Shasta, Śāsta, Śāstā, Shashta, Sashta, Shashpa: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Shasta means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Śāsta and Śāstā can be transliterated into English as Sasta or Shasta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaŚāstā (शास्ता).—The presiding deity (idol installed) in the Śabarimala temple. Birth. Śiva fell in love with Mahāviṣṇu in his assumed form as Mohinī and Śāstā was the result of their union. (Kambarāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa). This story occurs in the 8th Skandha of Bhāgavata and the Asura kāṇḍa of Skanda Purāṇa, but only the Skanda Purāṇa refers to the child by name Śāstā. Other information.
(i) In the battle between Indra and the asura called Śūrapadma the former deputed Śāstā for the protection of Śacīdevī. (Skanda Purāṇa, Asura Kāṇḍa).
(ii) Śāstā is supposed to have two wives called Purāṇā and Puṣkalā and a son called Satyaka. (Aṣṭottaraśatakam about Śāstā; also see under Śabarimala). (See full article at Story of Śāstā from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Śāstā (शास्ता).—A son of Śiva and Śakti, born of churning of ocean, see Mahāśāsta.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 6. 9.
1b) One of the eleven Rudras.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 153. 19.

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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Shodhganga: Temples of Salem region Up to 1336 ADŚāsta (शास्त).—The synonymous name of Śāsta is Ayyappa. Ayyappa is derived from the word Ārya. The āgamas refer to his name as Ārya only. The cult of Ayyappa is late in its origin. Hence, sculptures also belong to later period. The iconographic features are that he is two-handed, he sits in utkuṭitāsana and his mount is elephant. His weapons depicted are either the vajrāyudha or the bow made of sugarcane. According to mythology, he is Hariharaputra i.e. son bom from the union of Śiva and Viṣṇu (in the form of Mohini).
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)1) Śasta (शस्त) refers to “recommended” (building location), according to the Devyāmata (chapter 105).—Accordingly, [while describing the construction of residence for initiates]—“A residence is recommended (śasta) to the south of the temple. The residence should be built beyond the outer wall of the temple. It is to be dwelt in by initiates, their senses well-subordinated, who have come to the image. Or, in its absence, [they should dwell in] another pleasant place. [...]”.
2) Śasta (शस्त) refers to “being praised” or “desirable” (as opposed to Aśasta—‘not being praised’ or ‘undesirable’), according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “[...] If a heretic is seen, that brings an undesirable outcome to householders. If one hears someone hurt, wounded, or killed, or something broken, then [the officiant] should not divide the site with cords. If there are persons who are not praised (aśasta), undesirable (aśasta), or blameworthy, then one should avoid seeing such persons, hearing [the names of] such persons announced, and hearing the voices of such persons. [...]”.

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)Śāsta (शास्त) refers to “one who is the master (of all forms of perception)”, according to the Mahānayaprakāśa by Arṇasiṃha (Cf. verse 182-197).—Accordingly, “He who is the master (śāsta) of all forms of perception, whether dual or non-dual, whose body is everywhere equally present and (yet) without abode, and is the destruction of egoism is said to be the venerable Matsyendranātha, the supreme doer (of all things)”.

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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchṢaṣṭa (षष्ट) refers to the “sixth (year)” (of Yogic breathing exercises), according to the Śivayogadīpikā, an ancient Sanskrit text dealing with Yoga possibly corresponding to the Śivayoga quoted in Śivānanda’s Yogacintāmaṇi.—Accordingly, [while describing a sequence of Haṭhayoga practices]: “Thus, by means of this Haṭhayoga which has eight auxiliaries, those [students who are] life-long celibates obtain the Siddhis of the [best of Sages] because of their untiring practice. [...] In the fifth year, he has clairaudience, the Siddhi of speech and [the power to] enter the bodies of other [beings]. Within six (ṣaṣṭa) [years,] he cannot be pierced by even a thunderbolt, he can move extremely quickly and has clairvoyance. [...]”.

