Sita, Sītā, Śīta, Sīta, Shita, Sītā, Sitā, Śita, Śītā, Siṭa, Siṭā: 65 definitions

Introduction:

Sita means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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 terms Śīta and Śita and Śītā can be transliterated into English as Sita or Shita, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Sheet.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Sītā (सीता):—Wife of Rāma (Son of Daśaratha, as an incarnation Vāsudeva). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.10.4)

Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

1) Sītā (सीता).—One of the four rivers originating from the “river of the sky”, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 82. This ‘river of the sky’ starts at the ‘ocean of the sky’ and, being agitated by the elephant of Indra, falls at the top of mount Meru, where at the bottom it forms into these four rivers. Meru is one of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, which is ruled over by Āgnīdhra, a grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

2) Sītā is mentioned in another list of rivers, flowing from the five great mountains (Śailavarṇa, Mālākhya, Korajaska, Triparṇa and Nīla). Those who drink the waters of such rivers live for ten thousand years and become devotees of Rudra and Umā.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Sita (सित).—A warrior of Subrahmaṇya. (Mahābhārata, Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 69).

2) Sītā (सीता).—Wife of Śrī Rāma. Who is Sītā? Sītā is the incarnation of Mahālakṣmī. Lakṣmī took the birth of a woman because of the curse of Sarasvatī. Vedavatī, Sītā, Pāñcālī, all these women of chastity were the incarnations of Lakṣmī The stories of Lakṣmī passing from birth to birth such as Vedavatī, Tulasī, Sītā, Pāñcālī and so on until at last she reached the world of Viṣṇu, occurring in various Purāṇas are collected and given here.

3) Sītā (सीता).—A river. Mention is made in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 188, Verse 102, that once the hermit Mārkaṇḍeya saw this river also in the stomach of child Mukunda (Śrī Kṛṣṇa). This is one of the seven branches of the river Ganges. (See under Sindhu).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Sita (सित) is the name of a Sage (Muni) who once attended a great sacrifice by Dakṣa, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.27. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] once a great sacrifice was started by Dakṣa, O sage. To partake in that sacrifice, the celestial and terrestrial sages and devas were invited by Śiva and they reached the place being deluded by Śiva’s Māyā. [Sita, ...] and many others along with their sons and wives arrived at the sacrifice of Dakṣa—my son”.

2) Sītā (सीता) is the wife of Rāma and was born as the daughter Dhanyā after the latter was cursed by Sanatkumāra, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.2.—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra said to the three daughters of Svadhā (i.e., Menā, Dhanyā and Kalāvatī):—“[...] O ye three daughters of forefathers (i.e., Dhanyā), listen with pleasure to my words that will dispel your sorrow and bestow happiness on you.  [...] The second daughter Dhanyā shall be the Yoginī, the wife of Janaka. Her daughter shall be Mahālakṣmī in the name of Sītā. [...] Janaka shall be blessed by Sītā born in Janaka’s race and he shall be a living liberated soul. A great Yogin, he will attain Vaikuṇṭha. [...] Ye the daughters of forefathers (i.e., Dhanyā) shall shine in heaven. By the vision of Viṣṇu your evil actions have been quelled. [...] Dhanyā’s daughter Sītā will become Rāma’s wife. Based on worldly conventions she will sport about with Rāma”.

3) Sita (सित) refers to “sugar”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.24 (“Śiva consents to marry Pārvatī”).—Accordingly, as Śiva said to Viṣṇu: “[...] O Indra, a man attains downfall even by conversing with a sensuous person. Great preceptors say that worldly enjoyment is a bitter beer mixed with sugar [i.e., sita-alisitāliteṃdravāruṇīm]. Although I know and realise all these, although I have specific wisdom yet I shall accede to your request and make it fruitful. I am definitely subservient to my devotees. Hence I may do everything. I am known all over the three worlds as one who performs ill fitting things. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Sita (सित).—A sage of the Auttama epoch.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 9. 14.

1b) Married ekaparṇā, the daughter of Menā.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 13. 9.

1c) Śukra; one of the nine grahas; colour white.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 93. 10.

2a) Sītā (सीता).—A branch of the Gangā issuing from the city of Brahmā: descends Kesara and other hills, falls on the summits of Gandhamādana, and traversing the continent of Bhadrāśva, falls into the Eastern Ocean;1 rises out of the Sitānta slopes of the Mukuñja hill, flows through Sumañjasa, Mālyavata, Vaikanka, Maṇiparvatam, Ṛṣabham, Jaṭhara, Devakūṭa, and reaches through the Gandhamādana and takes the name of Alakanandā and enters the Mānasa lake.

  • * Bhā V. 17. 5-6; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 12. 16; 18. 22, 41-5; 26. 44; III. 56. 52; Vāyu-purāṇa 42. 17-35; 47. 39, 43; 55. 42; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 2. 34-5; 8. 113.

2b) The goddess enshrined at Citrakūṭa.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 13. 39.

2c) A R. of Kuśadvīpa.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 122. 71.

2d) Wife of Havyavāhana.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 29. 14.

2e) The supernatural daughter of Janaka;1 is Lakṣmī; the wife of Rāma;2 was discovered by Sīradhvaja when ploughing the earth for a sacrifice.3 In her svayamvara, Rāma broke the dhanus of Śiva. Ravished by her beauty Rāvaṇa took her to Lankā and kept her under a śiṃśupa tree. Recovered by Rāma. Ever devoted to her lord, enjoyed his company at the capital. In the sacrifices she gave away all her things as gifts except saumāṅgalya. Bore the water jar when Bharata carried the Pādukā.4 Respect of, to Brahmanas and elders; was sent to Vālmīki's hermitage though pregnant as Rāma heard a citizen speak ill of her stay in Rāvaṇa's palace; gave birth to Kuśa and Lava. After entrusting her sons to the care of the sage, she entered the bowels of the earth.5

  • 1) Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 4. 92-3; 5. 28;
  • 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 106. 58; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 9. 144;
  • 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 88. 195; 89. 15; 108. 19 and 25.
  • 4) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 19. 1-5; IX. 10. 3; 13. 18; XI. 4. 21; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 63. 196; Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 10. 6-30. 44 & 56; 11. 4 and 35; X. 71. 9: 83. 10;
  • 5) IX. 10. 41 and 47: 11. 10-15.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Sita (सित) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.64, XIII.4.53, XIII.4) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Sita) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Sītā (सीता) is the wife of Rāma: one of the four sons of Daśaratha, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] The son of Raghu was very famous from whom Daśaratha was born. Daśaratha had four sons who were religious and famous in the world. They were Rāma, Bharata, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna. All of them were devoted to Lord Mahādeva. Sītā was the wife of Rāma who was born as a portion of Pārvatī because king Janaka propitiated Pārvatī by his penance. Śiva, having been pleased with him gave him a bow. Śrīrāma broke this bow and Janaka gave Sītā in marriage to Rāma. [...]

Demon Rāvaṇa abducted Sītā from the forest and took her to Laṃka. Being unhappy both the brothers while roaming in the forest made friendship with Sugrīva the king of the Monkeys. Hanumān went to Laṃka and saw Sītā and in order to believe him as the attendant of Rāma, he gave her the ring of Śrīrāma.

Purana book cover
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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.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: Wisdom Library: Raj Nighantu

Śīta (शीत, “cold”) refers to one of the eight kinds of Vīrya (potency), representing characteristics of medicinal drugs, according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). Accordingly, “the rasa, vīrya and vipāka of the drugs should be noted (studied) carefully. [...] By vīrya [eg., Śīta], the working capacity and potency is meant”.

