Savya, Śavya, Shavya: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Savya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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 term Śavya can be transliterated into English as Savya or Shavya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Savya (सव्य).—A son of Aṅgiras, Savya is actually Indra himself. The story is that Aṅgiras began worshipping the Devatās for a son equal to Indra and that Indra, thinking that there should not be another person equal to him, got himself born as the son of Aṅgiras. That son is Savya. (Ṛgveda, Maṇḍala 1, Anuvāka 10, Sūkta 51).
1a) Savya (सव्य).—A son of Agnisaṃsya.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 12. 13.
1b) A Saimhikeya asura.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 6. 19.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Savya (सव्य) (or Savyagata, Savyagrāsa) refers to one of the ten types of (solar and lunar) eclipses (grāsa), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If the eclipse should commence on the left side of the disc, it is technically known as Savya-gata: the earth will then be flooded with water and there will be joy and freedom from fear. If it should commence on the right side of the disc, it: is technically known as Apasavyagata: mankind will suffer from their rulers and from robbers”.
Savya (सव्य).—Clockwise. Note: Savya is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
1) Savya (सव्य) refers to Indra, according to the Devīpañcaśatikā verse 2.74-79.—Accordingly: “One should draw the supreme goddess there. She is Śuṣkā and, auspicious, her face is emaciated. She has two arms and one face. She has no flesh and no blood (runs through her veins). (Made of just) tendons and bones, her body is thin and she likes (to eat) human entrails and the like constantly. She is seated on Rudra’s severed head and her feet are placed on two (others) . On the left is Viṣṇu’s head and on the right that of Indra [i.e., Savya] and her legs are bent. She is the first (of all the deities) and fills (and nourishes all things). [...]”.
2) Savya (सव्य) refers to “left” (as opposed to “right”, i.e., aspects of the Kaula Path), according to the Lalitāsahasranāma.—Lalitā’s thousand names are eulogized in the Lalitāsahasranāma, describing the goddess’s spiritual beauty on the analogy of physical, sensuous beauty. [...] She is the Kula Yoginī (95) and her very nature is Kula (kularūpiṇī) (897). She is the Mother of the Heroes, that is, Kaula initiates (vīramātā) (836) and delights in their company (vīragoṣṭhipriyā) (898). She is the presiding deity of the Kaula Path and is on both aspects of it, that is, the Right and the Left (savya-apasavya-mārgasthā) (912). So although the goddess is given these names they are sacred to the devotees who practice Vāmācāra also. In short, the Kula rites—sexual yet chaste—share in the same ambiguity as the goddess who presides over them.
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)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Savya (सव्य) refers to the “right tusk” (of elephants), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 2, “on favorable marks”]: “3. (Good is) an elephant whose feet are distinguished by nails numbering twenty, the elevation of whose temporal bosses is great, whose two ears are red and their edges not frayed, whose girth is very smooth, whose tusks are honey colored and the right (savya) one higher [savyābhyunnatamākṣikadyutiradaḥ], whose belly is well filled out, whose tail and trunk are regularly stout, straight, long, and handsome, who is swarthy like betel nuts”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Savya (सव्य) refers to the “right (arm)”, according to the Guru-maṇḍala-arcana [i.e., “Guru Mandala Worship]” ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “A red twilight, producing a sharp essence, an edge as bright as seven suns, A knife killing all enemies, a gleaming immortal striker held by the right arm (savya-doṣan [doṣṇā]). Held by the left arm (vāma-doṣan [doṣṇā]), the pure mind of a lotus, now a banner full of blood, A kālpā after the first, surrounded by a head, a half a head of loose hair”.
