The Sanskrit term Śūrpākāra can be transliterated into English as Surpakara or Shurpakara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1) Śūrpākāra (शूर्पाकार).—Sages of this place visited Dvārakā; visited by Balarāma.^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 90. 28 [5]; 79. 20.

2) Sūrpākāra (सूर्पाकार).—Of the southern country.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 128.

context information

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.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (vastu)

Śūrpākāra (शूर्पाकार) refers to a “winnowing basket” which shape is considered inauspicious elements for the construction site for Temples, according to Puranic lore such as the Bhaviṣyapurāṇa and Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—Selection of proper site is very necessary for any construction. It is the prime and first duty of the constructor or the proprietor to find out a perfect land which should possess the required qualities. [...] Some inauspicious places which have [e.g., places in the shape of a winnowing basket or śūrpākāra, etc.] are to be totally discarded for choosing a site for temple construction.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Śūrpākāra (शूर्पाकार):—[from śūrpa > śūrp] mfn. shaped like a w° fan, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Shurpakarati.

Full-text: Surya, Akara.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Shurpakara, Śūrpākāra, Sūrpākāra, Surpakara; (plurals include: Shurpakaras, Śūrpākāras, Sūrpākāras, Surpakaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)

3. Site Selection for Temple Building < [Chapter 4 - Temple Building]

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