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

1a) Sitā (सिता) is another name for Śvetakaṇṭakārī, a medicinal plant related to Kaṇṭakārī, according to verse 4.33-36 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Sitā and Śvetakaṇṭakārī, there are a total of twenty-four Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

1b) Sitā (सिता) is also mentioned as a synonym for Vākucī, a medicinal plant identified with Psoralea corylifolia Linn. (“Babchi”) from the Fabaceae or “legume” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.62-65. Together with the names Sitā and Vākucī, there are a total of twenty-one Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

2a) Śītā (शीता) is another name for Nāgabalā, a medicinal plant identified with Grewia tenax Forsk. (“white Crossberry”) from the Malvaceae or mallows family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.96-97. Together with the names Śītā and Nāgabalā, there are a total of fifteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

2b) Śītā (शीता) is also mentioned as a synonym for Atibalā, a medicinal plant identified with Abutilon indicum Linn. (“Indian mallow”) from the Malvaceae or mallows family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.101-102. Together with the names Śītā and Atibalā, there are a total of ten Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

2c) Śītā (शीता) is also mentioned as a synonym for Kuṭumbinī, an unidentified medicinal plant, according to verse 5.78-80. The fifth chapter (parpaṭādi-varga) of this book enumerates sixty varieties of smaller plants (kṣudra-kṣupa). Together with the names Śītā and Kuṭumbinī, there are a total of twelve Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

3) Śīta (शीत) is mentioned as a synonym for Parpaṭa, a medicinal plant identified with various varieties and species, according to verse 5.8-10. Together with the names Śīta and Parpaṭa, there are a total of eighteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

1) Sitā (सिता) refers to “sugar” and is mentioned as being beneficial (hita) to the body according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The dravyaguṇāguṇa section contains the discussions on different food articles and their dietetic effects according to the prominent Ayurvedic treatises. Here In the ikṣu (sugarcane products) group  Sitā (sugar) is mentioned as beneficial to the body (hita).

2) Śīta (शीत) refers to “cool” and represents a particular dietetic effect according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana).—Accordingly, the dietetic effect śīta is associated with the following conditions: Food-utensils made of Kumudapatra (white water-lilly leaf), Raktotpalapatra (red lotus leaf) and Utpalapatra (blue lotus leaf).

Cikitsa (natural therapy and treatment for medical conditions)

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Botanical identification of plants described in Mādhava Cikitsā

Sitā (सिता) refers to the medicinal plant Ipomoea digitata L. Syn. Ipomoea paniculata R.Br. Burm. Syn. Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq., and is used in the treatment of atisāra (diarrhoea), according to the 7th century Mādhavacikitsā chapter 2. Atisāra refers to a condition where there are three or more loose or liquid stools (bowel movements) per day or more stool than normal.  The second chapter of the Mādhavacikitsā explains several preparations [including Sitā] through 60 Sanskrit verses about treating this problem.

The plant Ipomoea digitata L. Syn. Ipomoea paniculata R.Br. Burm. Syn. Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq. (Sitā) is also known as Kṣīravidārī according to both the Ayurvedic Formulary and the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India.

Agriculture (Krishi) and Vrikshayurveda (study of Plant life)

Source: Shodhganga: Drumavichitrikarnam—Plant mutagenesis in ancient India

Sitā (सिता) refers to “crystalline sugar” and is used in the process of producing long lasting fruits (on the tree) [e.g., anāśi-phalatva], according to the Vṛkṣāyurveda by Sūrapāla (1000 CE): an encyclopedic work dealing with the study of trees and the principles of ancient Indian agriculture.—Accordingly, “A ball made out of the mixture of flowers of the Madhuca indica, Nymphaea caerulea, honey, crystalline sugar (sitā) and Glycyrrhiza glabra kept in a hole made at the root of a tree produces long lasting fruits (on the tree)”.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Śīta (शीत, “cold”).—One of the twenty Gurvādiguṇa, or, ‘ten opposing pairs of qualities of drugs’.—Śīta is the characteristic of a drug referring to the ‘coldness’, while its opposing quality, Uṣṇa, refers to its ‘warmness’. It is a Sanskrit technical term from Āyurveda (Indian medicine) and used in literature such the Caraka-saṃhitā and the Suśruta-saṃhitā.

The quality of Śīta, present in drugs and herbs, increases the Vāta (bodily humour in control of motion and the nervous system) and the Kapha (bodily fluids, or ‘phlegm’), while it aggrevates the Pitta (bodily humour in control of digestion and metabolism). It exhibits a predominant presence of the elements Fire (agni), Ether (ākāśa) and Air (vāyu).

Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Śīta (शीत) refers to “cold (season)” and is mentioned in verse 3.7 and 5.1-2 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] strength (is) greatest in the cold [viz., śīta] season and little in monsoon and summer, but middling in the remaining two (seasons). In a strong (man) the (digestive) fire is strong during -winter because of its obstruction by cold”.

Note: Śīta (“cold”), like Śītakāla (“cold season”) in 2.11, denotes the period from mid-November till mid-March going by the name of Hemantaśiśira (“winter & prespring”). The Tibetans have simply put dgun (“winter”) (Mahāvyutpatti 8257) in its place; if this term is also representative of dgun-smad (“pre-spring”) (Mahāvyutpatti 8258) remains to be seen.

Source: Academia.edu: Ayurveda and Pharmaceutics

Śīta (Cold infusion): The herbs are kept in water overnight and in the ensuing morning, the water is filtered. The filtrate is known as ṣita. The medicinal herbs containing volatile oils and thermo-liable ingredients are made into Śīta. Some herbs containing some poisons can be made into cold infusion because in the absence of heat the poisons are not released into the water. It is also known as śīta-kaṣāya. Example: Triphala śīta can be used to wash the eyes in the morning.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

1) Śīta (शीत):—Cool; Cold; An attribute of Vāyu and Kapha. Coolness; one of the 20 gurvadi guna; caused due to activated Jala mahabhuta; denotes physiological & pharmacological coolness; manifested by reduction in burning sensation & thirst, facilitates stoppage of flow in channels like styptic, reduces sweating, increases urine, pacifies pitta, aggravates vata. 2. Synonym of Gudatwak (Cinnamonum zeylanicum).

2) Sita (सित):—[sitaṃ] White colour

Source: National Mission for Manuscripts: Traditional Medicine System in India

Śīta (शीत, “cold”) or Hima and Uṣṇa (“hot”) refers to one of the ten counterpart-couples of the twenty Śārīraguṇa (or Gurvādiguṇa), which refers to the “twenty qualities of the body”—where guṇa (property) represents one of the six divisions of dravya (drugs).—Śārīraka-guṇas are twenty in number. There are ten guṇas with their opposite guṇas. [...] Hima (“cold”) has the predominant bhūta (element) of water and the associated actions of “cooling/stambhana”; while Uṣṇa (“hot”) has the predominant bhūta (element) of agni and is associated with the action “healing/svedana”.

Ayurveda book cover
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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.

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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

1) Sita (सित) is the Sanskrit name of one of Bharata’s sons, mentioned in the Nāṭyaśāstra 1.26-33. After Brahmā created the Nāṭyaveda (nāṭyaśāstra), he ordered Bharata to teach the science to his (one hundred) sons. Bharata thus learned the Nāṭyaveda from Brahmā, and then made his sons study and learn its proper application. After their study, Bharata assigned his sons (eg., Sita) various roles suitable to them.

2) Sita (सित, “white”) refers to one of the found original (natural) colors (varṇa), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. It is also known by the name Śveta. From these colors come numerous derivative and minor colors (upavarṇa).

