Shurpa, Śūrpa, Surpa, Sūrpa: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Shurpa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 term Śūrpa can be transliterated into English as Surpa or Shurpa, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Surpa (सुर्प) refers to a unit of measurement of weight (1 surpa equals 24.576kg; 2 surpas = 1 droṇī = 49.152kg), as defined in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning surpa] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
A relative overview of weight-units is found below, surpa indicated in bold. In case of liquids, the metric equivalents would be the corresponding litre and milliliters.
1 Ratti or Guñjā = 125mg,
8 Rattis - 1 Māṣa = 1g,
4 Māṣa - 1 Kaḻañc = 4g,
12 Māṣas - 1 Karṣa = 12g,
1 Karṣa /Akṣa - 1 Niṣka = 12g,
2 Karṣas - 1 Śukti = 24g,
2 Śukti - 1 Pala = 48g,
2 Palas - 1 Prasṛti = 96g,
2 Prasṛtis - 1 Kuḍava = 192g,
2 Kuḍava - 1 Mānikā = 384g,
2 Mānikās - 1 Prastha (Seru) = 768g,
4 Prasthas - 1 Āḍhaka (Kaṃsa) = 3.072kg,
4 Āḍhakas or Kalaśas - 1 Droṇa = 12.288kg,
2 Droṇas - 1 Surpa = 24.576kg,
2 Surpas - 1 Droṇī (Vahi) = 49.152kg,
4 Droṇīs - 1 Khari = 196.608kg,
1 Pala = 48g,
100 Palas - 1 Tulā = 4.8kg,
20 Tulās - 1 Bhāra = 96kg.
Agriculture (Krishi) and Vrikshayurveda (study of Plant life)
Sūrpa (सूर्प) or Sūrpapatra refers to a type of Patra (plant-leaf), which represents a technical term related to the morphology branch of “plant science”, which ultimately involves the study of life history of plants, including its origin and development, their external and internal structures and the relation of the members of the plant body with one another.— The vṛkṣāṅga-sūtrīya-adhyāya, i.e., the chapter of the bījotpatti-kāṇḍa of Parāśara’s Vṛkṣāyurveda deals with various parts of plants, e.g., Leaf (parṇa or patra). [...] A leaf with a large lamina looking like a winnowing fan is called sūrpa-patra.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Śūrpa (शूर्प):—A unit of Measurement; Synonym of kumbha = 24. 576 kg / l of metric units
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)
Śūrpa (शूर्प) refers to a “winnowing fan”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “The man of knowledge should mark the sacred fields located in the towns. Thus (this) category has been explained externally; now listen (to how it is) in the home. Prayāga is in the middle (of the house). Varuṇā is present in the door. Kollāpura is in the scissors. The stove is Aṭṭahāsaka. One should know that the threshing floor is Jayantī and Caritra is the mortar (in which grain is cleaned or threshed). The winnowing fan [i.e., śūrpa] is said to be Ekāmraka and Devikoṭa is the grinding stone. (Thus there are) the dish (used to cover water jars), the bedstead, mortar (muśala), threshold, stove, winnowing fan and grinding stone. [...]”.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Śūrpa (शूर्प) or Śūrpādri refers to a country belonging to “Dakṣiṇa or Dakṣiṇadeśa (southern division)” classified under the constellations of Uttaraphālguni, Hasta and Citrā, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Uttaraphālguni, Hasta and Citrā represent the southern division consisting of [i.e., Śūrpa] [...]”.
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)
Śūrpa (शूर्प) refers to a “winnowing fan”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 3.—Accordingly, “[...] One may perform the Block-of-Wood Observance in a forest full of bears, tigers and lions, conquering the urges to sleep and eat, [constantly] reciting. If one takes on the appearance of a woman and sings and dances, adorned with bracelets, with a winnowing fan (śūrpa), ball and plait, one observes the Colourful Observance. With a weapon in hand, full of compassion, if one wanders like a saviour of creatures (?) focussed upon recitation, meditation and worship, one performs the Warrior Observance. [...]”.
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.
India history and geography
Surpa refers to: “Winnow”.—It is included in the glossary section of the study dealing with the Temples and Cult of Shri Rama in Tamil-Nadu, with reference to the traditional lore, embodied in, for example the Nalayirativvaiyappirapantam (i.e., Nalayira Divyaprabandham).
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
Marathi-English dictionary
śūrpa (शूर्प).—n S A sifting scuttle or fan; a hand-winnowing-basket.
śūrpa (शूर्प).—n A sifting fan.
