Sena, aka: Senā, Shena; 12 Definition(s)

Introduction

Sena means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Senā also means human body. Sensory organs are the soldiers and the chief of soldiers means the mind. Mind is the controller of all sensory organs.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Sena (सेन).—Son of King Ṛṣabha. It is mentioned in Bhāgavata, Skandha 5 that this king had nineteen sons including Sena.

Sena (सेन).—A son of Bṛhadratha.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 48. 22.

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Senā (सेना) denotes primarily a ‘missile’, a sense found in the Rigveda and the Atharvaveda, and then a ‘host’ or ‘army’, which is its normal meaning. See Saṃgrāma.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

1. Sena

King of Ceylon (Sena I., 831-51 A.C.). He was the younger brother and the successor of Aggabodhi IX. He had three younger brothers: Mahinda, Kassapa and Udaya. His queen was Sangha. During his reign the Pandu king invaded Ceylon, and Sena had to retire into the Malaya district. After the army of the Pandu king had plundered a great part of the kingdom, Sena made a treaty with him and re gained his throne. He adopted the three sons and the three daughters of Kittaggabodhi: Kassapa, Sena and Udaya, and Sangha, Tissa and Kitti. Among the kings good acts was the construction of a monastery on Aritthapabbata for the Pamsukulikas, and a many storeyed pasada in Jetavana. He also built the Virankurarama, the Pubbarama, Sangha sena parivena, Senaggabodhi vihara, a refectory in the Mahamettapabbata vihara, and single cells in the Kappura and Uttaralha parivenas. He completed the Dappulapabbata- and the Kassaparajaka viharas. Among Senas ministers were Bhadda (the senapati), Uttara, Vajira and Rakkhasa. His capital was in Pulatthinagara (Cv.l.1ff). He was also known as Silamegha (Cv.l.43).

2. Sena

Son of the Adipada Kassapa, and therefore nephew of Sena I. On the death of his father, Sena became king as Sena II. (851-85 A.C.). He married Sangha, daughter of Kittaggabodhi, and had a son, Kassapa. Sena sent an expeditionary force against the Pandu king, captured Madhura, and brought back the treasures which had been pillaged by the Pandus in the time of Sena I. The Pamsukulika monks separated from the incumbents of Abhayagiri in the twentieth year of Senas reign. He built the Manimekhala dam and a dam across the Kanavapi at Katthantanagara. He endowed various monasteries - Buddhagama, Mahiyangana, Kutatissa, Mandalagiri, and Sobbha - and held a special ceremony in honour of the image of Ananda. He held a consecration festival at the Hemavaluka cetiya (Maha Thupa), and decreed that this festival should be repeated annually. His senapati was Kutthaka. Cv.li.1ff.

3. Sena. Son of Kittaggabodhi. Cv.l.56.

4. Sena. Called Mahalekhaka Sena. He was a minister of Kassapa V. and built the Mahalekhakapabbata house in the Mahavihara (Cv.lii.33). His mother was Nala. Cv.Trs. i.138, n.3; 165, n.1.

5. Sena. Uparaja of Udaya III., and later Sena III., king of Ceylon (937-45 A.D.). According to some accounts he was the brother of Udaya III. He observed the uposatha day regularly, and among his benefactions was the Dandissara offering to mendicant artists. He made the stone paving of Abhayuttara cetiya and endowed the Nagasala parivena. Cv.liii.13, 28ff.

6. Sena. Uparaja of Udaya IV., and afterwards king of Ceylon (Sena IV. 953-6 A.D.). He was learned, and used to explain the suttantas in the Lohapasada. Because of his piety, the gods sent timely rain.

7.. Daughter of Kassapa, yuvaraja of Udaya II. She married the kings brothers son. Cv.li.93.

8. Queen of Udaya I. Cv.xlix.2.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Senā (सेना) is the mother of Saṃbhava according to Śvetāmbara (according to Digambara she is named Suṣeṇā), according to the Ācāradinakara (14th century work on Jain conduct written by Vardhamāna Sūri). Saṃbhava is the third of twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras in Janism. A Tīrthaṅkara is an enlightened being who has conquered saṃsāra (cycle of birth and death), leaving behind him a path for others to follow.

