Shakuna, Śakuna, Sakuṇa, Sakuna, Śākuna, Śākuṇa: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Shakuna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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 Śakuna and Śākuna and Śākuṇa can be transliterated into English as Sakuna or Shakuna, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Shakun.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaŚakuna (शकुन).—(omens) General. In ancient times people in all countries used to consider Śakunas to be harbingers of good or evil things. Today also many people believe in omens. In India Śakuna had developed as a science even in olden days. A general description about omens, good and bad, according to the Indian concept, is given below. (See full article at Story of Śakuna from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Śakuna (शकुन).—An Asura follower of Hiraṇyakaśipu, and a son of Hiraṇyākṣa.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VII. 2. 5 and 18; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 5. 30; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 14; Vāyu-purāṇa 67. 67; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 21. 3.
1b) A Pṛthuka god.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 73.
2) Śākuna (शाकुन).—The flesh of the parrot for śrāddha.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 17. 31.
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)
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraŚākuna (शाकुन, “birds”).—Description of a women of bird (śākuna) type;—A woman who has a very large mouth, energetic character, loves streams, enjoys spirituous liquor and milk, has many offsprings, likes fruits, is always given to breathing and is always fond of gardens and forests, is very fickle and talkative, is said to possess the nature of a bird (śākuna or patatrin).
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraŚakuna (शकुन) refers to the “(interpretation of) omens”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “We shall now proceed to give a brief description of (the qualifications of) a jyotiṣaka. [...] He must be able to interpret the language and gestures of fighting men and the like; he must be learned in the Ṣaḍguṇa and Upāya policies; he must be able to predict the success or failure of an undertaking; he must be able to interpret omens [i.e., śakuna]; he must have a knowledge of favourable halting places for the king’s army; he must be able to interpret the colour of ceremonial fires; he must know when to employ the ministers, spies, messengers and forest men; he must be able to give directions touching the captures of the enemy’s fortress”.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)1) Śakuna (शकुन) (Cf. Nimitta) refers to “omens”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “Next, I shall, as told before, teach the characteristics of extraneous substances, which exist beneath the site and cause calamities to people. When the site, which has been made square, is being divided with cords, [the officiant] who has knowledge of divisions of the site should investigate extraneous substances by omens, etc. (śakuna—śakunādibhiḥ) [...]”.
2) Śakuna (शकुन) refers to a “bird”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “If a bird (śakuna) sings sweetly in an auspicious direction, then [the officiant] should prognosticate a treasure there”.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraŚākuna (शाकुन) refers to the “auspicious” (words and day), according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 19.110-113, while describing the king’s consecration]—“[...] When [he has] perfected [the king] through the nīrājana rite, O beloved, the Mantrin, in order to protect and with an eager mind focused on the fire, anoints many [male] goats to satisfy the spirit community [such as the Mātṛs, Yoginīs, and deities]. Once he knows the auspicious words and day (śākuna-ukti-aṃśa-gati), then he goes forth in three directions [north, northeast, and west], conferring siddhi to all”.
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and SubjectsŚakuna (शकुन, ‘bird’) is mentioned frequently in the Rigveda and later. It usually denotes a large bird, or a bird which gives omens. Zimmer compares kvkvos, which also is a bird of omen.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism1) Śakuna (शकुन) is the name of a Garuḍa mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Śakuna).
2) Śakuna (शकुन) is also the name of a Rāśi (zodiac sign) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.
Source: BDK Tripiṭaka: The Susiddhikara-sūtraŚakuna (शकुन) refers to one of the various types of cakes mentioned in Chapter 12 (“offering food”) of the Susiddhikara-sūtra. Accordingly, “Offer [viz., śakuna cakes], [...]. Cakes such as the above are either made with granular sugar or made by mixing in ghee or sesamum oil. As before, take them in accordance with the family in question and use them as offerings; if you offer them up as prescribed, you will quickly gain success. [...]”.
