Introduction

Alternative spellings of this word include Sanvatsar.

In Hinduism

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: archive.org: South Indian Festivities (astronomy)

Samvatsara (hindu year).—According to legend, Naradi (the name of Nārada after he transformed into a woman) got married though capture and gave birth to sixty sons each year. Worried, exhausted, fatigued, bored to death by these numerous sons, Naradi at the end of the sixtieth year involuntarily prayed to Lord Vishnu. Transformed back, Narada appealed to Vishnu to silence his sixty sons. Vishnu gave them the Raj of the world to be enjoyed by turns for one year at a time. This is how each Hindu year has a separate name for a cycle of sixty years.

The list of the sixty sons of Naradi, after whom the lunar yearsin the cycle are still being called is as follows:

1. Prabhav,
2. Vibhav,
3. Shukla,
4. Paramoda,
5. Prajapati,
6. Angira,
7. Shrimukha,
8. Bhava,
9. Yuva,
10. Dhatu,
11. Ishwar,
12. Bahudanya,
13. Pramathi,
14. Vikrama,
15. Vrisha,
16. Chitrabhanu,
17. Subhanu,
18. Taran,
19. Prartiva,
20. Vyaya,
21. Sarvajit,
22. Sarvadhari,
23. Virodhi,
24. Vikriti,
25. Khara,
26. Nandana,
27. Vijaya,
28. Jaya,
29. Marmath,
30. Durmikha,
31. Hemalambi,
32. Vilambi,
33. Vikari,
34. Sharvar,
35. Plava,
36. Shubakrit,
37. Hhobhana,
38. Krodhi,
39. Vishvavasu,
40. Parabhava,
41. Plavanga,
42. Kilaka,
43. Saumya,
44. Sadharana,
45. Virodhikrita,
46. Paridhavi,
47. Pramadi,
48. Ananda,
49. Rakshasa,
50. Nala,
51. Pingala,
52. Kalayukta,
53. Sitdharti,
54. Raudri,
55. Durmati,
56. Dundubhi,
57. Rudhirodgari,
58. Raktakshi,
59. Krodhana,
60. Akshaya.

Source: A Concise Encyclopaedia of Hinduism: Bārhaspatya-māna

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर, “year”).—At some period, a fivefold multiple, a cycle of 60 Jovian or Bārhaspatya years, each with a special name suffixed by the word saṃvatsara (= year) came into use. The earliest available evidence points to the 6th century A. D., as found in the inscription of the Cālukyan king Maṅgaleśa.

The sixty years are:

1. Prabhava;
2. Vibhava;
3. Śukla;
4. Pramodūta;
5. Prajotpatti (Prajāpati);
6. Aṅgiras;
7. Śrīmukha;
8. Bhāva;
9. Yuvan;
10. Dhātṛ (Dhātu);
11. Īśvara;
12. Bahudhānya;
13. Pramāthin;
14. Vikrama;
15. Vṛṣan (Viṣu);
16. Citrabhānu;
17. Subhānu (Svabhānu);
18. Tāraṇa;
19. Pārthiva;
20. Vyaya;
21. Sarvajit;
22. Sarvadhārin;
23. Virodhin;
24. Vikṛti;
25. Khara;
26. Nandana;
27. Vijaya;
28. Jaya;
29. Manmatha;
30. Durmukha;
31. Hevilambin (Hemalambin);
32. Vilambin;
33. Vikārin;
34. Śārvarin;
35. Plava;
36. Śubhakṛt;
37. Śobhakṛt; (Śobhana);
38. Krodhin;
39. Viśvāvasu;
40. Parābhava;
41. Plavaṅga;
42. Kīlaka;
43. Saumya;
44. Sādhāraṇa;
45. Virodhikṛt;
46. Parī-dhāvin;
47. Pramādin;
48. Ānanda;
49. Rākṣasa;
50. Anala;
51. Piṅgala;
52. Kālayukta;
53. Siddhārtha;
54. Raudra;
55. Durmati;
56. Dundubhi;
57. Rudhirodgāra;
58. Raktākṣa (Raktākṣin);
59. Krodhana;
60. Kṣaya (Akṣaya).

It was believed that the saṃvatsara names indicated different consequences for the years concerned.

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर) refers to one of the five years (pañcasaṃvatsara), defined in the Nīlamatapurāṇa. The expression pañcasaṃvatsara indicates the knowledge of five years, namely, Saṃvatsara, Parivatsara, Idvatsara, Anuvatsara and Vatsara.

