Sarpavidya, Sarpavidyā, Sarpa-vidya: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Sarpavidya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha ChikitsaSarpavidyā (सर्पविद्या) refers to the ancient Indian study of Toxicology.— Vedas, being the fountainhead of all our knowledge and culture, it is but inevitable that Toxicology, variously reckoned as Agadatantra, or Sarpavidyā or Viṣavidyā—is also sourced from the Ṛgveda and Atharva veda. Snakes, in general are venomous and hence a study of sarpas presupposes a knowledge of viṣavidyā—also known as gāruḍīvidyā. [...] The Āstīkaparva of the Mahābhārata (I.20.14-16) mentions that Brahmā taught the Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā to Kāśyapa to save the near extinction of the snake community which was being slaughtered in Janamejaya’s sarpasatra. [...] Tradition has it that Brahmā himself expounded the sarpavidyā to sage Kaśyapa.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (itihasa)Sarpavidyā (सर्पविद्या) (or Gāruḍī) is displayed by sage Kaśyapa according to the chapters 38 and 39 of the Āstīkaparva in the Ādiparva of the Mahābhārata.—Sage Kāśyapa, who was proceeding to king Parīkṣit’s palace to revive him in case of a snake-bite, was interrupted by Takṣaka and asked by him to reveal his power of restoring people’s lives. As a test, Takṣaka burns a Nyagrodha tree and asks Kāśyapa to revive it. Kāśyapa, with his ascetic power and expertise in sarpavidyā brings it back to life, though totally burnt to ashes by the poison caused by Takṣaka’s bite
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and SubjectsSarpavidyā (सर्पविद्या, the ‘science of snakes’) is enumerated in the Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa among branches of learning. It must have been reduced to fixed rules, since a section (parvan) of it is referred to as studied. The Gopatha-brāhmaṇa has the form Sarpaveda.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySarpavidyā (सर्पविद्या).—Snakescience; सर्पदेवजनविद्यामेतद्भगवोऽध्येमि (sarpadevajanavidyāmetadbhagavo'dhyemi) Ch. Up.7.1.2.
Sarpavidyā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms sarpa and vidyā (विद्या). See also (synonyms): sarpaveda.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySarpavidyā (सर्पविद्या).—[feminine] veda [masculine] serpent-science.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Sarpavidyā (सर्पविद्या):—[=sarpa-vidyā] [from sarpa] f. sn°-science, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
2) [v.s. ...] the charming of sn°, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Sarpa, Vidya.
Full-text (+1414): Sarpavidyika, Agadatantra, Damshtratantra, Sarpaveda, Janman, Naganaman, Dutalakshana, Nama, Nagajanman, Rupa, Damsharupa, Kurukullamantra, Marma, Damshakarana, Sarpoccatanamantra, Sarpakarshanamantra, Sarpakarshana, Vishastobha, Mahapadmahridayamantra, Ashtaksharamantra.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Sarpavidya, Sarpavidyā, Sarpa-vidya, Sarpa-vidyā; (plurals include: Sarpavidyas, Sarpavidyās, vidyas, vidyās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Formal Education System in Ancient India (by Sushmita Nath)
Subjects studied in the Brahmanic Period < [Chapter 5 - Subjects studied in the Vedic and Buddhist period]
Education in the Brahmanic Period < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kāṇḍa XIII, adhyāya 4, brāhmaṇa 3 < [Thirteenth Kāṇḍa]
Kāṇḍa XI, adhyāya 5, brāhmaṇa 6 < [Eleventh Kāṇḍa]
Introduction to volume 5 (kāṇḍa 11-14) < [Introductions]
Chandogya Upanishad (Madhva commentary) (by Srisa Chandra Vasu)
The Sacrifices of Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha (study) (by Aparna Dhar)
Social and Cultural condition of the Brahmanical age < [Chapter 1 - A brief outline of the Brāhmaṇa Literature]