Shankara, Saṅkāra, Saṅkara, Śāṃkara, Śaṅkara, Śaṃkara, Śāṅkara, Saṃkāra, Saṃkara, Sham-kara: 38 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
2. General definition
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
See also

Introduction:

Shankara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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 Śāṃkara and Śaṅkara and Śaṃkara and Śāṅkara can be transliterated into English as Samkara or Shamkara or Sankara or Shankara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Shankar.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Vedanta (school of philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Bhāmatī and Vivaraṇa Schools of Advaita Vedānta

Born in Kāladi in C. 788 A.D., Śaṅkara was a “child-prodigy”. Son of Śivaguru and Āryāmbā (or Satī Mādhavīyā or Viśiṣṭā), Śaṅkara not only performed miracles in his early age, but even used his charisma to influence his mother to allow him to take sudden renunciation i.e., āpat-saṃnyāsa’, at the early age of six or seven, to become a pupil of Govindapāda. This early phase of his life culminated in the composition by him (at the age of twelve) of his famous commentary on the Brahma-Sūtra, the Śārīraka-bhāṣya or Brahma-sūtra-bhāṣya, which continues till date to pose a challenge even to the most articulate among the intellectuals of the world over.

Source: archive.org: Preceptors of Advaita

Śrī Śaṅkara, the greatest expounder of Advaita Vedanta is reputed to have flourished between 788 and 820 A.D. This date cannot be regarded as finally settled and a large number of Indian scholars bring down his date to the first or second century A.D. or B.C. However, the latter part of the eighth century has been accepted by thinkers as the most probable date.

context information

Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Third of the eleven emanations of Rudra (ekādaśa-rudra), according to the Aṃśumadbhedāgama and the Śilparatna. The images of this aspects of Śiva should have three eyes, four arms, jaṭāmakuṭas and be of white colour. It should be draped also in white clothes and be standing erect (samabhaṅga) on a padmapīṭha. It should be adorned with all ornaments and with garlands composed of all flowers and it should keep their front right hand in the abhaya and the front left hand in the varada poses, while it should carry in the back right hand the paraśu and in the back left hand the mṛga.

Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstra

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) is a Sanskrit name referring to one of the eight manifestations of Unmatta, who is a form of Bhairava. According to the Rudrayāmala, there are eight main forms of Bhairava who control the eight directions of this universe. Each form (e.g., Unmatta) has a further eight sub-manifestations (e.g., Śaṅkara), thus resulting in a total of 64 Bhairavas.

When depicting Śaṅkara according to traditional iconographic rules (śilpaśāstra), one should depcit him (and other forms of Unmatta) having a white color and good looks; he should carry in his hands the kuṇḍa, the kheṭaka, the parigha (a kind of club) and bhiṇḍipāla. The word Śilpaśāstra refers to an ancient Hindu science of arts and crafts, dealing with subjects such as painting, sculpture and iconography.

context information

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) is a Sanskrit word referring to a deity. Acording to the Nāṭyaśāstra 1.88-93, when Brahmā, Indra and all other gods went to inspect the playhouse (nāṭyamaṇḍapa) designed by Viśvakarmā, he assigned different deities for the protection of the playhouse itself, as well as for the objects relating to dramatic performance (prayoga).

As such, Brahmā assigned Śaṅkara to the second section (joint/knot, parva) of the Jarjara (Indra’s banner staf). The protection of the playhouse was enacted because of the jealous Vighnas (malevolent spirits), who began to create terror for the actors.

context information

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).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर).—A synonym of Śiva.

2) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर).—A simpleton, who was killed by his wife. This brahmin had a very mean wife called Kalipriyā. After killing her husband she left the place with her paramour. But, wild animals killed him on their way in the forest. In all repentance Kalipriyā returned home and after worshipping the corpse of her husband she observed Kārttika vrata at the instance of certain women. Thereby she got absolution from sin and attained heaven. (Padma Purāṇa, Brahmakhaṇḍa, Chapter 10).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर).—A name of Śiva; four kalās of;¹ also Śambhu, Umāpati, Sūlapāṇi, Vṛṣabhadhvaja and Hara; fight of, with Kṛṣṇa for Bāṇa; bound by Jṛmbāstra he became disabled; asked Kṛṣṇa to spare the life of Bāṇa.² Also (Śaṃkara)—an epithet of Mahādeva;³ the āśrama of;⁴ approached Vāsudeva to aid him to put down the Asura Andhakas;⁵ remembered Nṛsimha to vanquish the mātṛgaṇa.⁶

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa II. 4. 19; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 9. 90; 13. 62; IV. 35. 97; Vāyu-purāṇa 21. 10; 24. 62. 43. 38; 54. 48; 112. 35; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 9. 2; V. 34. 29.
2) Ib. V. 32. 8; 33. 21.
3) Matsya-purāṇa 154. 235.
4) Ib. 154. 381.
5) Ib. 154. 437, 514; 179. 35.
6) Ib. 179. 54; 180. 20.

1b) A son of Danu.^*

* Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 21. 4.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Śaṃkara (शंकर) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIV.8.14, XIV.8, XIV.8.27, XIV.8) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Śaṃkara) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

1) Śaṃkara (शंकर) refers to one of the sons of Bāṇa or Bāṇāsura: the son of Bali, according to one account of Vaṃśa (‘genealogical description’) of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, Prahlāda’s son was Virocana who was killed by Viṣṇu and his son Bali became the king. He was pious and virtuous and was bound to Pātalā by Viṣṇu. Bāṇāsura was the son of Bali, who was a devotee of Śiva. The Lord gave Bāṇāsura the status of the leader of a Gaṇa. The son’s of Bāṇa were [viz., Śaṃkara].

2) Śaṃkara (शंकर) is the deity to be worshipped in the month Śaṅkara for the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-Vrata, according to the Saurapurāṇa.—Accordingly, the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-vrata is observed in honour of Śiva for acquiring virtue, great fortune, wealth and for destruction of sins [...] This vrata is to be performed for a year from Mārgaśīra.—In the Mārgaśīrṣa, the performer having controlled his sense-organs should brush his teeth with the piece of aśvattha-wood. Taking bath and performing tarpaṇa, should worship Śaṅkara. He should fast for the day and only gomutra (“urine of the cow”) is to be taken as food in the night. By this a person gets the result more than eight times that of atirātra sacrifice.

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) is the Sanskrit name of a deity presiding over Kurucandra, one of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, which is one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas. The list of sixty-eight svāyambhuvaliṅgas and presiding deities (e.g., Śaṅkara) is found in the commentary on the Jirṇoddhāra-daśaka by Nigamajñānadeva. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) or Śaṅkarāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of the Santānāgama which is one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu. The purpose of revealing upāgamas (e.g., Śaṅkara Āgama) is to explain more elaborately than that of mūlāgamas (e.g., Santāna-āgama) and to include any new idea if not dealt in mūlāgamas.

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II) (shaivism)

Śāṅkara (शाङ्कर) is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Śāṅkarī they preside over Vārāṇasī: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the Kubjikāmatatantra. Their weapon is the gadā and their abode is the tāla-tree. A similar system appears in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18).

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.

Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) or Śaṅkararasa is the name of an Ayurvedic recipe defined in the fifth volume of the Rasajalanidhi (chapter 6, Hridroga: heart-diseases). These remedies are classified as Iatrochemistry and form part of the ancient Indian science known as Rasaśāstra (medical alchemy). However, since it is an ayurveda treatment it should be taken with caution and in accordance with rules laid down in the texts.

Accordingly, when using such recipes (e.g., śaṅkara-rasa): “the minerals (uparasa), poisons (viṣa), and other drugs (except herbs), referred to as ingredients of medicines, are to be duly purified and incinerated, as the case may be, in accordance with the processes laid out in the texts.” (see introduction to Iatro chemical medicines)

context information

Rasashastra (रसशास्त्र, rasaśāstra) is an important branch of Ayurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasashastra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) refers to:—A name of Śrī Śiva. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

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’).