When you wish to offer food [viz., śakuna cakes], first cleanse the ground, sprinkle scented water all around, spread out on the ground leaves that have been washed clean, such as lotus leaves, palāśa (dhak) leaves, and leaves from lactescent trees, or new cotton cloth, and then set down the oblatory dishes. [...] First smear and sprinkle the ground and then spread the leaves; wash your hands clean, rinse out your mouth several times, swallow some water, and then you should set down the food [viz., śakuna]. [...]
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)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraŚakunā (शकुना) is the wife of the Brāhman Agnimukha from Potanapura, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.8 [The abandonment of Sītā] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, as Muni Deśabhūṣaṇa narrated to Rāma: “[...] After Dhana [i.e., incarnation of Vinoda] had wandered through worldly existence, he became the son, Mṛdumati, of the Brāhman Agnimukha and his wife Śakunā in Potanapura. Expelled from the house by his father because of bad behavior, he became a gambler accomplished in all the arts and went home again. [...]”.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarysakuṇa : (m.) a bird.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionarySakuṇa, (Vedic śakuna) a bird (esp. with ref. to augury) D. I, 71 (pakkhin+); Vin. III, 147; S. I, 197; A. II, 209; III, 241 sq. , 368; J. II, 111, 162 (Kandagala); KhA 241. pantha° see under pantha.—f. sakuṇī S. I, 44. adj. sakuṇa J. V, 503 (maṃsa).
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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryśakuna (शकुन).—m n (S) An omen, a prodigy, a portent, a prognostic generally. Pr. ēkā nākēṃ bahu śiṅkā sahadēva mhaṇē śakuna nikā. 2 The point or matter upon which an astrologer &c. is consulted and required to foreshow futurity. 3 The oracle or response delivered. 4 A sort of hymn sung to solicit favorable events.
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śakūna (शकून).—m ( A) A word, speech, utterance. śakunānta asaṇēṃ-cālaṇēṃ-vāgaṇēṃ To be obedient to the command or word of. śakūna ghēṇēṃ g. of o. To speak with; to hold intercourse with. Neg. con. It resembles vārā na ghēṇēṃ &c. 2 To listen to the counsel or suggestion of.
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sakūna (सकून).—n Corr. from śakuna
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśakuna (शकुन).—m n An omen. The oracle deli- vered.
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śakūna (शकून).—m A word, speech, utterance.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚakuna (शकुन).—[śak-unan Uṇādi-sūtra 3.49]
1) A bird (in general); केनेदृशी जातु परा हि दृष्टा वागुच्यमाना शकुनेन संस्कृता (kenedṛśī jātu parā hi dṛṣṭā vāgucyamānā śakunena saṃskṛtā) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3. 197.11; शकुनोच्छिष्टम् (śakunocchiṣṭam) Y.1.168.
2) A kind of bird, a vulture or kite.
3) A kind of song (sung at festivals).
-nam 1 An omen, a prognostic, any omen presaging good or evil, अशकुनेन स्खलितः किलेतरोऽपि (aśakunena skhalitaḥ kiletaro'pi) Śiśupālavadha 9.83.
2) An auspicious omen.
Derivable forms: śakunaḥ (शकुनः).
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Śākuṇa (शाकुण).—a. (-ṇī f.)
1) Repentent.
2) Afflicting others (paratāpaka).
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Śākuna (शाकुन).—(-nī f.) [śakuna-aṇ]
1) Relating to birds; शाकुनेनाथ पञ्च वै (śākunenātha pañca vai) (pitaraḥ prīyante) Manusmṛti 3.268.
2) Relating to omens.
3) Ominous.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryŚakuna (शकुन).—name of a cakravartin king, father of Kuśa (2): Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.99.10; later called regularly Mahāśakuni, q.v.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚakuna (शकुन).—m.
(-naḥ) 1. A bird in general. 2. A kind of bird, either the Indian vulture or the common kite, (Falco cheela;) it is also applied to the pondicherry eagle, (Falco ponticeriana.) 3. A sort of hymn or song, sung at festivals to solicit or secure lucky events. n. (-na) Any lucky or inauspicious object or omen. E. śak to be able, unan Unadi aff.
