Sarshapa, Sārṣapa, Sarṣapa: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Sarshapa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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.
The Sanskrit terms Sārṣapa and Sarṣapa can be transliterated into English as Sarsapa or Sarshapa, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
1) Sarṣapa (सर्षप) refers to a type of spices according to Arthaśāstra II.15.21, and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—Arthaśāstra refers to the spices like śṛṅgibera, ajāji, kirītatikta, gaura, sarṣapa, kustumaburu, coraka, damanaka, maruvaka, śigru, harītakī and meṣaśṛṅga.
Sarṣapa or “mustard” is classified as a type of grain (dhānya) in the section on śimbīdhānya (grains with pods) in the Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana).—In śimbīdhānya-prakaraṇa the properties of grains with pods such as mudga (green gram), māṣa (black-gram), caṇaka (bengal gram), kalāya (field pea), tila (sesame), atasī (linseed), sarṣapa (mustard) and masūra (lentils) are explained.
Sarṣapa or “mustard” is used to prepare oils (taila) from according to the same work.—Taila-prakaraṇa describes the properties of the oil prepared from [viz., sarṣapa (mustard), etc.].
2) Sārṣapa (सार्षप) refers to the “vegetable of mustard plant” and is mentioned as being harmful (ahita) to the body according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The dravyaguṇāguṇa section contains the discussions on different food articles and their dietetic effects according to the prominent Ayurvedic treatises. Here in the śāka (ghee) group sārṣapa (the vegetable of mustard plant).
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Brassica juncea Czern. & Coss.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning sarṣapa] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) refers to “mustard” and is used in the protection rites of Horses (Aśvarakṣaṇa), according to Āyurveda sections in the Garuḍapurāṇa.—For the Rakṣa (protection) Revanta-pūjā, (worship of God Revanta) homa (sacrificial offerings) and dvija-bhojana (feeding of Brahmins) should be performed in favor of the horse. And a compound made up of following drugs should be tied round the neck of the horse [e.g., sarṣapa (mustard)] [...].
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
1) Sārṣapa (अम्लिका) is a Sanskrit word probably referring to Brassica rapa, a plant species in the Brassicaceae family. Certain plant parts of Sārṣapa are eaten as a vegetable (śāka), according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. The plant is therefore part of the Śākavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic value of the plant.
According to the Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 7.147), the leaves of the Sāṛsapa (sārṣapapatra) are very hot and cause vitiation of rakta and pitta. This śāka is pungent, tasty and causes burning sensation. It though improves appetite yet causes loss of semen production.
Properties according to Caraka-saṃhitā: The vegetable of mustard aggravates three doṣas, is constipating and antidiuretic (similar is that of ratkanāla (raktanāla?) which is particularly rough and sour).
2) Sarṣapa (सर्षप) is a Sanskrit word referring to the Brassica juncea (“Indian mustard”), a species of mustard plant from the Brassicaceae (cabbage) family. It is also known as Rājikā, or as Kaṭaku in the Malayalam language. It is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Suśruta-saṃhitā. The leaves, seeds and the stem of this plant are edible.
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)
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) refers to “mustard”, forming part of a common diet in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—Sarṣapa (mustard) is mentioned as an unguent and as a gift for the Brāhmaṇas (verse 472). Most of the references to the articles of diet occur in the Nīlamata in connection with the offerings made to the gods but it is not difficult to infer from them the food and drink of the common people because “what a man eats his gods eat”.
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) refers to “big mustard” and is used in the worship of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.14:—“worship with Rājikā (small mustard) of Śiva shall bring about the death of enemies (śatrumṛtyu). Twenty palas of Sarṣapa (big mustard) constitute a hundred thousand in number. Worshipping with them also brings about the death of enemies (śatrumṛtyu). The Śivaliṅga shall be decorated with the leaves of Āḍhakī and then worshipped”.
