Shodashakala, Ṣoḍaśakalā, Shodashan-kala: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Shodashakala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Ṣoḍaśakalā can be transliterated into English as Sodasakala or Shodashakala, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Ṣoḍaśakalā (षोडशकला) refers to the “sixteenth energy” according to Abhinavagupta’s Parātriṃśikāvivaraṇa:—The Lord (ever united with his power of emission) emanates the universe. The power of emission (visargaśakti) extends from the Earth to Śakti and from (the consonant) Ka to Kṣa. This is said to be (amā kalā) the sixteenth energy (ṣoḍaśakalā) in the following verse: “With the Person made of consciousness, that is, Śiva who consists of the sixteen energies (kalā), the sixteenth energy is known as the ‘energy of nectar’ (amṛtakalā)”. This is not the view of either the Sāṃkhya or the Vedānta, but only of the Śaiva scriptures (śāstra). The supreme Lord's power of emission (visargaśakti) is the seed of the highest beatitude.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Ṣoḍaśakalā (षोडशकला) [=kalāṣoḍaśaka?] refers to the “sixteen parts” (of the full moon), according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 7.216cd-217, while describing the meditation on the kālahaṃsa]—“After [this, the Yogin] visualizes the heart lotus, with sixteen petals, situated in the opening of the channel that pierces the tube [i.e., the lotus stem. He imagines] a white, radiant, completely full moon, endowed with sixteen parts (kalāṣoḍaśaka-anvita), and with his body in the shape of a lotus pericarp. [Then, he pictures] the self, It is to be imagined [as seated] in the middle of that [moon], and is as spotless as pure crystal. [The self is] pervaded with amṛta, [which washes over him] in a wave from the ocean of the milky nectar of immortality”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Ṣoḍaśakalā (षोडशकला).—the sixteen digits of the moon, thus named : अमृता मानदा पूषा तुष्टिः पुष्टी रतिर्घृतिः । शशिनी चन्द्रिका कान्तिर्ज्योत्स्ना श्रीः प्रीतिरेव च । अङ्गदा च तथा पूर्णमृता षोडश वै कलाः (amṛtā mānadā pūṣā tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭī ratirghṛtiḥ | śaśinī candrikā kāntirjyotsnā śrīḥ prītireva ca | aṅgadā ca tathā pūrṇamṛtā ṣoḍaśa vai kalāḥ) ||.
Derivable forms: ṣoḍaśakalāḥ (षोडशकलाः).
Ṣoḍaśakalā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ṣoḍaśan and kalā (कला).
1) Ṣoḍaśakala (षोडशकल):—[=ṣoḍaśa-kala] [from ṣoḍaśa > ṣaṣ] mfn. (ṣoḍ) having 16 parts, sixteenfold, [Brāhmaṇa; Praśna-upaniṣad] etc.
2) Ṣoḍaśakalā (षोडशकला):—[=ṣoḍaśa-kalā] [from ṣoḍaśa-kala > ṣoḍaśa > ṣaṣ] f. [plural] the 16 digits of the moon (named, 1. A-mṛtā; 2. Māna-dā; 3. Pūṣā; 4. Tuṣṭi; 5. Puṣṭi; 6. Rati; 7. Dhṛti; 3. Śaśinī; 9. Candrikā; 10. Kānti; 11. Jyotsnā; 12. Śrī; 13. Prīti; 14. Aṅga-dā; 15. Pūrṇā; 16. Pūrṇāmṛtā), [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
Ṣoḍaśakala (षोडशकल):—(ṣoḍaśan + kalā) adj. sechzehntheilig: agnihotra [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 5, 10.] [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 7, 2, 2, 17. 11, 1, 6, 36. 12, 8, 2, 13. 13, 2, 2, 13] candramas [Ṣaḍviṃśabrāhmaṇa 4, 6.] puruṣa [Praśnopaniṣad 6, 1.] [Weber’s Indische Studien 9, 110. fgg.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 1, 3, 1. 6, 1, 51.] vidyā [Colebrooke 1, 326.]
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.
Nepali dictionary
Ṣoḍaśa-kalā (षोडश-कला):—n. the sixteen digits of the moon;
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)
Partial matches: Shodasha, Kala.
Starts with: Shodashakalavidya, Shotashakalai.
Full-text: Shodashakalavidya, Cotaca-kala-pracatam, Shodash-kala, Kalashodasha, Amritakala, Kalashodashaka, Alankrita, Ayana, Divine chariot.
Relevant text
Search found 20 books and stories containing Shodashakala, Shodasha-kala, Shodashan-kala, Ṣoḍaśa-kala, Sodasa-kala, Ṣoḍaśa-kalā, Ṣoḍaśakalā, Sodasakala, Ṣoḍaśakala, Ṣoḍaśan-kalā, Sodasan-kala; (plurals include: Shodashakalas, kalas, kalās, Ṣoḍaśakalās, Sodasakalas, Ṣoḍaśakalas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brahma Sutras (Govinda Bhashya) (by Kusakratha das Brahmacari)
Adhikarana 7: The Nature of the Senses’ Entrance into the Supreme < [Adhyaya 4, Pada 2]
Sūtra 2.3.12 < [Adhyaya 2, Pada 3]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 534 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 3]
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 3 - Description of twenty-four incarnations of lord Viṣṇu < [Book 1 - First Skandha]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 4.8.68 < [Part 8 - Compatible & Incompatible Mellows (maitrī-vaira-sthiti)]
Chandogya Upanishad (english Translation) (by Swami Lokeswarananda)
Verse 6.7.1 < [Section 6.7]