The Viṣṇudharmottara-purāṇa II.4.27-46 describes the selection of Sāṃvatsara by a king and gives a lengthy list of the qualities which a Sāṃvatsara should possess. He is just like mother, father, instructor and preceptor to the king. The king appoints Mantrīs and Purohitas after consulting him. Viṣṇudharmottara-purāṇa II.5.54-55 clearly establishes the superiority of the astrologer (Sāṃvatsara) over the Purohita by stating that a king should give up the Purohita if he acts against the Sāṃvatsara, otherwise the Purohita is also like mother and father to the king.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर).—A sage in the Darūvana.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 27. 104.

1b) A part of the five-year yuga;¹ a year, the first among years; is Agni; represented by Kāvya pitṛs;² of different kinds—dīvyasamvatsara, Dhruvasamvatsara, Pitṛsamvatsara, and Saptaṛṣisamvatsara.³

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 11. 14; V. 22. 7; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 8. 71-2.
• 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 21. 131; 24. 57, 141; 28. 15; III. 8. 17; 72. 30.
• 3) Ib. II. 28. 21; 29. 10, 16 and 18.

1c) A Śakti.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 32. 15.

1d) Is Agni.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 141. 18.

1e) Vārāha Viṣṇu got the form of.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 23. 104.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd Edition

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर) refers to the Vedic “year”.—There are sixty different names for each year in the Vedic lunar calendar, which begins on the new moon day (amāvasyā) after the appearance day of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (gaura-pūrṇimā), in February or march. the Vedic year, therefore, does not correspond exactly with the christian solar calendar year. in the christian calendar dates below, 2018, for example, refers to the period from the amāvasyā after gaura-pūrṇima 2018 to the amāvasyā after gaura-pūrṇima 2019.

1. Prabhava
2. Vibhava
3. Śukla
4. Pramodūta
5. Prajotpatti
6. Āṅgirasa
7. Śrīmukha
8. Bhāva
9. Yuva
10. Dhāta
11. Īśvara
12. Bahudhānya
13. Pramādi
14. Vikrama
15. Vṛṣa
16. Citrabhānu
17. Svabhānu
18. Tāraṇa
19. Pārdiva
20. Vyaya
21. Sarvajittu
22. Sarvadhāri
23. Virodhi
24. Vikṛti
25. Khara
26. Nandana
27. Vijaya
28. Jaya
29. Manmadha
30. Durmukhi
31. Hīvalambi
32. Vilambi
33. Vikāri
34. Sārvari
35. Plava
36. Śubhakṛti
37. Śobhakṛti
38. Krodha
39. Viśvāvasu
40. Parābhāva
41. Plavanga
42. Kīlaka
43. Saumya
44. Sādhāraṇa
45. Virodhikṛti
46. Parīdhāvi
47. Pramādīca
48. Ānanda
49. Rākṣasa
50. Nala
51. Piṅgalā
52. Kālayukti
53. Sidhārdhi
54. Raudri
55. Durmati
56. Dundubhi
57. Rudirodgāri
58. Raktākṣi
59. Krodhan
60. Akṣaya

context information

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’).

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर, ‘year’) is repeatedly mentioned from the Rigveda onwards. Its duration was, according to the concurrent evidence of the Saṃhitās and Brāhmaṇas, 360 days, divided into 12 months, being, no doubt, roughly a lunar synodic year, which, however, it exceeded in length by 6 days. As a solar year it appears only in the Nidāna-sūtra of the Sāmaveda, where the sun is stated to spend 13^1/3 days in each of the 27 Nakṣatras.
 

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Saṃvatsara.—(CII 3; 4; IA 17), ‘a year’; ‘an cra’, the earlier years of the Indian eras being quoted by this term (or by its abbreviations saṃ, saṃvat, etc.), without any dynastic or other appellation just as in the case of the year of a regnal reckoning. Note: saṃvatsara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

--- OR ---

Sāṃvatsara.—(HD), an astrologer. See Viṣṇu Dh. S., III. 75; Bṛhatasaṃhitā, 2. 9; cf. Sāṃvatsarika (EI 5). Note: sāṃvatsara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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 Dictionary

