Shashankakirana, Śaśāṅkakiraṇa, Shashanka-kirana: 1 definition
Introduction:
Shashankakirana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Śaśāṅkakiraṇa can be transliterated into English as Sasankakirana or Shashankakirana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Śaśāṅkakiraṇa (शशाङ्ककिरण) refers to “moon-beams”, mentioned in verse 3.32 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] One shall drink broth (that is) not too thick, rasālā, curds, raga and khāṇḍava syrup, [...] and water [viz., ambhas] (that is) perfumed with trumpet-flowers, charged with camphor, (and) very cold. Taking at night moonbeams as food, one shall drink, [...]”.
Note: śaśāṅkakiraṇa bhakṣyān bhakṣayan (“taking moonbeams as food”) has been rendered by zla-zer lta-bui bza-ba bza-ba daṅ—“with taking food (that is) like moonbeams”, the cognate accusative having been retained.—Moonbeams are defined by Indu, who again cites an unknown authority, as follows:—“Lumps out of bamboo manna, flour, and sugar candy mixed with wheat and millet (and) thrown into milk thickened by boiling (are) called ‘moonbeams’ [viz., śaśāṅkakiraṇa]”.
On what grounds the dish is named (“moonbeams”) in Sanskrit and to what way it can be characterized as “moonbeam-like” in Tibetan is not clear from this definition. More light is cast on the problem by Aruṇadatta and Candranandana, who identify the dish as some camphor preparation called “camphor tubes” (karpuranāḍikā, also spelt karpūranālikā) that is described in Bhāvamiśra’s Bhāvaprakāśa I.2.2.106 sqq.; camphor, however, is often metaphorically expressed by words literally meaning “moon” (see MW s. vv. candra, soma, indu, vidhu, etc.), while the analogy between “tubes” and “beams” is too obvious to require elaboration.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Kirana, Shashanka.
Starts with: Shashamkakiranalehya, Shashankakiranaprakhya.
Full-text: Shashankakiranaprakhya, Karpuranalika, Karpuranadika.
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