Shoshana, Śoṣaṇa, Sosana: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Shoshana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Śoṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Sosana or Shoshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Shoshan.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationŚoṣaṇa (शोषण, “withering”) refers to one of the five arrows of Kāma, also known as Puṣpabāṇa, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.3.—“[...] In this form and with your five flower-arrows [viz., Puṣpabāṇa] you can enamour and captivate men and women and carry on the eternal task of creation. [...] The minds of all living beings will become an easy target of your five-flower arrows (Puṣpabāṇa). You will be the cause of their elation. Thus I have assigned you the task of facilitating creation. These sons of mine will confer names and titles on you. Taking his five flower-arrows (Puṣpabāṇa), Kāma decided on his future course remaining invisible in form. His five arrows are respectively: Harṣaṇa (delighting), Rocana (appealing), Mohana (deluding), Śoṣaṇa (withering), Māraṇa (killing). Even sages could be deluded and tormented by them”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexŚoṣaṇa (शोषण).—To be worshipped in house-building.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 253. 26.

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.
Dhanurveda (science of warfare)
Source: Wisdom Library: DhanurvedaŚoṣaṇa (शोषण) refers to one of the arrows of Kāmadeva. It is a Sanskrit word defined in the Dhanurveda-saṃhitā, which contains a list of no less than 117 weapons. The Dhanurveda-saṃhitā is said to have been composed by the sage Vasiṣṭha, who in turn transmitted it trough a tradition of sages, which can eventually be traced to Śiva and Brahmā.

Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेद) refers to the “knowledge of warfare” and, as an upaveda, is associated with the Ṛgveda. It contains instructions on warfare, archery and ancient Indian martial arts, dating back to the 2nd-3rd millennium BCE.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: archive.org: SardhatrisatikalottaragamaŚoṣaṇa (शोषण) refers to “drying” which is prescribed as one of the operations/ preliminary ceremonies related to the kuṇḍa (“fire-pit”), according to the various Āgamas and related literature. Śoṣaṇa is mentioned in the Suprabheda-āgama (Kriyā-pāda, chapter 11), Pūrvakāraṇa-āgama (chapter 22), Raurava-āgama (Kriyā-pāda, chapter 15), Dīpta-āgama (chapter 33) and the Cintya-āgama (chapter 10).
Source: Shodhganga: Mantra-sādhana: Chapter One of the KakṣapuṭatantraŚoṣaṇa (शोषण, “drying”) or Śoṣa refers to one of the “seven means” (saptopāya) to be performed when a mantra does not manifest its effect, as explained in the 10th-century Kakṣapuṭatantra verse 1.104-105. Śoṣaṇa, which aims to dry up the mantra, should be performed. The practitioner attaches the bījas of Vāyu, the god of Wind, to it, and keeps the written mantra around his neck. The last resort is the dahanīya, which aims to burn the mantra at the stake.
Accordingly, “if the nourished [mantra] does not have an effect, one should perform the śoṣaṇa (drying up). One should [attach] the mantra to double bījas [of Vāyu (i.e. yaṃ)], in the vidarbhaṇa manner. The vidyā written with the ashes of the vaṭa (banyan) should be kept around his neck. If the dried [mantra] does not have an effect, one should perform the dahanīya (burning) with Agni’s bīja (i.e., raṃ)”.
Note on śoṣa-poṣaṇa: the Tattvacintāmaṇi (20.94) and Bṛhattantrasāra (4.47) support poṣa-soṣaṇa and the Dīkṣāprakāśa supports poṣaṇa-śoṣaṇa. They are explained in order of poṣaṇa and śoṣaṇa, as we see below. Note on vidarbhaṇa: it is the method of arranging an alternating bīja and an akṣara of the mantra. Note on vaṭabhasma: the Tattvacintāmaṇi (20.105) and Bṛhattantrasāra (4.54) support varabhasma (ashes of turmeric?).

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: National Mission for Manuscripts: Traditional Medicine System in IndiaŚoṣaṇa (शोषण) refers to “absorbing” and is the action (karma) associated with Rūkṣa (“dry”): one of the twenty Śārīraguṇa (or Gurvādiguṇa), which refers to the “twenty qualities of the body”—where guṇa (property) represents one of the six divisions of dravya (drugs).—Śārīraka-guṇas are twenty in number. There are ten guṇas with their opposite guṇas. [...] Snigdha (“oily”) has the predominant bhūta (element) of water and the associated actions of “moistening/kledana”; while Rūkṣa (“dry”) has the predominant bhūta (element) of earth, fire, air and is associated with the action “absorbing/śoṣaṇa”.
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭuŚoṣaṇa (शोषण) is another name for Śuṇṭhī, a medicinal plant identified with Zingiber officinale Rosc. or “ginger root” from the Zingiberaceae or “ginger” family of flowering plants, according to verse 6.24-26 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu.—Note: Śuṇṭhi is dried and specially prepared form of Ārdraka by removing the outer scales of the rhizome. The major part of the oil of ginger remains in these scales and is obtained from the Śuṇṭhī/Ārdraka with scales.—The sixth chapter (pippalyādi-varga) of this book enumerates ninety-five varieties of plants obtained from the market (paṇyauṣadhi). Together with the names Śoṣaṇa and Śuṇṭhī, there are a total of fifteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

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: ManthanabhairavatantramŚoṣaṇa (शोषण) refers to the “desiccation of the enemy’s body”, according to Tantric texts such as the Kubjikāmata-tantra, the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—HRĪṂ is the seed-syllable of Māyā and Lakṣmī. It belongs to Viṣṇu and corresponds to the element Water. Its form is like a wheel of fire (alātacakra). [...] The Kubjikāmatatantra also attributes magical powers to the Five Praṇavas, which are said to bring about sexual arousal (drāvaṇa), disturbance (kṣobha), delusion (moha), sleep (jṛmbhana) and the desiccation of the enemy’s body (śoṣaṇa), respectively.

