Retas, Rētas: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Retas means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Tamil. 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
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantraRetas (रेतस्):—Sanskrit word for ‘semen’. It is associated with Tattva, which is the seventh seat of the Svādhiṣṭhāna-chakra, according to the Kubjikāmata-tantra.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsRetas (रेतस्) refers to the “(oblation with) seed (in Fire)”, according to the Halāyudhastotra verse 34-35.—Accordingly, “The visitation of the wives of the distinguished sages in the Pine Park, the oblation with seed (retas) in Fire (retasāgnau), the twilight dance: Your behaviour is not reprehensible. O Three-eyed one! The doctrines of the world do not touch those who have left worldly life, having passed far beyond the path of those whose minds are afflicted by false knowledge. The gods all wear gold and jewels as an ornament on their body. You do not even wear gold the size of a berry on your ear or on your hand. The one whose natural beauty, surpassing the path [of the world], flashes on his own body, has no regard for the extraneous ornaments of ordinary men”.
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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Google Books: Manusmṛti with the Manubhāṣya1) Retas (रेतस्):—(a) The semen of the legitimate husband, or (b) the husband himself, or (c) the secretions of the mother herself. [In the case of (c) the word is in the accusative case]. (According to Medhātithi)
2) Retas (रेतस्):—Secretions of the mother on her sexual desires being aroused. (According to Kullūka, Govindarāja, Rāghavānanda, Nārāyaṇa and Nandana.)
(Also see the Manubhāṣya, verse 9.20)
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsRetas (रेतस्):—Semen
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramRetas (रेतस्) refers to “semen”, 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, “(The adept) should elevate (the goddess) in the form of semen (retas) from the middle of the Drop, the Upper Place. The same (energy) that had previously waned away (now) rains down the nectar of the Full Moon (pūrṇāmṛta)”.—(Cf. Mālinīstava)
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationRetas (रेतस्) refers to “semen”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.16 (“Brahmā consoles the gods”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā said to the Gods: “[...] Make such arrangements as to ensure the discharge of semen [i.e., retas] into Pārvatī, the daughter of Menakā. Śiva is a great Yogin who can make semen flow upwards in the body. Only Pārvatī can make him discharge the semen downwards, out of the body. There is no other woman capable of it. That daughter of the lord of the mountains is now in her prime of youth. She is serving Śiva in his penance on the Himalayas. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryRetas (रेतस्).—[rī-asun tuṭ ca Uṇādi-sūtra 4.29.]
1) Semen virile, seed.
2) Ved. A flow, current.
3) Progeny, offspring.
4) Quicksilver.
5) Sin. (mostly Ved. in the last sense.).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryRetas (रेतस्).—n.
(-taḥ) 1. The seminal fluid. 2. Quicksilver. E. rī to ooze, Unadi aff. asun, tuṭ aug.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryRetas (रेतस्).—i. e. rī + tas, 1. Semen virile, Mahābhārata 13, 1160. 2. Quicksilver.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryRetas (रेतस्).—[neuter] flow, flood, gush, flow of semen, the seminal fluid itself, seed; offspring, progeny.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Retas (रेतस्):—[from reṇu] n. (√ri, rī) a flow, stream, current, flow of rain or water, libation, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda]
2) [v.s. ...] flow of semen, seminal fluid, sperm, seed, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc. (retaḥ-√sic or ni-√sic or ā-√dhā with [locative case], ‘to discharge semen into’, impregnate; reto-√dhā, [Apte’s The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary], to conceive; retaso nte, after the discharge of s°)
3) [v.s. ...] offspring, progeny, descendants, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] quicksilver (regarded as Śiva’s semen), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] water, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] sin (?), [Sāyaṇa on Ṛg-veda iv, 3, 7.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryRetas (रेतस्):—(taḥ) 5. n. Semen; quicksilver.
[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.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconRētas (ரேதஸ்) noun < rētas. See இரேதசு. [irethasu.]
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Retahkanika, Retahseka, Retahskhalana, Retasa, Retassu, Retastambhaka, Retastrava, Retasvant, Retasvat, Retasvin, Retasya, Retodha, Retomarga, Retovaha.
Ends with (+7): Agniretas, Aretas, Badhyaretas, Bahiretas, Bahuretas, Bhuriretas, Dviretas, Hiranyaretas, Krishanuretas, Kumbharetas, Maharetas, Parjanyaretas, Pracyutaretas, Sahasraretas, Saretas, Shivaretas, Suretas, Suvarnaretas, Svarnaretas, Ugraretas.
Full-text (+42): Vahniretas, Vishvaretas, Reta, Hiranyaretas, Bahuretas, Krishanuretas, Retasa, Ugraretas, Vasuretas, Kumbharetas, Urdhvaretas, Raitasa, Maharetas, Suvarnaretas, Svarnaretas, Yajnaretas, Arkaretoja, Urddhvaretas, Suretas, Badhyaretas.
Relevant text
Search found 15 books and stories containing Retas, Rētas, Rethas, Raethas, Redas, Redhas; (plurals include: Retases, Rētases, Rethases, Raethases, Redases, Redhases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 86 - The Greatness of Piṅgaleśvara (piṅgala-īśvara-tīrtha) < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 27 - The Birth of Kumāra Kārttikeya < [Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 29 - Reason why Sea Water Is not Fit for Drinking < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Chapter 16 - Paścimāmnaya (Western Tradition) < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
Bharati's Life And Poetry < [January 1958]
Shiva Gita (study and summary) (by K. V. Anantharaman)
Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kāṇḍa I, adhyāya 4, brāhmaṇa 5 < [First Kāṇḍa]
Kāṇḍa III, adhyāya 2, brāhmaṇa 1 < [Third Kāṇḍa]