Sayana, aka: Shayana, Śayana, Sāyana, Sayāna, Sāyaṇa, Śayāna; 16 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.
Source: Wisdom Library: Yoga
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.
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopaediaSāyana (सायन).—A lake on the slopes of the Hemakūṭa hill.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 47. 63.
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:
- ākuñcita,
- sama,
- prasārita,
- vivartita,
- udvāhita,
- nata.
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.
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarVyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
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.
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)
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.
Source: Oxford Index: HinduismSāyaṇa (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.
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismIn Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Tasting;
Source: Journey to Nibbana: Patthana DhamaTheravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
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.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary
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.
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English DictionarySayana, (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)
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary
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.
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryśayana (शयन).—n Sleeping. A bedstead.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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-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).
--- OR ---
Śayāna (शयान).—
1) A chameleon.
2) A kind of snake, the boa.
Derivable forms: śayānaḥ (शयानः).
See also (synonyms): śayānaka.
--- OR ---
Sāyaṇa (सायण).—Name of a very learned Brāhmaṇa and a Vedic commentator, supposed to have flourished about 137 A. D.
Derivable forms: sāyaṇaḥ (सायणः).
--- OR ---
Sāyana (सायन).—The longitude of a planet reckoned from the vernal equinoctial point.
Derivable forms: sāyanam (सायनम्).
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚayana (शयन).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. Sleep. 2. A bed, a couch. 3. Copulation. E. śī to sleep, lyuṭ aff.
--- OR ---
Śayāna (शयान).—mfn.
(-naḥ-nā-naṃ) Sleeping, asleep. E. śī to sleep, śānac aff.
--- OR ---
Sāyana (सायन).—n.
(-naṃ) The longitude of a planet reckoned from the vernal equinoctial point. E. sa with, ayana the equinoctial period.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Starts with (+3): Sayana Sutta, Sayanadayaka, Sayanakalaha, Sayanakheta, Sayanamurti, Shayana-puja, Shayanabera, Shayanabhumi, Shayanagara, Shayanagriha, Shayanaikadashi, Shayanaka, Shayanalaya, Shayanamandapa, Shayanapalika, Shayanaracana, Shayanarachana, Shayanasakhi, Shayanasana, Shayanastha.
Ends with (+52): Abdhishayana, Adhisayana, Adhyashayana, Adityashayana, Akashashayana, Akashayana, Anantashayana, Angaravakshayana, Anjasayana, Anushayana, Ardhardhashayana, Ardhashayana, Ashunyashayana, Asurakshayana, Atishayana, Avakshayana, Bhumishayana, Candramasayana, Caramashayana, Chandramasayana.
Full-text (+99): Sindhushayana, Paryayashayana, Kelishayana, Utpadashayana, Shayanaikadashi, Shmashana, Abdhishayana, Akuncita, Drapsa, Shayanasana, Niketasayana, Shayanaka, Prasarita, Shayanagriha, Shayana-puja, Shayanagara, Pisha, Shimbala, Paryyayashayana, Shayanavasas.
Relevant text
Search found 37 books and stories containing Sayana, Shayana, Śayana, Sāyana, Sayāna, Sāyaṇa, Śayāna; (plurals include: Sayanas, Shayanas, Śayanas, Sāyanas, Sayānas, Sāyaṇas, Śayānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 2 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 3 - Organs in the Atharva-veda and Āyurveda < [Chapter XIII - Speculations in the Medical Schools]
Part 4 - Practice of Medicine in the Atharva-veda < [Chapter XIII - Speculations in the Medical Schools]
Part 1 - Āyurveda and the Atharva-veda < [Chapter XIII - Speculations in the Medical Schools]
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The Sarva-Darsana-Samgraha (by E. B. Cowell)
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Text 11 < [Second Stabaka]
Satapatha Brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kāṇḍa XI, adhyāya 8, brāhmaṇa 1 < [Eleventh Kāṇḍa]
Kāṇḍa X, adhyāya 6, brāhmaṇa 1 < [Tenth Kāṇḍa]
Kāṇḍa XI, adhyāya 8, brāhmaṇa 4 < [Eleventh Kāṇḍa]
Asvalayana-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)