Prasvapana, Prasvāpana: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Prasvapana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary studyPrasvāpana (प्रस्वापन) is the name of a festival that once existed in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—Prasvāpana proceeds as folows: The Devaprasvāpana ceremony is to be observed for the last five days of the bright half of Āṣāḍha. The rites are: Performance of Dhanahotra and vigil at night on the 11th and the 14th, worship of the Brāhmaṇas and the Sātvatas on the 12th and the 14th and gifts for dramatic performances on the 13th.
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.
Gitashastra (science of music)
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (gita)Prasvāpana (प्रस्वापन) refers to one of the Forty-nine kinds of Tānas (in Indian music), 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.—Tāna refers to “that which spreads” (being dependent on mūrcchanā), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, only forty nine kinds of tānas are accepted under three grāmas viz., madhyama, ṣaḍja and gāndhāra. The ṣaḍjagrāma contains twenty tānas [e.g., prasvāpana].
Gitashastra (गीतशास्त्र, gītaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of Music (gita or samgita), which is traditionally divided in Vocal music, Instrumental music and Dance (under the jurisdiction of music). The different elements and technical terms are explained in a wide range of (often Sanskrit) literature.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraPrasvāpana (प्रस्वापन) is the name of a weapon used by Rāvaṇa, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.1 [origin of the rākṣasavaṃśa and vānaravaṃśa] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly, “[...] The Vidyādhara-soldiers came, obscuring him [i.e., Rāvaṇa] with weapons, like clouds a great mountain. Rāvaṇa, having cruel strength, broke missiles with missiles and not wishing to kill them, bewildered them at once with the missile Prasvāpana (lit, ‘sending to sleep’). Daśānana bound them like cattle with magic nooses and released them, asked by his wives for their fāthers as a boon. Then they went to their own cities, and Rāvaṇa went with his wives to Svayamprabhapura. A great reception was given by the delighted people. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPrasvāpana (प्रस्वापन).—a. Causing sleep, soporific; ओजस्तेजोद्युतिकरं प्रस्वापनमरातिनुत् (ojastejodyutikaraṃ prasvāpanamarātinut) (astram) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3.41.38.
-nam 1 Causing or inducing sleep.
2) A missile which induces sleep in the person attacked; प्रस्वापनं (prasvāpanaṃ) (gāndharvamastraṃ) प्रायुङ्क्त (prāyuṅkta) R.7.61.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrasvāpana (प्रस्वापन).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. Causing sleep, inducing sleep. 2. A missile which sends the person attacked to sleep.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Prasvāpana (प्रस्वापन):—[=pra-svāpana] [from pra-svāpa > pra-svap] mf(ī)n. causing sleep, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc. (nī daśā f. condition of s°, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa])
2) [v.s. ...] n. the act of sending to s°, [Rāmāyaṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrasvāpana (प्रस्वापन):—[pra-svāpana] (naḥ-nā-naṃ) a. Inducing sleep.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPrasvāpana (ಪ್ರಸ್ವಾಪನ):—
1) [noun] the act or process of making a person sleap.
2) [noun] a mystic act of making one’s opponent (as in an argument) go to sleep.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Pra, Svapana.
Full-text: Prasvapa, Astra, Tana, Devotthana.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Prasvapana, Prasvāpana, Pra-svapana, Pra-svāpana; (plurals include: Prasvapanas, Prasvāpanas, svapanas, svāpanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 2: Rāvaṇa’s marriage < [Chapter II - Rāvaṇa’s expedition of Conquest]
Ramayana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter XXVII < [Book 1 - Bāla-kāṇḍa]
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Saṃhāra weapons (1): Sopasaṃhāra-astras < [Chapter 3]
Sarga II: Dhanurveda-viveka-kathana (64 Verses) < [Chapter 2]
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
3. Vocal Music (Gīta) < [Chapter 2 - Music]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)