Savya (सव्य) refers to the “right (part)” (of the mouth) (as opposed to Avasavya—‘left’), according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[...] [Standing on] Bhairava and Kālarātri on fire on the sun [disk] on the pericarp [of the lotus], [Heruka] is dancing. [He should visualize Heruka] [...] always having [his] mouth open [and showing] large fangs from the right (savya) and left [parts of the mouth] [savyāvasavyataḥ sadā]. [Three faces looking to the south, west, and north are colored] yellow, red, and in sequence (viz., green), [respectively,] and the other [fourteen] faces are colored like a black bee [He should meditate on Heruka, who] *is greatly awful and laughs loudly and* is grinning and terrifying. [...]”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Savya (सव्य) refers to a kind of tree (vṛkṣa) commonly found in the forests (vaṇa) of ancient India, mentioned in the 1st century Uvavāiya-sutta (sanksrit: Aupapātika-sūtra). Forests have been a significant part of the Indian economy since ancient days. They have been considered essential for economic development in as much as, besides bestowing many geographical advantages, they provide basic materials for building, furniture and various industries. The most important forest products are wood and timber which have been used by the mankind to fulfil his various needs—domestic, agricultural and industrial.
Different kinds of trees (e.g., the Savya tree) provided firewood and timber. The latter was used for furniture, building materials, enclosures, staircases, pillars, agricultural purposes, e. g. for making ploughs, transportation e. g. for making carts, chariots, boats, ships, and for various industrial needs. Vaṇa-kamma was an occupation dealing in wood and in various otherforest products. Iṅgāla-kamma was another occupation which was concerned with preparing charcoal from firewood.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
savya (सव्य).—a (S) Left, not right. 2 Reverse, contrary, backward. 3 Southern. 4 In popular misunderstanding. Right not left. 5 Used as s n The left hand; and, popularly, The right hand. savya ghālaṇēṃ To cast (leave) on the right (as in making pradakṣiṇā).
savya (सव्य).—a Left. Popularly, Right. Reverse. Southern.
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
Śavya (शव्य).—Funeral; अथ यदि चैवास्मिञ्छव्यं कुर्वन्ति (atha yadi caivāsmiñchavyaṃ kurvanti) Ch. Up. 4.15.5.
Derivable forms: śavyam (शव्यम्).
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Savya (सव्य).—a. [Uṇ4.19]
1) Left, left-hand; सव्ये प्राचीनआवीती निवीती कण्ठसज्जने (savye prācīnaāvītī nivītī kaṇṭhasajjane) Manusmṛti 2.63.
2) Southern.
3) Contrary, backward, reverse; प्रदक्षिणं च सव्यं च ग्राममध्ये च नाचरेत् (pradakṣiṇaṃ ca savyaṃ ca grāmamadhye ca nācaret) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.278.7.
4) Right.
5) Dry, not sprinkled with ghee (anabhighṛta); सव्यशब्दो रूक्षे भाष्यते । सव्या वपा इत्यनभिघृततां दर्शयति (savyaśabdo rūkṣe bhāṣyate | savyā vapā ityanabhighṛtatāṃ darśayati) ŚB. on MS.4.1.36.
-vyaḥ An epithet of Viṣṇu.
-vyam ind. The usual position of the sacred thread when it hangs down over the left shoulder; cf. अपसव्य (apasavya).
Savya (सव्य).—mfn.
(-vyaḥ-vyā-vyaṃ) 1. Left, left hand. 2. Right, right hand. 3. South, southern. 4. Reverse, contrary, backward. m.
(-vyaḥ) Vishnu. E. sū to send, yat Unadi aff.
Savya (सव्य).—adj. 1. Left, left hand, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 86. 2. Southern, south. 3. Backward, reverse, contrary.
Śavya (शव्य).—[neuter] funeral.
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Savya (सव्य).—[adjective] left (not right); °—, savyam, savyena, savyā & savye [adverb] from or on the left. [masculine] the left arm, hand, or foot; [neuter] the sacred thread (worn over the left shoulder).
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Savyā (सव्या).—A. roll up, envelop; veil in ([instrumental]), [Middle] refl. — Cf. u/pavīta, ni/vīta, pa/rivīta, saṃvīta.
Savyā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms sa and vyā (व्या).