saṃvatsara (संवत्सर).—m (S) A common term for the sixty years composing the Indian cycle, each bearing a peculiar name. These names never occurring but with the indicant word saṃvatsara prefixed (e. g. saṃvatsaraprabhava) cannot come before the learner as ordinary words bearing signification and demanding to be interpreted: they therefore do not appear in the columns, but are presented together here:--prabhava, citrabhānu, hēmalamba, paridhāvī, vibhava, subhānu, vilamba, pramādī, śukla, tāraṇa, vikārī, ānanda, pramōda, pārthiva, śārvarī, rākṣasa, prajāpati, avyaya, plava, nala, aṅgira, sarvajit, śubhakṛt, piṅgala, śrīmukha, sarvadhārī, śōbhana, kālayukta, bhāva, virōdhī, krōdhī, siddhārtha, yuva, vikṛti, viśvāvasu, raudra, dhātṛ, khara, parābhava, durmati, īśvara, nandana, plavaṅga, dundubhi, bahudhānya, vijaya, kilaka, rudhirōdgārī, pramāthī, jaya, saumya, raktākṣa, vikrama, manmatha, sādhāraṇa, krōdhana, vṛṣa, durmukha, virōdhakṛt, kṣaya. 2 A year in general; yet, especially, of the era of Wikramaditya. manusaṅkhyāsaṃvatsara Years numbered by the (duration of the) Manu; as manusaṅkhyāsaṃvatsara || rājya karīla mājhā putra ||.

--- OR ---

sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर).—a S sāṃvatsarika a (S) Annual.

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

saṃvatsara (संवत्सर).—m A year. saṃvatsaracakra n Cycle.

--- OR ---

sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर).—a Annual.

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर).—[saṃvasanti ṛtavo'tra saṃvas-saran Tv.]

1) A year; न ह पुरा ततः संवत्सर आस (na ha purā tataḥ saṃvatsara āsa) Bṛ. Up.1.2.4.

2) A year of Vikramāditya's era.

3) Name of Śiva.

4) The first year in the cycle of five years.

Derivable forms: saṃvatsaraḥ (संवत्सरः).

--- OR ---

Sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर).—(-rī f.)

1) , [sāṃvatsarika] (-kī f.) a. Annual, yearly,

-raḥ, -rakaḥ, -rikaḥ 1 An astrologer.

2) An almanac-maker.

3) A lunar month.

4) Black rice.

See also (synonyms): sāṃvatsarika.

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

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर).—m.

(-raḥ) A year. E. sam with, completely, vatsara a year; or sam with vas to abide, saran Unadi aff., and ta substituted for the final.

--- OR ---

Sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rī-raṃ) Annual, perennial. m.

(-raḥ) An astrologer. E. saṃvatsara a year, aṇ aff.

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

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर).—i. e. sam-vatsara, m. A year, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 55, 19; [Pañcatantra] 186, 20.

--- OR ---

Sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर).—i. e. saṃvatsara + a, I. adj. Annual, perennial. Ii. m. An almanac-maker, an astrologer, Kām. Nītis. 4, 33; [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 67.

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

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर).—[masculine] ([neuter]) year.

--- OR ---

Sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर).—([feminine] ī) & rika a year old, lasting a year, yearly, annual; [masculine] astrologer.

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

1) Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर):—[=saṃ-vatsara] [from saṃ-vat] m. (rarely n.; cf. pari-v) a full year, a year (having 12 [Taittirīya-saṃhitā] or 13 [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] months or 360 days [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; Suśruta]; am, ‘for a year’; eṇa ‘after or in course of a y°’; e or asya, ‘after or within a y°’), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

2) [v.s. ...] a year of the Vikrama era (See above; varṣa is used for the śaka) the first in a cycle of five or six years, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Pāraskara-gṛhya-sūtra; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] the Year personified (having the new and full moon for eyes and presiding over the seasons), [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Purāṇa]

4) [v.s. ...] Name of Śiva, [Mahābhārata]

5) Sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर):—mf(ī)n. ([from] saṃ-vatsara) yearly, annual, perennial, lasting or occupying year (with bhṛti, f., ‘annual wages’), [???; Mahābhārata; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

6) m. an astrologer, almanac-maker, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

7) a lunar month, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) black rice, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) (with dīkṣita) Name of an author, [Catalogue(s)]

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

1) Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर):—[saṃ-vatsara] (raḥ) 1. m. A year.

2) Sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर):—(raḥ) 1. m. An astrologer. a. Annual, perennial.