According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “Soma (the Moon), Bṛhaspati. Śakra (Indra) Varuṇa and the stars (tāraka, tārakagaṇa), the ocean (samudra), the Himalayas, and Gaṅgā (the Ganges) are to be made white in colour (śveta)”.

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)

Sita (सित) or “white (colour)” is associated with Hāsya or the “comic sentiment”, which represents one of the nine kinds of Rasa (“soul of Drama”), 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.—The Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa says that hāsyarasa is generated from some irrelevant or funny conversations or attires which bring humour to the viewers’ mind and the viewers start laughing. [...] Hāsa is the sthāyibhāva of this sentiment. Sita i.e., white is the colour and Pramatha is the God of this sentiment.

Natyashastra book cover
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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).

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Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Sītā (सीता).—The beloved consort of Lord Rāmacandra. She appeared in the house of Janaka Mahārāja, one of the twelve leading spiritual authorities in the universe. She was abducted by ten-headed demon, Ravana.

Source: Prabhupada Books: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta

Sītā (सीता).—According to Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madya-lila 9.201-203, “Śrīmatī Sītādevī is the mother of the three worlds and the wife of Lord Rāmacandra. Among chaste women she is supreme, and she is the daughter of King Janaka. When Rāvaṇa came to kidnap mother Sītā and she saw him, she took shelter of the fire-god, Agni. The fire-god covered the body of mother Sītā, and in this way she was protected from the hands of Rāvaṇa. Upon hearing from the Kūrma Purāṇa how Rāvaṇa had kidnapped a false form of mother Sītā, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very much satisfied”.

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (vaishnavism)

Sītā (सीता)is the wife of Śrī Rāma; as Śrī Rāma is an incarnation of Viṣṇu, Sītā is also a form of Lakṣmī. [...] Goddess Lakṣmī’s another form is Sītā who is an embodiment of dedication, devotion, serenity, patience, calm, virginity, love, compassion, beauty, humbleness and confidence. When the devotees pray to Śrī Rāma, they involuntarily direct their prayers and petitions to Sītā also. The divine couple bestows the devotee with all the qualities inherent in them. Women pray to Śrī Rāma to bless them with husbands like the Lord and men pray asking for wives with the qualities of Sītā. Mostly the divine couple is prayed for happy marriage and good life.

Vaishnavism book cover
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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’).

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Sita (सित) refers to the city of Varuṇa, situated on the western lower slope of mount Meru, according to Parākhyatantra 5.66. Meru is the name of a golden mountained situated in the middle of nine landmasses (navakhaṇḍa): Bhārata, Hari, Kimpuruṣa, Ramyaka, Ramaṇa, Kuru, Bhadrāśva, Ketumāla and Ilāvṛta. Together these khaṇḍas make up the continent known as Jambūdvīpa.

Sita is also known by the name Sitavatī or Śuddhavatī and is mentioned in various other sources, eg., the Svacchanda-tantra 10.132-136, Kiraṇa-āgama 8.51-54, Mṛgendra-āgama vidyāpāda 13.47-54, Sarvajñānottara-tantra adhvaprakaraṇa 34-36 and Mataṅga-āgama vidyāpāda 23.60-63

The Parākhyatantra is an old Śaiva-siddhānta tantra dating from before the 10th century.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

1) Śīta (शीत) refers to “cold”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 3.—Accordingly, “[...] If one torments the body (deha) with rain, cold (śīta) and heat, …, devoted to recitation and meditation, this is called the Great Observance. A woman skilled in the pleasures of love-making, endowed with beauty and youth; such a woman one should procure, holding one’s senses back from the objects of the senses, and one should kiss and embrace [her], placing the penis upon her sex while remaining focussed upon recitation and meditation—one performs [thus] the Sword-Blade Observance. If one should succumb to the control of desire, then one certainly falls into hell. [...]”.

2) Sita (सित) refers to “white”, as quoted by Hṛdayaśiva in his Prāyaścittasamuccaya (verse 10.27-35).—Accordingly, “[...] Dressed in white (sita-vāsa), with a white (sita) turban and a white (sita) sacred thread and white (sita) unguents and garland, he should perform the observance for the vidyādhipa-mantra. Dressed in red garments and red garlands and unguents the Mantrin should first perform for one month the stated observance for the brahmaśiras. [...]”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Sita (सित) refers to “white”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 11.1-24ab, while describing the appearance and worship of Tumburu]—“[...] The Devīs are white (sita), red, yellow, and black, four-faced, four armed, three eyed, and in [their] hands bear golden hatchets, sticks and rosaries. [...] Mounted on a corpse, Jayā devī shines forth [in white]; four-armed, four-faced, three-eyed, red Vijayā holds grass, a bow, a shield and a sword, [while] standing upon an owl, O Devī. [...] [When one] worships and meditates on [the Devīs, as they] stand in the cardinal directions, [the Devīs grant the practitioner] the fruits of siddhi. [...]”.

Shaivism book cover
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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.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

1) Sita (सित) refers to the “white” type of solar spots (ketus), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 3), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The dark spots, also known as ketus, the sons of Rāhu are Tāmasa, Kīlaka and the like, and are 33 in number. How they affect the earth depends upon their color, position and shape. [...] A single spot will bring on famine; if two or more spots should appear, the reigning prince will die; if they should appear white [i.e., sita], red, yellow or black then the Brāhmaṇas, the Kṣatriyas, the Vaiśyas or the Śūdras will suffer respectively. Only those parts of the earth will suffer in the corresponding parts of which on the solar disc the spots happen to appear”.

2) Sita (सित) refers to the planet “Venus”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 4), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If Venus [i.e., sita] should be eclipsed by the lunar disc the people of Magadha, the Yavanas, the Mlecchas, men of Pulinda (a barbarous tribe), the Nepālīs, the Bhṛṅgīs and the Mārwārīs (Marus), the men of Kaccha and of Surat, the Madras, the Pāñcālas, the Kaikayas, the Kulūtakas, the Cannibalas (Pūruṣādas) and the men of Uśīnara (Gāndhāra) will suffer miseries for seven months”.

Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms

Sita (सित).—1. The measure of the illuminated part of the Moon's disc; the phase of the Moon. 2. The light half of the lunar month (sitapakṣa). 3. Venus. Note: Sita is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

Jyotisha book cover
context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Sītā (सीता), daughter of Janaka, is the wife of Rāma, one of the son of Daśaratha, the king of Ayodhyā, according to in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 51. Accordingly, “... he [Rāma] was a partial incarnation of Viṣṇu for the overthrow of Rāvaṇa, and he had a wife named Sītā, the daughter of Janaka, the lady of his life. As fate would have it, his father handed over the kingdom to Bharata, and sent Rāma to the forest with Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa”.

The story of Sītā was narrated by the Vidyādharī Kāñcanaprabhā to Naravāhanadatta while in a Svayambhū temple of Śiva, in order to demonstrate that “people who possess firmness endure for a long time mutual separation to which no termination is assigned”, in other words, that “heroic souls endure separation for so long a time”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Sītā, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of Sriharsa

Sitā (सिता) refers to “sugar”, and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 3.94.—Cf. “kāsāraṃ tu sitāsāraṃ naivedyaṃ bhāskarāya vai” quoted from Bhaviṣyatpurāṇa in Kṛtyakalpataru (Vratakāṇḍa), p. 125 (G.O.S.). Commentary says “sitāsāraḥ śarkarābahulaḥ”.