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
Śūrpa (शूर्प).—(śṝ-paḥ ūśca nit Uṇādi-sūtra 3.26) A winnowing-basket; Manusmṛti 5.117.
-rpaḥ A measure of two Droṇas.
Derivable forms: śūrpaḥ (शूर्पः), śūrpam (शूर्पम्).
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Sūrpa (सूर्प).—See शूर्प (śūrpa).
Śūrpa (शूर्प).— (and probably better sūrpa sūrpa, q. cf.), I. m. and n. A winnowing basket, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 5, 117. Ii. m. A measure of two Droṇas. Iii. f. pī. 1. A small winnowing basket, a toy for children. 2. A proper name.
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Sūrpa (सूर्प).— (cf. śūrpa), m. A winnowing basket, [Yājñavalkya, (ed. Stenzler.)] 1, 285; [Pañcatantra] 121, 19.
— Cf. probably [Old High German.] swarb, gurges; N. N. L. zwerven, vagari; [Gothic.] svairban; [Old High German.] swerban (To dry something, originally, by swinging it in the open air).
Śūrpa (शूर्प).—[neuter] a winnowing basket.
1) Śūrpa (शूर्प):—[from śūrp] n. (and m. [gana] ardharcādi; also written sūrpa) a winnowing basket or fan (id est. a kind of wicker receptacle which, when shaken about, serves as a fan for winnowing corn; also personified as a Gandharva), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] etc. etc.
2) [v.s. ...] a measure of 2 Droṇas, [Śārṅgadhara-saṃhitā]
3) Sūrpa (सूर्प):—paka, pāraka See śūrp.
Śūrpa (शूर्प):—(ka) śūrpayati 10. a. To mete or measure.
Śūrpa (शूर्प):—
1) sūrpe ca sarṣapo yathā [PAÑCAR. 2, 2, 99.] viśvaṃ sarṣapavatsarpasyaikadeśe (so gedr.) [33.]
Sūrpa (सूर्प) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Suppa.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Śūrpa (ಶೂರ್ಪ):—
1) [noun] a winnowing basket, a kind of wicker receptacle which, when shaken about, serves as a fan for winnowing corn.
2) [noun] a measure of two drōṇas.
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Sūrpa (ಸೂರ್ಪ):—[noun] a kind of apparatus, made by interweaving strips of bamboo or made of metal, for winnowing; a winnow.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Śūrpa (शूर्प):—n. a wicker work or tray for winnowing; a small winnowing tray;
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)
Starts with (+7): Shurpadri, Shurpagraha, Shurpagramaka, Shurpaka, Shurpakara, Shurpakarati, Shurpakari, Shurpakarna, Shurpakarnaputa, Shurpakarni, Shurpakhari, Shurpanakha, Shurpanakhi, Shurpanaya, Shurpanayiya, Shurpanishpava, Shurpankha, Shurpaputa, Shurparaka, Shurparakashatshashti.
Full-text (+62): Shurpanakha, Shurpakarna, Surpaparni, Adhyardhashurpa, Dvishurpa, Shurpashruti, Shurpavata, Shurpanayiya, Shurpagraha, Shurpakhari, Shurpanaya, Shurpanakhi, Shurpashrava, Shatashurpa, Shurpaputa, Shurpavina, Shurpanishpava, Shurpagramaka, Shaurpa, Shurpadri.
Relevant text
Search found 39 books and stories containing Shurpa, Śūrpa, Surpa, Sūrpa, Śurpa; (plurals include: Shurpas, Śūrpas, Surpas, Sūrpas, Śurpas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Charaka Samhita (English translation) (by Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society)
Chapter 12c - Table of Measures (mana) < [Kalpasthana (Kalpa Sthana) — Section on Pharmaceutics]
Chapter 1a - The Virtues of the Chebulic (abhaya) and Emblic Myrobalans (amalaki) < [Cikitsasthana (Cikitsa Sthana) — Section on Therapeutics]
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Economics (4): Measures, Weights and Coinage < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Minerals and Metals in Sanskrit literature (by Sulekha Biswas)
2. Minerals and Metals < [Chapter 3 - Minerals and Metals in the Vedic literature after Rigveda]
Appendix B (2) - Technical terms in the other Vedic literatures
7. Concept of Unit Operations < [Chapter 4 - Materials and Concepts in Panini’s Ashtadhyayi]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 2 - Measures of weight < [Chapter VII - Enumeration of technical terms]
Marma-sastra and Ayurveda (study) (by C. Suresh Kumar)