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Shodhganga: Bhismacaritam a critical study

Saṅkara (सङ्कर, “commixture”) refers to one of the various Alaṅkāras (‘figures of speech’) classified as Artha (‘sense’), as employed in the Bhīṣmacarita (Bhishma Charitra) which is a mahākāvya (‘epic poem’) written by Hari Narayan Dikshit.—In Bhīṣmacaritam, ‘saṅkara-alaṅkāra’ is found in VII.28 wherein the poet has used two words viz., “uditavīcikarā” and “taṭavihaṅmanādavacāḥ” which are like ornaments of river Yamunā here.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Adi Shankara (788 CE - 820 CE) was an Indian philosopher from Kalady (Kerala) who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedānta. His teachings are based on the unity of the ātman and brahman— non-dual brahman, in which brahman is viewed as nirguna brahman, brahman without attributes.

Source: World Philosophy: Hinduism

Śaṅkara (traditionally 788-820 CE) was the key figure in the Advaita Vedānta school, one of the most influential schools of Indian thought. He adopted much of Nāgārjuna's deconstructive approach, according to which the world as it appears to us is illusion, but took it out of a Buddhist context, instead using it to support the worldview of the Upaniṣads.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) is the name of a Pratyekabuddha 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 Śaṅkara).

context information

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: The Chronological History of Buddhism

During the time of Dharmakirti, Adi Shankara (569-537 BCE) defeated Buddhists in the debate. Taranatha writes; “Inflated with vanity, they entered into debate with Shankaracharya. In this the Buddhists were defeated and, as a result everything belonging to the twenty-five centers of the Doctrine was lost to Tirthikas (Brahmana philosophers) and the centers were deserted. About five hundred Upāsakas (Buddhists) had to enter the path of Tirthikas.”

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) is the name of a Vidyādhara-city, situated on mount Vaitāḍhya (in the northern row), according to chapter 1.3 [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,

“[...] Taking their families and all their retinue and ascending the best of cars, they went to Vaitāḍhya. [...] Ten yojanas above the earth, King Vinami made at once sixty cities in a northern row at the command of the Nāga-king. [viz., Śaṅkara]. Vinami himself, who had resorted to Dharaṇendra, inhabited the city Gaganavallabha, the capital of these. [...] The two rows of Vidyādhara-cities looked very magnificent, as if the Vyantara rows above were reflected below. After making many villages [viz., Śaṅkara] and suburbs, they established communities according to the suitability of place. The communities there were called by the same name as the community from which the men had been brought and put there. [...]”.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 5: The category of the non-living

Saṃkara (संकर, “intermixing”) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 5.38.—What is the meaning of saṃkara-vyatikara? Intermixing is called saṃkara and becoming one after intermixing is called vyatikara.

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

Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions

Śaṃkara (शंकर) is an example of a Śaivite name mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. Classification of personal names according to deities (e.g., from Śaivism) were sometimes used by more than one person and somehow seem to have been popular. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Derivation of personal names (e.g., Śaṃkara) during the rule of the Guptas followed patterns such as tribes, places, rivers and mountains.

Śaṃkara is an example of a name based on some sect (e.g., Buddhist or Jain) mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Saṅkara.—(EI 9), also called saṅkuru; a double sack. Note: saṅkara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

Source: OpenEdition books: Vividhatīrthakalpaḥ (History)

Saṃkara (संकर) is the name of an ancient king, as is mentioned in the Vividhatīrthakalpa by Jinaprabhasūri (13th century A.D.): an ancient text devoted to various Jaina holy places (tīrthas).—Accordingly, “Saṃkara gives twelve villages to pay homage to Ṛṣabha”.

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

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

saṅkara : (adj.) blissful. (m.) blending; mixing. || saṅkāra (m.) rubbish.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

1) Saṅkāra, (fr. saṃ+kṛ) rubbish Vin. I, 48; IV, 265; J. I, 315; II, 196.

