Shauca, Śauca: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Shauca means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 term Śauca can be transliterated into English as Sauca or Shauca, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Shaucha.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: PurāṇasSauca (सौच) is a Sanskrit technical term translating to “cleanliness, external and internal”. It is used throughout vedic and purāṇic literature.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Śauca (शौच).—The vidhi in a śrāddham; other aspects of śauca; touching dogs; human bones aśauca; pollution of death to Brahmans 10 days, Kṣatriyas 12 days, Vaiśyas 15 days, and Śūdras one month; ācamanam is śaucam; disregard of, leads to mlecchahood; three kinds of.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 14. 62-70.
1b) Both Āraṇyam and Grāmyam.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 79. 30.
Śauca (शौच) refers to one of the various limbs of Yoga, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, the eleventh chapter contains the dialogue of Śiva and Skanda; the glories of the devotees of Śiva and the devotion to Śiva. The systems of Yoga along with its limbs Yama, Niyama, Ahiṃsā, Brahmacarya, Aparigraha, Svādhāya, Saṃtoṣa, Śauca, Prāṇāyāma and Samādhi are described while various kinds of impediments to the practice of Yoga and the means of overcoming them are explained in the thirteenth chapter.
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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Education: Systems & PracticesŚauca (शौच) refers to “purity of body, mind and thought” and forms part of the ancient Indian education system, which aimed at both the inner and the outer dimension of a person. Students living with the teacher (Guru or Ācārya) led a life of self-control, abstinence, obedience and devotion and regulated their lives by adhering to yama (self-restraint) and niyama (five observances), that is, śauca — purity of body, mind, thought; santoṣa — positive contentment; tapas — austerity; svādhyāya — self-study, introspection; and īśvarapraṇidhāna — faith in and surrender to the gods.
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the ĀgamasŚauca (शौच) refers to “ritual purity” as described in the Śaivāgamas.—Śauca or ritual purity is one of the important concepts in the Āgamas. It is a primary requirement for the fruition of any pūjā or spiritual activity. While the basic requirement of śauca is physical purity, it goes beyond that to encompass purity at the level of energies and thoughts.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsŚauca (शौच) refers to “answering the call of nature”, according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[...] He should treat [all phenomena] as one, not as separate. He should not drink [alcohol] or eat meat idly [with no ritual purpose]. He should not drink wine without first purifying it [with mantras], and he should consume meat after he has purified it with that [wine]. He should not answer the call of nature (śauca), should not sip water, etc., while reciting mantras or in an assembly. If he does so out of folly, the curse of the Yoginīs will fall on him. [...]”.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraŚauca (शौच) refers to “purification”, according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 4.1-2, while describing the interpretation of dreams]—“In the bright morning, at daybreak, after purification (śauca), etc., one by one as [explained in the previous chapter, the Ācārya] should enter the house. The pupil, who has sipped pure water, holds a flower in his hand. After bowing to the guru, delighted, he should tell his dreams to the guru”.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsŚauca (शौच):—Cleanliness; Cleaning in the context of food, cleaning dravya’s before prepration alters the basic qualities of raw food and even takes out the contaminants from the food.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramŚauca (शौच) (Cf. Śaucya) refers to “ritual purity and cleanliness”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “(The true teacher is dedicated to) truthfulness, ritual purity and cleanliness (śauca), compassion, and forbearance; he unites with his wife when it is her season, not out of passion, but for a son for the benefit of (his) clan and lineage. He practices the six magical rites, bathes (regularly) and worships at the three times of day. He avoids the Śūdra and the low caste as well as (accepting food from others), whether cooked or raw. One who is endowed with such qualities is a Brahmin (vipra), not by caste or by virtue of (his) sacred thread (and the like). These are the qualities of a (true) Brahmin. He who possesses them is a (true) teacher. Moreover, he removes error, and he reveals the meaning of the Kula scripture. Previously consecrated, (such a one) should always be made (one’s) teacher”.
