Saciva: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Saciva means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Sachiva.
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstraSaciva (सचिव) refers to “minister”, to be carefully appointed by the king. They are requested to have some special qualities. They should be of tested virtue and ability—conversant with the prices of land, well versed in the Śāstras, valourous, born of noble families and heroes skilled in the use of weapons. It is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti and the Baudhāyana-dharmasūtra.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationSaciva (सचिव) refers to “ministers” (e.g., of the king), as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.27. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] once a great sacrifice was started by Dakṣa, [...] Brahminical, Royal and celestial sages, kings, with their friends, ministers (saciva), armies etc, Vasus and other chief Gaṇadevatas—all of them were invited by him in the sacrifice”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexSaciva (सचिव).—Ministers, consulted by Tāraka before his war with the devas;1 of a State.2
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra1) Saciva (सचिव, “minister”) refers to a specific “mode of address” (nāman) used in drama (nāṭya), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 19. Saciva is used by Brahmins to address ministers. A similair address in this situation would be Amātya.
2) Saciva (सचिव, “secretary”) or Amātya refers to a classification of persons who “move about in public”, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 34. Accordingly, “Those who are intelligent, versed in polity, powerful, sweet-tongued, conversant with the Arthasāstra, and attached to the subjects and are followers of Dharma, should be always appointed by kings as secretaries (amātya)”.
Note: Saciva as well as amātya originally meant secretary. Amātya also has been used before to indicate a minister. But Arthaśāstra. (1.8.9) distinguishes between amātya and mantrin. Kāmandakīya Nītisāra (VIII.1) also does the same. According to the latter amātya seems to be identical with saciva (see IV. 25, 30, 31). According to Śukranīti saciva, amātya and mantrin are three different functionaries (See II. 94, 95 and 103). The Rudradāman inscription seems to distinguish between mantrin and saciva.
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).
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraSaciva (सचिव) refers to the “minister” (of a king), 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, “If the sun should appear like a pot; he brings on hunger and death; if he should appear broken, the reigning prince dies; if without rays, mankind will be afflicted with fears; if like a gate, then the capital city, if like an umbrella then the country, will perish. If the sun should appear like a flag staff, or a bow, or quivering or of sharp rays he will bring on wars; if there should appear black lines on his disc the reigning prince will die by the hand of his own minister [i.e., saciva]”.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: University of Vienna: Sudarśana's Worship at the Royal Court According to the AhirbudhnyasaṃhitāSaciva (सचिव) refers to a “minister”, according to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, belonging to the Pāñcarātra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.—Accordingly, “If a King, a minister (saciva) or a common person is overcome with fever. [...]”.
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)Saciva (सचिव) refers to the “ministers of state”, 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, [while discussing the yellow-eyed division of hawks]: “Hawks, like good ministers of state (su-saciva), can bring about desired effects, if they are kept contented by proper treatment, and are given good nourishment. As an expert in the art of government, and nobody else, knows the uncommon intelligence of the king, so does a bird understand the intelligence and expertness of its tamer”.
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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossarySaciva.—(EI 33; BL; HD), minister or counsellor. See Hist. Dharm., Vol. III, p. 105, note 150. Note: saciva is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysaciva (सचिव).—m (S) A minister of state, a counselor, a vizier. 2 A designation of one of the eight ministers included under the term aṣṭapradhāna q. v. 3 S A companion or associate in general.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishsaciva (सचिव).—m A minister of state, a counsellor.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySaciva (सचिव).—
1) A friend, companion; छायेव कर्मसचिवाः साधवो दीनवत्सलाः (chāyeva karmasacivāḥ sādhavo dīnavatsalāḥ) Bhāgavata 11.2.6; Kirātārjunīya 6.43.
2) A minister, counsellor; सचिवान् सप्त चाष्टौ वा प्रकुर्वीत परीक्षितान् (sacivān sapta cāṣṭau vā prakurvīta parīkṣitān) Manusmṛti 7.54; R.1.34;4.87;8.67; कार्यान्तरसचिवः (kāryāntarasacivaḥ) M.1.
3) The dark thorn-apple.
Derivable forms: sacivaḥ (सचिवः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySaciva (सचिव).—m.
(-vaḥ) 1. A friend, a companion, an associate. 2. A minister, a counsellor. E. saci friendship, vā to go or get, aff. ka .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySaciva (सचिव).—[saci + va], m. 1. A friend, a companion, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 341. 2. A minister, a counsellor, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 53, 4; Kām. Nītis. 4, 28, sqq.; [Pañcatantra] 155, 5.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySaciva (सचिव).—[masculine] attendant, assistant, [especially] counsellor or minister of a king; adj. —° supported by, furnished with.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Saciva (सचिव):—[from sac] m. an associate, companion, friend, (f(ī). )
2) [v.s. ...] [especially] a king’s friend or attendant, counsellor, minister (ifc. = ‘assisted by’, ‘provided with’), [Gautama-dharma-śāstra; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] the dark thorn-apple, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySaciva (सचिव):—[saci-va] (vaḥ) 1. m. A friend, companion; counsellor.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Saciva (सचिव) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Saiva.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionarySaciva (सचिव) [Also spelled sachiv]:—(nm) secretary; —, [nijī] private secretary.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusSaciva (ಸಚಿವ):—
1) [noun] a friend; an intimate companion.
2) [noun] (masc.) an advisor or counsel, esp. to a governor or administrator; a minister.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionarySaciva (सचिव):—n. secretary; minister; personal assistant;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Saciva-stara, Sacivalaya, Sacivamaya, Sacivata, Sacivate, Sacivatika, Sacivatva, Sacivayatta, Shacivant, Shacivasu, Shacivat.
Full-text (+57): Narmasaciva, Karmasaciva, Dhisaciva, Kelisaciva, Sacivata, Kusaciva, Sacivya, Nihsaciva, Sacivamaya, Karyantarasaciva, Grihasaciva, Sasaciva, Sacivatva, Candrasaciva, Matisaciva, Sachiv, Upasaciva, Susaciva, Svakiya-saciva, Niji-saciva.
Relevant text
Search found 37 books and stories containing Saciva, Saci-va; (plurals include: Sacivas, vas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Matsya Purana (critical study) (by Kushal Kalita)
Part 5 - The king and his Council (pariṣad) < [Chapter 6 - Polity in the Matsyapurāṇa]
Part 6 - Qualifications of Ministers (amātya) < [Chapter 6 - Polity in the Matsyapurāṇa]
Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala (study) (by Shri N. M. Kansara)
8. Government officers and servants < [Chapter 14 - Political data]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Vasudevahindi (cultural history) (by A. P. Jamkhedkar)
21. The ministers (Mamti, Amacca, and Saciva) < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
24. Receiving a Guest (in ancient India) < [Chapter 3 - Social Conditions]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 7.120 < [Section X - Internal Administration]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 10.235 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]