2) Saṅkara, ² (adj.) (cp. Sk. śaṅkara) blissful Mhbv 4 (sabba°). (Page 662)

3) Saṅkara, ¹ (fight, confusion) wrongly for saṅgara Nett 149, in quot. fr. M. III, 187. (Page 662)

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

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

śaṅkara (शंकर).—m (S Maker or conferrer of śa or prosperity. ) A name of Shiva. 2 The famous teacher popularly designated śaṅkarācārya q. v.

--- OR ---

śaṅkara (शंकर).—a S Auspicious, propitious, conferring happiness or weal.

--- OR ---

śaṅkarā (शंकरा) [or शंकराभरण, śaṅkarābharaṇa].—m (S) A mode of music. See rāga.

--- OR ---

saṅkara (संकर).—m (S) Confusedly mixing or mingling. 2 Tumultuous intermixture; a medley, farrago, hotchpotch. 3 also saṅkarajāti f (S) A mixed caste or race; a caste proceeding from the promiscuous sexual intercourse of the four tribes in the first instance, and again from their commerce with the descendants of such a connection, or the indiscriminate cohabitation of those descendants amongst one another.

--- OR ---

saṅkarā (संकरा).—m (Or śaṅkarā) A Rag or mode of music. See rāga.

--- OR ---

sāṅkara (सांकर).—m R Straws, sticks, leaves, mud &c. as blocking up any watercourse: also rubbish as deposited or gathered by a stream, alluvium. 2 Phlegm collected in the throat and impeding the voice or utterance.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

śaṅkara (शंकर).—m A name of śiva, the famous teacher popularly designated śaṅkarā- cārya. a Auspicious.

--- OR ---

saṅkara (संकर).—m Confusedly mixing. Tumultuous intermixture, a medley, a hotchpotch.

--- OR ---

saṅkara (संकर).—m saṅkarajāti f A mixed caste or race.

context information

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 dictionary

Śaṃkara (शंकर).—a. (-rā-rī f.) [शं सुखं करोति कृ-अच् (śaṃ sukhaṃ karoti kṛ-ac)] Conferring happiness or prosperity, auspicious, propitious; भीताः शितशराभीताः शंकरं तत्र शंकरम् (bhītāḥ śitaśarābhītāḥ śaṃkaraṃ tatra śaṃkaram) (menire) Ki.15.31.

-raḥ 1 Name of Śiva.

2) Name of a celebrated teacher and author (śaṃkarācārya).

-rī 1 Name of Pārvatī, wife of Śiva.

2) Bengal madder.

3) The Śamī tree.

--- OR ---

Śāṅkara (शाङ्कर).—

1) A bull.

2) A Śaivaite, a devotee of Śaṃkara; प्रतोषिताश्च शाङ्कराः (pratoṣitāśca śāṅkarāḥ) Cholachampu p.24, verse 59.

3) A follower of Śaṃkarāchārya.

Derivable forms: śāṅkaraḥ (शाङ्करः).

--- OR ---

Saṃkāra (संकार).—

1) Dust, sweepings.

2) The crackling of flames.

Derivable forms: saṃkāraḥ (संकारः).

--- OR ---

Saṃkara (संकर).—

1) Commingling, mixture, intermixture; पत्रसंकर (patrasaṃkara) Ś.2.

2) Blending together, union.

3) Confusion or mixture (of castes); unlawful intermarriage resulting in mixed castes; चित्रेषु वर्णसंकरः (citreṣu varṇasaṃkaraḥ) K.; संकरो नरकायैव कुलध्नानां कुलस्य च (saṃkaro narakāyaiva kuladhnānāṃ kulasya ca) Bg.1.42; Ms.1.4.

