Sharira, aka: Śarīra, Sarīra, Sarira, Śārīra; 19 Definition(s)

Introduction

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

The Sanskrit terms Śarīra and Śārīra can be transliterated into English as Sarira or Sharira, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Śārīra (शारीर) refers to “body”. The term is used throughout Āyurvedic literature such as the Suśruta-saṃhitā and the Caraka-saṃhitā. As an integral part of Āyurveda, the term also refers to the broad subject of “Anatomy” or “Physiology”. The literal translation of the word Śārīra is ‘that which decays’.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Śarīra (शरीर) refers to the “body” of three types, as defined in the Śivapurāṇa 1.18. Accordingly, “the body (śarīra) is of three types: the gross (sthūla), the subtle (sūkṣma) and the causal (kāraṇa). The gross body is responsible for all activities; the subtle body yields the enjoyment of pleasures through the senses. The causal body is for the sake of experiencing the good and bad results of the activities of the Jiva. The Jīva experiences happiness as a result of virtue and misery as a result of sin. The Jīva bound by the rope of activities revolves round and round for ever like a wheel by means of the three types of body and their activities”.

Śarīra (शरीर).—(body) Body is constituted of the five elements, earth, water, fire, air and sky (ether). What is solid or hard in the body is earth; liquid, is water; hot or burning, fire; what gives motion to the body is air and what are pores in the body is sky. (See full article at Story of Śarīra from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Śarīra (शरीर).—A pupil of Vedamitra Śākalya.^*

• * Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 4. 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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

1) Śarīra (शरीर) refers to “gestures of the limbs”. It is one of the three types of āṅgika “gestures” (physical representations), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. Āṅgika represents one of the four categories of representation (abhinaya), which are used in communicating the meaning of the drama and calling forth the sentiment (rasa). The term is used throughout nāṭyaśāstra literature.

2) Śārīra (शारिर, “bodily”) refers to the histrionic representation (abhinaya) through “the body” (śārīra), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24. These representation are connected with the proper psychological states (bhāva) and sentiments (rasa) available for the subject matter of dramatic plays (nāṭya).

There are ten representations through which the body (śārīra) can be expressed:

1. vākya (words),
2. sūcā,
3. aṅkura,
4. śākhā,
5. nāṭyāyita,
6. nivṛttyaṅkura.

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).

Nyaya (school of philosophy)

Śarīra (शरीर, “body”) refers to one of the twelve prameya (“objects of valid knowledge) according to the first chapter of Gautama’s Nyāyasūtra (2nd century CE). Prameya in turn represents the second of the sixteen padārthas (“categories”). Accordingly, “Śarīra is the locus of volition, senses and objects etc.”.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Śarīra (शरीर, ‘body’) is a word of frequent occurrence in Vedic literature. The interest of the Vedic Indians seems early to have been attracted to the consideration of questions connected with the anatomy of the body.

Thus a hymn of the Atharvaveda enumerates many parts of the body with some approach to accuracy and orderly arrangement. It mentions

1. the heels (pārṣṇī),
2. the flesh (māṃsa),
3. the ankle-bones (gulphau),
4. the fingers (aṅgulīḥ),
5. the apertures (kha),
6. the two metatarsi (uchlakau),
7. the tarsus (pratiṣṭhā),
8. the two knee-caps (aṣṭhīvantau),
9. the two legs (jaṅghe),
10. the two knee-joints (jānunoḥ sandhi).

Then comes above the

1. two knees (jānū)
2. the foursided (catuṣṭaya),
3. pliant (śithira)
4. trunk (kabandha).

The two hips (śroṇī) and the two thighs (ūrū) are the props of the frame (kusindha).

