Saras, Sharas: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Saras means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-puranaSaras (सरस्) refers to “lakes”, according to the Skandapurāṇa 2.2.13 (“The Greatness of Kapoteśa and Bilveśvara”).—Accordingly: as Jaimini said to the Sages: “[...] [Dhūrjaṭi (Śiva)] went to the holy spot Kuśasthalī. He performed a very severe penance near Nīla mountain. [...] By the power of his penance that holy spot became one comparable to Vṛndāvana, the forest near Gokula. Its interior was rendered splendid by lakes, ponds, reservoirs [i.e., saras-taḍāga-sarasī] and rivers. It was full of different kinds of trees and creepers (laden) with fruits and flowers of all seasons. It was resonant with the humming sounds of bees inebriated with honey. It was full of different kinds of flocks of birds. It was a comfortable place of resort for all creatures. [...]”.
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationSaras (सरस्) refers to “lakes”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22. Accordingly as Śiva said to Sitā:—“[...] O my beloved, beautiful woman, clouds will not reach the place where I have to make an abode for you. [...] O beloved, do you wish to go to the Himālayas, the king of mountains wherein there is spring for ever, which abounds in hedges and groves where the cuckoos coo in diverse pleasing ways and which contains many lakes (saras) filled with cool water and hundreds of lotuses”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramSaras (सरस्) refers to “rivers” [or “deep lakes”?], according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “(Jālandhara) is in the southern corner of (Kailāśa). It shines (like) the moon and has the moon’s radiant lustre. Its form is that of the city of the Half Moon. It has deep lakes and rivers full of waves [i.e., sarit-sara-samāvṛta]. It contains the ocean of the six planes, and is fearsome (with the many great) waves that wash against its shores. That city of the Supreme Lord is on top of the lord of the principles. It is adorned with snow (white) moonstones and varied enclosing walls, archways, and palaces (aṭṭāla). It possesses many qualities and wonders. [...]”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsSaras [सरस] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Albizia lebbeck Albizia lebbeck (L.)Benth. from the Mimosaceae (Touch-me-not) family. For the possible medicinal usage of saras, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraSaras (सरस्) refers to a “(summer) lake”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 12), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The mighty ocean whose waters were swallowed by Agastya, exhibited gems that eclipsed the splendour of the crowns of the Devas [...] It exhibited whales, water elephants, rivers and gems scattered over its bed, and, though deprived of water, presented an appearance splendid as Devaloka. There were also seen, moving to and fro, whales, pearl oysters and conch shells, and the sea altogether looked like a summer lake [i.e., saras—sarasaḥ śaradi] with its moving waves, water lilies and swans”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchSaras (सरस्) refers to a “lake”, according to the the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I shall define the nature of that highest, mind-free absorption which arises for those devoted to constant practice. [...] Just as a lake (saras) [which is] free from wind [appears] still and pure, so [the Yogin] in absorption is seen to be free from the objects of the senses, beginning with sound. [...]”.
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).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureŚaras (शरस्) refers to a “lake” (suitable for an offering ceremony), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, “From here onwards there is the Offering Manual of the Root-Heart. Merely upon recitation, all Nāgas tremble. It wards off winds and clouds by a pomegranate branch or oleander creeper and it should be held at the top of the [Nāga] lake (ucca-śaras). [...]”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Saras in India is the name of a plant defined with Albizia lebbeck in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Mimosa speciosa Jacq. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Species Plantarum.
· Species Plantarum (1753)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Saras, for example diet and recipes, health benefits, side effects, chemical composition, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySaras (सरस्).—n. [sṛ-asun]
1) A lake, pond, pool, a large sheet of water; सरसामस्मि सागरः (sarasāmasmi sāgaraḥ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 1.24.
2) Water.
3) Speech; cf. सरस्-वती (saras-vatī).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySaras (सरस्).—nf. (-raḥ-sī) 1. A large pond or pool. 2. A piece of water in which the lotus grows or may grow. n.
(-raṃ) Water. E. sṛ to go, (into, to bathe or drink,) asun Unadi aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySaras (सरस्).—i. e. sṛ + as (cf. sara), I. n., and f. sī. 1. A large pond, [Pañcatantra] 159, 14 (ras); [Kirātārjunīya] 12, 51 (rasī). 2. A piece of water in which the lotus grows. Ii. n. Water.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaras (शरस्).—[neuter] cream, the scum on boiled milk.
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Saras (सरस्).—[neuter] trough, bucket; pool, pond, lake.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śaras (शरस्):—[from śara] n. cream, film on boiled milk, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Taittirīya-saṃhitā] etc. (ro-gṛhīta mfn. covered with a skin or film, [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa])
2) [v.s. ...] a thin layer of ashes, [Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa; Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra]
3) [v.s. ...] [wrong reading] for saras, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
4) Saras (सरस्):—[from sara] n. ‘anything flowing or fluid’, a lake, large sheet of water, pond, pool, tank, [Ṛg-veda etc.] etc. a trough, pail, [Ṛg-veda]
5) [v.s. ...] water, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska i, 2]
6) [v.s. ...] speech (a meaning given to account for saras-vatī), [ib. i, 11.]
7) Sāras (सारस्):—(m.[case]) = 1. sārasa, the Indian crane, [Mahābhārata xiii, 736.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySaras (सरस्):—[(raḥ-sī)] 5. n. 3. f. A large pond or pool. n. Water.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Saras (सरस्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sara.
[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 dictionary1) Saras in Hindi refers in English to:—(a) juicy; sweet; delicious, tasteful; relishable; hence ~[ta] (nf)..—saras (सरस) is alternatively transliterated as Sarasa.
2) Saras in Hindi refers in English to:—(nm) a species of heron, a crane..—saras (सारस) is alternatively transliterated as Sārasa.
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See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+293): Sarahsarasija, Sarahsarasiruha, Sarasa, Sarasabharati, Sarasadvitiya, Sarasagara, Sarasagati, Sarasagridhra, Sarasai, Sarasaka, Sarasakata, Sarasakavikulananda, Sarasaksha, Sarasakshi, Sarasala, Sarasam, Sarasamalini, Sarasambandhapaddhati, Sarasamberu, Sarasamgraha.
Ends with (+49): Abjasaras, Acchodasaras, Achchhodasaras, Agastyasaras, Agnisaras, Alpasaras, Amritasaras, Anapsaras, Aphsaras, Apsaras, Ashtapsaras, Avantisaras, Bhadrasaras, Bindusaras, Brahmasaras, Candrasaras, Chandrasaras, Dahasaras, Dasasaras, Devapsaras.
Full-text (+134): Saroja, Sarasa, Nandisaras, Kridasaras, Sarastira, Ishasaras, Sarojanman, Asitoda, Dahasaras, Dahasara, Sarasi, Karpurasaras, Himasaras, Sarovara, Sharogrihita, Titibhasaras, Sarasaksha, Gonarda, Sarasagridhra, Sarasadvitiya.
Relevant text
Search found 31 books and stories containing Saras, Sharas, Śaras, Sāras; (plurals include: Sarases, Sharases, Śarases, Sārases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.4.23 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Nalikā (Musket) < [Chapter 3]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 284 - Greatness of Sukanyāsaras (Sukanyā-saras) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 54 - The Greatness of Nīlagaṅgā < [Section 1 - Avantīkṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 53 - Greatness of Tripuruṣaśālā and the Glory of Nārada’s Lake < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
Apastamba Dharma-sutra (by Āpastamba)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.203 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]