Shreyas, Śreyas, Śreyās: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Shreyas means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 terms Śreyas and Śreyās can be transliterated into English as Sreyas or Shreyas, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraŚreyas (श्रेयस्) refers to “renown”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] If there were no Jyotiṣakas, the muhūrtas, the tithis, the nakṣatras, the ṛtus and the āyanas would go wrong. It therefore behoves a prince who loves success, fame, wealth, happiness and renown [i.e., śreyas], to secure the services of a learned Jyotiṣaka”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraŚreyas (श्रेयस्) refers to “fortune”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 19.84-85, while describing the ritual that protect the king and his kingdom]—“The tradition is secret and confers happiness and the best of all fortune (sarva-śreyas). The pleased and pious adepts strive to obtain the favor of [Mṛtyujit]. They are liberated from all suffering. What I say is true, not false”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismŚreyās (श्रेयास्) is the name of a Tathāgata (Buddha) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Śreyās).
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)Śreyas (श्रेयस्) refers to “good fortune”, according to Kuladatta’s Kriyāsaṃgrahapañjikā, a text within Tantric Buddhism representing a construction manual for monasteries.—Accordingly, [while describing pratiṣṭhā in chapter 6]—“[The Ācārya should] also entertain spectators with tāmbūla etc. [In addition,] food and a bali should be offered for [their] good fortune (śreyas)”.
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: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections1) Śreyas (श्रेयस्) refers to the “bliss” (that is free from rebirth), according to the Yaśastilaka Campū verse 2.215-216.—Accordingly, “The Self is by nature deathless and without any beginning, endowed with bliss and infinite power, and luminous and pure. The powerful flames of sinful Karma heat it, like mercury, after lodging it in the body. Under the intoxicating power of Karma, even a man of superior merit goes reeling down to unhappy births. Se [sic] let the wise, who know the cardinal difference between the body and the Self, strive for the bliss (śreyas) that is free from rebirth”.
2) Śreyas (श्रेयस्) refers to the “betterment (of oneself)”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Those who are wise speak about momentariness with the striking of the clock of kings. The betterment of oneself (śreyas—ātmanaḥ śreyo) must be accomplished. That [time] which is past will not return”.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚreyas (श्रेयस्).—a. [atiśayena praśasyam īyassu śrādeśaḥ]
1) Better, preferable, superior; वर्धनाद्रक्षणं श्रेयः (vardhanādrakṣaṇaṃ śreyaḥ) H.3.3; श्रेयान् स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात् स्वनुष्ठितात् । स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः (śreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt | svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ) || Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 3.35;2.5.
2) Best, most excellent, quite desirable; श्रेयो ह्यस्माकमेवं हि (śreyo hyasmākamevaṃ hi) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.13.
3) More happy or fortunate.
4) More blessed, dearer (compar. of praśasya q. v.). -n.
1) Virtue, righteous deeds, moral or religious merit.
2) Bliss, good fortune, blessing, good, welfare, felicity, a good or auspicious result; पूर्वावधीरितं श्रेयो दुःखं हि परिवर्तते (pūrvāvadhīritaṃ śreyo duḥkhaṃ hi parivartate) Ś.7.13; धिङ् मामुपस्थितश्रेयोऽवमानिनम् (dhiṅ māmupasthitaśreyo'vamāninam) Ś.6; प्रतिबध्नाति हि श्रेयः पूज्यपूजाव्यतिक्रमः (pratibadhnāti hi śreyaḥ pūjyapūjāvyatikramaḥ) R.1.79; Uttararāmacarita 5.27;7.2; R.5.34.
3) Any good or auspicious occasion; Ś.7.
4) Final beatitude, absolution.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚreyas (श्रेयस्).—mfn.
(-yān-yasī-yaḥ) Best, excellent, most excellent. Ind. Well, most excellent. n.
