The Sanskrit term Śaśāṅka can be transliterated into English as Sasanka or Shashanka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क) refers to the “moon”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.18 (“Description of the perturbation caused by Kāma”).—Accordingly, as Śiva described Pārvatī: “Is this your face or the moon [i.e., śaśāṅka]? Are these your eyes or lotus petals? These two eyebrows are the bows of Kāma of noble soul. Is this your lower lip or Bimba fruit? Is this your nose or the beak of a parrot? Do I hear your voice or the cooing of the cuckoo? Is this your slender waist or the sacrificial altar? How can her gait be described? How can her comely appearance be described? How can the flowers be described? How can the clothes be described? [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क).—The Moon God; see Soma.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 150. 53.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क) refers to the “moon” according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] (1) The Foundation (ādhāra) (at the base of the spine) is the first Wheel (brilliant and coloured) like red lac. There, in the middle, is the one called Haṃsa, (shining white) like a multitude of moons [i.e., śaśāṅka-gaṇa-sannibha]. [...] (Perfect) contemplation (samādhi) is with (these) sixteen aspects and is (attained) within the form of the sixfold deposition (ṣoḍhānyāsa). He who knows this is (a veritable) Lord of Yogis, the others (who do not) are (just) quoting from books. Once attained the plane that is Void and Non-void, the yogi is freed from bondage”.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क) refers to the “moon”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] May the three-eyed goddess Bhagamālinī give the glory of good fortune. She possesses abundant miraculous power and is as lovely as the moon (śaśāṅka-rucirā). She is stationed in the left corner [of the central triangle] and holds in the row of her arms a snare, a goad, a sugarcane, ropes, a book, and a sword. [...]”.

context information

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क) refers to the “moon”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 3), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The dark spots, also known as ketus, the sons of Rāhu are Tāmasa, Kīlaka and the like, and are 33 in number. How they affect the earth depends upon their color, position and shape. If these spots should appear on the solar disc, mankind will suffer miseries; if on the lunar disc mankind will be happy; but if they take the shape of a crow, a headless human body, or a weapon, mankind will suffer even though the spots should appear on the moon [i.e., śaśāṅka]”.

context information

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.

Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)

Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क) represents the number 1 (one) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 1—śaśāṅka] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.

context information

Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क) refers to the “moon”, 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 2.22cd-28ab]—“From this authority, the seventy-million mantras arise. The terminal letter shining with various light, [which is the] split belly of the moon (śaśāṅka) [j], is placed upon a hook [u], and yoked with the last rising horizon [i.e., the wind or last labial nasalization] [ṃ]. That which is described is celebrated in the world as the supreme Amṛta [sa], this is the highest dwelling place. [...]”.

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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क) refers to the “moon”, according to the Nāmamantrārthāvalokinī by Vilāsavajra, which is a commentary on the Nāmasaṃgīti.—Accordingly, [while describing Mañjuśrī-jñānasattva]—“[Next] he should visualise himself as the fortunate one, the gnosis-being [Mañjuśrī], born from the syllable a situated in the middle of that [wisdom-] wheel [situated in the heart of the Ādibuddha]. He has six faces, is radiant like the autumn moon (śarat-śaśāṅka-prabha), with the best of sapphires in his beautiful hair, with a halo that has the brilliance of the orb of the newly risen sun, with all the tathāgatas as [head-]ornaments, immersed in meditative concentration, seated on a variagated lotus throne, in tranquil mood, with a pair of books of the Prajñāpāramitā above blue lotuses held in his two hands”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van Svayambhūdeva’s Paümacariu

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Śaśāṅka] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

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 geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Śaśāṅka.—(IE 7-71-2), ‘one’. Note: śaśāṅka 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 mythology, zoology, 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

sasaṅka : (m.) the moon.

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

Sāsaṅka, (adj.) (fr. sa³+āsaṅkā) dangerous, fearful, suspicious S. IV, 175 (opp. khema); Th. 2, 343; ThA. 241; Vism. 107; J. I, 154; PvA. 13; Miln. 351. (Page 707)

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

saśaṅka (सशंक).—a (S sa & śaṅkā) Fearful, timorous: also affected by fear, afraid. 2 Diffident, doubtful, scrupulous.

--- OR ---

sāśaṅka (साशंक).—a S (sa & āśaṅkā) Timid, fearful, apprehensive: also scrupulous, diffident, dubious, misgiving.

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

śaśāṅka (शशांक).—m The moon.

--- OR ---

saśaṅka (सशंक).—a Fearful; afraid. Doubtful.

--- OR ---

sāśaṅka (साशंक).—a Timid, fearful. Dubious.

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

Sāśaṅka (साशङ्क).—a. Feeling fear, apprehensive, afraid, dismayed.

--- OR ---

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क).—

1) the moon; रामाभिधानमपरं जगतः शशाङ्कम् (rāmābhidhānamaparaṃ jagataḥ śaśāṅkam) Pratimā 4.1.

2) camphor. °अर्धमुख (ardhamukha) a. crescent-headed (as an arrow). °मूर्तिः (mūrtiḥ) an epithet of the moon. -लेखा (lekhā) the digit of the moon, lunar crescent.

