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)

[«previous next»] — Sarpavidya in Ayurveda glossary

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Sarpavidyā (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.

Ayurveda book cover
context information

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.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Sarpavidya in Purana glossary
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

Purana book cover
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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.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Sarpavidya in Hinduism glossary
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Sarpavidyā (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

[«previous next»] — Sarpavidya in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Sarpavidyā (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 Dictionary

Sarpavidyā (सर्पविद्या).—[feminine] veda [masculine] serpent-science.

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

1) 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]

Sarpavidya in German

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.

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See also (Relevant definitions)

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