Prahasana: 16 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Natyashastra
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Hindi
3. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Prahasana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Prahasan.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

1) Prahasana (प्रहसन) refers to one of the “ten kinds of dramatic plays” (daśarūpa), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 20. These different types of dramas are considered to have originated from the various styles (vṛtti), which is discussed in chapter 22 of the same work. The Prahasana type of drama includes the following styles: Verbal (bhāratī), Grand (sāttvatī) and Energetic (ārabhaṭī).

2) Prahasana (प्रहसन) refers to one of the four varieties of the verbal style (bhāratī), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 22. Bhāratī represents one of the four styles (vṛtti) employed in a dramatic production.

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

Prahasana (प्रहसन).—One of the ten types of play (nāṭya).—The Prahasana is a farce or a play in which the Comic Sentiment predominates, and it too is to consist of one Act only. The object of laughter is furnished in this, mainly by the improper conduct of various sectarian teachers as well as courtezans and rogues.

The Prahasana, the Vīthi, the Aṅka and the Bhāṇa are the to have only two segments (sandhi) which should be the Opening (mukha) and the Conclusion (nirvahaṇa), and their Style (vṛtti) should be the Verbal one (bhāratī).

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)

Prahasana (प्रहसन) refers to one of the twelve kinds of Rūpaka, which represents the dṛśyakāvya division of Kāvya (“poetry”), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—According to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, the prahasana should be full of humorous disputations and it should have only one act and the characters like courtesans, viṭas are basically seen here. In the Nāṭyaśāstra, two forms of prahasana are accepted. One is śuddha i.e., pure type of prahasana which contains some comic conversations of some designated persons like bhagavatas, tāpasas, bhikṣus, śrotrīyas, vipras etc. The another one is saṅkīrṇa i.e., mixed type of prahasana where the courtesans, servants, eunuchs, viṭas and cunning and unchaste women come into view with their immodest appearance, attires and movements

context information

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).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Prahasana (प्रहसन) refers to one of the various Grahas and Mahāgrahas 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 Prahasana).

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

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Prahasana (प्रहसन).—

1) Loud or violent laughter, laughing, mirth.

2) Ridicule, mockery, irony, joke; धिक् प्रहसनम् (dhik prahasanam) Uttararāmacarita 4.

3) Satire, satirical writing,

4) A farce, a kind of low comedy; S. D. thus defines it :-भाणवत्संधिसंध्यङ्ग- लास्याङ्गाङ्कैर्विनिर्मितम् । भवेत् प्रहसनं वृत्तं निन्द्यानां कविकल्पितम् (bhāṇavatsaṃdhisaṃdhyaṅga- lāsyāṅgāṅkairvinirmitam | bhavet prahasanaṃ vṛttaṃ nindyānāṃ kavikalpitam) || 533 et seq. e. g. कन्दर्पकेलि (kandarpakeli).

Derivable forms: prahasanam (प्रहसनम्).

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

Prahasana (प्रहसन).—n.

(-naṃ) 1. Loud, violent or hearty laughter. 2. Mirth, merriment. 3. Sarcasm, satire, as a branch of rhetorical composition. 4. Reproof, ridicule, irony. 5. A farce, a comedy. It is thus defined in Sahitya Darpana:—bhāṇavat sandhisandhyaṅgalāsyāṅgāṅkairvinirmitam . bhavet prahasanaṃ vṛtaṃ nindyānāṃ kavikalpitam . E. pra before, has to laugh, aff. lyuṭ .

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

Prahasana (प्रहसन).—[pra-has + ana], n. 1. Hearty laughter, laughter, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 91, 7. 2. Mirth. 3. Scoffing, sarcasm, [Hitopadeśa] i. [distich] 107. 4. A comedy, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 67, 12.

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

Prahasana (प्रहसन).—[neuter] laughing, mocking; [neuter] a kind of comedy or farce.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Prahasana (प्रहसन) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—a farce, without more accurate statement. B. 2, 120. Oppert. Ii, 3203. 5529. 8898.
—by Śaṅkhadhara. See Laṭakamelakaprahasana.

2) Prahasana (प्रहसन):—a farce. No further information. Śg. 1, 48.

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

1) Prahasana (प्रहसन):—[=pra-hasana] [from pra-has] n. laughter, mirth, mockery, derision, [Uttararāma-carita; Hitopadeśa] (nam, enclit. after a finite verb [gana] gotrādi; ne √kṛ, to mock, deride [gana] sākṣād-ādi, [Kāśikā-vṛtti])

2) [v.s. ...] (in [rhetoric]) satire, sarcasm

3) [v.s. ...] ([especially]) a kind of comedy or farce, [Daśarūpa; Sāhitya-darpaṇa etc.]

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

Prahasana (प्रहसन):—[pra-hasana] (naṃ) 1. n. Loud laughter; sarcasm, ridicule, a farce.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Prahasana (प्रहसन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pahasaṇa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Prahasana in German

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

Prahasana (प्रहसन) [Also spelled prahasan]:—(nm) a comedy; ~[nātmaka] comical.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Prahasana (ಪ್ರಹಸನ):—

1) [noun] excessive laughter.

2) [noun] an act, gesture, etc. used to provoke laughter.

3) [noun] an exaggerated comedy based on broadly humorous, highly unlikely situations, rather than upon the development of characters; a farce.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 15 books and stories containing Prahasana, Pra-hasana; (plurals include: Prahasanas, hasanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 2: Varieties of Dṛśyakāvya < [Chapter 1]

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1.4. Types of Drama < [Chapter 3 - Drama and Dance]

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7.6. Summary of the Bhagavadajjukam < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

7.7. Summary of the Mattavilāsam < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

2. Purpose of Satire < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

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8. Pādatāḍitaka in Kuntaka’s treatment < [Chapter 4 - Kuntaka’s evaluation of Sanskrit Plays of other Poets]

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Chapter XX - Ten Kinds of Play (daśarūpa)

Chapter XXII - Styles (vṛtti)