Prasanna: 27 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Natyashastra
2. Ayurveda
3. Chandas
4. Purana
5. Shaktism
6. Jyotisha
7. Shaivism
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Prasanna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Prasann.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Prasanna (प्रसन्न, “bright”) refers to a specific “color of the face” which form part of the histrionic representation (abhinaya), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. According to its instructions, this facial color should be use when “in wonder, laughter and love”.

Source: Wisdom Library: Saṅgītaśiromaṇi

Prasanna (प्रसन्न, “clear”) refers to one of the ten good qualities (guṇa) of a song (gīta), according to the Saṅgītaśiromaṇi 14.75-76, where they are commonly known as the gītaguṇa. The Saṅgītaśiromaṇi (“crest-jewel of music”) is a 15th-century Sanskrit work on Indian musicology (gāndharvaśāstra). Accordingly, “when its meaning (artha) is clear, it (i.e. the song) is clear (prasanna)”.

Source: Google Books: Saṅgītaśiromaṇi: A Medieval Handbook of Indian Music

Prasanna (प्रसन्न, “distinct”) refers to a musical expression corresponding with mṛdu (tender), the fifteenth word of the elā composition (prabandha).—A sound is distinct (prasanna), when there is distinctness of musical notes, words and other elements.

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).

Ayurveda (science of life)

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) refers to a type of spirituous liquor, according to the Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa Sundarakāṇḍa 11.22, and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa mentions two varieties of suras ie. surā and kṛtasurā (ordinary one and the fermented one), four varieties of āsavas (spirituous liquor) such as puṣpāsava, phalāsava, madhvāsava and śarkarāsava and two more varieties such as divya and prasanna.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

1) Prasannā (प्रसन्ना):—It is the clear supernatantnportion / layer after settling of the fermented liquid

2) Prasanna (प्रसन्न):—[prasannaṃ] Clear

context information

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.

Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Journal of the University of Bombay Volume V: Apabhramsa metres (2)

Prasannā (प्रसन्ना) is the name of a antarasama-catuṣpadi metre (also known as Ardhasama), as discussed in books such as the Chandonuśāsana, Kavidarpaṇa, Vṛttajātisamuccaya and Svayambhūchandas.—The odd lines [of Sārasikā] contain 3 Bhagaṇas (SII) and one long letter, and 4 Sagaṇas (ISS) in the even ones.

context information

Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) refers to “(one whose face) beams with brilliance” and is used to describe Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.42.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] O great sage, after thus eulogising lord Śiva, I joined my palms in reverence and bent my head in humility. Then Indra and other gods, the guardians of the quarters, of good mentality lauded lord Śiva whose lotus-like face beamed with brilliance (i.e., prasanna-mukhapaṅkaja)”.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) refers to “one who is content”, 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, “(A true practitioner) is a hero (vīra) who exerts himself and is courageous. He is content [i.e., prasanna], devoted to the teacher, not greedy, compassionate, industrious, self-controlled, of good appearance, sāttvika, deep, all his limbs are intact (and) active, he knows (true) devotion and the scriptures and crosses over into (higher) realities. He is devoted to the transmission which is free of thought (nirvikalpakrama), he eats what he has begged and is desireless. [...]”.