Kavya book cover
context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Sītā is the name of a deity depicted at Ramaswamy Temple in Kumbakonam (Kumbhakonam), representing a sacred place for the worship of Viṣṇu.—(a) In the sannidhi for Rāma, there are icons of Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanumān. [...] Sītā is found seated to the left of Rāma in sukhāsana posture with the right leg folded and left leg hanging. Her right hand is in kaṭaka-hasta holding a flower and the left hand is in varada-hasta. (b) In front of the stone images are the utsava-mūrti of Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa, Bharata, Satrukguṇa and Hanumān. Sītā is found to the right of Rāma. She is found in standing posture in samabhaṅga with the left hand in kaṭaka hasta and the right hand in dolā-hasta.

The images of Rāma Sītā and Lakṣmana are made out of stone. The height of Sītā’s image is to the level of Śrī Rāma’s shoulder. Sītā is also found in samapāda-sthānaka with the right hand in dolā and the left hand in kapittha-hasta.

Shilpashastra book cover
context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Śīta (शीत) refers to “cold”, according to the Śivayogadīpikā, an ancient Sanskrit text dealing with Yoga possibly corresponding to the Śivayoga quoted in Śivānanda’s Yogacintāmaṇi.—Accordingly, [while describing a sequence of Haṭhayoga practices]: “Thus, by means of this Haṭhayoga which has eight auxiliaries, those [students who are] life-long celibates obtain the Siddhis of the [best of Sages] because of their untiring practice. [...] Then, in the third year, he is not hurt by noxious [animals] such as snakes. In the fourth year, he is free from [any] torment, thirst, sleep, cold (śīta) and heat. [...]”.

Yoga book cover
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Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

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Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)

Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)

Śīta (शीत) refers to “cold”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “Hunting on horseback (āśvina) represents one of the eight subdivisions of Hunting (mṛgayā). [...] The practice of hunting on horseback reduces fat, lightens the body, enhances strength and ambition, hardens the muscles, kindles appetite, produces a capacity for enduring [e.g., cold (śīta)] [...]. These and many such excellences are acquired by it for one’s own benefit. [...]”.

Arts book cover
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This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Sita was an incarnation of Mahalakshmi. She was a child of the earth and was found by king Janaka of the Videha kingdom, while plowing the ground to prepare for a sacrifice. She was adopted by the king as her daughter. Rama, the Kosala prince who was an incarnation of Vishnu, married her after stringing the mighty bow of Lord Shiva, as stipulated by her father.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

1) Sita is the heroine of the Hindu epic Ramayana. She is the consort of the Hindu god Rama (avatar of Vishnu) and is an avatar of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and wife of Vishnu. She is esteemed as a standard-setter for wifely and womanly virtues for all Hindu women. Sita is known for her dedication, self-sacrifice, courage and purity.

Sita is described as the daughter of the earth goddess Bhūmi and the adopted daughter of King Janaka of Mithila and Queen Sunayna. In her youth, she marries Rama, the prince of Ayodhya. Soon after her marriage, she is forced into exile with her husband and brother-in-law Lakshmana. While in exile, the trio settle in the Dandaka forest, from where she is abducted by the Ravana, Rakshasa King of Lanka. She is imprisoned in the Ashoka Vatika of Lanka by Ravana. Sita is finally rescued by Rama in the climatic war where Rama slays Ravana. Sita proves her chastity by undergoing a trial by fire. Thereafter, Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya, where they are crowned as king and queen. However, Rama abandons a pregnant Sita, when one of his subjects casts doubt over her chastity. In the refuge of Sage Valmiki's hermitage Sita gives birth to twins Lava and Kusha.

2) Sītā (सीता): Sita was the wife of Rama, and is esteemed an exemplar of womanly and wifely virtue. Sita was herself an avatāra of Lakshmi, Vishnu's eternal consort, who chose to reincarnate herself on Earth as Sita, and endure an arduous life, in order to provide humankind an example of such virtues.

Etymology: Sita (also spelled Seeta or Seetha; Hindustani pronunciation: [Sītā], meaning "furrow")

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

Daughter of King Dasaratha and sister of Ramapandita and Lakkhana.

See the Dasaratha Jataka.

She is identified with Rahulamata. J.iv.130; her devotion to Rama is sometimes referred to e.g., J.vi.557.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Śīta (शीत) refers to “(the outer suffering of) the cold”, as mentioned in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI in the section called “four foundations of mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna)”.—Accordingly:—“[...] there are two kinds of suffering (duḥkha): inner suffering and outer suffering. [...] Outer suffering (bāhyaduḥkha) is of two types: i) the king (rājan), the victorious enemy (vijetṛ), the wicked thief (caura), the lion (siṃha), tiger (vyāghra), wolf (vṛka), snake (sarpa) and other nuisances (viheṭhana); ii) the wind (vāta), rain (vṛṣṭi), cold (śīta), heat (uṣna), thunder (meghagarjita), lightning (vidyut), thunderbolts, etc: these two kinds of suffering are outer suffering”.

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Sītā (सीता) is the name of a Goddesses appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Soma, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of Jambudvīpa [e.g., the Goddesses Sītā in Soma], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.

Mahayana book cover
context information

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.

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

1) Sita (सित) is the name of a Tathāgata (Buddha) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Sita).

2) Sitā (सिता) is the name of Vidyārājñī (i.e., “wisdom queen”) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

Source: 84000: The Basket’s Display

Sītā (सीता) refers to one of the great rivers of Jambudvīpa, according to the Kāraṇḍa­vyūha-sūtra chapter 2 (“”).—Accordingly, as Tathāgata Padmottama praises the qualities of this six-syllable mahāvidyā: “As a comparison, in Jambudvīpa there are great rivers that flow day and night. They are the [e.g., Sītā] [...]. Each of these rivers has five hundred tributaries. Day and night they flow into the ocean. Noble son, this is how the accumulation of merit increases as the result of a single repetition of the six-syllable mahāvidyā: I can count each drop in those great rivers, but, noble son, I cannot calculate the accumulation of merit that comes from repeating the six-syllable mahāvidyā once”.

Note: Sītā is an unidentified river. Tibetan texts refer to the source of the Indus by this name.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

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General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Śīta (शीत, “cool”) refers to one of the “eleven tangibles” (spraṣṭavya) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 38). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., śīta). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

1) Sitā (सिता) is the name of a river mentioned as flowing through Videha together with the Sitodā river. Videha is one of the seven regions (kṣetra) of Jambūdvīpa according to Jaina cosmology. Jambūdvīpa sits at the centre of madhyaloka (‘middle world’) is the most important of all continents and it is here where human beings reside.

2) Sitā (सिता) is the mother of Puruṣottama: the fourth Vāsudeva (“violent heroes”) according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Since they enjoy half the power of a Cakravartin (universal monarch) they are also known as Ardhacakrins. Jain legends describe nine such Vāsudevas usually appearing together with their “gentler” twins known as the Baladevas. The legends of these twin-heroes usually involve their antagonistic counterpart known as the Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes).

The stories of queen Sitā, king Rudra and their son, Puruṣottama are related in texts such as the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1a) Sītā (सीता) is the name of an ancient river, according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “[...] Then he [viz., Lalitāṅga] was born as the son of King Suvarṇajaṅgha and Queen Lakṣmī in Jambūdvīpa, in the East Videhas, near the ocean on the north bank of the big river Sītā, in the province Puṣkalāvatī, in the city Lohārgala. Then with delight blossoming forth, on an auspicious day the happy parents gave him the name of Vajrajaṅgha”.

1b) Sītā (सीता) is the mother of Puruṣottama: one of the nine black Vāsudevas, according to chapter 1.6.

