Shanka, Śaṅkā, Saṅkā, Sanka, Samka: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Shanka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 term Śaṅkā can be transliterated into English as Sanka or Shanka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraŚaṅkā (शङ्का, “apprehension”).—One of the thirty-three ‘transitory states’ (vyabhicāribhāva), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 7. These ‘transitory states’ accompany the ‘permanent state’ in co-operation. The term is used throughout nāṭyaśāstra literature. (Also see the Daśarūpa 4.8-9)
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraŚaṅkā (शङ्का, “apprehension”) has doubt as its basis, and it relates to women and persons of the inferior type. It is caused by determinants (vibhāva) such as theft, giving offence to the king and the like. It is to be represented on the stage by consequents (anubhāva) such as constantly looking on, hesitating movement (avakuṇṭhana), dryness of the mouth, licking the lips, change of facial colour, tremor, dry lips, loss of voice and the like.
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).
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryŚaṅkā (शङ्क, “doubt”).—A vyabhicāri-bhāva.
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Śaṅkā (शङ्का) refers to “having suspected”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] Sages address you as the destroyer of darkness, the bestower of delight, yielding the immortal nectar to all those who remember you. They address you as the ever-risen one with no possibility of rising and setting, as the underlying digit of the moon never suspected to have a stain (akalaṅka-śaṅkā)”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Jaina YogaŚaṅka (शङ्क, “doubt”) refers to an aspect of samyaktva (right belief) classified under the aticāra heading, according to various Jain authors. Siddhasena Gaṇin and Haribhadra (Yogaśāstra 2.17) consider śaṅka to be doubt in respect of the padārthas of the Jaina creed; this may be either partial when, for example, one padārtha is called in question, or total when the whole structure of Jaina belief is challenged. Total doubt (sarva-viṣaya-śaṅka) is virtually the same as mithyātva. This interpretation of śaṅka as ‘doubt’ is given by all writers, Śvetāmbara and Digambara.
The aticāras of samyaktva (e.g., Śaṅka) may virtually, if the fourth and fifth of them which are closely related are merged together, be equated with the first four doṣas. Both aticāras and doṣas represent the negation of the aṅgas. Pūjyapāda holds that it is in any event unnecessary to have eight aticāras corresponding to the eight aṅgas as the fourth and fifth—para-pāṣaṇḍi-praśaṃsā and para-pāṣaṇḍi-saṃstava—are elastic and comprehensive.
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraŚaṅkā (शङ्का) refers to “(the faults of) doubt”, according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “[...] Vajranābha acquired strong Tirthakṛt-body-making and family-karma by the twenty sthānakas as follows:—[...] The ninth [sthānaka] is right-belief, free from the faults of doubt, etc. [viz., śaṅkā], adorned with the qualities of firmness, etc., characterized by tranquillity, etc. [...]”.
Note: The faults of right belief in addition to doubt (śaṅkā) are: acceptance of other doctrines (kāṅkṣā); hate of the Tīrthaṅkaras’ speech (vicikitsā); praise of false doctrine (mithyadṛṣtipraśaṃsana); acquaintance with false doctrine (°saṃstava). Yogaśāstra 2.17.
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: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionarySaṅkā, (f.) (fr. śaṅk: see saṅkati) doubt, uncertainty, fear (cp. visaṅka) J. VI, 158; DhA. III, 485. (Page 662)
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 Dictionaryśaṅkā (शंका).—f (S) Fear or apprehension; diffidence or doubt; a misgiving or scruple; want or absence of assurance, conviction, or satisfaction. 2 An objection started or a question proposed (esp. in disputations). v ghē, kara. śaṅkā ghēṇēṃ To take shame on account of. śaṅkā dharaṇēṃ g. of o. To hold or to conceive apprehension, fear, or awe of. Ex. lajjāvatī phāra tathāpi tyācī śaṅkā na sītā dharī hō pityācī.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśaṅkā (शंका).—f Doubt. Fear. An objection started. śaṅkā ghēṇēṃ Take shame on account of. śaṅkā dharaṇēṃ Hold or conceive apprehension, fear of.
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sāṅkā (सांका).—m A mixture of copper and inferior gold.
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 dictionaryŚaṅkā (शङ्का).—[śaṅk-a]
1) Doubt, uncertainty.
2) Hesitation, scruple.
3) Suspicion, distrust, misgiving; अपाय- शङ्का (apāya- śaṅkā); अरिष्टशङ्का (ariṣṭaśaṅkā) &c.
4) Fear, apprehension, dread, alarm; जातशङ्कैर्देवैर्मेनका नामाप्सराः प्रेषिता (jātaśaṅkairdevairmenakā nāmāpsarāḥ preṣitā) Ś.1; कैकेयीशङ्कये- वाह (kaikeyīśaṅkaye- vāha) R.12.2;13.42; Me.71.
5) Hope, expectation.
6) (Mistaken) belief, suspicion, (wrong) impression; स्रजमपि शिरस्यन्धः क्षिप्तां धुनोत्यहिशङ्कया (srajamapi śirasyandhaḥ kṣiptāṃ dhunotyahiśaṅkayā) Ś.7.24; कुर्वन् वधू- जनमनःसु शशाङ्कशङ्काम् (kurvan vadhū- janamanaḥsu śaśāṅkaśaṅkām) Ki.5.42; हरिततृणोद्गमशङ्कया (haritatṛṇodgamaśaṅkayā) 5.38.
7) An objection started in disputation.
8) Presumption.
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Śaṅka (शङ्क).—A draught-ox.
Derivable forms: śaṅkaḥ (शङ्कः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaṅka (शङ्क).—m.