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 VarahamihiraŚauca (शौच) refers to “cleanliness”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 15) (“On the nakṣatras—‘asterisms’”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Those who are born on the lunar day of Punarvasu will be noted for truthfulness, generosity, cleanliness (śauca), respectable descent, personal beauty, sense, fame and wealth; they will also be merchants, dealing in excellent articles, will be fond of service and will delight in the company of painters and sculptors. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchŚauca (शौच) refers to one of the ten Niyamas (restraint) prescribed for forest dwelling, as mentioned in the Vaikhānasasmārtasūtra.—The Mānasollāsa verse 9.21-24ab lists thirty Yamas and Niyamas. The Vaikhānasasmārtasūtra (8.4), whose date has been estimated between the fourth and eighth centuries, is the earliest source for a list of twenty Yamas and Niyamas [e.g., śauca]. These were prescribed to a sage at the forest dwelling (vanāśrama) stage of life.
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).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismŚauca (शौच, “purity”) refers to “to give up greed” and is one of the causes leading to the influx (āsrana) of karmas extending pleasant feelings (sātāvedanīya).
Śauca is a Sanskrit technical term defined in the Tattvārthasūtra (ancient authorative Jain scripture) from the 2nd century, which contains aphorisms dealing with philosophy and the nature of reality.
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraŚauca (शौच, “purity”) refers to one of the ten-fold dharma (i.e., Yatidharma) capable of leading across saṃsāra, according to chapter 3.3 [sumatinātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly, as Sumatinātha said:—“The sources of pride—youth, power, beauty, etc.—have become subdued from penance, like evil spirits of a sorceror reduced to servitude from the power to summon them. Yatidharma, handed down orally by the Blessed Ones, is the best boat without impediments for crossing the ocean of saṃsāra. [...] Purity (śauca) is perfect purity of control from the refusal of gifts not given (i.e., honesty). [...] So the ten-fold dharma, like a spotless wishing-jewel, capable of leading across saṃsāra, is attained in the world by merit”.
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsŚauca (शौच) refers to “purity”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “The doctrine is said to be forbearance, humility, purity (śauca), straightforwardness, truth and restraint, celibacy, asceticism, renunciation and non-possession. Anything which is undesirable for oneself is not to be done to others by the actions of [body,] speech and mind, even in a dream—such is the principal characteristic of the doctrine”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryśauca (शौच).—n (S) Purification; cleansing from defilement (external or internal, actual or ritual) by ablution, atonement &c. 2 Cleansed or purified state; freedom from defilement; purity, cleanness, holiness. 3 Evacuation of fӔces.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśauca (शौच).—n Purification; evacuation of fæces.
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 dictionaryŚauca (शौच).—[śucerbhāvaḥ aṇ]
1) Purity, clearness; काके शौचं द्यूतकारे च सत्यम् (kāke śaucaṃ dyūtakāre ca satyam) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.147.
2) Purification from personal defilement caused by voiding excrement, but particularly by the death of a relative; अपि यत्र त्वया राम कृतं शौचं पुरा पितुः । तत्राहमपि हत्वा त्वां शौचं कर्ताऽस्मि भार्गव (api yatra tvayā rāma kṛtaṃ śaucaṃ purā pituḥ | tatrāhamapi hatvā tvāṃ śaucaṃ kartā'smi bhārgava) || Mahābhārata (Bombay) 5.178.6.
3) Cleansing, purifying.
4) Vioding of excrement.
5) Uprightness, honesty.
6) Water (of libation); पुनीहि पादरजसा गृहान्नो गृहमेधिनाम् । यच्छौचेनानुतृप्यन्ति पितरः साग्नयः सुराः (punīhi pādarajasā gṛhānno gṛhamedhinām | yacchaucenānutṛpyanti pitaraḥ sāgnayaḥ surāḥ) || Bhāgavata 1.41.13.
Derivable forms: śaucam (शौचम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚauca (शौच).—n.
