules for worship are to be found, and Śāṇḍilya says that they may be found in śāstras of three types—bhagavatśāstra, divyaśāstra, and ṛṣiśāstra. These are respectively also the sāttvika, rājasa and mānasa types of śāstras, says Śāṇḍilya. A fourth class, pauruṣa-śāstra, is also mentioned, but these are to be avoided when any of the other traditions are alternatively available. Then seventeen titles representing these types of śāstras are listed and categorized, and caution is given to understand these before employing them in worship (334-386a).
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Pauruṣa (पौरुष) refers to “temples made of mixed brick and stone”, as discussed in chapter 34 of the Viṣvaksenasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 2800 Sanskrit verses dealing with theological matters, image-worship, iconography (relating to pratimā-icons) and the construction of temples.—Description of the chapter [prāsāda-lakṣaṇa]: Viṣvaksena thereupon names and briefly describes five types of vimāna-structures—mandara, nividha, nāgara, drāvila, vesara (22-30). A further , different classification is according to materials used—a pauruṣa-type being of mixed brick and stone; a napuṃsaka type being a mixture of stone, brick and wood; and an aṅganā-type being simply a wooden structure (31-32).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
pauruṣa (पौरुष).—a S Manly, human, relating to man.
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pauruṣa (पौरुष).—n S The property of manhood, virility, manliness. 2 Strength, power, vigor. 3 m f n The measure of a man,--his height with both arms elevated and the fingers extended.
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
Pauruṣa (पौरुष).—a. (-ṣī f.) [पुरुष अण् (puruṣa aṇ)]
1) Relating to a man or man in general, human.
2) Manly, virile.
3) Secred to Puruṣa..
-ṣaḥ A weight which can be carried by one man; Manusmṛti 8.44.
-ṣī A woman.
-ṣam 1 Human action, man's work, exertion, effort; धिग् धिग् वृथा पौरुषम् (dhig dhig vṛthā pauruṣam) Bhartṛhari 2.88; दैवं निहत्य कुरु पौरुषमात्मशक्त्या (daivaṃ nihatya kuru pauruṣamātmaśaktyā) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.361; 2.85.
2) (a) Heroism, prowess, valour, manliness, courage; पौरुषभूषणः (pauruṣabhūṣaṇaḥ) R.15.28;8.28. (b) Strength, power, vigour.
3) Virility; पौरुषं नृषु (pauruṣaṃ nṛṣu) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 7.8; स्त्रीभूतश्च परं मासं न स्मरिष्यसि पौरुषम् (strībhūtaśca paraṃ māsaṃ na smariṣyasi pauruṣam) Rām.7.87.29.
4) Semen virile.
5) Penis.
6) The full height of a man, the height to which he reaches with both arms elevated and the fingers extended; जवेऽपि मानेऽपि च पौरुषाधिकम् (jave'pi māne'pi ca pauruṣādhikam) N.1.57.
7) Sun-dial.
Pauruṣa (पौरुष).—(= Pali porisa; compare next three), servant, henchman, attendant: yama-°ṣāḥ Mahāvastu i.12.5 (verse); pau- could be m.c. for pu-.
Pauruṣa (पौरुष).—mfn. subst.
(-ṣaḥ-ṣī-ṣaṃ) The measure of a man, equal to the height to which he reaches with both arms elevated, and the fingers extended. Adj. Manly, of or belonging to man. n.
(-ṣaṃ) 1. The property of manhood, virility, manliness. 2. Action, or action incidental to the state of humanity. 3. Semen virile. 4. Strength, power, vigour, heroism. 5. The Penis. 6. A Sundial. E. puruṣa a man, aff. aṇ.
Pauruṣa (पौरुष).—i. e. puruṣa + a, I. adj., f. ṣī. 1. Manly, Mahābhārata 12, 718. 2. Human, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 4, 27, 26. 3. Sacred to Puruṣa; epithet of a holy text, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 11, 251. 4. Having the measure of a man with both arms elevated and the fingers extended. Ii. m. The load which a man may bear, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 404 ([Kullūka Schol. ed. [Mānavadharmaśāstra]]? perhaps a full grown man). Iii. n. 1. Manhood, manliness, Mahābhārata 13, 542. 2. Action of men, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 85; man’s work, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 58, 22. 3. Strength, vigour, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 102. 4. Membrum virile.
Pauruṣa (पौरुष).—[feminine] ī human, manly, belonging or consecrated to Puruṣa. —[masculine] a man’s load; [feminine] ī a woman; [neuter] manhood, virility, manly deed, a man’s length.