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryśasta (शस्त).—See praśaṃsaka &c.
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śāstā (शास्ता).—a S That punishes: also that governs or rules.
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sastā (सस्ता).—a (svastha S or H) Cheap.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśāstā (शास्ता).—a That punishes. That rules.
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sastā (सस्ता).—a Cheap.
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 dictionaryŚasta (शस्त).—p. p. [śaṃs-kta]
1) Praised, extolled.
2) Auspicious, happy; शस्ताः कुर्वन्ति मां सव्यं दक्षिणं पशवोऽपरे (śastāḥ kurvanti māṃ savyaṃ dakṣiṇaṃ paśavo'pare) Bhāgavata 1.14.13.
3) Right, best.
4) Repeated, recited.
5) Best, excellent.
6) Wounded, injured.
7) Killed.
-stam 1 Happiness, welfare.
2) Excellence, auspiciousness.
3) The body.
4) A finger-guard (aṅgulitrāṇa q. v.; also śastakam in this sense).
-staḥ A murderer.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚasta (शस्त).—mfn.
(-staḥ-stā-staṃ) 1. Happy, well, right. 2. Praised, eulogised. 3. Best, excellent. 4. Injured. n.
(-staṃ) 1. Happiness, excellence. 2. The body. 3. A finger-protector. E. śas to bless, aff. kta .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryṢaṣṭa (षष्ट).—[-ṣaṣṭa], i. e. ṣaṣṭi + a, ord. num. Sixtieth.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚasta (शस्त).—1. [adjective] recited, praised, commended, praise-worthy, auspicious, happy, cheerful, beautiful; [neuter] praise, commendation.
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Śasta (शस्त).—2. [adjective] cut to pieces, slaughtered.
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Śasta (शस्त).—3. [neuter] a kind of girdle.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śasta (शस्त):—[from śaṃs] 1. śasta mfn. (for 2. See under √śas) recited repeated, [Ṛg-veda]
2) [v.s. ...] praised, commended, approved, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] auspicious (cf. a-ś), [Atharva-veda; Rājataraṅgiṇī]
4) [v.s. ...] beautiful, [Rāmāyaṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] happy, fortunate, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
6) [v.s. ...] n. praise, eulogy, [Ṛg-veda]
7) [v.s. ...] happiness, excellence, [Horace H. Wilson]
8) [from śas] 2. śasta mfn. (for 1. See p. 1044, col. 1) cut down, slaughtered, killed, [Mahābhārata iii, 1638.]
9) Ṣaṣṭa (षष्ट):—[from ṣaṣ] mfn. the sixtieth, consisting of sixty (only used in [compound] after another numeral e.g. ekaṣ ‘the sixty-first’ cf. dvā-ṣ, dvi-ṣ, tri-ṣ etc.)
10) Sāṣṭa (साष्ट):—mfn. with eight, increased by eight, plus eight (with śata n. = 108), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śasta (शस्त):—(lu, i) śaṃsti 2. a. To sleep (peculiar to the Vedas.)
2) (staṃ) 1. n. Happiness; the body. a. Happy; right; praised; best (as a cow among animals).
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śasta (शस्त) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Satya.
[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 dictionarySastā (सस्ता):—(a) cheap; trash, inferior; [(sastī) jagaha] inexpensive place; —[jamānā] cheap/inexpensive times; ~[pana] cheapness; —[māla] cheap stuff; —[samaya] see —[jamānā] —[sāhitya] cheap literature, trash; —[chūṭanā] to go cheap; be let off at a discount; to have to spend less than usual; —[roye bāra bāra mahaṃgā roye eka bāra] strike a cheap bargain and be ill at ease ever after; [saste (meṃ)] without much price/difficulty/botheration.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚaṣpa (ಶಷ್ಪ):—[noun] young green grass.
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Śasta (ಶಸ್ತ):—
1) [adjective] praised; extolled.
2) [adjective] excellent; most superior.
3) [adjective] repeatedly told.
4) [adjective] wounded; injured.
5) [adjective] killed; slain; slaughtered.
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Śasta (ಶಸ್ತ):—
1) [noun] that which is praised, extolled.
2) [noun] that which is of excellent quality.
3) [noun] an excellent man.
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Sastā (ಸಸ್ತಾ):—[noun] the quality or fact of being low in price or cost; cheapness; inexpensiveness.
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)
Starts with: Shasta daisy, Shastaka, Shastakeshaka, Shastar, Shastaravadin, Shastata, Shastavya.
Ends with (+15): Abhishasta, Adhishasta, Agastyashasta, Anabhishasta, Anashasta, Anihshasta, Anritabhishasta, Anushasta, Aprashasta, Apratishasta, Ashasta, Atishasta, Bahishasta, Bahushasta, Bhaprashasta, Duhshasta, Kaviprashasta, Kavishasta, Khandaprashasta, Lakshanaprashasta.
Full-text (+79): Shashpa, Pancashashta, Ekasashta, Shastakeshaka, Shashpabhuj, Satya, Shastata, Prashasta, Dvishashta, Vishasta, Shashpaka, Trisashta, Dvashashta, Shashpabrisi, Atishasta, Ashasta, Catuhshashta, Abhishasta, Bahushasta, Sastu.
Relevant text
Search found 40 books and stories containing Shasta, Sashta, Śaṣpa, Śāsta, Śāstā, Sasta, Śasta, Sastā, Ṣaṣṭa, Sāṣṭa, Śaṣṭa, Shashpa, Shashta; (plurals include: Shastas, Sashtas, Śaṣpas, Śāstas, Śāstās, Sastas, Śastas, Sastās, Ṣaṣṭas, Sāṣṭas, Śaṣṭas, Shashpas, Shashtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
22. Eleven incarnations of Śiva < [Chapter 5 - Rudra-Śiva in the Purāṇic Literature]
2. Rudra-Śiva in the Upaniṣadic Literature < [Chapter 4 - Rudra-Śiva in the Post-Brāhmaṇic Literature]
Middle Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Agaram (South Arcot) < [Chapter II - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]
Temples in Tiruppattur (Tiruppidavur) < [Chapter IV - Temples of Rajendra I’s Time]
Temples in Kolar < [Chapter IV - Temples of Rajendra I’s Time]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 10 - Why is the Buddha called Śāstā Devamanuṣyāṇām < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]
Introduction (explanation of the word Bhagavat) < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]
I. Recollection of the Buddha (1): The ten names (adhivacana) < [Part 2 - The Eight Recollections according to the Abhidharma]
Later Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Chintamani Agaram < [Chapter II - Temples of Kulottunga I’s Time]
Temples in Darasuram < [Chapter VIII - Temples of Rajaraja II’s Time]
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