Derivable forms: śaśāṅkaḥ (शशाङ्कः).

Śaśāṅka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śaśa and aṅka (अङ्क).

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

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क).—m.

(-ṅkaḥ) 1. The moon. 2. Camphor. E. śaśa a hare, aṅka a mark or spot.

--- OR ---

Saśaṅka (सशङ्क).—mfn.

(-ṅkaḥ-ṅkā-ṅkaṃ) Fearful, doubtful. E. sa with, śaṅkā fear.

--- OR ---

Sāśaṅka (साशङ्क).—f.

(-ṅkā) Disheartened, afraid.

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

Sāśaṅkā (साशङ्का).—adj. disheartened, [Pañcatantra] 47, 15.

Sāśaṅkā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms sa and āśaṅkā (आशङ्का).

--- OR ---

Saśaṅkā (सशङ्का).—adj. fearful, doubtful.

Saśaṅkā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms sa and śaṅkā (शङ्का).

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

Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क).—[masculine] = śaśalakṣaṇa.

--- OR ---

Saśaṅka (सशङ्क).—[adjective] afraid, timid; [neuter] [adverb]

--- OR ---

Sāśaṅka (साशङ्क).—[adjective] afraid, suspicious.

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

1) Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क):—[from śaśa > śaś] a See below.

2) [from śaś] b m. ‘hare-marked’, the moon, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] camphor, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] Name of a king, [Harṣacarita [Scholiast or Commentator]]

5) Saśaṅka (सशङ्क):—[=sa-śaṅka] [from sa > sa-śakala] mf(ā)n. fearful, doubtful, timid, shy (am ind.), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

6) [v.s. ...] suspicious, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

7) Sāśaṅka (साशङ्क):—mf(ā)n. having fear or anxiety, apprehensive, afraid of ([locative case]; am ind. ‘apprehensively’), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature etc.]

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

1) Śaśāṅka (शशाङ्क):—[śaśā+ṅka] (ṅkaḥ) 1. m. The moon.

2) Saśaṅka (सशङ्क):—[sa-śaṅka] (ṅkaḥ-ṅkā-ṅkaṃ) a. Afraid, doubtful.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Saśāṅka (सशाङ्क) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Saṃsaka.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shashanka in German

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śaśāṃka (ಶಶಾಂಕ):—[noun] = ಶಶಿ [shashi].

--- OR ---

Saśaṃka (ಸಶಂಕ):—[adjective] doubtful; uncertain; leading to suspect.

--- OR ---

Sāśaṃka (ಸಾಶಂಕ):—[adjective] hesitating; undecided, doubtful or disinclined; hesitant.

--- OR ---

Sāśaṃka (ಸಾಶಂಕ):—

1) [noun] the quality or fact of being hesitant, doubtful.

2) [noun] a man who is hesitant, doubting or disinclined.

context information

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)

Partial matches: Shanka, Shasha, Asanka, Sha, Anka, Ca.

Starts with (+14): Shashamkakiranalehya, Shashamkalekhe, Shashamkavamsha, Shashankabha, Shashankabhas, Shashankabimba, Shashankadhara, Shashankagana, Shashankaja, Shashankakanta, Shashankakirana, Shashankakiranaprakhya, Shashankakula, Shashankalekha, Shashankamukha, Shashankamukuta, Shashankamurti, Shashankan, Shashankaprabha, Shashankapura.

Ends with: Pratimashashanka, Raka-shashanka, Rakashashanka, Sharacchashanka, Tarashashanka.

Full-text (+53): Sashankam, Shashankalekha, Shashadhara, Shashamka, Shashank, Shashankabhas, Raka-shashanka, Shashankopala, Shashankardha, Shashankavati, Sashankata, Shashankasuta, Shamsaka, Shashankavadana, Shashankakula, Shashankadhara, Shashankakanta, Shashankabimba, Shashankapura, Shashankashekhara.

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Search found 32 books and stories containing Shashanka, Śaśāṅka, Sasanka, Sashanka, Shasha-anka, Shashamka, Sashamka, Sasaṅka, Saśaṅka, Sāśaṅka, Śaśa-aṅka, Sasa-anka, Sāśaṅkā, Sa-ashanka, Sa-āśaṅkā, Sa-asanka, Saśaṅkā, Sa-shanka, Sa-śaṅkā, Sa-sanka, Sa-śaṅka, Saśāṅka, Śaśāṃka, Śaśanka, Saśaṃka, Saśanka, Sāśaṃka, Sāśanka; (plurals include: Shashankas, Śaśāṅkas, Sasankas, Sashankas, ankas, Shashamkas, Sashamkas, Sasaṅkas, Saśaṅkas, Sāśaṅkas, aṅkas, Sāśaṅkās, ashankas, āśaṅkās, asankas, Saśaṅkās, shankas, śaṅkās, sankas, śaṅkas, Saśāṅkas, Śaśāṃkas, Śaśankas, Saśaṃkas, Saśankas, Sāśaṃkas, Sāśankas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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