1) Pauruṣa (पौरुष):—1. pauruṣa mf(ī)n. ([from] puruṣa) manly, human, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) belonging or sacred to Puruṣa, [Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
3) = puruṣa-dvayasa, -daghna or -mātra, [Pāṇini 5-2, 37; 38]
4) m. a weight or load which can be carried by one man, [Manu-smṛti viii, 404] ([Manvarthamuktāvalī, kullūka bhaṭṭa’s Commentary on manu-smṛti])
5) Name of a Rākṣasa, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa] ([varia lectio] pauruṣeya)
6) n. manhood, virility (opp. to strītva), [Rāmāyaṇa]
7) manliness, manly strength or courage or deed, valour, heroism, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
8) force (opp. to buddhi, ‘intellect’), [Kathāsaritsāgara]
9) a man’s length, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
10) a generation, [Āśvalāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
11) semen virile, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) the penis, [Suśruta]
13) a sun-dial, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
14) 2. pauruṣa Vṛddhi form of puruṣa in [compound]
Pauruṣa (पौरुष):—[(ṣaḥ-ṣā-ṣaṃ)] 1. m. f. n. The measure of a man with arms erect. n. Manhood; action; semen virile; strength. a. Manly.
Pauruṣa (पौरुष):—(von puruṣa)
1) adj. f. ī a) menschlich, männlich: ekahaṃsaḥ [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 14, 7, 1, 12. 13.] śarīra [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 7, 6, 5.] saṃbandha [9, 18, 21.] dharma des Mannes Pflicht [4, 27, 26.] karman [Mahābhārata 12, 718.] guṇāḥ [Sāhityadarpana 89.] — b) Puruscha betreffend, ihm geweiht, ihm gehörig u.s.w.: chandas [Prātiśākhya zum Ṛgveda 17, 7.] sūkta (s. puruṣasūkta) [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 11, 251.] tanu [Mahābhārata 3, 15824. 12, 13466.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 8, 12, 37. 14, 3.] rūpa [1, 3, 1.] bhāva [Harivaṃśa 11606.] prabhāva [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 3, 26, 16.] visarga [2, 10, 3.] kṣatriya (Schol.: = viṣṇoraṃśaḥ) [3, 6, 31.] — c) eines Mannes (mit ausgesreckten Armen und Händen) Länge habend [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 5, 2, 38.] [Amarakoṣa 2, 6, 2, 38.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 600.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 3, 739.] [Medinīkoṣa ṣ. 41.] [Halāyudha 5, 19.] —
2) m. die Last, die ein Mensch zu tragen vermag, [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 8, 404.] —
3) f. ī ein menschliches Weib, Frau (vgl. nārī und nara): aśvāṃ ca pauruṣīṃ ca dhenuke [Śāṅkhāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 13, 29, 25.] —
4) n. a) Männlichkeit, männliche Kraft, Mannesmuth, Heldenmuth, Mannesthat gaṇa yuvādi [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 5, 1, 130.] [Amarakoṣa 3, 4, 18, 120. 29,225.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 739.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [Halāyudha 4, 38.] Gegens. strītva [Mahābhārata 13, 542.] yatsvayaṃ karmaṇā kiṃcitphalamāpnoti pūruṣaḥ . pratyakṣametallokeṣu tatpauruṣamiti smṛtam .. [3, 1219. 4, 1267. 13, 2292.] [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 7, 102. 159.] [Bhagavadgītā 7, 8. 18, 25.] [Harivaṃśa 10197. 10525. 11109.] kāma [Weber’s Indische Studien 3, 299, 1 v. u.] daivameva paraṃ manye pauruṣaṃ tu nirarthakam [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 58, 22. 6, 37, 12.] [Yājñavalkya’s Gesetzbuch 1, 348.] [Mahābhārata 13, 1932.] [Spr. 65. 471. 648. 2437. 2855.] drakṣyanti tvadya daivasya pauruṣaṃ puruṣasya ca [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 23, 19.] [Raghuvaṃśa 8, 28. 15, 28.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 104, 61.] [Kathāsaritsāgara 13, 5. 27, 172.] [Geschichte des Vidūṣaka 153. 321.] [Prabodhacandrodaja 5, 3. 30, 13.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 2, 7, 9.] [UJJVAL.] in der Einl. zu [Uṇādisūtra 7.] Gewalt im Gegens. zu buddhi Verstand [Kathāsaritsāgara 33, 132. 158.] vinayapauruṣaiḥ [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 19, 25.] pauruṣaiḥ [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 8, 21, 20.] — b) Manneslänge [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 438.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 600,] [Scholiast] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 53, 35.] — c) Generation. daśa [Aśvalāyana’s Śrautasūtrāni 2, 12.] tripauruṣaścāpi nidhirnīlo nāmaiṣa jāyate [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 68, 41.] tripauruṣī [Scholiast] zu [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 680, 3.] — d) der männliche Same [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 630.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — e) das männliche Glied [Suśruta 1, 17, 12. 264, 4.] — f) Sonnenzeiger [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 600,] [Scholiast]; vgl. nar, nara . — Vgl. niṣpauruṣa .
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Pauruṣa (पौरुष):—
1) a) [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 11, 7, 22.] chāyā [Weber’s Indische Studien 10, 284. 294.] — b) [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 1, 21.] —
4) a) im Gegens. zu strītva [Rāmāyaṇa 7, 87, 29.] — b) dvipauruṣī chāyā [Weber’s Indische Studien 10, 284.]
