Purusha-sukta, Puruṣasūkta, Purushasukta: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Purusha-sukta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Puruṣasūkta can be transliterated into English as Purusasukta or Purushasukta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) is the name of a mantra that is chanted during Dhārāpūjā, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.14:—“ after performing the regular worship of Śiva, with great devotion in accordance with prescribed rules, the devotees shall pour water in a continuous stream (jaladhārā). This Dhārā worship [viz., Dhārāpūjā] is very efficacious in delirium due to fever (jvarapralāpa). At that time [...] Puruṣasūkta, [... etc.,] shall be repeated. The Dhārā worship [viz., Dhārāpūjā] is very excellent in regard to flourishing series of pleasures. [...]”.
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त).—Brahmā praised Hari by this;1 to be uttered while installing a new image.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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) refers to “a hymn from the Ṛg-Veda glorifying the Supersoul”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) refers to:—A famous hymn chanted by the demigods to worship lord Viṣṇu. this hymn is chanted during the bathing of the lord on days like gaurapūrṇimā, Janmāṣṭamī, etc., and during the bathing of śālagrāma-śilā. pūrvāhna–morning. puṣpa–flower. (cf. Glossary page from Arcana-dīpikā).
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) is the name of a Mantra associated with Jagannātha (recited during wood-carving and consecration rites).—Navakalevara is the name of a festival (symbolizing the cycle of birth, death and re-birth) which is celebrated at Puri: a sacred site home to the eternal abode of Śrī Jagannātha (a form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa).—A piece of wood cut from one of the dārus, called the nyāsadāru (nyāsa meaning placement, or deposition) is contemplated as the deity, and remains the focus of all the consecration rituals performed by the Brahmins. The nyāsadāru is propitiated with an elaborate abhiṣeka, with the Brahmins reciting Puruṣasūkta for Jagannātha, Rudrādhyaya or Nīlāsūkta for Balabhadra, and the Śrīsūkta for Subhadrā. [...]
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) [=puruṣasūktaśrīsūktavārāhamantrārthanirūpaṇam] refers to one of the topics discussed in the fifty-ninth chapter of the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā: an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama scripture dealing with the symbology of the Sudarśana weapon while also dealing with iconography, philosophy and Vaiṣṇava rituals.
1) Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) is the name of a Mantra, as discussed in the fifth-ninth chapter of the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, a Pāñcarātra work in 60 chapters dealing with topics such as Viṣṇu’s discus-power, the processes of creation and esoteric practices related to Sudarśana (such as mantras and yantras).—Description of the chapter [puruṣasūkta-śrīsūkta-vārāhamantra-arthanirūpaṇa]: Ahirbudhnya turns to the 16-stanza puruṣasūkta-mantra—painting out in a most interesting way that the first stanza connotes the reality of the Para-form of the Lord, that the second stanza reflects Saṃkarṣaṇa’s Being, the third refers to Pradyumna’s work in the world, the fourth to Ahirbudhnya, and the remaining fourteen stanzas concern various worldly matters and their interrelations (1-39). Moving to the śrīsūkta-mantra, he deals with this in briefer fashion, saying that in another work (anyatra) it has already been dealt with at length—adding that this “śrīsūkta” recited along with “puruṣasūkta” will win for one a place in Viṣṇu’s abode (40-43).
2) Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) is the name of a Mantra discussed in chapter 12 of the (first section of the) Bṛhadbrahmasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text containing over 4600 Sanskrit verses dealing primarily with Vaiṣṇava theology and practical matters concerning the Śrī-Vaiṣṇava community but also discussing aspects of Viśiṣṭādvaita philosophy.—Description of the chapter [puruṣasūkta-ārādhana-vidhi]: Those who wish to make use of the puruṣasākta-mantra in a special kind of worship must make certain preparations (1-11), including contemplating the Lord’s Being in a particular way (12-39), interior purifications (40-51) and bathing (52-53). [...]
3) Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) refers to the “best of all hymns”, as discussed in chapter 16 of the Śeṣasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 2800 Sanskrit verses narrated by Śeṣa (=Ananta) to Nārada and dealing primarily with the use of the appropriate mantras for various occasions such as jayantī celebrations.—Description of the chapter [puruṣasūkta-vidhi]: Nārada asks Śeṣa what is the best verse with which to praise the Lord. He is told that the best of all sūktas is the puruṣasūkta (1-18). The bulk of the chapter is given over to an analysis of this sūkta in terms of the ṛṣi, the chandas, the bīja, etc. (19-20a), followed by directions for nyāsa, dhyāna and japa and homa with this sūkta in mind as well as how to make and wear a yantra-design containing this sūkta (20b-50a).
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Purusha sukta is hymn of the Rigveda (10.90), dedicated to the Purusha, the "Cosmic Being".
The Purusha sukta gives a description of the spiritual unity of the universe. It presents the nature of Purusha or the cosmic being as both immanent in the manifested world and yet transcendent to it. From this being, the sukta holds, the original creative will (ldentified with Viswakarma, Hiranyagarbha or Prajapati) proceeds which causes the projection of the universe in space and time. The Purusha sukta, in the seventh verse, hints at the organic connectedness of the various classes of society.
The Vedantins take the Purusha sukta to allegorize the principles of (upasana), knowledge (jnana), devotion (bhakti), and rituals and duties (dharma and karma). The sukta gives an expression to immanence of radical unity in diversity and is therefore, seen as the foundation of the Vaishnava thought, Bhedabheda school of philosophy and Bhagavata theology.