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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchŚoṣaṇa (शोषण) refers to the “sucking up” (of both semen and vaginal fluid), according to the Yogamārgaprakāśikā 145-146b.—Accordingly, “If [the Yogin’s] semen accidentally moves [from his body] and has fallen into [a woman’s] vagina, the sucking up (śoṣaṇa) of both [semen and vaginal fluid] by the Yogin, [results in] him becoming a receptacle of [all] the Siddhis. This Mudrā, [called] Sahajolī, should always be known by Yogins”.

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).
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarysosana : (nt.) causing to dry.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionarySosana, (nt.) (fr. soseti) causing to dry (in surgery) Miln. 353. (Page 726)

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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryśōṣaṇa (शोषण).—n (S) Drying up; drawing forth the moisture of and desiccating: also drawing in or sucking up of moisture or liquor, absorbing.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśōṣaṇa (शोषण).—n Drying up; absorbing.
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 dictionaryŚoṣaṇa (शोषण).—a. (-ṇī f.) [शुष्-ल्यु ल्युट् वा (śuṣ-lyu lyuṭ vā)]
1) Drying up, desiccating.
2) Causing to wither up, emaciating; पत्राणामिव शोषणेन मरुता स्पृष्टा लता माधवी (patrāṇāmiva śoṣaṇena marutā spṛṣṭā latā mādhavī) Ś.3.1.
-ṇaḥ Name of one of the arrows of Cupid.
-ṇam 1 Drying up, desiccation.
2) Suction, sucking up, absorption.
3) Exhaustion.
4) Emaciation, withering up.
5) Dry ginger.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚoṣaṇa (शोषण).—n.
(-ṇaṃ) 1. Suction, sucking. 2. Drying up. 3. Exhaustion. 4. Dry-ginger. m.
(-ṇaḥ) One of the arrows of Kamadeva, or Cupid. f. (-ṇī) 1. Drying up. 2. Causing to wither. E. śuṣ to dry, lyuṭ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚoṣaṇa (शोषण).—i. e. śuṣ + ana, I. adj. Drying up, causing to fade, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 58. Ii. m. One of the arrows of Kāma, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 7, 3. Iii. n. Drying up, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 2. ed. 91, 61; [Pañcatantra] 27, 1 (vṛthā -śarīra-, Useless mortifying one’s self).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚoṣaṇa (शोषण).—[feminine] ī = 1 śoṣa [adjective]; [neuter] exsiccation, drought.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śoṣaṇa (शोषण):—[from śoṣa] mf(ī)n. drying up, draining, parching, withering, [Nirukta, by Yāska; Mahābhārata; Suśruta]
2) [v.s. ...] (ifc.) removing, destroying, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of an Agni, [Harivaṃśa]
4) [v.s. ...] of one of the arrows of Kāma-deva (god of love), [Vetāla-pañcaviṃśatikā; Gīta-govinda [Scholiast or Commentator]]
5) [v.s. ...] Bignonia Indica, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] n. drying up (intr.), desiccation, [Maitrī-upaniṣad; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
7) [v.s. ...] making dry, draining, suction, [Mahābhārata; Pañcatantra; Suśruta]
8) [v.s. ...] dry ginger, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚoṣaṇa (शोषण):—(ṇaḥ) 1. m. One of the arrows of Kāmadeva. n. Suction, drying up.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śoṣaṇa (शोषण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sosaṇa, Sosaṇadā, Sosaṇā.
[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 dictionaryŚoṣaṇa (शोषण) [Also spelled shoshan]:—(nm) exploitation; soaking; hence ~[ṇīya] (a).
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Sosaṇa (सोसण) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Śoṣaṇa.
2) Sosaṇā (सोसणा) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Śoṣaṇā.
2) Sosaṇā has the following synonyms: Sosaṇadā.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚōṣaṇa (ಶೋಷಣ):—[adjective] = ಶೋಷಕ [shoshaka]1 - 1
--- OR ---
Śōṣaṇa (ಶೋಷಣ):—
1) [noun] = ಶೋಷ - [shosha -] 1.
2) [noun] the act of drying (something).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Shoshanala.
Ends with: Adhishoshana, Ashoshana, Avashoshana, Avicisamshoshana, Dhatushoshana, Gatrashoshana, Hridayashoshana, Pandushoshana, Parishoshana, Prashoshana, Raktashoshana, Samparishoshana, Samshoshana, Sharirashoshana, Taluvishoshana, Upashoshana, Varishoshana, Vishoshana, Vrikshashoshana.
Full-text (+36): Samparishoshana, Sharirashoshana, Sosanada, Hridayashoshana, Vishoshana, Drakh, Vatarajju, Shoshane, Gatrashoshana, Prashoshana, Upashoshana, Gopanasi, Parishoshin, Parishoshana, Shoshan, Ucchoshana, Samshoshana, Keshata, Sucking, Dhovana.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Shoshana, Śoṣaṇa, Sosana, Śōṣaṇa, Sosaṇa, Sōsaṇa, Sosaṇā, Sōsaṇā, Śoṣaṇā; (plurals include: Shoshanas, Śoṣaṇas, Sosanas, Śōṣaṇas, Sosaṇas, Sōsaṇas, Sosaṇās, Sōsaṇās, Śoṣaṇās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
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