The husband of Senā is Jitari. It is an ancient Jain practice to worship the Tīrthaṅkara’s parents in various rites, such as the pratiṣṭhāvidhi.

context information

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.

India history and geogprahy

Tamil princes Sena and Gutta (probably, Velir princes) subjugated Sura Tissa and reined over Sri Lanka for 20 or 22 years. Prince Asela, the son of Mahashiva put Sena and Gutta to death and reigned ten years. Chola Prince Elara or Elala killed Asela and reined over Sri Lanka for 44 years. Sri Lankan Prince Abhaya Duttagamini, the son of Kakavanna, defeated Elala and reigned for 24 years.

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

sena : (m.) a hawk. || senā (f.) an army.

Senā, (Vedic senā² perhaps fr. si to bind) an army Vin. I, 241; IV, 104 sq. (where described as consisting of hatthī, assā, rathā, pattī), 160; S. I, 112; A. III, 397; V, 82; J. II, 94; Miln. 4; Nd¹ 95 (Māra°), 174 (id.).

—gutta (sena°) a high official, a minister of war, only in cpd. mahā-° J. VI, 2, 54; mahāsenaguttaṭṭhāna the position of a generalissimo J. V, 115. —nāyaka a general Vin. I, 73. —pacca the position as general Mhvs 38, 81. —pati a general Vin. I, 233 sq.; Sn. 556; A. III, 38; IV, 79; J. I, 133; IV, 43; dhamma-° a general of the Dhamma Miln. 343; DhA. III, 305. —patika a general A. III, 76, 78, 300. —byūha massing of troops, grouping & fitting up an army Vin. IV, 107; D. I, 6; Ps. II, 213; DA. I, 85 (-vyūha). (Page 723)

— or —

1) Sena, ² (Sk. śyena) a hawk J. I, 273; II, 51, 60; DhA. II, 267. (Page 723)

2) Sena, ¹ (=sayana) lying, sleeping; couch, bed J. V, 96 (=sayana). (Page 723)

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

śēṇa (शेण).—n Dung of a bull, bullock, cow, or buffalo. Pr. śēṇa paḍalēṃ asatāṃ mātī ghēūna uṭhatēṃ. 2 Applied, with reference to the quality of softness and squashiness, to rotting fruits, flowers, leaves &c. 3 f A piece of cowdung, whether a cake formed through mashing, kneading, and drying, or a lump as lying on the ground. śēṇa as n denotes the material, śēṇa as f signifies a bit of it. śēṇa khāṇēṃ (To eat cowdung.) A phrase constantly in the mouth of the people concerning a person whom it is designed to revile as idling and dawdling, or as doing some foolish or fruitless action, or as making some nonsensical or irrelevant observations. See kēḷēṃ khāṇēṃ.

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śēna (शेन).—m (śyēna S) A hawk. śēnī f (śyēnī S) A female hawk.

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śēna (शेन).—ind A vulgar expletive explained under śī.

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sēnā (सेना).—f (S) An army, a force, a body of troops.

śēṇa (शेण).—n Dung of a cow, &c. f Piece of cowdung.

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śēna (शेन).—m A hawk.

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sēnā (सेना).—f An army, a force, a body of troops.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Sena (सेन).—a. Having a lord, possessing a master or leader.

-nam The body.

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Senā (सेना).—[si-na, saha inena prabhuṇā vā Uṇ. 3.1]

1) An army; सेना परिच्छदस्तस्य द्वयमेवार्थसाधनम् (senā paricchadastasya dvayamevārthasādhanam) R.1.19.

2) Army personified as the wife of Kārtikeya, the god of war; cf. देवसेना (devasenā).

3) A small army (consisting of 3 elephants, 3 chariots, 9 horse and 15 foot).

4) Any body of men.

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