Next come

1. the breast-bone (uras),
2. the cervical cartilages (grīvāḥ),
3. the two breast pieces (stanau),
4. the two shoulder-blades (kaphoḍau),
5. the neck-bones (skandhau),
6. and the backbones (pṛṣṭīḥ),
7. the collar-bones (aṃsau),
8. the arms (bāhū),
9. the seven apertures in the head (sapta khāni śīrṣaṇi),
10. the ears (karṇau),
11. the nostrils (nāsike),
12. the eyes (cakṣaṇī),
13. the mouth (mukha),
14. the jaws (hanū),
15. the tongue (jihvā),
16. the brain (mastiṣka),
17. the forehead (lalāṭa),
18. the facial bone (kakāṭikā),
19. the cranium (kapāla),
20. and the structure of the jaws (cityā hanvoḥ).

This system presents marked similarities with the later system of Caraka and Suśruta, which render certain the names ascribed to the several terms by Hoernle.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Sarīra (सरीर, “body”) is a Prakrit technical term referring to “names derived from physical characteristics” and representing kind of a rule when deriving personal names for men, mentioned in the Aṅgavijjā chapter 26. This chapter includes general rules to follow when deriving proper names. The Aṅgavijjā (mentioning sarīra) is an ancient treatise from the 3rd century CE dealing with physiognomic readings, bodily gestures and predictions and was written by a Jain ascetic in 9000 Prakrit stanzas.

Sarīra names are qualitative. They are saṇḍa (bull), vikaḍa (terrible), kharaḍa (lowest), khallaḍa (bald) and vipiṇa (forest).

Śarīra (शरीर).—according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 2.36-37, how many types of bodies (śarīra) are there? There five types of bodies namely gross (audārika), the transformable /protean (vaikriyika), the coveyance (āhāraka), the luminous (tejasa) and the kārmika bodies. The bodies are more and more subtle successively. Are these body perceptible by our sense organs (pañcendriya)? No. except the one body as each successive body is subtle than the previous one. Which is the type of body which is perceptible by our sense organs? The gross body (audārika) is perceptible by our sense organs.

Śarīra (शरीर, “body”) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 5.19.—The function of matter (pudgala) is to form the basis of the body (śarīra), the organs of speech (vāc), the mind (manas) and the respiration (prāṇa). What is the meaning of body (śarīra)? The entity which is created by the rise of name karmas and undergo the transformation i.e. decays of old parts / constituents and origin of new ones.

How many types of body (śarīra) are there? Body can be of five types, namely: gross, protean, conveyance, and luminous and kārmika.

Śarīra (शरीर, “body”) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 7.12.—What is meant by body (śarīra)? The entity which is created due to the rise of special body-making karmas and then decays. Synonym for body is kāya. What is the nature of body and what is the result of contemplating on it? The nature of the body is transitory and full of misery and suffering. By contemplating on it one develops detachment from it.

Śarīra (शरीर, “body”) refers to “physique body-making karma” and represents one of the various kinds of Nāma, or “physique-making (karmas)”, which represents one of the eight types of Prakṛti-bandha (species bondage): one of the four kinds of bondage (bandha) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra chapter 8. What is meant by the physique (śarīra) body-making (nāma) karmas? The karmas rise of which causes attainment of a body by the soul are called physique body-making karmas. 

How many types of physique body-making (śarīra) karma are there? There are five types of body-name karmas, namely:

1. physical /gross (audārika),
2. protean (vaikriyika),
3. conveyance (āhāraka),
4. luminous (taijasa),
5. karmic (kārmaṇa).

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

Śarīra.—(SITI), person; individual. (EI 24; ML), corporeal relies of the Buddha. Note: śarīra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

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

sarīra : (nt.) the body.

Sarīra, (nt.) (Vedic śarīra) 1. the (physical) body D. I, 157; M. I, 157; S. IV, 286; A. I, 50; II, 41; III, 57 sq. , 323 sq.; IV, 190. Sn. 478, 584; Dh. 151; Nd¹ 181; J. I, 394 (six blemishes); II, 31; antimasarīra one who wears his last body, an Anāgāmin Sn. 624; S. I, 210; Dh. 400.—2. a dead body, a corpse D. II, 141, 164; M. III, 91.—3. the bones D. II, 164.—4. relics Vv 63, 32; VvA. 269.