Sarṣapa can also be used in the Tailadhārā ceremony: “Oil-Dhārā [viz., tailadhārā] shall be performed on Śivaliṅga for harassing enemies. Success in the enterprise is certain. If scented oil is used, worldly pleasures will be increased. If mustard oil (sarṣapa) is used, enemies will be exterminated undoubtedly. If honey (madhu) is used, the devotee will become Kubera (God of wealth). The Dhārā of sugarcane juice (ikṣurasa) is conducive to all pleasures. [...] In all these Dhārās Mṛtyuñjaya-mantra shall be muttered ten thousand times. Eleven Brahmins shall be fed”.
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)
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) or “mustard” refers to one of various seeds used in Bījāṅkurārpaṇa, according to the Mātṛsadbhāva, one of the earliest Śākta Tantras from Kerala.—Mātṛsadbhāva is a Kerala Tantric ritual manual dealing with the worship of Goddess Bhadrakālī (also known as Rurujit) along with sapta-mātṛs or Seven mothers. [...] There are many descriptions about the flora and fauna in Mātṛssadbhāva. Different types of Seeds, dhātūs, metals, etc. are describing in this text. In the seventh chapter of Mātṛsadbhāva is describing the bījāṅkurārpaṇa part, tells seven types seeds need to be used [e.g., sarṣapa].
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) denoting ‘mustard’ or ‘mustard seed’, occurs only a few times in later Vedic texts.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) refers to a “mustard seed”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as Bodhisattva Puṇyālaṃkāra addressed himself to the Lord: “O Lord, the Bodhisattvas, who do not strive for upholding the true dharma, will be beset by the Māra. If, O Lord, there are Bodhisattvas who [have planted] all other roots of good without upholding the true dharma, their merits would be merely as a mustard seed (sarṣapa). The roots of good stemming from upholding the true dharma are established in the conception of a self, which is exactly the same as the sphere of open space in ten directions. In order to seek for the happiness of all living beings, O Lord, I will give up my body and soul, and, without desiring any happiness for me, will put on the armour for the sake of upholding the true dharma”.
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) refers to “mustard seed” (suitable for the fire oblation), 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, “Now there lived a Brahmin called Viṣṇudatta in Navanagara. [...] In the crop-growing season he experienced a lack of water. With words of self-conceit, [possessing] approval [to use] mantrapadas he said, ‘I am going to send forth rain showers and summon Nāgas’. He sacrificed the prescribed fire oblation with sesame seed, rice grain and mustard seed (sarṣapa) anointed with pungent oil. He prepared an image-form of a certain harmful Nāga. [...]”.
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.
In Jainism
Jain philosophy
Sarsapa (सर्सप) refers to a “mustard”, as occurring in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. II, P. 14, l. 3]—‘Sarsapa’ means a mustard. It has two other meanings (i) a small measure of weight and (ii) a kind of poison, but they are not relevant here.
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India history and geography
Sarṣapa.—a small unit of measurement; sometimes specified as ‘red’ (JNSI, Vol. XVI, p. 48). Note: sarṣapa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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Sarṣapa.—sometimes called ‘red sarṣapa’; a small unit of measurement. Note: sarṣapa 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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Sarsapa in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Brassica napus var. napus from the Brassicaceae (Mustard) family. For the possible medicinal usage of sarsapa, 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.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
sarṣapa (सर्षप).—m S A sort of mustard, Sinapis dichotoma. 2 A mustard seed as a measure of weight.
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
Sarṣapa (सर्षप).—[Uṇādi-sūtra 3.141]
1) Mustard; खलः सर्षपमात्राणि परच्छिद्राणि पश्यति (khalaḥ sarṣapamātrāṇi paracchidrāṇi paśyati) Subhāṣ.; Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.6.
2) A small measure of weight.
3) A sort of poison.
Derivable forms: sarṣapaḥ (सर्षपः).
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Sārṣapa (सार्षप).—a. (-pī f.) Made of mustard.
-pam Mustard-oil.
Sarṣapa (सर्षप).—m.
(-paḥ) 1. A sort of mustard, (Sinapis dichotoma.) 2. A kind of poison. 3. A small measure of weight, a mustard seed so considered. f. (-pī) A small bird. E. sṛ to go, ap Unadi aff, suk aug.
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Sārṣapa (सार्षप).—mfn.
(-paḥ-pī-paṃ) Mustard, made of or from mustard. n.