4) (In Rhet.) The combination of two or more dependent figures of speech in one and the same passage (opp. saṃsṛṣṭi where the figures are independent); अविश्रान्तिजुषामात्मन्यङ्गाङ्गित्वे तु संकरः (aviśrāntijuṣāmātmanyaṅgāṅgitve tu saṃkaraḥ) K.P.1; or अङ्गाङ्गित्वेऽलंकृतीनां तद्वदेकाश्रयस्थितौ । संदिग्धत्वे च भवति संकरस्त्रिविधः पुनः (aṅgāṅgitve'laṃkṛtīnāṃ tadvadekāśrayasthitau | saṃdigdhatve ca bhavati saṃkarastrividhaḥ punaḥ) S. D.757.

5) The crackling of flames जागर्त्येव हि दुष्टात्मा संकरेऽग्निरिवोत्थितः (jāgartyeva hi duṣṭātmā saṃkare'gnirivotthitaḥ) Mb.12.13.12.

6) Dust, sweepings.

7) Dung.

Derivable forms: saṃkaraḥ (संकरः).

--- OR ---

Saṃkāra (संकार).—

1) Dust, sweepings.

2) Crackling of flames.

Derivable forms: saṃkāraḥ (संकारः).

--- OR ---

Śaṃkara (शंकर).—s. v.

Śaṃkara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śam and kara (कर).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Śaṃkara (शंकर).—(1) name of a cakravartin: Mahāvyutpatti 3578; (2) name of a yakṣa: Mahā-Māyūrī 95. See also Śaṃkāra.

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Śaṃkāra (शंकार).—name of a nāga king: Mahāvyutpatti 3255 (so also Mironov; cited in [Boehtlingk and Roth] as Śaṃkara). (śaṃkāra-, (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 131.21, read saṃkāra, q.v.)

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Saṃkāra (संकार).—m. (= Sanskrit Lex. and Pali id.; note Sanskrit Lex. saṃkara, id., but in Caraka dung), (1) primarily, dust, sweepings, refuse, rubbish: Mahāvyutpatti 9313 = Tibetan phyag dar; tayā dārikayā gṛhaṃ saṃmṛjya…°raḥ choritaḥ Divyāvadāna 585.4; °ra-kūṭa (Pali id.), rubbish heap (see 2 below), Divyāvadāna 177.10 (tair hastapādeṣu gṛhītvā °kūṭe kṣipto), 11; [Page545-b+ 71] saṃkārāvakare śukle (read so, or °kara-śukle, for text śaṃkārāpakare śuklaṃ) paṭe…(Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 131.21 (verse), on a cloth pure in regard to sweepings and rubbish (i.e. free from them); lumbinivanaṃ…vyapagatatṛṇa-reṇu-(read khā- ṇu-? see next)-pattra-saṃkāraṃ Mahāvastu i.149.3 (verse); padmini- vanaṃ…(read)apagata-tṛṇa-khāṇu-pattra-saṃkāraṃ i. 215.14 (so mss., except khāṇḍa for khāṇu, q.v.), and read so ii.18.10 lumbinivanaṃ…(mss. °saṃkara, and again khāṇḍa for khāṇu); Senart em. saṃskāraṃ and saṃkhā- raṃ, respectively, for saṃkāraṃ in the last two; (2) seems to mean more specifically dung, perhaps in °ra-kūṭa (compare 1 above), dung-heap, privy(?): so 'medhyasthāneṣv evābhi- ramate saṃkārakūṭe jambāle (mss. jā°) keśāṃl luñcati amedhyaṃ mukhe prakṣipati Avadāna-śataka i.280.5 (? but jambāla simply mud, so perhaps saṃkāra-k° rubbish-heap); and more especially in Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 105.12 ff., 109.2, 113.13 and 114.4 (but Tibetan renders phyag dar thruout), where saṃkāra-dhāna (Pali id.) seems to mean privy: °naṃ śodhayitavyaṃ 105.12; similarly 106.1, 3; dharmān pratyavarān °dhāna- sadṛśān 109.2; °dhānam imu mahya pūtikam uccāra- prasrāva-vināśitaṃ ca 113.13 (verse), especially clear, stinking, foul with dung and urine; 114.4 (verse); (3) perhaps impurity in the sense of pariahhood, outcaste state, expulsion from caste: (vayaṃ tvāṃ) jñātimadhyād utkṣipāmaḥ, saṃkāraṃ pātayāmo Divyāvadāna 273.2, 11; but mss. are not unanimous, and in same phrase 272.24 it is alleged that they read salokānāṃ (! kept in text) for saṃkāraṃ; quite uncertain. Cf. saṃkirati.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śaṅkara (शङ्कर).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Auspicious, propitious, conferring happiness or good fortune. m.

