Shilpa, Śilpa, Śilpā: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Shilpa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Śilpa and Śilpā can be transliterated into English as Silpa or Shilpa, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Shilp.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexŚilpa (शिल्प).—Arts and Crafts;1 not seen in Puṣkaradvīpam;2 one living by śilpa, unfit for paṅkti bhojana;3 teaching in; punishment for non-performance of.4
- 1) Matsya-purāṇa 220. 3; Vāyu-purāṇa 83. 63.
- 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 122.
- 3) Ib. III. 19. 33.
- 4) Matsya-purāṇa 227. 6.
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.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)Śilpa (शिल्प) designates any kind of art, a fine or mechanical art (64 such arts are enumerated), a skill in any art and crafts in the Indian tradition. Its origin is traced to the Vedas. Śilpa is a pervasive term and includes within the ambit of its meaning anything creative, imitative, ideational, or skilful which in one sense or the other involves dexterity of hand or mind or both. Śilpa also implies a technique, a ceremonial act, an artifact, indeed anything that either leads to or is a tangible product of some craft.
The śāstras that deal with the śilpa are the śilpaśāstras. Śilpaśāstra is the science of architecture. It also includes vāstu vidya or architecture applied to the construction of houses, fields, buildings of any kind (setu-bandha). The origin of this science has been attributed to Viśvakarma, the divine architect of gods.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraŚilpa (शिल्प) refers to “sculptors”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 16) (“On the planets—graha-bhaktiyoga”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] Mercury also presides over painters, grammarians, mathematicians, physicians, sculptors (śilpa-jña), spies, jugglers, infants, poets, rogues, tale-bearers, black-magicians, messengers, eunuchs, buffoons, sorcerers and conjurers; over sentinels, dancers and dancing masters; over ghee, gingelly and other oils; over seeds, over bitter flavour, over observers of religious ceremonies, over chemists and mules”.
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and SubjectsŚilpa (शिल्प) means ‘art’, of which three kinds—nṛtya, ‘dance’; gīta, ‘song’; and vādita, ‘instrumental music,’ are enumerated in the Kauṣītaki-brāhmaṇa (xxix. 5).
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-berasŚilpa (शिल्प)generally means “action” or “skill” in action. The Aitareya Brāhmaṇ a (V1.27) regards śilpa as the anukaraṇa (imitation) of deva-śilpa (divine art). It is also said that śilpa is supposed to be born in one who has the knowledge of it. Śilpa signifies an extraordinary potential, a sanctifying principle, a supportive, sustaining, and strengthening force, a skill endowed with a sense of wonder for its creative essence, sometimes a propensity which is “divine” in character and which remains sanctified even in its emulation. It is also a quality.
By śilpa the divine personages create and strengthen the cosmic forces, and by it a transmutation is brought about in different, disparate phenomena. It is the principle by which the non-manifested is rendered manifest, and the manifest derives its corporeality and colours. It manifests the basic forms of arts, for example, song, dance, music, colour and plastic arts, but is also identified by the quality of “beauty” and “effulgence” that may qualify its manifestation.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Rigpa Shedra: WikiŚilpa (शिल्प) refers to “craftsmanship” and is known in Tibetan as bzo rig pa.—As one of the “Five Major Sciences” (Tibetan: rig gnas chen po lnga) it forms part of the “Ten Sciences” (Tibetan: rig gnas bcu), or fields of knowledge.
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: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 3: The Lower and middle worldsŚilpa (शिल्प, “crafts”) refers to a type of “civilized people who indulge in activities with attachment” (sāvadhyakarma-ārya), which itself is a division of karmārya: one of the classes of āryas without extraordinary powers (ṛddhi). These Ārya (civilized people) represent one of the two classes of human beings, according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.46. What is meant by craft (śilpa) activities? To develop expertise in manual activities such as performed by a goldsmith, silversmith, ironsmith, barber etc is called crafts (śilpa) activities.
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 Dictionaryśilpa (शिल्प).—n (S) A manual or mechanical art, any handicraft.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśilpa (शिल्प).—n A manual or mechanical art, any handicraft.
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 dictionaryŚilpa (शिल्प).—[śil-pak Uṇādi-sūtra 3.28]
1) An art, a fine or mechanical art; (64 such arts are enumerated).
2) Skill (in any art); craft; शिल्पोपचारयुक्ताश्च निपुणाः पण्ययोषितः (śilpopacārayuktāśca nipuṇāḥ paṇyayoṣitaḥ) Manusmṛti 9.259; पात्रविशेषे न्यस्तं गुणान्तरं व्रजति शिल्पमाधातुः (pātraviśeṣe nyastaṃ guṇāntaraṃ vrajati śilpamādhātuḥ) M. 1.6.
3) Ingenuity, cleverness.
4) Work, manual work or labour; विसर्गरत्यर्त्यभिजल्पशिल्पाः (visargaratyartyabhijalpaśilpāḥ) Bhāgavata 5.11.1.
5) A rite, ceremony.
6) A kind of ladle or spoon used at sacrifices.
7) Form, shape.
3) Creation, procreation.
Derivable forms: śilpam (शिल्पम्).
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Śilpā (शिल्पा).—A barber's shop.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚilpa (शिल्प).—n.
(-lpaṃ) 1. An art, any manual or mechanical art, (sixty-four such arts are enumerated.) 2. Skill, ingenuity. 3. A ceremonial act. 4. A sort of spoon or ladle, used at sacrifices to throw the Ghee or butter into the fire. E. śil to be clever or skilled, pak Unadi aff., and the vowel made short.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚilpa (शिल्प).—n. 1. Proficiency in any manual or mechanical art, or profession; art, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 4, 446; [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 3, 23, 17;
Śilpa (शिल्प).—1. [adjective] many-coloured, variegated.
