Sayana, aka: Śayana, Sāyana, Sayāna, Sāyaṇa, Śayāna, Shayana; 15 Definition(s)

Introduction

Sayana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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 terms Śayana and Śayāna can be transliterated into English as Sayana or Shayana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Śayana (शयन) is a Sanskrit word referring to “resting”, “sleeping”. It is used in Yoga.

context information

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).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Sāyaṇa (सायण).—A hermit who was an expounder of the Vedas. In course of time, due to the differences in languages and grammar, the Vedas became difficult to be grasped. It was Yāska and Sāyaṇa who saved the Indians from this difficulty. For the Vedas to be grasped easily, Yāska made the Nirukta (Etymology) and Sāyaṇa wrote the Book Vedārthaprakāśa.

Sāyana (सायन).—A lake on the slopes of the Hemakūṭa hill.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 47. 63.

context information

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Śayana (शयन) refers to “lying-down” (postures in the bed); it is a Sanskrit technical term defined in the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 12.

There are six kinds of postures for lying down (śayana) defined:

1. ākuñcita,
2. sama,
3. prasārita,
4. vivartita,
5. udvāhita,
6. nata.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Sāyaṇa (सायण).—(or सायणाचार्य (sāyaṇācārya)) the celebrated Vedic scholar and grammarian of Vijayanagar who flourished in the 14th century and wrote, besides the monumental commentary works on the Vedas, a grammatical work on roots and their forms known by the name माधवीया धातुवृत्ति (mādhavīyā dhātuvṛtti). As the colophon of the work shows, the Dhatuvrtti was written by Sayanacarya, but published under the name of Madhava, the brother of Sayanacarya; cf. इति महामन्त्रिणा मायणसु-तेन माधवसहोदरेण सायणाचार्येण विरचितायां माधवीयायां धातुवृत्तौ (iti mahāmantriṇā māyaṇasu-tena mādhavasahodareṇa sāyaṇācāryeṇa viracitāyāṃ mādhavīyāyāṃ dhātuvṛttau)...Madhaviya Dha tuvrtti at the end; cf also तेन मायणपुत्रेण सायणेन मनीषिणा । व्याख्येया माधवी चेयं धातुवृत्तिर्विरच्यते । (tena māyaṇaputreṇa sāyaṇena manīṣiṇā | vyākhyeyā mādhavī ceyaṃ dhātuvṛttirviracyate |) Mad. Dhatuvrtti at the beginning.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Śayana (शयन) refers to the “reclining pose”, and represents one of the five types of “body poses” (āsana), according to Ganapati Sthapati in his text Ciṟpa Cennūl, as defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The lying pose of the deity with legs and hands stretched on the seat (pīṭa-sthāna) is called śayana.

Śayanāsana shows the body and head resting on the pedestal, with arms and legs stretched out. Śayana or recumbent images of Hindu divinities are very rare.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

General definition (in Hinduism)

The author of the most celebrated commentary on the Vedas, the Vedārtha Prakāśa (‘Light on the Meaning of the Veda’). He is said to have been a general and a minister under the Vijayanagara kings of the 14th century, and the younger brother of the Advaitin chief minister, Mādhava. In addition to his extensive Veda commentaries, some of which appear to have been collaborations with his brother and his pupils, or the work of later scholars, Sāyaṇa is also credited with numerous works on other aspects of Indian culture, including ritual, grammar (vyakāraṇa), Āyurveda, and literature.

Sāyaṇa (सायण) was an important commentator on the Vedas. He was also known as Sāyaṇācārya. More than a hundred works are attributed to him, among which are commentaries on nearly all parts of the Veda; some were carried out by his pupils, and some were written in conjunction with his brother Mādhava or Vidyāraṇya-svāmin.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Tasting;

India history and geogprahy

Sāyana.—(CII 3), ‘inclusive of precission of the equinoxes’. Note: sāyana is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

sayana : (nt.) a bed; sleeping. || sayāna (adj.) sleeping; lying down. sāyana (nt.), tasting.

Sayana, (nt.) (fr. śī) 1. lying down, sleeping Vism. 26; PvA. 80 (mañca°).—2. bed, couch Vin. I, 57, 72; II, 123; D. I, 5, 7; A. I, 132; J. II, 88; V, 110 (°ṃ attharāpeti to spread out a bed); Miln. 243, 348; Nd¹ 372 (°sannidhi); Pv. I, 11⁷ (kis°=kiṃ°); PvA. 78.—sayanakalaha a quarrel in the bedroom, a curtain-lecture J. III, 20; sayanāsana bed & seat It. 112; Dh. 185, etc. : see senāsana. (Page 697)

— or —

Sayāna, is ppr. of sayati lying down (e.g. A. II, 13 sq.): see seti. (Page 697)

— or —

1) Sāyana, ² the Nāga tree (cp. nāga 3) J. VI, 535 (vāraṇā sā yanā=nāgarukkhā, C. , ibid. 535, var. read. vāyana). Kern, Toev. II. 77 conjectures sāsanā “with Asana’s Terminalia’s. ” (Page 705)

2) Sāyana, ¹ (nt.) (fr. sāyati) tasting, taste Dhtp 229. (Page 705)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

śayana (शयन).—n S Sleeping, reposing: also reclining or lying. 2 A bedstead, couch, mat, anything on which to lie and repose.

śayana (शयन).—n Sleeping. A bedstead.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śayana (शयन).—[śī-lyuṭ]

1) Sleeping, sleep, lying down.

2) A bed, couch; शयनस्थो न भुञ्जीत (śayanastho na bhuñjīta) Ms.4.74; R.1.95; V.3.1.

3) Copulation, sexual union.

Derivable forms: śayanam (शयनम्).

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Śayāna (शयान).—

1) A chameleon.

2) A kind of snake, the boa.

Derivable forms: śayānaḥ (शयानः).

See also (synonyms): śayānaka.

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Sāyaṇa (सायण).—Name of a very learned Brāhmaṇa and a Vedic commentator, supposed to have flourished about 137 A. D.

Derivable forms: sāyaṇaḥ (सायणः).

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Sāyana (सायन).—The longitude of a planet reckoned from the vernal equinoctial point.

Derivable forms: sāyanam (सायनम्).

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