Shaiksha, Śaikṣa: 9 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Shaiksha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Śaikṣa can be transliterated into English as Saiksa or Shaiksha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraŚaikṣa (शैक्ष) refers to an “aspirant”according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VI). Accordingly, “what is an aspirant (śaikṣa) and what is a person who has experienced the truth (saṃkhyāta-dharma)? That which arises… that which arises must also perish. He who practices the teaching of the arising and the destruction of the conditioned (saṃskṛta) is called Śaikṣa. But the one who has found the teaching of the non-production of things (anutpāda-dharma) by means of wisdom is called Saṃkhyātadharma”.

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
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 9: Influx of karmasŚaikṣa (शैक्ष).—One of the ten types of ‘nursing services’ (vaiyāvrata)? Who is a ‘disciple’ (śaikṣa)? A person who is a willing learner and practiser of the Jain canonical texts is called disciple.

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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚaikṣa (शैक्ष).—[śikṣāṃ vettyadhīte vā aṇ]
1) A student who studies Śikṣā or the science of pronunciation, one who has just entered upon the study of the Vedas.
2) (Hence) A novice, tyro. -a. Well familiar with the studies or sciences; expert; Mb.6.97.28 (com. śaikṣaṃ śastrādiśikṣā- saṃpannam).
Derivable forms: śaikṣaḥ (शैक्षः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryŚaikṣa (शैक्ष).—(1) m. (= Pali sek(k)ha; see Childers s.v.; compare śaiṣya and aśaikṣa), one who is undergoing training; a disciple (in one of the first seven stages of religious discipline; the 8th is the aśaikṣa or arhant; list Dharmasaṃgraha 102); in mss. sometimes (erroneously?) written śaiṣya (by confusion with śiṣya), q.v.: Mahāvyutpatti 1733; 5238 (read with Mironov śaikṣābhinikūjitam); Ānanda was a śaikṣa, Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 2.8; śaikṣa-bhūmi, stage of a ś°, Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 70.13; Mahāvastu i.106.15 (mss. śaikṣā°); others Mahāvastu i.142.5; 158.7; 267.20; 292.7; iii.53.8; 200.15; Divyāvadāna 399.24; dvandva [compound] śaikṣāśaikṣa, śaikṣas and aśaikṣas, Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 2.9; 71.1; 215.9; in Lalitavistara 327.4 (verse) read (m.c.) śaikṣa-aśaikṣa- (as [compound]; mss. śaikṣa- śaikṣa- or śaiṣyāśaiṣya-; Lefm. em. śaikṣya-aśaikṣya-!); Lalitavistara 427.11; Mahāvastu i.120.1; Divyāvadāna 261.5 (most mss. śaikṣa-ś°); 337.26; Avadāna-śataka i.335.1; śaikṣa-aśaikṣa-(as [compound], m.c.) Bhadracarī 9; śaikṣāśaikṣa-tā state of ś. and aś. Daśabhūmikasūtra 70.1; fem. śaik- ṣāśaikṣībhir bhikṣuṇībhiḥ Avadāna-śataka i.269.7; separate words, śaikṣā aśaikṣa Lalitavistara 46.5 (verse); (2) adj. (= Pali sekhiya), with dharma, (rule) of good behavior, orig. doubtless for learners, but applied to all monks; they are minor rules of etiquette, 75 in number in Pali, 113 in [Prātimokṣasūtra des Sarvāstivādins]: °kṣa- dharmāḥ Mahāvyutpatti 8362; °kṣā dharmāḥ [Prātimokṣasūtra des Sarvāstivādins] 527.6. Cf. also naivaśaikṣanāśaikṣa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaikṣa (शैक्ष).—m.
(-kṣaḥ) A young Brahman in his noviciate, one who has begun to read the Vedas. E. śikṣā the pronunciation of the language of the Vedas, aṇ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaikṣa (शैक्ष).—[masculine] beginning student, beginner.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śaikṣa (शैक्ष):—mf(ī)n. ([from] śikṣā) in accordance with right teaching or with rule, correct, [Mahābhārata]
2) m. a young Brāhman pupil studying with his preceptor, one who has recently begun to repeat the Veda, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaikṣa (शैक्ष):—(kṣaḥ) 1. m. A young brāhman in his noviciate.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Shaikshaka.
Ends with: Ashaiksha, Naivashaikshanashaiksha.
Full-text (+33): Shaikshya, Ashaiksha, Shaikshaka, Anathapindada, Naivashaikshanashaiksha, Shaikshyagunakrama, Shaikshika, Prathamakalpika, Sphotakam, Samkhyatadharma, Shaishya, Aryapungala, Shekheti, Vasibhuta, Shekhayati, Sattvalambana, Vidangika, Ananda, Laukikagradharma, Suvimuktacitta.
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Search found 7 books and stories containing Shaiksha, Śaikṣa, Saiksa; (plurals include: Shaikshas, Śaikṣas, Saiksas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 7 - Why Ānanda is not an arhat < [Chapter VI - The Great Bhikṣu Saṃgha]
The Śāriputra-siṃhanāda-sūtra < [Part 2 - Understanding dharmatā and its synonyms]
1. Prajñā of the śrāvakas < [Part 2 - Prajñā and the prajñās]
Abhidharmakośa (by Vasubandhu)
The Bhikkhus Rules (by Bhikkhu Ariyesako)
Etiquette < [Chapter 5 - Miscellaneous]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Appendix 2.3: new and rare words < [Appendices]
Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)
Chapter 3 - Country of Fei-she-li (Vaishali) < [Book VII - Five Countries]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)