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Śākuṇa (शाकुण).—mfn.
(-ṇaḥ-ṇī-ṇaṃ) Repentant, regretting. E. śaka-vā0 uṇan .
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Śākuna (शाकुन).—mfn.
(-naḥ-nī-naṃ) 1. Of or relating to birds. 2. Ominous, portentous. E. śakuna, aṇ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚakuna (शकुन).—[śak + una] (or rather śak + van + a, cf. śakunta), I. m. A bird, [Nala] 9, 12. Ii. n. An omen; a. auspicious, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 43, 5; b. inauspicious, [Pañcatantra] 52, 11 (kiṃ śakunakāranaṃ kiṃ cit saṃjātam, Has something come to pass caused by a bird, or by an inauspicious omen, i. e. has there happened a misfortune?).
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Śākuna (शाकुन).—i. e. śakuna + a, adj. 1. Of or relating to birds. [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 268. 2. Portentous.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚakuna (शकुन).—[masculine] bird ([especially] of large birds & such as give an omen).
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Śākuna (शाकुन).—[feminine] ī relating to birds, bird-like; [masculine] bird-catcher.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Śākuna (शाकुन) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—by Vasantarāja. Io. 1849. 2186. W. p. 267. 268. L. 535. K. 242. Kh. Vi. B. 4, 192. Ben. 26. Bik. 347 (and—[commentary]). Kāṭm. 11. Rādh. 34 (and—[commentary]). 35 (and—[commentary]). Oudh. X, 10. Np. V, 2 (and—[commentary]). Ix, 50. P. 15. Poona. 314. H. 329. Peters. 1, 119. Quoted by Mallinātha Oxf. 113^b, in Śākuna Oxf. 399^b, by Raghunātha, in Mārtaṇḍavallabhā and Muhūrtacintāmaṇiṭīkā.
—[commentary] by Bhānucandra. L. 1939. Oudh. Xvii, 34 (by Bhavacandra). Xix, 68 (Bhavacandra). Sb. 281.
Śākuna has the following synonyms: Śakunārṇava, Śakunaśāstra.
2) Śākuna (शाकुन):—by Vasantarāja. See Śakunārṇava.
3) Śakuna (शकुन):—from the Rudrayāmala. Stein 236.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śakuna (शकुन):—m. (said to be [from] √śak, [Uṇādi-sūtra iii, 49]) a bird ([especially] a large bird or one of good or bad omen), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
2) a [particular] kind of bird (either = gridhra, a vulture, or = cilla, a common kite or Pondicherry eagle), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) a kind of Brāhman (vipra-bheda), [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
4) a sort of hymn or song (sung at festivals to secure good fortune), [Horace H. Wilson]
5) (with vasiṣṭhasya) Name of a Sāman, [Ārṣeya-brāhmaṇa]
6) Name of an Asura, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
7) [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata; Buddhist literature]
8) n. any auspicious object or lucky omen, an omen or prognostic (in general; rarely ‘an inauspicious omen’), [Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara; Pañcatantra]
9) mfn. indicating good luck, auspicious, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
10) Śākuna (शाकुन):—1. śākuna mfn. = parottāpin, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (‘repentant’, ‘regretful’ [Horace H. Wilson])
11) 2. śākuna mf(ī)n. ([from] śakuna) derived from or relating to birds or omens, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
12) having the nature of a bird, [Caraka]
13) ominous, portentous, [Horace H. Wilson]
14) m. a bird-catcher, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
15) augury, omen, [ib.; Rāmāyaṇa]
16) Name of [work] by Vasanta-rāja (= śakunarṇava q.v.)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śakuna (शकुन):—(naḥ) 1. m. A bird in general, eagle or kite; a kind of song for good luck. n. Any lucky omen.
2) Śākuṇa (शाकुण):—[(ṇaḥ-ṇī-ṇaṃ) a.] Repentant, regretting.