(-paṃ) Mustard-oil. E. sarṣapa, and aṇ aff.
Sarṣapa (सर्षप).—I. m. 1. sort of mustard, Sinapis dichotoma, Windischmann, Sankara, 165. 2. A small measure of weight, a mustard seed so considered. 3. A sort of poison. Ii. f. pī, A small bird.
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Sārṣapa (सार्षप).—i. e. sarṣapa + a, I. adj. Made of or from mustard. Ii. n. Mustard oil.
Sarṣapa (सर्षप).—[masculine] mustard or mustard-seed, also a small weight; mātra [adjective] having the measure or weight of a mustard-seed.
1) Sarṣapa (सर्षप):—m. mustard, mustard-seed, [ṢaḍvBr.] etc. etc.
2) a mustard-seed used as a weight, any minute weight, [Manu-smṛti; Śārṅgadhara-saṃhitā]
3) a kind of poison, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) Sārṣapa (सार्षप):—mf(ī)n. ([from] sarṣapa) made of or derived from mustard, [Kauśika-sūtra]
5) n. (with or [scilicet] taila) mustard oil, [Suśruta]
1) Sarṣapa (सर्षप):—(paḥ) 1. m. A sort of mustard; of poison, of weight. f. (ī) A small bird.
2) Sārṣapa (सार्षप):—[(paḥ-pī-paṃ)] 1. m. n. 3. f. Mustard. n. Mustard oil.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sarṣapa (सर्षप) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sarisava, Sāsava.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Sarṣapa (ಸರ್ಷಪ):—
1) [noun] the plant Brassica juncea of Brassicaceae family; mustard plant.
2) [noun] its small, black seed used as a spice; mustard.
3) [noun] a mustard seed or its weight used as a unit of weight; a minute weight.
4) [noun] a minute quantity (equal to a mustard seed).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Sarshapa-gaura, Sarshapadi, Sarshapaka, Sarshapakana, Sarshapakanda, Sarshapaki, Sarshapamishra, Sarshaparuna, Sarshapashaka, Sarshapasneha, Sarshapataila, Sarshapavijayadi, Sarshapay, Sarshapaya, Sarshapodaka.
Full-text (+82): Rajasarshapa, Gaurasarshapa, Krishnasarshapa, Sitasarshapa, Sarshapataila, Raktasarshapa, Shvetasarshapa, Tridashasarshapa, Devasarshapa, Nirjarasarshapa, Rakshasarshapa, Merusarshapa, Sarshapamishra, Sarshapasneha, Sarshapakanda, Sarshapashaka, Sarshapakana, Sarisapa, Dhavalasarshapa, Sa li sha bo.
Relevant text
Search found 63 books and stories containing Sarshapa, Sārṣapa, Sarṣapa, Sarsapa; (plurals include: Sarshapas, Sārṣapas, Sarṣapas, Sarsapas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Ritual drink in the Iranian and Indian traditions (by Nawaz R. Guard)
6. Use of mustard plant as a cure < [Chapter 6 - Drinks under Medicine and Magic]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 24 - Usage of poisons < [Chapter XXX - Visha (poisons)]
Part 5 - Tuber Poison (5): Sarshapa < [Chapter XXX - Visha (poisons)]
Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita (by Laxmi Maji)
Treatment of Eye diseases < [Chapter 3 - Diseases and Remedial measures (described in Atharvaveda)]
Classification of Drugs in the Caraka-Saṃhitā < [Chapter 4 - Diseases and Remedial measures (described in Caraka-saṃhitā)]
5b. Kṛmi (Worms) in the Atharvaveda < [Chapter 5 - Diseases and Remedies in Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā]
Ganitatilaka (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by H. R. Kapadia)
Page 184 < [Sanskrit Text of the Ganitatilaka]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 2 - Measures of weight < [Chapter VII - Enumeration of technical terms]
Part 10 - Mercurial operations (8): Stimulation of Mercury (dipana) < [Chapter IV-V - Mercurial operations]
Part 11 - Mercurial operations (9): Rehabilitation of Mercury (anubasana) < [Chapter IV-V - Mercurial operations]
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