context information

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) refers to the “clear” appearance of Ketus, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 11), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Generally, if the luminous body or comet be small, clear [i.e., prasanna], glossy, straight, transient, white and visible either immediately after their appearance or some time afterwards, there will be health and happiness in the land. If it be the opposite of these, or of the shape of the rainbow or with two or three tails, mankind will not be happy”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) refers to “gracious”, according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[Visualisation of Parameśvara]:—[...] He is adorned with nice anklets, armlets, rings and bracelets, and he shines with small toe rings, channahīras, etc., and diadems and a crown. His face is gracious (prasanna-vadana), beautiful, his lips are smeared with betel leaves. His mind is filled with the joy of wine, and his body is supreme bliss [itself]. [...]”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) or Prasannātmā refers to “pure-souled”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 2.17-19]—“The pure-souled Ācārya (prasanna-ātmā—ācāryas tu prasannātmā) should draw an eight petaled lotus, in smooth, pure earth [that is] smeared with sandal and aloe wood [and] scented [with] fragrant camphor and strong saffron. After he has drawn [the lotus] with a great undertaking, [the Ācarya,] decorated and adorned with a crown, smeared with sandalwood, [writes] the mātṛkā. Having placed oṃ in the middle [on the pericarp of the lotus], he should draw [the phonemes of the mātṛkā on the petals] starting in the East”.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) refers to “purified”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 19).—Accordingly, “When generosity is practiced, the six sense organs (ṣaṣ-indriya) are purified (prasanna) and a good mind of desire (kuśalakāmacitta) is produced. When this is produced, the inner mind (adhyātmacitta) is purified. When the virtues (guṇa) of the fruit of retribution (vipākaphala) are considered, a mind of faith (śraddhacitta) is produced. The body (kāya) and the mind (citta) become softened (mṛdutaruṇa), joy (ānanda) arises. Joy having arisen, a ‘single-mindedness’ (ekacitta) is obtained, thanks to which real wisdom (bhūtaprajñā) is produced: these are the good dharmas that are acquired”.

context information

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) refers to “(being) kindly disposed (to love)”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Certainly, O friend, these twelve reflections are the female friends of those whose good fortune is liberation [and] they are practised to procure their friendship by wise men who are absorbed in connection [with them]. When these [reflections] are correctly done constantly for the pleasure of the lords of Yogīs (i.e. the Jinas), a joyful woman in the form of liberation with a heart kindly disposed to love (praṇaya-prasanna-hṛd), is produced”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Prasanna.—(CII 1), devoted or attached. Note: prasanna is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

prasanna (प्रसन्न).—p (S) Pleased with; approving of; favorably disposed towards; propitiated. 2 Delighted or gladdened. 3 Pleasing or agreeable unto. 4 a Clear, clean, bright, free from clouds, haze, or dust--the heavens: pellucid, tranquil, sweetlyflowing--a stream.

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

prasanna (प्रसन्न).—p Pleased with. Delighted. a Clear. Pellucid, tranquil.

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

Prasanna (प्रसन्न).—p. p.

1) Pure, clear, bright, limpid, pellucid, transparent; प्रसन्नदिक्पांसुविविक्तवातम् (prasannadikpāṃsuviviktavātam) Kumārasambhava 1.23;7.74; कूलंकषेव सिन्धुः प्रसन्नमम्भस्तटतरुं च (kūlaṃkaṣeva sindhuḥ prasannamambhastaṭataruṃ ca) Ś.5.21.

2) Pleased, delighted, propitiated, soothed; मया प्रसन्नेन तवार्जुनेदं रूपं परं दर्शितमात्मयोगात् (mayā prasannena tavārjunedaṃ rūpaṃ paraṃ darśitamātmayogāt) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 11.47; गङ्गां शरन्नयति सिन्धुपतिं प्रसन्नाम् (gaṅgāṃ śarannayati sindhupatiṃ prasannām) Mu.3.9; गम्भीरायाः पयसि सरितश्चेतसीव प्रसन्ने (gambhīrāyāḥ payasi saritaścetasīva prasanne) Meghadūta 42 (where the first sense is also intended); Kumārasambhava 5.35; R.2.68.

3) Kind, kindly disposed, gracious, propitious; अवेहि मां कामदुघां प्रसन्नाम् (avehi māṃ kāmadughāṃ prasannām) R.2.63.

4) Plain, open, clear, easily intelligible (as meaning).

5) True, correct; प्रसन्नस्ते तर्कः (prasannaste tarkaḥ) V.2; प्रसन्नप्रायस्ते तर्कः (prasannaprāyaste tarkaḥ) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.

6) Settled down, tranquil.

-nnā 1 Propitiation, pleasing.

2) Spirituous liquor.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Prasanna (प्रसन्न).—ppp., adj. (= Pali pasanna, used in same way, with loc.; compare abhi-pra°, and (abhi-) prasāda; seems not to be recorded in Sanskrit), believing in (loc.): yada puna janatā prasanna brahme Lalitavistara 393.14 (verse), but since people have faith in Brahmc (I will turn the wheel of the law only on his request); cittam abhiprasannam, prasanna- cittaś ca…Divyāvadāna 137.1.