1) Śavya (शव्य):—[from śava] n. cremation of a corpse, funeral, [Chāndogya-upaniṣad]
2) Savya (सव्य):—mf(ā)n. ([according to] to [Uṇādi-sūtra iv, 109] [from] √sū; perhaps for skavya cf. [Greek], [column]3) left, left hand (am, ena, ā e, and [in the beginning of a compound], ‘on the left’), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
3) opposite to left, right, right hand (am, ena, and [in the beginning of a compound], ‘on the right’)
4) south, southern (am etc., ‘to the south’), [Sūryasiddhānta; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
5) reverse, contrary, backward, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) m. the left arm or hand, [Ṛg-veda; Brāhmaṇa; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Yājñavalkya]
7) the left foot, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa]
8) one of the ten ways in which an eclipse takes place, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
9) a fire lighted at a person’s death, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) Name of Viṣṇu, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) (savya) Name of a man befriended by the Aśvins, [Ṛg-veda]
12) of an Aṅgirasa and author of [Ṛg-veda i, 51-57; Anukramaṇikā]
13) n. ([scilicet] yajñopavīta) the sacred thread worn over the left shoulder ([accusative] with √kṛ, ‘to put the sacred th° over the l° sh°’), [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra [Scholiast or Commentator]]
14) [accord. to some for skavya, cf. [Greek] σκαιός ; [Latin] scaevus; [according to] to others for syavya cf. [Slavonic or Slavonian] šujī].
15) Sāvya (साव्य):—[from sāva] 1. sāvya m. (for a. See sub voce) in sahasra-s (q.v.)
16) 2. sāvya mfn. (for 1. See p. 1210, col. 3) composed by Savya, [Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
Savya (सव्य):—[(vyaḥ-vyā-vyaṃ) a.] Left; left hand; southern; contrary. m. Vishnu.
[Sanskrit to German]
Savya (सव्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Savva.
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
Savya (ಸವ್ಯ):—
1) [adjective] left; leftward; that is on one’s lefthand side.
2) [adjective] in, of, to, toward or facing the south; south; southern.
3) [adjective] not favorable; not propitious; adverse, contrary, unfavourable or disadvantageous.
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Savya (ಸವ್ಯ):—
1) [noun] the left-hand side.
2) [noun] the left portion of one’s body.
3) [noun] the direction opposite to north; south.
4) [noun] a turning oneself or one’s weapon in clockwise while fighting (which is permitted by the rules of fight).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Savya (सव्य):—adj. 1. right; 2. favorable; suitable; 3. contrary; reverse; 4. left;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Vya, Ca, Sha.
Starts with (+8): Savyabahu, Savyabhicara, Savyabhicaragrantharahasya, Savyabhicarakroda, Savyabhicarana, Savyabhicaranirukti, Savyabhicarapurvapakshagranthadidhititika, Savyabhicarapurvapakshagranthaloka, Savyabhicarapurvapakshagranthatika, Savyabhicarapurvapakshakroda, Savyabhicararahasya, Savyabhicarasamanyanirukti, Savyabhicaravada, Savyabhyunnata, Savyacarin, Savyadoshan, Savyagata, Savyagrasa, Savyajanu, Savyamarga.
Full-text (+77): Apasavya, Asavya, Savyasacin, Prasavya, Avasavya, Savyapasavya, Pratisavya, Savyetara, Savyaprashti, Savyatas, Savyayugya, Sushavya, Sahasrasavya, Savyashtha, Savyam, Dakshinasavya, Prasavyam, Savyabahu, Savyajanu, Savyacarin.
Relevant text
Search found 58 books and stories containing Savya, Sa-vya, Sa-vyā, Śavya, Savyā, Sāvya, Shavya; (plurals include: Savyas, vyas, vyās, Śavyas, Savyās, Sāvyas, Shavyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihaddevata attributed to Shaunaka (by Arthur Anthony Macdonell)
Part 23 - Rigveda I.48-60; Story of Savya; The Satarcins < [Chapter 3 - Deities of Rigveda I.13-126]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 4.32 < [Chapter 4 - First-rate Poetry]
Khadira-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
Soundarya Lahari of Shri Shankara (Study) (by Seetha N.)
The Shakta concept of Mudra (position of the fingers) < [Chapter 5 - Shakta-Tantras—Saundaryalahari as an epitome of Shaktism]