1c) Sītā (सीता) refers to one of the Dikkumārikās living on the western Rucaka mountains, according to chapter 2.2.

1d) Sītā (सीता) refers to one of the two wifes of king Soma from Dvārakā, according to chapter 4.4 [anantanātha-caritra].

1e) Sītā (सीता) is the daughter of Maithila (or Janaka): an ancient king from Mithilā, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.4 [Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa].—Accordingly, “Maithila (Janaka) gave the name of Sītā to his daughter, born as a twin, with the thought, ‘Here is the shoot from the grain of many virtues’. In the course of time their grief became dulled. Men’s grief and joy in this worldly existence come and go. Sītā grew up with a wealth of beauty and grace. She became gradually full of arts, like a digit of the moon. When she was grown in the course of time, lotus-eyed, she looked like a river with waves of virtue and beauty, like a daughter of the lord of rivers (ocean).

2a) Śīta (शीत, “cold”) refers to one of the hardships (parīṣaha), or “series of trials hard to endure” according to the chapter 10.1 (Incarnation as Nandana).—While practicing penance for a lac of years, Muni Nandana also endured a series of trials hard to endure (e.g., śīta). Nandana is the name of a king as well as one of Mahāvīra’s previous births.

2b) Śīta (शीत) and Śītodā are two great rivers situated in the Mahāvideha zone of Jambūdvīpa which is situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.2.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 2: the Category of the living

Śita (शित, “cold”) refers to a category of yoni (nuclei), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 2.32.—The place of birth of a living being is called nucleus (nuclei is the plural). The nucleus is like a container. There are nine nuclei (yoni), eg., śīta. What is the meaning of hot and cold nuclei? The nuclei which are cold or hot are called cold and hot nuclei respectively.

What types of living beings have cold (śīta), hot (uṣṇa) and mixed (miśra) hot and cold nuclei? Some have cold, hot or mixed nuclei. The celestial and infernal beings have cold or hot and cold-hot nuclei. Those with hot body (fire body) take their rise from hot nuclei. Those who possess their body of heat have hot nuclei. All others, besides celestial, infernal and fire body have mixed or cold-hot nuclei.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 3: The Lower and middle worlds

Sitā (सिता) is the name of a river that, coupled with the Sitodā river, separates the Videha region. Videha refers to one of the regions of Jambūdvīpa: the first continent of the Madhya-loka (middle-word), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.10. The Sitā river flows eastwards. The Sītā and Sītodā rivers and have 112000 tributaries.

Jambūdvīpa (where flows the Sitā river) is in the centre of all continents and oceans; all continents and oceans are concentric circles with Jambūdvīpa in the centre. Like the navel is in the centre of the body, Jambūdvīpa is in the centre of all continents and oceans. Sumeru Mount is in the centre of Jambūdvīpa. It is also called Mount Sudarśana.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 8: Bondage of karmas

Śīta (शीत, “light”) refers to one of the eight types of Sparśa (touch), representing one of the various kinds of Nāma, or “physique-making (karmas)”, which represents one of the eight types of Prakṛti-bandha (species bondage): one of the four kinds of bondage (bandha) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra chapter 8. The karmas rise of which gives the touch attribute to the body are called touch (sparśa) body-making karma (e.g., śīta).

Source: JAINpedia: Women in the Jain tradition: Soḷ satī

Sītā (सीता) refers to one of the 16 Satīs mentioned in the Brāhmī Candanbālikā.—In Jain contexts “Satī” revolves around fidelity to the Jain religion. Although Jains call many virtuous Jain women satīs, among Śvetāmbara Jains there is a group of satīs called the soḷ satī or 16 Satīs (i.e., Sītā). These Jain Satīs are revered as role models for women and their stories are widely known. Even though the general group of Satī grows over time, the group of 16 Satīs is unchanging.

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

Sīta (सीत, “cold”) refers to one of the various “sufferings inherent to the hells (naraka)”, according to Rājasoma’s “Naraka ko coḍhālyo”, which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—No name of any source is given in the text but the three stages followed in the exposition correspond closely to those found in a handbook such as Nemicandrasūri’s Pravacanasāroddhāra, [e.g.,] 1) sufferings inherent to the hells (up to 2r): heat (uṣṇa), cold (sīta), hunger (kṣudhā), thirst (tṛṣā), itching caused by knives (churī), bad smell, internal burning, fear of coming dangers known through avadhi or vibhaṅga knowledges, sorrow.

General definition book cover
context information

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.

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India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Sītā.—(EI 31), cultivated land. Cf. hala. (HRS), produce of the royal farms, as suggested by the Arthaśāstra. Note: sītā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

1) Sita in India is the name of a plant defined with Annona squamosa in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Xylopia frutescens Sieb. ex Presl, nom. illeg. (among others).

2) Sita is also identified with Cardiospermum halicacabum It has the synonym Cardiospermum truncatum A. Rich. (etc.).

3) Sita is also identified with Jasminum sambac It has the synonym Mogorium goaense Zuccagni (etc.).

4) Sita is also identified with Phoenix loureiroi It has the synonym Phoenix hanceana var. philippinensis Becc. (etc.).

5) Sita is also identified with Pueraria tuberosa It has the synonym Hedysarum tuberosum Willd. (etc.).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Isis oder encyclopädische Zeitung (1828)
· Fitoterapia (2005)
· A Forest Flora for the Punjab with Hazara and Delhi. (1973)
· Parasitology Research (2005)
· Nomenclator Botanicus ed. 3 (1797)
· Nova Genera et Species Plantarum (1821)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Sita, for example health benefits, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, extract dosage, diet and recipes, side effects, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

sita : (adj.) 1. white; 2. depending on; attached. (nt.), a smile. || sīta (adj.), cool; cold. (nt.) coolness; cold. sītā (f.) a furrow.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

1) Sita, 5 (nt.) (pp. of smi, cp. vimhāpeti. The other P. form is mihita) a smile Vin. III, 105; IV, 159; S. I, 24; II, 254; M. II, 45; Th. 1, 630; Ap 21 (pātukari), 22 (°kamma) DhA. II, 64 (°ṃ pātvakāsi); III, 479; VvA. 68. —°kāra smiling J. I, 351 (as °ākāra). (Page 709)

2) Sita, 4 (adj.) (Sk. sita) white Dāvs III, 4. (Page 709)

3) Sita, 3 (pp. of sinoti) bound; sātu-° Dh. 341 (bound to pleasure); taṇhā-° Miln. 248. Perhaps as sita2. (Page 709)

4) Sita, 2 (pp. of sayati2) 1. (lit.) stuck in or to: hadaya° salla Sn. 938; Nd1 412.—2. (fig.) reclining, resting, depending on, attached, clinging to D. I, 45, 76; II, 255; M. I, 364; Cp. 100; J. V, 453; Sn. 229, 333, 791, 944, 1044. See also asita2. (Page 709)

5) Sita, 1 (adj.) (pp. of śā; Sk. śita) sharp Dāvs. I, 32. (Page 709)

— or —

1) Sīta, (nt.) sail J. IV, 21. So also in BSk. : Jtm 94. (Page 712)

2) Sīta, (adj.) (Vedic śīta) cold, cool D. I, 74, 148; II, 129; A. II, 117, 143; Sn. 467, 1014; Vin. I, 31, 288. (nt.) cold Vin. I, 3; J. I, 165; Mhvs 1, 28; Sn. 52, 966. In compn with kṛ & bhū the form is sīti°, e.g. sīti-kata made cool Vin. II, 122; sīti-bhavati to become cooled, tranquillized S. II, 83; III, 126; IV, 213; V, 319; Sn. 1073 (sīti-siyā, Pot. of bhavati); It. 38; °-bhūta, tranquillized Vin. I, 8; II, 156; S. I, 141, 178; Sn. 542, 642; A. I, 138; V, 65; D. III, 233; Vv 5324; Pv. I, 87; IV, 132. sīti-bhāva coolness, dispassionateness, calm A. III, 435; Th. 2, 360; Ps. II, 43; Vism. 248; VbhA. 230; PvA. 230; ThA. 244. ‹-› At J. II, 163 & V, 70 read sīna (“fallen”) for sīta.