Pauruṣa (पौरुष):——
1) Adj. (f. ī) — a) menschlich. — b) männlich. — c) *eines Mannes Länge habend. — d) Puruṣa betreffend , ihm geweiht , ihm gehörig u.s.w. —
2) m. — a) die Last , die ein Mensch zu tragen vermag. — b) Nomen proprium eines Rākṣasa [Wilson's Uebersetzung des Viṣṇupurāṇa ,2,289.] pauruṣeya v.l. —
3) f. ī — a) ein menschliches Weib , Frau. — b) = yāma ein Zeitraum von drei Stunden [Hemacandra's Pariśiṣṭaparvan 9,85.] —
4) n. — a) Mannheit (Gegens. srītva). — b) Männlichkeit , männliche Kraft , Mannesmuth , Heldenmuth , Mannesthat. — c) Gewalt (Gegensatz Verstand ). — d) Manneslänge , Klafter [Rājan 19,56.] — e) Generation. — f) *der männliche Same. — g) das männliche Glied. — h) *Sonnenzeiger.
Pauruṣa (पौरुष) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Paurisa, Paurusa, Porisa.
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
Paurūṣa (पौरूष):—(nm) manhood, manliness, masculinity; virility; ~[hīna] unmanly, impotent; —[thakanā] one’s virility to be on the decline, to be no more as much of a vigorous man.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Paurusa (पौरुस) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Pauruṣa.
Paurusa has the following synonyms: Paurisa.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Pauruṣa (ಪೌರುಷ):—
1) [adjective] of or relating to men; characterstic of an adult man.
2) [adjective] having manly strength or vigour; forceful; virile.
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Pauruṣa (ಪೌರುಷ):—
1) [noun] the state or quality of being virile; manly character, vigour, bravery, courage or spirit; masculinity; virility.
2) [noun] human effort (as distinguished from the power of destiny).
3) [noun] that much quantity which a man can carry on his shoulder or head at a time.
4) [noun] the normal height of a man, used as a measure of depth or height (approx. six feet).
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Paurusa (ಪೌರುಸ):—[adjective] = ಪೌರುಷ [paurusha]1.
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Paurusa (ಪೌರುಸ):—[noun] = ಪೌರುಷ [paurusha]2.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Pauruṣa (पौरुष):—adj. 1. relating to a man or man in general; human; 2. manly; virile;
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: Paurushada, Paurushaka, Paurushakarin, Paurushalinga, Paurushalingaprasada, Paurusham, Paurushamedhika, Paurushamga, Paurushamjnana, Paurushamsakin, Paurushasakin, Paurushashastra, Paurushasukta, Paurushata, Paurushatva, Paurushavada, Paurushavadi, Paurushavamta, Paurushavidhika, Paurusheyam.
Full-text (+67): Apaurusha, Saptapaurusha, Tripaurusha, Nishpaurusha, Vivritapaurusha, Kritapaurusha, Paurushata, Paurushavidhika, Paurushamedhika, Tivrapaurusha, Dvipaurusha, Paurusham, Paurushatva, Sphutapaurusha, Paurushya, Kakapaurusha, Paurushakarin, Paurushasukta, Galitapaurusha, Kharma.
Relevant text
Search found 71 books and stories containing Paurusha, Pauruṣa, Paurusa, Paurūṣa; (plurals include: Paurushas, Pauruṣas, Paurusas, Paurūṣas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures (seven volumes) (by Satya Vrat Shastri)
5. The Concept of Fate in the Yogavasistha < [Volume 5 - Philosophy and Religion]
4. The Concept of Fate in the Ramayana < [Volume 5 - Philosophy and Religion]
9. The Yogavasistha: A Linguistic Appraisal < [Volume 1 - Grammer and Linguistics]
Kautilya Arthashastra (by R. Shamasastry)
Chapter 20 - Measurement of Space and Time < [Book 2 - The duties of Government Superintendents]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 311 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 2]
Page 668 < [Malayalam-English-Kannada (1 volume)]
Page 432 < [Tamil-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 143 < [Volume 1, Part 2 (1904)]
Page 146 < [Volume 1, Part 2 (1904)]
Page 408 < [Volume 18 (1915)]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 2 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 8 - Energy of Free-will (Pauruṣa) < [Chapter XII - The Philosophy of the Yogavāsiṣṭha]
Part 12 - Yoga-vāsiṣṭha, Śaṅkara Vedānta and Buddhist Vijñānavāda < [Chapter XII - The Philosophy of the Yogavāsiṣṭha]
Part 11 - Methods of Right Conduct < [Chapter XII - The Philosophy of the Yogavāsiṣṭha]
Brihaddevata attributed to Shaunaka (by Arthur Anthony Macdonell)
Part 23 - Deities of metres, Vedas, Vasatkara, Svahakrtis; The Svaras < [Chapter 8 - Deities of Rigveda X.98-191 (1-98); Conclusion (99-140)]
Part 30-31 - Deities of Rigveda X.89-93; Story of Pururavas and Urvasi < [Chapter 7 - Deities of Rigveda IX.17-98]
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