Shirisha, aka: Śirīṣa, Sirīsa, Śirīṣa, Sirisa, Shirisa; 10 Definition(s)

Introduction

Shirisha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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 terms Śirīṣa and Śirīṣa can be transliterated into English as Sirisa or Shirisha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Śirīṣa (शिरीष) is a Sanskrit word referring to Albizia lebbeck (“Siris tree”), from the Fabaceae (“legume”) family, according to the Pandus database, but to Acacia sirissa (possible synonym) according to Monier-Williams. It is also known by the names Sirīsa (सिरीस), Śukapuṣpa, Śukadruma, Śukataru, Śukapriya and Śuka. The word is used throughout Āyurvedic literature such asthe Carakasaṃhitā and the Suśrutasaṃhitā. The tree grows to a height of 18–30m tall with a trunk of 50 cm to 1 m in diameter. Its leaves are 7.5–15 cm long, with one to four pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 6–18 leaflets. It has fragrant white flowers with lots of stamens (2.5–3.8 cm long). The fruit is a pod containing six to twelve seeds.

According to the Amarakośa, the plant has two synonyms: Kapītana and Bhaṇḍila. The Amarakośa is a 4^th century Sanskrit botanical thesaurus authored by Amarasiṃha.

According to the Mādhavacikitsā (7^th century Āyurvedic work), the plant Śirīṣa is mentioned as a medicine used for the treatment of all major fevers, as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) chapter.

Śirīṣa (शिरीष).—The Sanskrit name for an important Āyurvedic drug.—The plant bears flowers in spring. Apart from its use in other diseases, it is regarded as the best among the anti-poison drugs.

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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.

Purana

Śirīṣa (शिरीष).—Of Ātreya gotra.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 197. 7.

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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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Śirīśa (शिरीश) is the name of the tree (vṛkṣa) associated with Caṇḍogra: the eastern cremation ground (śmaśāna) according to the Vajravārāhī-sādhana by Umāpatideva as found in te Guhyasamayasādhanamālā. The tree associated with the east is sometimes given as Śukataru or Harivāsa. As a part of this sādhana, the practicioner is to visualize a suitable dwelling place for the goddess inside the circle of protection which takes the form of eight cremation grounds.

These trees (eg., Śirīśa) that are associated with the cremation grounds are often equated with the eight bodhi-trees of the Buddhas (the current buddha plus the seven previous one). According to the Śmaśānavidhi each tree has a secondary tree (upavṛkṣa) that is depicted as lovely and covered in vaṅga flowers and fruit. In each tree lives a naked rākṣasa who is wrathful in form, who eats human flesh and who has the animal face or the mount of the dikpati in his cremation ground.

The Guhyasamayasādhanamālā by Umāptideva is a 12th century ritualistic manual including forty-six Buddhist tantric sādhanas. The term sādhana refers to “rites” for the contemplation of a divinity.

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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)

1) Śirīṣa (शिरीष) is the name of the caitya-tree (identified with Acacia sirisha) under which the parents of Supārśva are often depicted in Jaina iconography, according to both the Śvetāmbara and Digambara tradition. The term caitya refers to “sacred shrine”, an important place of pelgrimage and meditation in Jainism. Sculptures with such caitya-trees generally shows a male and a female couple seated under a tree with the female having a child on her lap. Usually there is a seated Jina figure on top of the tree.

Supārśva is the seventh of twenty-four tīrthaṅkaras: enlightened beings who, having conquered saṃsāra (cycle of birth and death), leave a path behind for others to follow. His father is Pratiṣṭha according to Śvetāmbara but Supratiṣṭha according to Digambara and his mother is Pṛthvī , according to the Ācāradinakara (14th century work on Jain conduct written by Vardhamāna Sūri).

2) Śirīṣa (शिरीष) refers to the caityavṛkṣa (sacred-tree) associated with the Diś or Dikkumāra class of the bhavanavāsin species of Devas (gods), according to Jain cosmology. They are defined according to the cosmological texts, such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition, or the Trilokasāra in the Digambara tradition.

Śirīṣa (शिरीष) refers to a kind of tree (vṛkṣa) commonly found in the forests (vaṇa) of ancient India, mentioned in the Uvavāiya-sutta (sanksrit: Aupapātika-sūtra). Forests have been a significant part of the Indian economy since ancient days. They have been considered essential for economic development in as much as, besides bestowing many geographical advantages, they provide basic materials for building, furniture and various industries. The most important forest products are wood and timber which have been used by the mankind to fulfil his various needs—domestic, agricultural and industrial.

Different kinds of trees (eg., the Śirīṣa tree) provided firewood and timber. The latter was used for furniture, building materials, enclosures, staircases, pillars, agricultural purposes, e. g. for making ploughs, transportation e. g. for making carts, chariots, boats, ships, and for various industrial needs. Vaṇa-kamma was an occupation dealing in wood and in various otherforest products. Iṅgāla-kamma was another occupation which was concerned with preparing charcoal from firewood.

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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 geogprahy

Shirisha is the name of a tree mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva (10th century A.D).—The tender and delicate frame of a lady is always compared with its flower.

Somadeva mentions many rich forests, gardens, various trees (eg., Shirisha), creepers medicinal and flowering plants and fruit-bearing trees in the Kathasaritsagara. Travel through the thick, high, impregnable and extensive Vindhya forest is a typical feature of many travel-stories. Somadeva’s writing more or less reflects the life of the people of Northern India during the 11th century. His Kathasaritsagara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Shirisha, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravahanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyadharas (celestial beings).

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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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

sirīsa : (m.) the tree Acacia Sirissa.

Sirīsa, (nt.) (cp. Class. Sk. śirṣa) the tree Acacia sirissa D. II, 4; S. IV, 193; Vv 84³²; VvA. 331, 344; °-puppha a kind of gem Miln. 118. Cp. serīsaka. (Page 711)

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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

śirīṣa (शिरीष).—m S A tree, Mimosa sirisha.

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śirīsa (शिरीस).—m (sarṣapa S) A kind of mustard, Sinapis dichotoma.

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