— or —

Sītā, (f.) a furrow Vin. I, 240 (satta sītāyo); gambhīrasīta with deep mould (khetta) A. IV, 237, 238 (text, °-sita).

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Discover the meaning of sita in the context of Pali from relevant books on Exotic India

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

śiṭā (शिटा).—m ( H) A drop of spray &c. See. śiṇṭa.

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śitā (शिता).—m C The central line along the head of females marking the division of the hair.

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śīṭa (शीट).—f Excrement of birds. 2 n (For chīṭa) Chintz.

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śīta (शीत).—n A grain of boiled rice. Pr. ēkā śitānēṃ bhātācī parīkṣā; or hāṇḍābhara bhāta rāndhāvā ēka śīta cāpūna pahāvēṃ. 2 C An offering (commonly annual) of rice &c. to the inferior deities of a village. Pr. asatīla śitēṃ tara miḷatīla bhutēṃ As long as a man has money he will have friends and flatterers. 3 The string of a bow. 4 (S) Cold or coldness. 5 n A term of the loom. The cross-piece in front, or in the fore part, of the proceeding web, by which the two lines composing the warp are kept asunder.

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śīta (शीत).—a (S) Cold. 2 fig. Cold, dull, apathetic, phlegmatic, languid, sluggish.

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śīta (शीत).—a ( A) Six. Used of the Arabian year.

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sita (सित).—a S White.

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sīta (सीत).—See under śī.

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sītā (सीता).—f (S) The celebrated Sita, the wife of Ramachandra. 2 One of the four great branches into which the Ganges, after having fallen from heaven upon Mount Meru, is fabled to divide,--the eastern branch. 3 A goddess presiding over fruits &c., the Indian Flora or Pomona. 4 A covert term for half a rupee. sītā kīṃ saṅgrāma (The message of Ramachandra to Rawan̤.) Give up Sita or stand up to fight--compliance or war. A phrase expressive of the proposal of hard alternatives.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

śīṭa (शीट).—f Excrement of birds. n Chintz.

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śīta (शीत).—n A grain of boiled rice. The string of a bow, Coldness. a Cold.

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sita (सित).—a White.

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sītā (सीता).—f The wife of Ramchandra. A god- dess. A covert term for half-a-rupee. sītā kī saṅgrāma Compliance or war-a term for hard alternatives.

context information

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.

Discover the meaning of sita in the context of Marathi from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śita (शित).—p. p. [śo-kta]

1) Sharpened, whetted; धारां शितां रामपरश्वधस्य (dhārāṃ śitāṃ rāmaparaśvadhasya) R.6.42; Kirātārjunīya 7.32.

2) Thin, emaciated.

3) Wasted, declined.

4) Weak, feeble.

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Śīta (शीत).—a. [śyai-k]

1) Cool, cold, frigid; तव कुसुमशरत्वं शीतरश्मित्वमिन्दोः (tava kusumaśaratvaṃ śītaraśmitvamindoḥ) Ś.3.2.

2) Dull, sluggish, apathetic, sleepy.

3) Dull, lazy, stupid.

-taḥ 1 A kind of reed.

2) The Nimba tree.

3) The cold season (n. also).

4) Camphor.

-tam 1 Cold, coldness, chillness; आः शीतं तुहिनाचलस्य करथोः (āḥ śītaṃ tuhinācalasya karathoḥ) K. P.1.

2) Water.

3) Cinnamon.

4) Phlegm, one of the three humours of the body (kapha); शीतोष्णे चैव वायुश्च त्रयः शारीरजा गुणाः (śītoṣṇe caiva vāyuśca trayaḥ śārīrajā guṇāḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.16.11.

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Śītā (शीता).—See सीता (sītā).

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Sita (सित).—p. p. Joined with, accompanied by.

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Sita (सित).—a. [so-kta]

1) White; सितं सितिम्ना सुतरां मुनेर्वपुः (sitaṃ sitimnā sutarāṃ munervapuḥ) Śi. 1.25.

2) Bound, tied, fastened, fettered; सुहृत्सु च स्नेहसितः शिशूनाम् (suhṛtsu ca snehasitaḥ śiśūnām) Bhāgavata 7.6.11; Bṛ. Up.3.9.26.

3) Surrounded.

4) Ascertained, known.

5) Finished, ended.

-taḥ 1 White colour.

2) The bright half of a lunar month.

3) The planet Venus.

4) An arrow.

5) Sugar.

-tam 1 Silver.

2) Sandal.

3) Radish.

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Sitā (सिता).—

1) Candied sugar, sugar; पित्तेन दूने रसने सितापि तिक्तायते हंसकुलावतंस (pittena dūne rasane sitāpi tiktāyate haṃsakulāvataṃsa) N.3.94; Bv.4.13; संस्कारो मधुर- रसेषु यः सिताभिः (saṃskāro madhura- raseṣu yaḥ sitābhiḥ) Rām. ch.7.3.

2) Moon-light.

3) A lovely woman.

4) Spirituous liquor.

5) White Dūrvā grass.

6) Arabian jasmine.

7) Name of the Ganges.

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Sītā (सीता).—[si-ta pṛṣo° dīrghaḥ]

1) A furrow, track or line of a ploughshare.

2) (Hence) A tilled or furrowed ground, ploughed land; वृषेव सीतां तदवग्रहक्षताम् (vṛṣeva sītāṃ tadavagrahakṣatām) Kumārasambhava 5.61.

3) Husbandry, agriculture; as in सीताद्रव्य (sītādravya) q. v.

4) Name of the daughter of Janaka, king of Mithilā, and wife of Rāma.; जनकानां कुले कीर्तिमाहरिष्यति मे सुता । सीता भर्तार- मासाद्य रामं दशरथात्मजम् (janakānāṃ kule kīrtimāhariṣyati me sutā | sītā bhartāra- māsādya rāmaṃ daśarathātmajam) || Rām.1.67.22. [She was so called because she was supposed to have sprung from a furrow made by king Janaka while ploughing the ground to prepare it for a sacrifice which he had instituted to obtain progeny, and hence also her epithets, 'Ayonijā', 'Dharāputrī' &c. She was married to Rāma and accompanied him to the forest. While there she was once carried off by Rāvaṇa who tried to violate her chastity, but she scornfully rejected his suit. When Rāma came to know that she was in Lankā, he attacked ther place, killed Rāvaṇa and his host of demons, and recovered Sītā. She had, however, to pass through the terrible ordeal of fire before she could be received by her husband as his wife. Though thus convinced of her chastity, he had afterwards to abandon her, when far advanced in pregnancy, because the people continued to suspect her fidelity. She however, found a protector in the sage Vālmīki, at whose hermitage she was delivered of Kuśa and Lava, and who brought them up. She was ultimately restored to Rāma by the sage.]

5) Name of a goddess, wife of Indra.

6) Name of Umā

7) N of Lakṣmī.