(-yaḥ) 1. Virtue, moral merit. 2. Final happiness. 3. Good fortune, auspiciousness, prosperity. m. (-yān) The 11th Jina or Jaina pontiff. f. (-yasī) 1. A plant resembling pepper, (Pothos officinalis.) 2. A shrub, (Cissampelos hexandra.) 3. Yellow myrobalan. E. śra substituted for praśasta good, and īyasun aff. of the irr. superlative.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śreyas (श्रेयस्):—mfn. (either [Comparative degree] of śrī, or rather [according to] to native authorities of śrī-mat or praśasya; cf. [Greek] κρείων) more splendid or beautiful, more excellent or distinguished, superior, preferable, better, better than (with [ablative] or with na See below), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
2) most excellent, best, [Mahābhārata iii, 1256]
3) propitious, well disposed to ([genitive case]), [ib. i, 3020]
4) auspicious, fortunate, conducive to welfare or prosperity, [Kāvya literature; Hitopadeśa; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
5) m. (in [astronomy]) Name of the second Muhūrta
6) of the third month ([according to] to a [particular] reckoning)
7) (with Jainas) Name of the 11th Arhat of the present Avasarpiṇī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) n. (as) the better state, the better fortune or condition (sometimes used when the subject of a sentence would seem to require the masc. form), [Atharva-veda; Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Brāhmaṇa; Kauśika-sūtra]
9) good (as opp. to ‘evil’), welfare, bliss, fortune, happiness, [Kaṭha-upaniṣad; Mahābhārata] etc.
10) the bliss of final emancipation, felicity (See śreyaḥ-pariśrāma, [column]3)
11) ind. better, rather, rather than (used like varam [q.v.] with na; e.g. śreyo mṛtaṃ na jīvitam, ‘better is death and not life’ or ‘rather than life’, or ‘death is better than life’), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
12) = dharma, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
13) Name of a Sāman, [Ārṣeya-brāhmaṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚreyas (श्रेयस्):—[(yān-yasī-yaḥ) n.] Virtue; final bliss; prosperity. m. A Jaina pontiff. f. (ī) A plant like pepper, &c. a. Best, excellent.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śreyas (श्रेयस्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sea.
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 dictionaryŚreyas (श्रेयस्):—(nm) see [śreya; ~kara] good, salutary, conducive to happiness.
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See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+1): Shreyahkama, Shreyahkrit, Shreyahparishrama, Shreyasa, Shreyasaka, Shreyasampada, Shreyasi, Shreyasitara, Shreyaska, Shreyaskama, Shreyaskara, Shreyaskarabhashya, Shreyaskrit, Shreyasmampadana, Shreyassu, Shreyastara, Shreyastva, Shreyokshikankshin, Shreyomaya, Shreyortha.
Ends with: Ahamshreyas, Ahashreyas, Ashreyas, Atmashreyas, Bahushreyas, Nihshreyas, Parashreyas, Sarvashreyas, Utkrantashreyas.
Full-text (+56): Shreyaskara, Shreyorthin, Sea, Shreyasa, Shreyastva, Bahushreyas, Shreyahparishrama, Ashreyas, Shreyo, Shreyahkarabhashya, Shreyah, Shreyahkamata, Shreyahkrit, Shreyahkaratara, Shreyastara, Shreyahkama, Shreshthaka, Shreshthika, Shreyasitara, Shreshthanvaya.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Shreyas, Śreyas, Sreyas, Śreyās; (plurals include: Shreyases, Śreyases, Sreyases, Śreyāses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.3.19 < [Chapter 3 - Description of the Lord’s Appearance]
Chandogya Upanishad (english Translation) (by Swami Lokeswarananda)
Verse 8.4.3 < [Section 8.4]
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 16.22 < [Chapter 16 - Daivāsura-sampada-yoga]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2.159 < [Section XXVI - Chastisement of Pupils]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 176 - Origin of Kaṃsāreśvara (Kaṃsāra-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 75 - Manifestation of Trilocana < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Chapter 74 - The Greatness of Oṃkāra (Continued) < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Dhamma Padam < [July – September, 1994]
Triple Stream < [July – September, 1994]
Swami Vivekananda on the Future of India < [October – December, 1993]
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