3) Śākuna (शाकुन):—[(naḥ-nī-naṃ) a.] Of bird; ominous.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śakuna (शकुन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sauṇa.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Śakuna (शकुन) [Also spelled shakun]:—(nm) an omen, augury; -[vicāra/vidyā] augury; -[śāstra] the science of omens; —[ānā/jānā] receiving/sending of auspicious articles on happy occasions (like marriage etc.); —[karanā] to commence (a work etc.) at an auspicious moment; to perform an engagement-ritual; —[dekhanā/nikālanā/vicāranā] to look for a good omen; to look for an auspicious conjunction of planets; to practise augury.
2) Sakuna (सकुन):—(nm) see [śakuna].
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚakuna (ಶಕುನ):—
1) [noun] a bird (esp. the one of good or bad omen).
2) [noun] a thing or happening supposed to foretell a future event, either good or evil; an omen.
3) [noun] something that leads out of a perplexity or helps to solve a problem or mystery; a clue.
4) [noun] knowledge of augury.
5) [noun] ಶಕುನದ ಹಕ್ಕಿ [shakunada hakki] śakunada hakki a kind of bird ( = small owl) supposed to give indication of what will happen in future.
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Śākuna (ಶಾಕುನ):—
1) [adjective] derived from or relating to birds.
2) [adjective] relating to, interpreteded based on, omens.
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Śākuna (ಶಾಕುನ):—[noun] that which is foretold based on a omen or omens; prediction; prophecy.
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Sakuṇa (ಸಕುಣ):—[noun] = ಸಕುನ [sakuna].
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Sakuna (ಸಕುನ):—
1) [noun] knowledge of augury.
2) [noun] a kind of bird ( = small owl) supposed to give indication of what will happen in future.
3) [noun] a thing or happening supposed to foretell a future event, either good or evil; an omen.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+9): Sakuṇaka, Shakunadevata, Shakunadhishthatri, Shakunadipaka, Shakunadipika, Shakunadvara, Shakunagantha, Shakunahrit, Shakunahrita, Shakunajna, Shakunajnana, Shakunamsha, Shakunapariksha, Shakunapattra, Shakunapradipa, Shakunaratnavali, Shakunarnava, Shakunarutajnana, Shakunasaroddhara, Shakunasha.
Ends with (+1): Apashakuna, Ashakuna, Avashakuna, Bhulingashakuna, Duhshakuna, Dushshakuna, Gaulishakuna, Hakkishakuna, Hallishakuna, Mahashakuna, Mulashakuna, Pallishakuna, Pallisharatakakabhasadishakuna, Pancapakshishakuna, Punyashakuna, Pushpashakuna, Sarvashakuna, Shrigalashakuna, Shubhashakuna, Sushakuna.
Full-text (+92): Shakunika, Shakunajna, Shakunashastra, Shakunajnana, Sakuṇaka, Ashakuna, Shakunasaroddhara, Shakunta, Shakunin, Apashakuna, Shakunavidya, Shakunarnava, Shakunopadesha, Shakunti, Punyashakuna, Mulashakuna, Shakuni, Shakunahrita, Sakunavakki, Shakunavicara.
Relevant text
Search found 29 books and stories containing Shakuna, Śakuna, Sakuṇa, Sakuna, Śākuna, Śakūna, Sakūna, Śākuṇa; (plurals include: Shakunas, Śakunas, Sakuṇas, Sakunas, Śākunas, Śakūnas, Sakūnas, Śākuṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Chapter 86 - Omens (1): General rules (śākuna)
Chapter 96 - Omens (11): Supplementary to omens (śākuna-uttara)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.3.6 < [Chapter 3 - Akrūra’s Arrival]
Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)
Commentary on Biography of the thera Tiṇasantharadāyaka < [Chapter 8 - Nagasamālavagga (section on Nagasamāla)]
Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas (by Goswami Mitali)
Part 28 - Vena (the solar god) < [Chapter 2 - Salient Traits of the Solar Divinities in the Veda]
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