Pushan, Pūṣan: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Pushan means something in 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 Pūṣan can be transliterated into English as Pusan or Pushan, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)Pūṣan (पूषन्) refers to one of the deities to be installed in the ground plan for the construction of houses, according to the Bṛhatkālottara, chapter 112 (the vāstuyāga-paṭala).—The plan for the construction is always in the form of a square. That square is divided into a grid of cells (padas). [...] Once these padas have been laid out, deities [e.g., Pūṣan] are installed in them. In the most common pattern 45 deities are installed.
Pūṣan as a doorway deity is associated with the Nakṣatra called Viśākhā and the consequence is sukha. [...] The Mayasaṃgraha (verse 5.156-187) describes a design for a 9-by-9-part pura, a residential complex for a community and its lead figure. [...] This record lists a place for eating vessels at Pūṣan.

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationPūṣan (पूषन्) (Puṣan?) is the name of a deity, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.37. Accordingly:—“[...] after uprooting his enemies, like a lion the elephants of the forest, Vīrabhadra surveyed all the quarters frequently to know ‘who is where’. [...] Caṇḍa forcibly plucked off the teeth of Pūṣan, who had formerly laughed and showed his teeth while Śiva was being cursed”.
Note: Maṇibhadra is is represented as toothless. The cause of his being toothless is variously explained. See H. M. P. 250. According to the present text, it was Caṇḍa, the follower of Vīrabhadra who uprooted his teeth.

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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Apam Napat: Indian MythologyPushan is the guardian deity of roads, who removes dangers out of the way. He is also called the 'guardian of travelers' and the 'son of deliverance'. He follows and protects cattle, and brings them home safely. His name means 'prosperer'. His favorite food is gruel. He wears braided hair and a beard. He carries a golden spear, an awl and a goad. His is a great charioteer, and his car is drawn by goats. With his golden aerial ships, Pushan is the messenger of Surya. He is the guardian of all creatures. He is also often appealed to for granting bounty. Among his other duties, he conducts the dead on the far-off path of their fathers.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPūṣan (पूषन्).—m. (nom. pūṣā, -ṣaṇau, -ṣaṇaḥ) [पूष्-कनिन् (pūṣ-kanin); Uṇādi-sūtra 1. 156]
1) A Vedic deity.
2) The protector of the universe; Īśop.16.
3) The sun; सदापान्थः पूषा गगनपरिमाणं कलयति (sadāpānthaḥ pūṣā gaganaparimāṇaṃ kalayati) Bhartṛhari 2.114; इन्धनौघधगप्यग्निस्त्विषा नात्येति पूषणम् (indhanaughadhagapyagnistviṣā nātyeti pūṣaṇam) Śiśupālavadha 2.23; नवीनमिव पूषणम् (navīnamiva pūṣaṇam) Śiva B.15.26.
4) One of the 12 Ādityas; Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.15.18.
5) The earth.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPūṣan (पूषन्).—m.
(-ṣā) The sun. E. pūṣ to nourish, aff. kanin .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPūṣan (पूषन्).—i. e. puṣ + an, m. 1. The name of a vedic deity. 2. One of the Ādityas, Mahābhārata 1, 2523. 3. The sun, Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 461.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPūṣan (पूषन्).—[masculine] [Name] of a Vedic divinity, often identif. with the Sun.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Pūṣaṇ (पूषण्):—[from pūṣ] in [compound] for ṣan.
2) Pūṣan (पूषन्):—[from pūṣ] m. (the a not lengthened in the strong cases, but [accusative] ṣāṇam, in [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]) Name of a Vedic deity (originally connected with the sun, and therefore the surveyor of all things, and the conductor on journeys and on the way to the next world, often associated with Soma or the Moon as protector of the universe; he is, moreover, regarded as the keeper of flocks and herds and bringer of prosperity; in the Brāhmaṇas he is represented as having lost his teeth and feeding on a kind of gruel, whence he is called karambhād; in later times he is one of the 12 Ādityas and regent of the Nakṣatra Revatī or Pauṣṇa; [dual number] ‘Pūṣan and Aryaman’ [Viṣṇu-purāṇa [Scholiast or Commentator]])
3) [v.s. ...] the sun, [Kādambarī; Bālarāmāyaṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] (?) growth, increase (cf. pūṣa-rāti)
5) [v.s. ...] the earth, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPūṣan (पूषन्):—(ṣā) 5. m. The sun.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Pūṣan (पूषन्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pūsa.
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Pushabhasa, Pushadantahara, Pushana, Pushanbheda, Pushani kai, Pushanuja, Pushanvant, Pushanvat, Pushari, Pushasuhrid, Pushatmaja.
Ends with: Indrapushan, Somapushan.
Full-text (+88): Agnapaushna, Ajashva, Aindrapaushna, Pushadantahara, Pushabhasa, Paushna, Pushanvat, Indrapushan, Somapushan, Prapathya, Abhyardhayajvan, Naruna, Pushanvant, Narashamsa, Pushasuhrid, Somapaushna, Pushtimbhara, Pushatmaja, Aghrini, Janashri.
Relevant text
Search found 52 books and stories containing Pushan, Pūṣan, Pusan, Pūṣaṇ; (plurals include: Pushans, Pūṣans, Pusans, Pūṣaṇs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Ishavasya Upanishad with Shankara Bhashya (Sitarama) (by S. Sitarama Sastri)
Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas (by Goswami Mitali)
Part 19 - Pūṣan (the Knower of the Paths) < [Chapter 2 - Salient Traits of the Solar Divinities in the Veda]
Part 16 - Pūṣan (the Lord of Entire World) < [Chapter 2 - Salient Traits of the Solar Divinities in the Veda]
Part 17 - Pūṣan (the Pastoral Deity) < [Chapter 2 - Salient Traits of the Solar Divinities in the Veda]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
15. Rudra in Pravargya ceremony of the Soma sacrifice < [Chapter 3 - Rudra-Śiva in the Brāhmaṇa Literature]
4. Atharvaveda-saṃhitā (g): Rudra’s relation with other gods < [Chapter 2 - Rudra-Śiva in the Saṃhitā Literature]
14. Rudra’s exclusion from sacrifice by Prajāpati < [Chapter 3 - Rudra-Śiva in the Brāhmaṇa Literature]
Animal Kingdom (Tiryak) in Epics (by Saranya P.S)
Isopanisad (Madhva commentary) (by Srisa Chandra Vasu)
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