(-raḥ) 1. Siva. 2. The name of a celebrated teacher of the Vedanta philosophy. f. (-rī) 1. Parvati, the wife of Siva. 2. The Sami-tree. 3. Bengal madder. E. śaṃ good fortune, kara making.

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Śaṅkara (शङ्कर).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Formidable, fearful, frightful. E. śaṅku fear, rā to give or cause, aff. ḍa .

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Śāṅkara (शाङ्कर).—m.

(-raḥ) A bull. n.

(-raṃ) A form of metre. E. śaṅkara Siva, and aṇ aff.; also read śākkara .

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Saṅkara (सङ्कर).—m.

(-raḥ) 1. Mixing, blending, confounding. 2. A mixed caste or race, one proceeding from the promiscuous intercourse of the four tribes in the first instance, and again from their commerce with the descendants of such a connection, or the indiscriminate cohabitation of those descendants amongst one another; most Hindus of the present age are of one of the many branches of this race, the highest of which is impure and inferior to the Sudra: under this term two kinds of men are included according to the Ramayana; the one denominated yonisaṅkara, mixed or degraded by birth and the other ācārasaṅkara degraded by conduct. 3. The mixing together of two or more dependent figures of speech in the same passage. 4. Dust, sweepings. 5. The crackling of flame. f. (-rī) A new bride. E. sam before kṝ to scatter, or kṛ to make, aff. ap.

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Saṅkāra (सङ्कार).—m.

(-raḥ) 1. Dust, sweepings. 2. The crackling of flame. f. (-rī) A girl recently deflowered, a new bride, &c. E. sam, kṛ to make, ghañ aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śaṃkara (शंकर).—i. e. śam-kṛ + a, I. adj. 1. Causing happiness, [Padma-Purāṇa, (ed. Wollheim.)] 2, 6. 2. Auspicious. Ii. m. 1. Śiva, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 15408; [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in Chr. 209, 20. 2. A proper name, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 2. ed. 87, 16.

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Saṃkara (संकर).—i. e. sam-kṛ10 + a, m. 1. Mixing, blending, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 377. 2. The union of a man with a woman of a higher caste, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 5, 89; culpable mixture, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 6, 17. 3. A mixed or degraded caste. 4. Dust, sweepings. 5. The crackling of flame.

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Saṃkāra (संकार).—i. e. sam-kṛ10 + a, I. m. 1. Dust, sweepings. 2. The crackling of flame. Ii. f. rī, A girl recently deflowered.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śaṃkara (शंकर).—[feminine] ī causing welfare or happiness; [masculine] [Epithet] of Rudra-Śiva, a man’s name.

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Śāṃkara (शांकर).—[feminine] ī relating to Śiva or Śamkarācārya.

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Saṃkara (संकर).—[masculine] mixture, confusion; [especially] mixture of two figures of speech, or [masculine] of caste by intermarriage.

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Saṃkāra (संकार).—[masculine] sweepings, dust.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—son of Kālidāsa, brother of Hṛdayābharaṇa (Gītagovindatilakottama) and Devadāsa. W. p. 168.

2) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—father of Dāmodara, grandfather of Siddheśvara (Saṃskāramayūkha). W. p. 313.

3) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—father of Śatānanda (Bhāsvatīkaraṇa 1100). Cambr. 48.

4) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—poet. Śp. p. 90 (mentions Bhoja). [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa] Padyāvalī. A Śaṅkara is mentioned in Bhojaprabandha Oxf. 150^b, by Vararuci Oxf. 167^a. These are no doubt different persons. See Skandaskāraśaṅkara.

5) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Adhyātmarāmāyaṇaṭīkā.

6) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—who seems to have written a
—[commentary] on Kātyāyanaśrautasūtra, is quoted by Devabhadra in Prayogasāra L. 756.

7) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Kṛṣṇakarṇāmṛtaṭīkā.

8) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Gāyatrīpuraścaraṇa.

9) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Gorakṣaśatakaṭīkā. Yogasūtraṭīkā.

10) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Jagannāthastotra. Jagannāthāṣṭaka.

11) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—astronomer: Dṛśāsphuṭamālā. Pañcapakṣī.

12) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—pupil of Rāmārya and Govindopādhyāya: Mīmāṃsānayavivekaśaṅkādīpikā.

13) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Rāmāryā kāvya.

14) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—(?): Viśveśvaramāhātmya.

15) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Śāradātilaka bhāṇa.

16) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Sadācāravivaraṇa.

17) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Saṃnyāsapaddhati.

18) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—pupil of Jagannātha: Siddhavidyādīpikā.

19) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Ananta Bhaṭṭa: Vaidyavinoda, written by order of king Rāmasiṃha, son of Jayasiṃha. Śaṅkarākhya med.

20) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Nārada: Mānavaśulbasūtrabhāṣya.

21) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Puṇyākara: Harshacaritasaṃketa.

22) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Ballāla: Tīrthakaumudī. Pratiṣṭhākaumudī. Vratakaumudī. Vratodyāpanakaumudī.

23) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Dīkṣita Bālakṛṣṇa, grandson of Dīkṣita Ḍhuṇḍhirāja, wrote in the latter half of last century: Gaṅgāvatāracampū. Pradyumnavijaya nāṭaka. Śaṅkaracetovilāsa.

24) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Bhavanātha. See Śaṅkaramiśra.

25) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Vāsudeva, son of Rudra, son of Jayadhara, pupil of Govinda: Rasacandrikā Abhijñānaśakuntalaṭīkā.

26) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Sudhākara, grandson of Śucikara: Granthavidhānadharmakusuma. Smṛtisudhākara.

Śaṅkara has the following synonyms: Oḍāśaṅkara.

27) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son (?) of Harihara, pupil of Harsharatna: Karaṇakutūhalodāharaṇa, composed in 1619. Karaṇavaiṣṇava or Vaiṣṇavakaraṇa. Jyotiṣakeralīya.
—[commentary] on Keśava’s and Śrīpati’s Paddhati: Mentioned Bhr. p. 214.

28) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Sāṃkhyapravacanasūtrabhāṣya.

29) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Vācaspati: Dvādaśāhapaddhati.

30) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—guru of Mahārāja Śyāmasāh, who was a son of Mānanarendra: Vāstuśiromaṇi.

31) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Ballāla, composed the Vratodyāpanakaumudī in 1704.

32) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—Kṛṣṇakarṇāmṛtaṭīkā Prapā.

33) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Kamalākara, grandson of Lambodara, called also Śaṅkarācārya of Bengal: Tārārahasyavṛttikā. Śivārcanamahāratna.

34) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Nīlakaṇṭha: Ekādaśīnirṇaya. Nyāyasiddhāntamañjarīdīpti.

35) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—son of Ratnākara: Mahimnaḥstavaṭīkā.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śaṅkara (शङ्कर):—See śaṃkara, p. 1054, col. 3.

2) Śaṃkara (शंकर):—[=śaṃ-kara] [from śaṃ > śam] a See below.

3) [from śam] b mf(ī)n. causing prosperity, auspicious, beneficent, [Nirukta, by Yāska; Mahābhārata; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

4) [v.s. ...] m. Name of Rudra or Śiva, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Āśvalāyana-gṛhya-sūtra; Mahābhārata] etc.

5) [v.s. ...] of a son of Kaśyapa and Danu, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

6) [v.s. ...] of Skanda, [Atharva-veda.Pariś.]