--- OR ---
Śilpa (शिल्प).—2. [neuter] variegation, decoration, ornament, art, craft; [feminine] śilpī = seq.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śilpa (शिल्प):—n. (of doubtful derivation) the art of variegating, variegated or diversified appearance, decoration, ornament, artistic work, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Brāhmaṇa; Harivaṃśa; Kathāsaritsāgara; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
2) any manual art or craft, any handicraft or mechanical or fine art (64 such arts or crafts, sometimes called bāhya-kalā, ‘external or practical arts’, are enumerated e.g. carpentering, architecture, jewellery, farriery, acting, dancing, music, medicine, poetry etc. cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 185]; and 64 abhyantara-kalā, ‘secret arts’ e.g. kissing, embracing, and various other arts of coquetry), [Śāṅkhāyana-brāhmaṇa; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
3) skill in any art or craft or work of art, ingenuity, contrivance, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
4) any act or work (also m.), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
5) ceremonial act, ceremony, rite (also m.), [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
6) form, shape, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska iii, 7] (cf. su-śilpa)
7) a [particular] kind of Śastra or hymn (of a highly artificial character, recited on the 6th day of the Pṛṣṭhya Ṣaḍ-aha, at the Viśvajit etc.), [Brāhmaṇa; ???]
8) a kind of sacrificial ladle (?), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) ([dual number] with jamad-agneḥ) Name of two Sāmans, [Ārṣeya-brāhmaṇa]
10) m. Name of a teacher, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
11) Śilpā (शिल्पा):—[from śilpa] f. a barber’s shop, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) Śilpa (शिल्प):—mfn. variegated, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Taittirīya-saṃhitā]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚilpa (शिल्प):—(lpaṃ) 1. n. An art, mechanical art; sacrificial spoon.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śilpa (शिल्प) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sippa.
[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 dictionaryŚilpa (शिल्प) [Also spelled shilp]:—(nm) craft; architecture; -[kalā] technology; craft; ~[kāra/~jña] a craftsman; an architect; ~[kāritā/kārī/-kauśala] craftsmanship; ~[jīvī] a craftsman, an artisan; -[vidyā] technology; craft; architecture; -[vidyālaya] a school for crafts; -[vidhi] technique; ~[vidhijña] technician; ~[vaijñānika] a technologist; technological; ~[śālā] a workshop; school for teaching crafts/technology; -[saṃgha] craft union.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚilpa (ಶಿಲ್ಪ):—
1) [noun] any of several arts as dancing, music, painting, sculpting, architecture, carpentering, etc.; expertise in any of these arts.
2) [noun] a statue, idol, etc. carved in stone.
3) [noun] a profession; an occupation.
4) [noun] a small ladle or spoon.
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 DictionaryŚilpa (शिल्प):—n. 1. a craft; 2. art; skill; 3. architecture;
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 (+43): Shilpaatmak-chitrakala, Shilpabhijna, Shilpacarya, Shilpada, Shilpageha, Shilpagrantha, Shilpagriha, Shilpajiva, Shilpajivi, Shilpajivika, Shilpajivin, Shilpajivini, Shilpajna, Shilpaka, Shilpakala, Shilpakaladipika, Shilpakale, Shilpakara, Shilpakaraka, Shilpakarakarika.
Ends with (+3): Brahmiyashilpa, Carmashilpa, Devashilpa, Ihashilpa, Jalashilpa, Kashyapashilpa, Kritashilpa, Mayashilpa, Murtishilpa, Natakashilpa, Navikashilpa, Nirmanashilpa, Pratimashilpa, Pratishilpa, Sanatkumarashilpa, Shambarashilpa, Sushilpa, Varnashilpa, Vastushilpa, Vesarashilpa.
Full-text (+550): Shilpin, Shilpavidya, Shilpashala, Shilpika, Shilpashastra, Shilpakarman, Sippa, Shilpam, Pratishilpa, Shilpakara, Shilpalaya, Shilpatva, Shilpajivin, Shilpakaraka, Shilpakarika, Vishvajicchilpa, Kritashilpa, Saptatala, Shilp, Pratibha.
Relevant text
Search found 62 books and stories containing Shilpa, Śilpa, Śilpā, Silpa; (plurals include: Shilpas, Śilpas, Śilpās, Silpas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vastu-shastra (1): Canons of Architecture (by D. N. Shukla)
(ii) Subject-matter of Architecture (Vāstu) < [Chapter 2 - Scope and Subject-matter]
(v,11) Vāstu in the Śilpa-texts < [Chapter 4 - An outline History of Hindu Architecture]
(v) Mānasāra (Summary) < [Chapter 5 - Study of Hindu Science of Architecture]
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (by Swāmī Mādhavānanda)
Section V - The Line of Teachers < [Chapter VI]
Prayogamanjari and Saivagamanibandhana (Study) (by R. Suthashi)
Appendix 8 - Interview With The Traditional Silpi K. Rmakrishnan
Silparatna of Srikumara (summary) < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Iconography in Kerala Tantric Literature: a general survey < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 10.116 < [Section XIV - Sources of Income (vittāgama)]
Verse 9.259 < [Section XXXVI - Who are ‘Thorns’ (kaṇṭaka)?]
Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study) (by K. Vidyuta)
1. Vāstu and Śilpa-śāstras < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
1-2. Etymology and Definition of Prākāra < [Chapter 3 - Prākāra Lakṣaṇa]
3. Conclusion (Gopuras) < [Chapter 6 - Conclusion]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 289 [Thirty-six Tattvas and the Seven Pramātās] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
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