Shirshaka, Śīrṣaka: 16 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Natyashastra
2. Chandas
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
India history
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Hindi
3. Kannada
4. Nepali
See also

Introduction:

Shirshaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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 term Śīrṣaka can be transliterated into English as Sirsaka or Shirshaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Shirshak.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

1) Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक) refers to “masks”, which are accessories used in a dramatic play, according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. It is also known by the name Pratiśīrṣaka. Such accessories and weapons should be made by experts using proper measurements and given to persons in their respective conditions. It forms a component of āhāryābhinaya (extraneous representation).

2) Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक) refers to one of the varieties of the catuṣpadā type of song, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 31. Accordingly, “the song of which the half is suddenly commenced and finished, and is adorned with śīrṣa, is called the śīrṣaka”.

3) Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक) refers to one of the four limbs (aṅga) belonging to Prāveśikī type of song (dhruvā) defined in the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 32.9-16. Accordingly, “depending on different conditions, the dhruvās are known to be of five classes”.

4) Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक) refers to one of the six kinds of songs (dhrūva) according to the Nāṭyaśāstra 32.384:—“a dhruvā which is at the position of śīrṣa (head) is called the śīrṣaka. Śīrṣaka and aḍḍitā belong to kings and gods. Aḍḍitā is to be applied in case of women of divine, royal and Vaiyśa origin”.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Journal of the University of Bombay Volume V: Apabhramsa metres (2)

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक) is a generic name for strophic metres, according to Hemacandra, who mentions a few such combinations as those of a Dvipadī and a Gīti, a Vastuvadana and an Ullāla, a Rāsāvalaya and an Ullāla, a Vadana and an Ullāla and says at the end, that these are all called Ṣaṭpada or Sārdhacchandas by the bards of Magadha. Among the Tribhaṅgīs, he mentions and illustrates a strophe made with a Dvipadī, an Avalambaka and a Gīti and yet another which is made with 2 Avalambakas and a Gīti. The latter is the Dvipadīkhaṇḍa.

context information

Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक) refers to “one’s helmet”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 4).—Accordingly, “[Question: Why is the Buddha called Arhat?]—[Answer]: Ara means enemy (ari) and hat means to kill (han). The expression therefore means ‘killer of enemies’. Some stanzas say: ‘The Buddha has patience (kṣānti) as his armor (varman), Energy (vīrya) as his helmet (śīrṣaka), Discipline (śīla) as his great steed (mahāśva), Dhyāna as his bow (dhanus), Wisdom (prajñā) as his arrows (śara). Outwardly, he destroys the army of Māra (mārasena). Inwardly, he destroys the passions (kleśa), his enemies. He is called Arhat. [...]’.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Śīrṣaka.—(EI 28), village headman; same as Mutuḍa or Muḻuḍa of South Indian inscriptions. Note: śīrṣaka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक).—An epithet of Rāhu.

-kam 1 The head.

2) Skull.

3) A helmet.

4) A head-dress, (cap, hat &c.).

5) Verdict, judgment, judicial sentence.

6) The top of anything.

Derivable forms: śīrṣakaḥ (शीर्षकः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक).—(1) nt., top of a column: °kam Mahāvyutpatti 5576 = Tibetan bre phul; (2) m., helmet: °kaḥ (so read with Mironov for text °kāḥ) Mahāvyutpatti 6076 = Tibetan rmog, helmet (alternatively, ḥtshem bu, = ? should mean something sewn, perhaps a knitted head-cover); listed among arms and armor; (3) name of a nāga king: Mahāvyutpatti 3283, but v.l. and Mironov Cicchaka.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक).—n.

(-kaṃ) 1. A helmet. 2. The skull. 3. The head. 4. Judgment, award, sentence, the fruit or result of judicial investigation. m.

(-kaḥ) Rahu, the personified ascending node. E. kan added to the last.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक).—[śīrṣa + ka], I. m. Rāhu. Ii. n. 1. The skull. 2. A helmet. 3. Judgment, sentence.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक).—[neuter] head; a kind of fine ([jurisprudence]).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक):—[from śīrṣa] mfn. familiar with the text called śiras, [Baudhāyana-dharma-śāstra]

2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a Rāhu (the personified ascending node; cf. śīrṣāvaśeṣī-kṛta), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] n. the head, skull, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Pañcarātra]

4) [v.s. ...] the top of anything, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) [v.s. ...] a cap or helmet, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) [v.s. ...] a garland worn on the head, [Demetrius Galanos’s Lexiko: sanskritikes, anglikes, hellenikes]

7) [v.s. ...] judgement, verdict, sentence, result of judicial investigation (cf. next).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक):—(kaṃ) 1. n. A helmet; the skull; award. m. Rāhu.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sīsaya, Sīsakka.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shirshaka in German

context information

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 dictionary

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक) [Also spelled shirshak]:—(nm) a title, heading.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śīrṣaka (ಶೀರ್ಷಕ):—

1) [noun] the front or top end; tip; apex.

2) [noun] the head.

3) [noun] the skull.

4) [noun] any head-dress as cap, hat, turban, etc.

5) [noun] a protective covering for the head; a helmet.

6) [noun] a string of flowers or any ornament for the head.

context information

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 Dictionary

Śīrṣaka (शीर्षक):—n. 1. topic; title; heading; 2. head-dress; helmet;

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 9 books and stories containing Shirshaka, Śīrṣaka, Sirsaka, Śirṣaka; (plurals include: Shirshakas, Śīrṣakas, Sirsakas, Śirṣakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chapter XXXI - On the Time-measure (tāla)

Chapter XXXII - The Dhruvā Songs

Chapter XXXV - Distribution of Roles (bhūmikā)

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

Part 3 - Why is the Buddha called Arhat < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]

Part 14 - The omniscient Buddha < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]

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2.4. Various other Neck Ornaments < [Chapter 3 - Ornaments]

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Chapter 8: Camara-cañcā (capital city of Camarendra) < [Book 2]

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Verse 3.184 < [Section IX - The Sanctifiers of Company]