—aṭṭhaka the bony framework of the body DhsA. 338. —ābhā radiation of light proceeding from the body, lustre SnA 16 (°ṃ muñcati to send forth), 41 (id.), 140 (id.). —kicca (1) funeral ceremonies, obsequies J. I, 180; II, 5; VvA. 76, 257; PvA. 74, 76, 162.—(2) “bodily function, ” satisfying the body’s wants J. II, 77; IV, 37. —davya (=dabba¹) fitness of body, good body, beauty J. II, 137. —dhātu a body relic (of the Buddha) Mhvs 13, 167; VvA. 165, 269. —pabhā lustre of the body DhA. I, 106. —parikamma attending the body SnA 52. —maṃsa the flesh of the body J. III, 53. —vaṇṇa the (outward) appearance of the body Vism. 193. —valañja discharge from the body, fæces DhA. II, 55; IV, 46 (°ṭhāna). See valañja. —saṅghāta perfection of body Vism. 194. —saṇṭhāna constitution of the body, bodily form Vism. 193. (Page 698)

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

śarīra (शरीर).—n (S) The body. 2 A covert term for pudendum virile vel muliebre. śa0 vēcaṇēṃ (parōpakārākaḍē) To spend or lay out one's body (as in philanthropic labors).

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śārīra (शारीर) [or शारीरक, śārīraka].—a (S) Corporeal, bodily, relating to the body.

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śārīra (शारीर) [or शारीरक, śārīraka].—n S (Science of the body.) A division of medicine comprehending anatomy and pathology. 2 The quaver (in singing). v ghē.

śarīra (शरीर).—n The body.

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śārīra (शारीर).—a Corporeal, bodily, phy- sical; as distinguished from mānasika, bauddhika. n The quaver (in singing).

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śārīra (शारीर).—n Anatomy.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śarīra (शरीर).—[śṝ-īran Uṇ.4.31]

1) The body (of animate or inanimate objects); शरीरमाद्यं खलु धर्मसाधनम् (śarīramādyaṃ khalu dharmasādhanam) Ku.5.33.

2) The constituent element; शरीरं तावदिष्टार्थव्यवच्छिन्ना पदावली (śarīraṃ tāvadiṣṭārthavyavacchinnā padāvalī) Kāv.1.1; शरीरमसि संसारस्य (śarīramasi saṃsārasya) U.7.

3) Bodily strength.

4) A dead body.

5) One's own person, individual soul (jīvātmā); यथा यथा मनस्तस्य दुष्कृतं कर्म गर्हति । तथा तथा शरीरं तत्तेनाधर्मेण मुच्यते (yathā yathā manastasya duṣkṛtaṃ karma garhati | tathā tathā śarīraṃ tattenādharmeṇa mucyate) || Ms.11.229.

Derivable forms: śarīram (शरीरम्).

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Śārīra (शारीर).—a. (-rī f.) [शरीरस्येदम् अण् (śarīrasyedam aṇ)]

1) Relating to the body, bodily, corporeal.

2) Incorporate, embodied.

-raḥ, -ram 1 The incorporate or embodied spirit (jīvātman); human or individual soul.

2) A bull.

3) A kind of drug.

4) Excrement; विनाद्भिरप्सु वाप्यार्तः शारीरं संनिवेश्य च (vinādbhirapsu vāpyārtaḥ śārīraṃ saṃniveśya ca) Ms.11.22.

-ram Bodily constitution.

2) (In medic.) the science of the body and its parts; anatomy.

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Sarira (सरिर).—Water; cf. सलिल (salila).

Derivable forms: sariram (सरिरम्).

See also (synonyms): sarila.

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