Saptasagara, Saptasāgara, Sapta-sagara: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Saptasagara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationSaptasāgara (सप्तसागर) refers to the “seven oceans”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.49 (“The delusion of Brahmā”).—Accordingly, as the Gods eulogised Śiva: “[...] The seven oceans are your clothes (saptasāgara—vāsāṃsi sāgarāssapta). The quarters are your long arms. The firmament is your head, O allpervasive. The sky is your navel. The wind is your nose. O lord, the fire, the sun and the moon are your eyes. The clouds are your hair. The planets and the stars are your ornaments. O lord of gods, how shall I eulogise you? O supreme lord, you are beyond description. O Śiva, you are incomprehensible to the mind. [...]”.
Note: The Saptasāgara (seven mythical oceans) are personified here. For details see S.M. Ali, Geography of the Purāṇas, Ch. II. on seven continents and oceans.
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.
In Buddhism
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaSaptasāgara (सप्तसागर) or simply Sāgara refers to the “seven oceans” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 126):
- kṣāra (salty),
- kṣīra (milky),
- dadhi (coagulated),
- udadhi (watery),
- ghṛta (buttery),
- madhu (sweet),
- surā (spirituous).
The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., sapta-sāgara). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossarySapta-sāgara.—(EI 24), name of a mahādāna; same as sapt- āmbhodhi. Note: sapta-sāgara 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionarySaptasāgara (सप्तसागर):—[=sapta-sāgara] [from sapta > saptan] n. Name of a Liṅga, [Kāśī khaṇḍa, from the skanda-purāṇa]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Sapta, Sagara.
Starts with: Saptasagaradana, Saptasagaraka, Saptasagaramahadanaprayoga, Saptasagaramahatmya, Saptasagaramekhala, Saptasagarapradanika, Saptasagaravidhi.
Full-text: Saptasagaravidhi, Saptasagarapradanika, Saptasagaramahatmya, Saptasagaramahadanaprayoga, Saptasagaramekhala, Saptasagaradana, Varunahoma, Sagaramekhala, Sapta-ambhodhi, Saptasamudra, Sagara, Shodashamahadanem.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Saptasagara, Saptasāgara, Sapta-sagara, Sapta-sāgara, Saptan-sagara, Saptan-sāgara; (plurals include: Saptasagaras, Saptasāgaras, sagaras, sāgaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Matsya Purana (critical study) (by Kushal Kalita)
Part 5.1 - The sixteen Mahādānas < [Chapter 4 - Religious aspects of the Matsyapurāṇa]
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
Ethics and moral duties of the King < [Chapter 5 - Cultural history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 6 - Expiatory Rites < [Section 3b - Arunācala-khaṇḍa (Uttarārdha)]
Chapter 28 - Procedure of the Pilgrimage (Yātrā) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 83 - Manifestation of Vīreśvara < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 36 - Dialogue between Kṣupa and Dadhīca < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]