[Sanskrit to German] (Deutsch Wörterbuch)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Böhtlingk and Roth Grosses Petersburger Wörterbuch

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर):—

--- OR ---

Sāṃvatsara (सांवत्सर):—(von saṃvatsara)

1) adj. (f. ī) jährig gaṇa saṃdhivelādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 3, 16.] ṛgayanādi zu 73. ṣāṇmāsyaḥ sāṃvatsaro vā [Aśvalāyana’s Śrautasūtrāni 3, 8, 5.] vrata [14, 22.] [Śāṅkhāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 6, 1, 34.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 6, 18, 53. 9, 4, 29.] dīkṣā (saṃva die neuere Ausg.) [Harivaṃśa 7995.] bhṛti Jahreslohn [Mahābhārata 12, 2293.] tri [Śāṅkhāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 13, 28, 4.] —

2) m. ein Kalenderkundiger, Astrolog [Amarakoṣa 2, 8, 1, 14.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 482.] [Halāyudha 2, 248.] [ 33.] [WEBER, Jyotiṣa 110, Nalopākhyāna 1.] [Nakṣ. 2, 285.] [Mahābhārata 5, 1905. 12, 2232] (garga). [?3243. 13, 6209. KĀM. NĪTIS. 4, 33. Spr. (II) 6285. Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 1, 3, 50, Scholiast Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 2, Anf. 10. fgg. 12, 15. 43, 30. 53, 1. 98.] pāṭhin [2, 13] (aus Garga). sūtra 2, Anf. — Vgl. ati .

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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Saṃvatsara (संवत्सर) [Also spelled sanvatsar]:—(nm) a year; [rīya] annual, yearly.

context information

...

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Vatsara, Sam.

Starts with (+45): Samvatsara-shraddha, Samvatsara-variya, Samvatsara-vimoksha-shraddha, Samvatsarabhrami, Samvatsarabhrit, Samvatsarabhrita, Samvatsarabhritin, Samvatsarabhritokha, Samvatsarabhukti, Samvatsarabrahmana, Samvatsaradidhiti, Samvatsaradiksha, Samvatsaradikshita, Samvatsaradipamahatmya, Samvatsaradipavrata, Samvatsaradipavratamahatmya, Samvatsaradiphala, Samvatsaradiphaladhyaya, Samvatsaradiphalakalpalata, Samvatsaraka.

Ends with (+13): Adhikasamvatsara, Adityasamvatsara, Anusamvatsara, Aparisamvatsara, Asamvatsara, Atisamvatsara, Bahusamvatsara, Dikshita samvatsara, Ekasamvatsara, Idasamvatsara, Jatasamvatsara, Kalacurisamvatsara, Karmasamvatsara, Krauncasamvatsara, Kraunchasamvatsara, Kricchrasamvatsara, Nakshatrasamvatsara, Navasamvatsara, Pancasamvatsara, Panchasamvatsara.

Full-text (+243): Samvatsarika, Samvatsaranirodhatas, Samvatsarasattrabhashya, Vatsara, Samvatsarakrityadidhiti, Samvatsarasattrasad, Samvatsarabhritokha, Samvatsaramukhi, Samvatsaravara, Samvatsariya, Samvatsarakaumudi, Atisamvatsara, Samvatsarakalpalata, Samvatsarabhrit, Samvatsarakaustubha, Samvatsaraprakasha, Samvatsarakrityaprakasha, Samvatsaradidhiti, Samvatsaradipamahatmya, Samvatsarakritya.

Relevant text

Search found 30 books and stories containing Samvatsara, Sāṃvatsara, Saṃvatsara, Sam-vatsara, Saṃ-vatsara; (plurals include: Samvatsaras, Sāṃvatsaras, Saṃvatsaras, vatsaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)

Verse 1.64 < [Section XXXVII - Measures of Time]

Verse 1.84 < [Section LII - The span of Human Life in each Cycle]

Verse 2.154 < [Section XXV - Meaning of the Title ‘Ācārya’]

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

Harivamsha Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)

Chapter 8 - Division of Time < [Book 1 - Harivamsa Parva]

Chapter 4 - A Query Regarding the Origin of the Articles of Food < [Book 1 - Harivamsa Parva]

show preview

The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)

Chapter 16 - On the motion of the planets < [Book 8]

Chapter 4 - On Gāyatrī Hridaya < [Book 12]

Chapter 15 - On the motion of the Sun < [Book 8]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas (by Goswami Mitali)

Part 4 - Sūrya (the Time) < [Chapter 2 - Salient Traits of the Solar Divinities in the Veda]

Part 8 - Mode of Worship < [Chapter 4 - Vedic Influence on the Sun-Worship in the Purāṇas]

show preview

The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 273 - Reckoning of Yugas < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]

Appendix 3 - Purāṇic measurements of time < [Appendices]

Chapter 16 - Eulogy of Śiva by Brahmā < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]

+ 5 more chapters / show preview

Sanatkumara Samhita

verse 46-48

show preview

 

Click here for all 30 books