8) Name of one of the four fabulous branches (the eastern branch) of the Ganges.

9) Spirituous liquor.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Śiṭā (शिटा).—app. rope: tatra (sc. on coming to three mountain-peaks, parvataśṛṅgāṇi) tvayā vetra-śiṭāṃ baddhvātikra- mitavyam Divyāvadāna 113.16, there you must gird yourself with staff (or does vetra, q.v., also mean rope, or the material used for one ?) and rope (for mountain-climbing) and pass over (them); 274.23, see s.v. viṣṭhā; te hi śiṭā-karkaṭaka- prayogenābhiroḍhum ārabdhāḥ 281.2 (of thieves entering a house to steal jewels).

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Śīta (शीत).—nt. (= Pali sīta), sail: (śīghram) āropyantāṃ (mss. °pyatāṃ) śītāni Jātakamālā 94.8; pravitata-pāṇḍura-śīta-cārupakṣā (…sā naur) 10 (verse).

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Śītā (शीता).—name of a devakumārikā in the West: Lalitavistara 390.6 (Mahāvastu iii.308.9 corrupt, see Śuklā).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śita (शित).—mfn.

(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) 1. Thin, emaciated, wasted, declined. 2. Weak, feeble. 3. Sharpened, whetted. E. śi to sharpen, or śo to pare or whet, aff. kta .

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Śīta (शीत).—mfn.

(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) 1. Cold, chilly, frigid. 2. Idle, lazy. 3. Cold, dull, apathetic, stupid. 4. Decocted, boiled. n.

(-taṃ) 1. Cold, coldness. 2. Water. 3. Cold weather or the six months of the rainy, dewy and cold seasons. 4. Cinnamon. m.

(-taḥ) 1. A small tree, (Cordia myxa.) 2. A kind of ratan, (Calamus fasciculatus.) 3. A plant, (Marsilea quadrifolia.) 4. The Nimba-tree. 5. Camphor. 6. The cold season. f.

(-tā) 1. The wife of Rama. 2. A furrow. E. śyai to go, aff. kta; the fem. form more usually occurs sītā, q. v.

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Sita (सित).—mfn.

(-taḥ-tā or tī-taṃ) 1. White. 2. Bound, tied. 3. Finished, destroyed. 4. Completed, concluded. 5. Known. m.

(-taḥ) 1. White, (the colour.) 2. The light-half of a lunar month. 3. The planet Venus. 4. An arrow. n.

(-taṃ) 1. Silver. 2. Sandal. 3. Radish. f.

(-tā) 1. Clayed or candied sugar. 2. Arabian jasmine. 3. A sort of Clitoria. 4. Bent grass with white blossoms. 5. Moon-light. 6. Spirituous liquor. 7. A handsome or well made woman. E. ṣi to tie or bind, aff. kta; or ṣo to destroy, kta aff., and i substituted for the radical vowel.

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Sītā (सीता).—f.

(-tā) 1. A furrow, the track of the plough-share. 2. The daughter of Janaka and wife of Ramachandra, so named because fabled to have sprung from a furrow made by Janaka while ploughing the ground to prepare it for a sacrifice instituted by him to obtain progeny. 3. One of the four great branches into which the Ganges, after having fallen on mount Meru, is fabled to divide: the eastern branch, flowing into the Varsha Bhadraswa. 4. The goddess Lakshmi. 5. Uma, the wife of Siva. 6. A goddess, wife of Indra, presiding over fruits, &c., an Indian Flora or Pomona. 7. Spirituous liquor. 8. Husbandry. E. ṣi to bind, (the earth,) kta aff., form irr; it is then applicable to the princess as having been turned up in the soil by a plough-share; and to the goddesses, as they may be supposed to have been incarnate in the wife of Rama; also, as differently derived śītā, q. v.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śīta (शीत).— (probably an old ptcple. pf. pass. of śo), I. adj. 1. Cold, [Hitopadeśa] i. [distich] 79, M. M.; chilly. 2. A pathetic. 3. Idle. 4. Stupid. Ii. n. 1. Coldness, [Pañcatantra] 169, 14. 2. Water.

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Sita (सित).—I. (cf. si and so), adj. White, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 53; [Pañcatantra] 158, 3. Ii. m. 1. White (the colour). 2. The light half of the month from new to full moon, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 327. 3. The planet Venus. 4. An arrow. Iii. f. . 1. Candied sugar. 2. Moonlight. 3. A handsome woman. 4. Spirituous liquor. 5. The name of several plants. Iv. n. 1. Silver. 2. Sandal.

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Sītā (सीता).— (vb. si), f. 1. A furrow, the track of the ploughshare. 2. Husbandry, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 293. 3. Name of a goddess, wife of Indra, presiding over fruits, etc., Pāraskara Gṛ. S. in Journ. of the German Oriental Society, vii. 538, 17. 4. The wife of Rāma, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 48, 19. 5. Lakṣmī. 6. Umā. 7. One of the fabulous branches of the Gaūgā. 8. Spirituous liquor.

— Cf. sītya.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śita (शित).—[adjective] whetted, sharp, thin.

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Śīta (शीत).—[adjective] cold, cool; [neuter] cold, frost.

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Sita (सित).—1. v. & si.

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Sita (सित).—2. [adjective] white, bright, clear, pure.

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Sītā (सीता).—[feminine] furrow; [Name] of the daughter of Janaka and wife of Rāma (said to have sprung from a furrow).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Śītā (शीता) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—See Sītā.

2) Sītā (सीता):—poetess. Mentioned in Bhojaprabandha Oxf. 150^b. The stanza mā bhaiḥ śaśāṅka in Vāmanālaṃkāravṛtti is attributed to her in Alaṃkāratilaka, where the Io. Ms. writes Śītā.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śita (शित):—[from śi] 1. śita mfn. (for 2. See p. 1071, col. 2) satisfied, regaled, [Ṛg-veda viii, 23, 13.]

2) Śiṭā (शिटा):—f. a rope (?), [Divyāvadāna]

3) Śita (शित):—2. śita mfn. (for 1. and 4. See under √śi and śo) [wrong reading] for sita, ‘bright-coloured, white.’

4) 3. śita m. Name of a son of Viśvāmitra, [Mahābhārata]

5) Śīta (शीत):—a mf(ā)n. ([from] śyai; cf. śīna) cold, cool, chilly, frigid (with [indeclinable participle] of √kṛ either śītaṃ kṛtya, or kṛtvā [gana] sākṣādi), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

6) dull, apathetic, sluggish, indolent, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) boiled (= kvathita; śīta [probably] [wrong reading] for śṛta), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) m. Calamus Rotang, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) Cordia Myxa and Latifolia, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) Azadirachta Indica, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) = asana-parṇī and parpaṭā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

12) camphor, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

13) Śītā (शीता):—[from śīta] f. spirituous liquor, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

14) [v.s. ...] a kind of Dūrvā grass, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

15) [v.s. ...] another kind of grass (= śilpikā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

16) [v.s. ...] often [wrong reading] for sītā (q.v.)

17) Śīta (शीत):—n. cold, coldness, cold weather, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

18) cold water, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

19) Cassia bark, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

20) Śita (शित):—[from śo] 4. śita mfn. (for 1. etc. See p. 1069, col. 3) whetted, sharp, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

21) [v.s. ...] thin, slender, weak, feeble, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

22) Śīta (शीत):—[from śyai] b See p. 1077, col. 3.