(-ṅkaḥ) A draft-ox. f.
(-ṅkā) 1. Fear, terror, apprehension. 2. Doubt, uncertainty. 3. An objection started in disputation. 4. Suspicion, expectation. 5. Belief, understanding, impression. 6. A species of the Dandaka metre. E. śaki to fear, affs. aṅ and ṭāp .
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Śāṅka (शाङ्क).—n.
(-ṅkaṃ) The sound of the conch-shell. E. śaṅkaṃ the shell, aṇ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaṅkā (शङ्का).—[śaṅk + ā], f. 1. Doubt, uncertainty, [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in
Śaṅkā (शङ्का).—[feminine] hesitation, doubt, suspicion, fear of ([ablative], [locative], prati, or —°); supposition, conjecture, the taking for (—°).
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Saṅkā (सङ्का).—[feminine] combat, fight.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śaṅka (शङ्क):—[from śaṅk] 1. śaṅka m. (for 2. See below) fear, doubt (See [compound])
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a king, [Buddhist literature] (cf. śaṅkana)
3) Śaṅkā (शङ्का):—[from śaṅka > śaṅk] a f. See below.
4) [from śaṅk] b f. (ifc. f(ā). ) apprehension, care, alarm, fear, distrust, suspicion of ([ablative] [locative case], or prati with [accusative], or [compound]; brahma-hatyā-kṛtā śaṅkā, ‘the fear of having committed the murder of a Brāhman’ [Rāmāyaṇa]; pāpa-śaṅkā na katavyā, ‘no evil is to be suspected’ [Kathāsaritsāgara]), [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc.
5) [v.s. ...] doubt, uncertainty, hesitation, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
6) [v.s. ...] (ifc.) belief. supposition, presumption (of or that any person or thing is-), [ib.]
7) [v.s. ...] a subject started in disputation, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
8) [v.s. ...] a species of the Daṇḍaka metre, [Horace H. Wilson]
9) Śaṅka (शङ्क):—2. śaṅka m. a bull, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚaṅka (शङ्क):—(ṅkaḥ) 1. m. A draft ox. 1. f. Fear, terror; doubt; a metre.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śaṅkā (शङ्का) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Saṃkā.
[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 dictionaryShanka in Hindi refers in English to:—(nf) doubt; suspicion; mistrust; ~[kula] perturbed by doubt/mistrust, suspicious, mistrustful; ~[janaka] creating or raising suspicion/doubt/mistrust; suspicious; -[nivarana/nivritti] allaying: of suspicion, clearing or removing a doubt; ~[nvita/maya] filled with doubt/mistrust/suspicion; ~[shila] suspicious (by nature), of suspicious disposition; ~[shilata] suspiciousness, suspicious disposition; -[samadhana] setting a doubt at rest, allaying suspicion/mistrust; ~[spada] doubtful, questionable, fit to be doubted/spected/distrusted..—shanka (शंका) is alternatively transliterated as Śaṃkā.
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Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Saṃka (संक) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Śaṅk.
2) Saṃkā (संका) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Śaṅkā.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+123): Sankala, Sankara-dhana, Sankara-kuta, Sankara-thana, Sankata, Shamkahulle, Shamkakari, Shamkakule, Shamkakulita, Shamkakulite, Shamkarabharana, Shamkaragamda, Shamkarakatha, Shamkarananda, Shamkarapale, Shamkarapali, Shamkarapoli, Shamkarashrama, Shamkaravijayam, Shamkatala.
Ends with (+28): Abhishanka, Anatishanka, Anishtashanka, Apashanka, Asanka, Atishanka, Avishanka, Baddhashanka, Balamurishamka, Bhishanka, Dashanka, Dirghashanka, Durashanka, Garbhashanka, Gatashanka, Govrishanka, Jhashanka, Laghushanka, Lakshanka, Macchakshanka.
Full-text (+76): Visanka, Vitashanka, Nihshanka, Apashanka, Shankanvita, Shankaspada, Asanka, Apashankam, Shankahina, Shankamaya, Pratishanka, Shashanka, Shankabhiyoga, Mritashanka, Anishtashanka, Sankayati, Parisanka, Atishanka, Samka, Ashankanvita.
Relevant text
Search found 27 books and stories containing Shanka, Śaṅkā, Saṅkā, Sanka, Śaṅka, Sāṅkā, Śāṅka, Samka, Saṃka, Saṅka, Saṃkā; (plurals include: Shankas, Śaṅkās, Saṅkās, Sankas, Śaṅkas, Sāṅkās, Śāṅkas, Samkas, Saṃkas, Saṅkas, Saṃkās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.2.70 < [Part 2 - Affection and Service (dāsya-rasa)]
Verse 2.4.6 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]
Verse 4.6.11 < [Part 5 - Dread (bhayānaka-rasa)]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 6.75.5 < [Sukta 75]
Early Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Part II, Bronzes < [Chapter XI - Sculpture]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.2.59 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]
The Tattvasangraha [with commentary] (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2441-2442 < [Chapter 24b - Arguments against the reliability of the Veda (the Revealed Word)]
Verse 3018 < [Chapter 25 - Examination of the Doctrine of ‘Self-sufficient Validity’]
Verse 2932-2934 < [Chapter 25 - Examination of the Doctrine of ‘Self-sufficient Validity’]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 7.23 - The five transgressions of the right-believer (samyagdṛṣṭi) < [Chapter 7 - The Five Vows]
Verse 9.14 - The afflictions caused by the faith-deluding and obstructive karmas < [Chapter 9 - Stoppage and Shedding of Karmas]