Prasthana, Prasthāna: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Prasthana means something in 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Prasthan.
In Hinduism
Mīmāṃsā (school of philosophy)
Source: academia.edu: Religious Inclusivism in the Writings of an Early Modern Sanskrit Intellectual (mimamsa)1) Prasthāna (प्रस्थान) refers to the “paths” or “methods” (of Mlecchas).—[...] While it is true, for instance, that Madhusūdana adopts an inclusive attitude towards Veda-affirming schools in his Prasthānabheda—including in its harmonizing scheme of ‘sciences’ (vidyā) both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva teachings, among others—yet he explicitly excludes the extra-Vedic (nāstika) traditions of the Buddhists, Jains and materialists, as well as the paths or methods (prasthāna) of Mlecchas. His rejection of those schools is unambiguous and based on a typically orthodox criterion—externality to the Vedic tradition. Although it offers a comparatively unified picture of āstika schools, Madhusūdana’s doxographical scheme is not all-inclusive, and retains an orthodox character insofar as it denies legitimacy to extra-Vedic traditions and those traditions associated with outcastes.
2) Prasthāna (प्रस्थान) refers to “sciences” or “paths”.—In his Prasthānabheda, Madhusūdana offers a list of 18 ‘sciences’ (vidyā) or ‘paths’ (prasthāna): the four Vedas with their respective upaveda, the six Vedāṅgas and four supplementary categories (upāṅgas), namely Purāṇas, Nyāya, Mīmāṃsā and Dharmaśāstra. Within Purāṇas, he includes all minor Purāṇas (upapurāṇa); within Nyāya, he includes Vaiśeṣika; within Mīmāṃsā, he includes Vedānta; and finally, within Dharmaśāstra he includes the two epics, Sāṃkhya, Yoga, Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva teachings.

Mimamsa (मीमांसा, mīmāṃsā) refers to one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, emphasizing the nature of dharma and the philosophy of language. The literature in this school is also known for its in-depth study of ritual actions and social duties.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Shodhganga: Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (ns)1) Prasthāna (प्रस्थान) refers to one of the ten Deśī-varieties of nṛtyakāvyas, according to the Saṅgītacintāmaṇi of King Vīranārāyaṇa (Vema)—[Cf. M. R. Kavi’s Bharatakośa, p. 841].—Vema says that he has followed the path shown by Kohala and Mataṅga and has also followed current local traditions. He defines the term deśī and then goes on to describe ten varieties of deśī-nṛtyakāvyas. [For example, Prasthāna]. Having listed the ten nṛtya-kāvyas, he then says these have been described by Kohala and that he (Vema) will explain each of them. The use of the term nṛtyakāvya instead of uparūpaka is noteworthy.
2) Prasthāna (प्रस्थान) refers to one of the sixteen divisions of the Deśī-Rūpaka compositions in ancient Indian art of dance and theater.—Puruṣottama Miśrā, while defining the terms mārga and deśī quotes the Saṅgītanārāyaṇa (Vol. II, pp.406-410) which he says has been taken from Kohala (the work of Kohala). Following mārga, the deśī forms are next listed out. First is a list of sixteen types as described by Dattila. [e.g., prasthāna] [...] This list is followed by yet another bearing the names of another 12 forms.
Source: OAPEN: Abhinavagupta on Dance and Dramatic ActingPrasthāna (प्रस्थान) refers to a genre of performance in ancient Indian art of dance and theater.—Abhinavagupta knew about forms of performance which had not found canonical description in Bharata’s text, forms that either originated or came into prominence in the five-hundred-to one-thousand-year time span separating the two authors. As a matter of fact, he quotes definitions for eight of the new genres, [i.e. Prasthāna] [...], which he borrows from the so-called ‘ancients’ (cirantana).
Prasthāna, according to Abhinavagupta: “[When the dancer] adopts a gait similar to that of an elephant and the like, and sets out on a journey, [that genre,] endowed with scarce vehement [movements] and plenty of mild [ones], is called Prasthāna”.

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).
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryprasthāna (प्रस्थान).—n (S) Going forth, proceeding, departing. 2 Leaving one's own house to enter upon a journey, and alighting at a neighbor's house, spending there the remainder of that day. 3 Money, rice &c. bound up and given in charge to a neighbor on the day on which, from the auspiciousness of the juncture, it is desirable to set out on the journey we contemplate, yet on which, from' lateness or other circumstance, the then setting out is inconvenient. The departure is thus held to be commenced, and the money, on the actual setting forth, is resumed. 4 fig. Dying. v guṇḍāḷa, aṭapa, bāndha, or prasthāna nadīvara cālaṇēṃ. 5 The being spread or laid out; the being disposed for use--vessels &c. for idol-worship, articles of a shop, materials and implements for writing or working. 6 A course, a method of life, a train of actions through which to attain unto the Deity (as by yōga, according to the Sankhya philosophy, the Vedanta &c.) 7 A term for a personage of high renown and honor (for excellence or eminence of any kind); a prodigy of learning; a puissant hero; a paragon of perfection; a Crichton, a Crœsus, a Solomon.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishprasthāna (प्रस्थान).—n Going forth, proceeding. Dying. prasthāna ṭhēvaṇēṃ To alight; to lay down one's bundle.
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 dictionaryPrasthāna (प्रस्थान).—1 Going or setting forth, departure, moving, walking; प्रस्थानविक्लवगतेरवलम्बनार्थम् (prasthānaviklavagateravalambanārtham) Ś.5.3; R.4.88; Meghadūta 43; प्रस्थानं वलयैः कृतम् (prasthānaṃ valayaiḥ kṛtam) Amaruśataka 36.