23) Sita (सित):—[from si] 1. sita mfn. (for 2. See below; for 3. p. 1214, col. 2) bound, tied, fettered, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

24) [v.s. ...] joined with, accompanied by ([instrumental case]), [Prabodha-candrodaya; Rājataraṅgiṇī; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

25) [from si] 2. sita See 2. pra-sita p. 697, col. 3.

26) 3. sita mf(ā)n. ([probably] formed [from] a-sita as sura [from] asura; for 1. and 2. sita See p. 1213, col. 1; for 4. See √1. so) white, pale, bright, light (said of a day in the light half of a month and of the waxing moon), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

27) candid, pure (See -karman)

28) m. white (the colour), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

29) the light half of the month from new to full moon, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

30) the planet Venus or its regent (= śukra), [ib.]

31) sugar, [ib.]

32) Bauhinia Candida, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

33) Name of one of Skanda’s attendants, [Mahābhārata]

34) Sitā (सिता):—[from sita] a f. white sugar, refined sugar, [Suśruta] : [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]

35) [v.s. ...] moonlight, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

36) [v.s. ...] a handsome woman.

37) [v.s. ...] spirituous liquor, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

38) [v.s. ...] Name of various plants (a species of Aparājitā; white Kaṇṭakārī; white Dūrvā grass; Arabian jasmine etc.), [Suśruta]

39) [v.s. ...] bamboo juice, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

40) [v.s. ...] Name of the Ganges (in sitāsitā, under sitā)

41) [v.s. ...] one of the 8 Devis ([Buddhist literature]), [Kālacakra]

42) Sita (सित):—n. silver, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

43) sandal, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

44) a radish, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

45) Sitā (सिता):—[from sita] b f. of 3. sita, [column]2.

46) Sītā (सीता):—[from ] f. (less correctly written śītā; cf. sīman, sīra) a furrow, the track or line of a ploughshare (also personified, and apparently once worshipped as a kind of goddess resembling Pomona; in [Ṛg-veda iv, 57, 6], Sītā is invoked as presiding over agriculture or the fruits of the earth; in [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xii, 69-72], Sītā ‘the Furrow’ is again personified and addressed, four furrows being required to be drawn at the ceremony when the above stanzas are recited; in [Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa] she is called sāvitrī, and in [Pāraskara-gṛhya-sūtra] indra-patnī, ‘the wife of Indra’; in epic poetry S° is the wife of Rāmacandra and daughter of Janaka, king of Mithilā, capital of Videha, who was otherwise called Sīradhvaja; she was named Sītā because fabled to have sprung from a furrow made by Janaka while ploughing the ground to prepare it for a sacrifice instituted by him to obtain progeny, whence her epithet Ayoni-jā, ‘not womb-born’; her other common names, Maithilī and Vaidehī, are from the place of her birth; according to one legend she was Vedavatī q.v., in the Kṛta age; [according to] to others she was an incarnation of Lakṣmi and of Umā; the story of Rāma’s bending the bow, which was to be the condition of the gift of Sītā, is told in [Rāmāyaṇa i, 67]; Sītā’s younger sister Urmilā was at the same time given to Lakṣmaṇa, and two nieces of Janaka, daughters of his brother king Kuśa-dhvaja, to Bharata and Śatrughna), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc., [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 335 n. 1; 337 etc.]

47) [v.s. ...] Name of a form of Dākṣāyaṇī, [Catalogue(s)]

48) [v.s. ...] of a poetess, [Catalogue(s)]

49) [v.s. ...] of a river, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

50) [v.s. ...] of the eastern branch of the four mythical branches of the heavenly Ganges (into which it is supposed to divide after falling on mount Meru; this branch is fabled to flow into the Varṣa or Dvīpa called Bhadrāśva), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

51) [v.s. ...] of an Upaniṣad, [Catalogue(s)]

52) [v.s. ...] spirituous liquor, [Horace H. Wilson]

53) Sita (सित):—[from so] a See sub voce

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śita (शित):—[(taḥ-tā-taṃ) a.] Thin, emaciated, weak; whetted.

2) Śīta (शीत):—(taṃ) 1. n. Cold, coldness; water. a. Cold; idle, dull. m. Name of a tree. 1. f. Wife of Rāma; a furrow.

3) Sita (सित):—(taḥ) 1. m. White colour; planet Venus; arrow. 1. f. Candied sugar; Arabian jasmine; moonlight; spirits; fine woman. n. Silver. a. White; bound; completed; known.

4) Sītā (सीता):—(tā) 1. f. A furrow; wife of Rāma; branch of the Ganges; Lakshmī, Durgā; Flora; spirits.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Sita (सित) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Vilāsia, Sia, Siā, Sīa, Sīā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Sita in German

context information

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.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

1) Śīta (शीत) [Also spelled sheet]:—(a) cold, frigid, chilly; (nm) the winter; —[kaṭibaṃdha] frigid zone; ~[kara/kārī] cooling or causing coolness; the moon; ~[kāla] the winter season; ~[kālīna] winter; pertaining to the winter season; hence ~[] (nf); -[pradhāna] cold; —[yuddha] cold war; —[lahara] a cold wave.

2) Sita (सित) [Also spelled sit]:—(a) white; clear: ~[kaṃṭha] white-throated—an epithet of Lord Shiv; ~[] whiteness.

3) Sīṭa (सीट) [Also spelled seet]:—(nf) a seat; braggadocio; —[māranā] to brag, to boast.

4) Sītā (सीता):—(nf) the celebrated daughter of king Janak (of Mithila:) who was married to Ram, the hero of the renowned Indian epic of Ramayan; -[svayaṃvara] the episode of the [svayaṃvara] of [sītā] (in the Ramayan); ~[haraṇa] the episode of the kidnapping of [sītā] by the demon-king [rāvaṇa] (in the Ramayan).

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śita (ಶಿತ):—

1) [adjective] suitable for use in cutting; having a thin cutting edge; sharp; keen.

2) [adjective] thin; emaciated.

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Śita (ಶಿತ):—[noun] the state or quality of being thin or emaciated.

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Śīta (ಶೀತ):—[adjective] cold; cool; chilly; frigid.

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Śīta (ಶೀತ):—

1) [noun] the quality or state of being cold; coldness.

2) [noun] water.

3) [noun] man characterised by sloth; an indolent, lazy man.

4) [noun] the rattan Calamus rotang of Arecaceae family.

5) [noun] the pant Cordia dichotoma ( = C. myxa) of Borginaceae family.

6) [noun] the tree Azadirachta indica of Meliaceae family; neem tree.

7) [noun] (myth.) name of a hell.

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Sita (ಸಿತ):—

1) [adjective] of the colour of pure snow; white.

2) [adjective] fastened, tied (with or as with a rope, cord, etc.).

3) [adjective] encircled; surrounded.

4) [adjective] found out; discovered.

5) [adjective] completed; finished.

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Sita (ಸಿತ):—

1) [noun] the colour of pure snow; white colour.

2) [noun] a planet Venus, visible in the eastern sky before sunrise; the morning star; the daystar.

3) [noun] crystalline sugar.

4) [noun] an arrow.

5) [noun] silver.

6) [noun] a lunar fortnight during which the apparent phase of the moon gradually increases; the fortnight between the new moonday and the full moonday.

7) [noun] the sandal wood (Santalum album of Santalaceae family).

8) [noun] the tree Acacia catechu of Mimosae family.

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Sīta (ಸೀತ):—

1) [noun] the quality or condition of being cold; coldness.

2) [noun] cold weather.

3) [noun] a contagious infection of the respiratory passages, esp. of the nose and throat, characterised by an acute inflammation of the mucous membranes, nasal discharge, malaise, etc.; cold.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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