The concept of the Purusha is from the Samkhya Philosophy which is traced to the Indus Valley period. It seems to be an interpolation into the Rig veda since it is out of character with the other hymns dedicated to nature gods.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त).—Name of the 9th hymn of the 1th Maṇḍala of the Ṛgveda (regarded as a very sacred hymn).
Derivable forms: puruṣasūktam (पुरुषसूक्तम्).
Puruṣasūkta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms puruṣa and sūkta (सूक्त).
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त).—n.
(-ktaṃ) A name given to the 90th hymn of the tenth mandala of the Rigveda.
1) Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—vaid. Oxf. 398^a. Paris. (B 227 Xxi). B. 1, 16 (and—[commentary]). Oudh. X, 2. Xvi, 16. Xviii, 2. Xix, 10. Bhr. 8 (and—[commentary]). Taylor. 1, 46. 68. 274. 427. Oppert. Ii, 3379. Peters. 3, 385 (and—[commentary]).
—[commentary] Bhk. 5. Oppert. 5579. 6382. Peters. 2, 175 (Kātīya). 185. Bp. 284.
—[commentary] Bhāṣyaṭīkā. Oppert. Ii, 2494.
—[commentary] by Kalyāṇajī. NW. 8.
—[commentary] by Dattātreyadigambarānucara. K. 2.
—[commentary] by Mahīdhara, from his
—[commentary] on the Vājasaneyisaṃhitā. Io. 2416.
—[commentary] by Rāghavendra Yati. Oudh. 1877, 2.
—[commentary] by Varadarāja. Oppert. 83. 1008. 1365. 5092. Ii, 4066.
—[commentary] by Sāyaṇa. Np. Ii, 4.
2) Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त):—vaid. Cs. 42 (Vs.). Oudh. Xx, 2. Xxi, 6. 14. Peters. 4, 3.
—[commentary] Hz. 377.
—[commentary] by Mahīdhara. Peters. 4, 3.
—[commentary] by Sāyaṇa. Peters. 4, 3.
3) Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त):—Ak 31. C. Peters. 6, 32.
—Ṛv. C. by Sāyaṇa. Hz. 1551.
4) Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त):—Vs. As p. 108. L.. 44-46. C. by Mahīdhara. As p. 108.
—Taittirīyāraṇyaka. C. [anonymous] L.. 79.
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त):—[=puruṣa-sūkta] [from puruṣa] n. ‘the Puruṣa hymn’, Name of [Ṛg-veda x, 90] (describing the Supreme Soul of the universe and supposed to be comparatively modern), [Religious Thought and Life in India 17; 23 etc.]
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त):—(pu + sūkta) n. das Puruṣa-Lied, Bez. von [Ṛgveda 10, 90], wo das Urindividuum geschildert wird, [Colebrooke] [?I,309. Weber’s Indische Studien.2,24. NARASIṂHA-Pāṇini’s acht Bücher in Oxforder Handschriften 83,a,33. BHAVIṢYOTTARA-Pāṇini’s acht Bücher in morgenländischen Gesellschaft 5,96.] puruṣasūktopaniṣad [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 250.]
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Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त):—[Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 1, 20.]
Puruṣasūkta (पुरुषसूक्त):—n. das Puruṣa-Lied [Ṛgveda (roth). 10,90.] bhāṣya n. , vyākhyā f. und vyākhyāna n. [Private libraries (Gustav) 1.] sūktopaniṣad f. Titel einer Upaniṣad.
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
Puruṣasūkta (ಪುರುಷಸೂಕ್ತ):—[noun] a hymn in the Řgvēda praising the supremacy of Viṣṇu.
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: Shukta, Purusha.
Full-text (+44): Purushasuktabhashya, Purushasuktavidhana, Purushasuktavyakhya, Purushasuktavyakhyana, Purusha, Purushasuktamantra, Purushasuktashodashopacaravidhi, Purushasuktavidhi, Paurushasukta, Purushasuktaradhana, Purushasuktopanishad, Snanasana, Purutacuttam, Shrisukta, Sahasrashirsha, Shudra, Shrishastra, Nyasa, Uttaranarayana, Asana.
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Search found 115 books and stories containing Purusha-sukta, Puruṣa-sūkta, Purusa-sukta, Puruṣasūkta, Purusasukta, Purushasukta; (plurals include: suktas, sūktas, Puruṣasūktas, Purusasuktas, Purushasuktas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brahma Archana Paddhati (text and translation) (by Prabhunath Dwivedi)
Chapter 3 - Brahmastotra-samgraha: Purusha-sukta
Relationality and Revelation: Early Hindu Ecological Visions < [Volume 12, Issue 7 (2021)]
The Experience of Srividya at Devipuram < [Volume 10, Issue 1 (2019)]
Apocalypse as a Sacrifice < [Volume 15, Issue 6 (2024)]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 136 < [Volume 1, Part 2 (1904)]
Page 137 < [Volume 1, Part 2 (1904)]
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Saura-purana (analytical study) (by Priyanku Chakraborty)
Part 2.4.1 - The Vedic mantras in the Saura-purāṇa < [Chapter 4 - The Vedic and other Elements as Reflected in the Saura-purāṇa]
Part 2.8.3 - Rules of Śrāddha rituals < [Chapter 4 - The Vedic and other Elements as Reflected in the Saura-purāṇa]
Part 6.1.3 - Different modes and rules of worship of Śiva < [Chapter 2 - A Brief Discourse on the Saura-purāṇa]
Informal Education of Sanskrit in Kerala (by Jayasree M.)
6. Recent Trends (regarding vedic studies) < [Chapter 3 - Informal Education of Sanskrit in Kerala: the Traditional Streams]
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