(-caṃ) 1. Purification by ablution, &c. from personal defilement. 2. Purification at given periods from defilement caused by the death of a relation, &c. 3. The state or property of freedom from defilement, purity, cleanness. E. śuci purity, aṇ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚauca (शौच).—i. e. śuci + a, n. 1. Purity, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 11; cleanness, [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 112. 2. Honesty, [Pañcatantra] v. [distich] 2. 3. Purification, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 69; cleaning (of vessels), [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 109, cf. Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 3029.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚauca (शौच).—[neuter] cleanness, purification by (—°), purity, honesty.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śauca (शौच):—m. ([from] śuci) Name of a man (also called Āhneya), [Taittirīya-āraṇyaka]
2) n. cleanness, purity, purification ([especially] from defilement caused by the death of a relation), [Āśvalāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
3) purity of mind, integrity, honesty ([especially] in money-matters), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
4) (with Buddhists) self-purification (both external and internal), [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 240]
5) evacuation of excrement, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚauca (शौच):—(caṃ) 1. n. Purification by ablution; cleaning, purity.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śauca (शौच) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Soa, Soaviya.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚauca (ಶೌಚ):—
1) [noun] the state of being clean, pure; cleanness; purity.
2) [noun] purity of mind; integrity; honesty; rectitude.
3) [noun] evacuation of excrements from the body.
4) [noun] absence of greed.
5) [noun] the process of purifying the mind.
--- OR ---
Sauca (ಸೌಚ):—
1) [noun] (correctly, ಶೌಚ [shauca]) 1. the quality or condition of being clean, pure, spotless; cleanliness; immaculateness.
2) [noun] the quality of being guiltless, sinless.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryŚauca (शौच):—n. 1. purity; cleanness; 2. purification from personal defilement caused by voiding excrement. but particularly by the death of a relative; 3. cleansing; purifying; 4. uprightness; honesty; 5. purity niyamas (नियम [niyama] );
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+5): Shaucacamanavidhi, Shaucacara, Shaucacarapaddhati, Shaucadireya, Shaucadratha, Shaucaka, Shaucakalpa, Shaucakarman, Shaucakiya, Shaucako-kagaja, Shaucakupa, Shaucalakshana, Shaucalaya, Shaucam, Shaucampannu, Shaucapara, Shaucaprepsu, Shaucasamgrahavivriti, Shaucatas, Shaucatma.
Ends with (+13): Agnishauca, Amtarashauca, Antahshauca, Arthashauca, Ashauca, Atikrantashauca, Atishauca, Avashauca, Bahihshauca, Bahyashauca, Brahmashauca, Grahanashauca, Hutashashauca, Jananashauca, Jatashauca, Kalashauca, Karmashauca, Karmmashauca, Kritashauca, Kunjarashauca.
Full-text (+73): Arthashauca, Kritashauca, Ashauca, Shaucatva, Shaucavidhi, Karmashauca, Pretashauca, Padashauca, Shaucacara, Shaucam, Shaucakupa, Shaucakalpa, Ahneya, Pacchauca, Shaucin, Sadyahshauca, Agnishauca, Shauceya, Shaucasamgrahavivriti, Shaucavat.
Relevant text
Search found 55 books and stories containing Shauca, Śauca, Sauca; (plurals include: Shaucas, Śaucas, Saucas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Hanuman Nataka (critical study) (by Nurima Yeasmin)
2. Religious Elements (a): Dharma < [Chapter 5]
Yogadrstisamuccaya of Haribhadra Suri (Study) (by Riddhi J. Shah)
Chapter 4.2b - Niyama (restraint of the mind) < [Chapter 4 - The Eight Yogadṛṣṭis and the nature of a Liberated Soul]
Chapter 6.3 - Dvātriṃśad-dvātriṃśikā by Upādhyāya Yaśovijaya < [Chapter 6 - Influence of the Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.2.42 < [Chapter 2 - Description of Girirāja Govardhana’s Birth]
Verse 1.4.39 < [Chapter 4 - Description of Questions About the Lord’s Appearance]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 6.12 - The nature of Pleasant-feeling Karmas < [Chapter 6 - Influx of Karmas]
Verse 9.6 - The ten virtues (dharma) < [Chapter 9 - Stoppage and Shedding of Karmas]
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 16.7 < [Chapter 16 - Daivāsura-sampada-yoga]
Verse 18.42 < [Chapter 18 - Mokṣa-yoga (the Yoga of Liberation)]
Verses 13.8-12 < [Chapter 13 - Prakṛti-puruṣa-vibhāga-yoga]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 33 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]
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