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

Prasanna (प्रसन्न).—mfn.

(-nnaḥ-nnā-nnaṃ) 1. Clear, clean, bright, pellucid. 2. Pleased, delighted. 3. Complacent, gracious, favourable. f.

(-nnā) 1. Propitiating, pleasing. 2. Spirituous or vinous liquor. 3. Open, clear, easily intelligible, (as the meaning of a passage.) 4. True. E. pra principally, &c. sad to go, aff. kta .

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

Prasanna (प्रसन्न).—[adjective] clear, bright, pure; distinct, plain, just; propitiated, pleased, delighted, content; gracious or kind to ([locative], [genetive], or [accusative] [with] prati). — Abstr. tā [feminine], tva [neuter]

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

1) Prasanna (प्रसन्न):—[=pra-sanna] [from pra-sad] a mfn. clear, bright, pure ([literally] and [figuratively]), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] distinct, perspicuous, [Mahābhārata; Kāmandakīya-nītisāra]

3) [v.s. ...] true, right, plain, correct, just, [Mālavikāgnimitra; Mālatīmādhava]

4) [v.s. ...] placid, tranquil, [Rāmāyaṇa; Varāha-mihira; Āpastamba-dharma-sūtra]

5) [v.s. ...] soothed, pleased

6) [v.s. ...] gracious, kind, kindly disposed towards (with [locative case] [genitive case], or [accusative] and prati), favourable (as stars etc.)

7) [v.s. ...] gracious, showing favour (as a speech), [Maitrī-upaniṣad; Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

8) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a prince, [Hemacandra]

9) Prasannā (प्रसन्ना):—[=pra-sannā] [from pra-sanna > pra-sad] f. propitiating, pleasing, [Horace H. Wilson]

10) [v.s. ...] spirituous liquor made of rice, [Caraka; Patañjali]

11) Prasanna (प्रसन्न):—[=pra-sanna] b etc. See p. 696, col. 3.

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

Prasanna (प्रसन्न):—[pra-sanna] (nnaḥ-nnā-nnaṃ) a. Clear; pleased; gracious. f. Spirituous liquor.

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

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Pasaṇṇa, Pasaṇṇā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Prasanna 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

Prasanna (प्रसन्न) [Also spelled prasann]:—(a) pleased; happy, cheerful, delighted, glad; ~[citta] cheerful, happy, delighted; hence ~[cittatā] (nf); —[nayana] cheerful eyes, beaming/gleaming eyes; ~[mukha/vadana] cheerful, looking cheerful; —[śailī] lucid style.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Prasanna (ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ):—

1) [adjective] free from muddiness; (sediments within) not being stirred up; not turbid; clear.

2) [adjective] (mentally) not perturbed; not agitated or excited; cool; calm; tranquil.

3) [adjective] satisfied; contented.

4) [adjective] favourably disposed; propitious; gracious.

--- OR ---

Prasanna (ಪ್ರಸನ್ನ):—

1) [noun] that which is clear, free from muddiness.

2) [noun] the state or fact of being satisfied.

3) [noun] (fig.) a manifesting (in a physical form); manifestation.

4) [noun] (rhet.) the style of a literary work that is highly pleasing, delighting.

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 47 books and stories containing Prasanna, Pra-sannā, Pra-sanna, Prasannā; (plurals include: Prasannas, sannās, sannas, Prasannās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 1.11.16 < [Chapter 11 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s Birth]

Verse 1.13.31 < [Chapter 13 - The Liberation of Pūtanā]

Verse 1.15.9 < [Chapter 15 - Revelation of the Universal Form to Nanda’s Wife]

+ 54 more chapters / show preview

3.5. Use of Śṛṅgārarasa (erotic sentiment) < [Chapter 2 - Delineation of Rasa in Mudrārākṣasa]

Chapter 7 - Conclusion

show preview

Verse 34