2) Coming to मन्ये मत्पावनायैव प्रस्थानं भवतामिह (manye matpāvanāyaiva prasthānaṃ bhavatāmiha) Kumārasambhava 6.61.
3) Sending away, despatching.
4) Procession, march.
5) A march, the march of an army or assailant; प्रस्थाने भूमिपालो दशदिवमसभिव्याप्य नैकत्र तिष्ठेत (prasthāne bhūmipālo daśadivamasabhivyāpya naikatra tiṣṭheta).
6) A method, system.
7) Death, dying.
8) An inferior kind of drama; see S. D.276,544.
9) A religious school, sect; प्रभिन्ने प्रस्थाने परिमितमदः पथ्यमिति च (prabhinne prasthāne parimitamadaḥ pathyamiti ca) Mahimna 7.
1) Religious mendicancy; सप्रस्थानाः क्षात्रधर्मा विशिष्टाः (saprasthānāḥ kṣātradharmā viśiṣṭāḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.64.22.
Derivable forms: prasthānam (प्रस्थानम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrasthāna (प्रस्थान).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. Going forth, preceeding, departing. 2. March of an assailant. 3. March. 4. Method, system. 5. Dying, death. 6. An inferior kind of drama the personages of which are slaves and outcasted. E. pra away, away from, sthā to stay, aff. lyuṭ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrasthāna (प्रस्थान).—i. e. pra-sthā + ana, n. 1. Departing, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 42. 2. March of an assailant.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrasthāna (प्रस्थान).—[neuter] going forth, setting out, departure.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Prasthāna (प्रस्थान):—[=pra-sthāna] [from pra-sthā] n. setting out, departure, procession, march ([especially] of an army or assailant), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] walking, moving, journey, advent, [ib.]
3) [v.s. ...] sending away, dispatching, [Yājñavalkya]
4) [v.s. ...] departing this life, dying (cf. mahā-pr)
5) [v.s. ...] religious mendicancy, [Mahābhārata]
6) [v.s. ...] a way to attain (any object), course, method, system, [Madhusūdana; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra [Scholiast or Commentator]]
7) [v.s. ...] a sect, [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
8) [v.s. ...] an inferior kind of drama (the character of which are slaves and outcasts), [Sāhitya-darpaṇa]
9) [v.s. ...] starting-point, place of origin, source, cause (in jñāna-pr, Name of [work])
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrasthāna (प्रस्थान):—[pra-sthāna] (naṃ) 1. n. Going forth; march; march of an assailant; departing; a low kind of drama.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Prasthāna (प्रस्थान) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Paṭṭhāṇa, Patthāṇa.
[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
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryPrasthāna (प्रस्थान) [Also spelled prasthan]:—(nm) departure, setting out (on a journey); march; articles placed in advance at the auspicious moment in the direction in which one is to journey (in case one’s departure is delayed due to some reason); hence ~[sthita] (a).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPrasthāna (ಪ್ರಸ್ಥಾನ):—
1) [noun] the act or an instance of travelling; journey.
2) [noun] the march of an army for purpose of attacking, subduing a hostile king or nation; military expedition.
3) [noun] an inferior kind of drama, the characters of which are slaves and outcastes.
4) [noun] any of the main divisions of a book; a chapter.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryPrasthāna (प्रस्थान):—n. 1. departure; going away; 2. the second Bible book;
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: Prasthanabheda, Prasthanabhimukha, Prasthanadundubhi, Prasthanaka, Prasthanamgey, Prasthanapamshu, Prasthanaratnakara, Prasthanatraya, Prasthanatrayabhashya, Prasthanatrayi, Prasthanaturya, Prasthanavali, Prasthanavat, Prasthanavighna, Prasthanavighnakrit, Prasthanaviklavagati.
Full-text (+49): Mahaprasthana, Jnanaprasthana, Varaprasthana, Prasthanadundubhi, Prasthanavighna, Pratiprasthana, Prasthanabheda, Jayaprasthana, Prasthanaratnakara, Mithahprasthana, Sutraprasthana, Prasthanatrayi, Vivaranaprasthana, Prasthanatraya, Prasthanika, Prasthanavat, Dandakaranyaprasthana, Prasthanapamshu, Prasthanavighnakrit, Bhagavadgitaprasthana.
Relevant text
Search found 54 books and stories containing Prasthana, Pra-sthana, Pra-sthāna, Prasthāna; (plurals include: Prasthanas, sthanas, sthānas, Prasthānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study) (by Padma Sugavanam)
Kohala and Nāṭya (7): The concept of Uparūpakas < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Part 4 - Citations of Kohala in the Abhinavabhāratī < [Chapter 3 - Kohala as seen in citations—an analysis]
Kohala and Nāṭya (4): The concept of Daśarūpaka < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study) (by Sadhu Gyanananddas)
4.4i. A Tribute to Veda Vyāsa < [Chapter 2 - Analysis on the Basis Of Epistemology]
3. Vedic Darśana Tradition and the Prasthānatrayī Śāstras < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata (by Shini M.V.)
Vedānta Philosophy < [Chapter 3 - The Philosophical Tenets in the Śānti-parva]
The Philosophy and Religion of The Bhagavad Gita < [April - June 1974]
Is Music a Vidya or a Kala < [Jan - Feb 1939]
The Beginning of Protest Poetry in Telugu < [April – June, 2000]
The concept of Oneness in the Upanishads (study) (by Chandra Shekhar Upadhyaya)
Upaniṣad: A Brief Introduction < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari (by K. A. Subramania Iyer)
Verse 3.14.276 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (14): Vṛtti-samuddeśa (On Ccomplex Formation)]
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