7) [v.s. ...] of a serpent-demon, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) [v.s. ...] of a Cakra-vartin, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) [v.s. ...] Name of various authors and commentators, ([especially]) of Śaṃkarācārya (See next page, [column]1; also with bhaṭṭa, paṇḍita, śarman, rājānaka, etc.)

10) Śaṃkarā (शंकरा):—[from śaṃkara > śam] f. (cf. śaṃ-garā under śaṃ above) = śakunikā, [Pāṇini 3-2, 14], Vārtt.i, [Patañjali]

11) [v.s. ...] Name of a female, [ib.]

12) [v.s. ...] a [particular] Rāga or musical mode, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

13) Śāṃkara (शांकर):—mf(ī)n. ([from] śaṃ-kara) relating or belonging to Śiva, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

14) relating to or derived from or composed by Śaṃkarācārya, [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha; Catalogue(s)]

15) m. a bull, [Horace H. Wilson]

16) a follower of Śaṃkarācārya, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

17) n. the Nakṣatra Ārdrā (presided over by Śiva), [Varāha-mihira’s Yogayātrā]

18) Saṃkara (संकर):—[=saṃ-kara] a etc. See saṃ-√kṝ.

19) Saṃkāra (संकार):—[=saṃ-kāra] a See saṃ-√kṝ.

20) Saṃkara (संकर):—[=saṃ-kara] [from saṃ-kṝ] b m. mixing together, commingling, intermixture, confusion ([especially] of castes or races, proceeding from the intermarriage of a man with a woman of a higher caste or from the promiscuous intercourse of the four tribes, and again from the indiscriminate cohabitation of their descendants; cf. yoni-s), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.

21) [v.s. ...] the offspring of a mixed marriage, [Rāmāyaṇa]

22) [v.s. ...] any action similar to the intermixture of castes (sometimes n.), [Mahābhārata]

23) [v.s. ...] (in [rhetoric]) the confusion or blending together of metaphors which ought to be kept distinct (opp. to saṃ-sṛṣṭi q.v.), [Sāhitya-darpaṇa; Kāvyaprakāśa]

24) [v.s. ...] anything that may be defiled by the touch of any unclean thing, [Mahābhārata]

25) [v.s. ...] dung, [Caraka]

26) [v.s. ...] dust, sweepings, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

27) [v.s. ...] the crackling of flame, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

28) [v.s. ...] Name of a man, [Buddhist literature]

29) Saṃkāra (संकार):—[=saṃ-kāra] [from saṃ-kṝ] b m. dust, sweepings (-kūṭa n. a heap of rubbish), [Divyāvadāna]

30) [v.s. ...] the crackling of flame, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

context information

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 dictionary

1) Śaṃkara (शंकर) [Also spelled shankar]:—(nm) Lord Shiv-the annihilator of the universe; a great Indian philosopher who flourished during the last quarter of the eighth and first quarter of the ninth century and who fought successfully against Buddhism for the revival of Brahmanism.

2) Saṃkara (संकर) [Also spelled sankar]:—(a) hybrid, cross; intergrade; ~[ja] cross-breed; ~[tā] hybridism; —[śabda] a hybrid word.

3) Saṃkarā (संकरा):—(a) narrow; strait; ~[re meṃ paḍanā] to be in difficulty, to be in distress.

context information

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Verse 10.23 < [Chapter 10 - Vibhuti-yoga]

Verse 11.15 < [Chapter 11 - Vishvarupa-darshana-yoga]

Verse 13.3 < [Chapter 13 - Kshetra and Kshetrajna Yoga]

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8. Śaṅkara Bhagavatpāda

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Brahma-Sūtra 3.3.17 < [Adhikaraṇa 4 - Sūtras 11-17]

Brahma-Sūtra 4.2.4 < [Adhikaraṇa 3 - Sūtra 4]

Brahma-Sūtra 4.2.10 < [Adhikaraṇa 5 - Sūtras 7-13]

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