Shushka, Śuṣkā, Śuṣka: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Shushka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, 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 Śuṣkā and Śuṣka can be transliterated into English as Suska or Shushka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Shushk.
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantra1) Śuṣkā (शुष्का, “emaciated”):—One of the nine Dūtī presided over by one of the nine bhaivaravas named Mudreśa (emanation of Ananta, who is the central presiding deity of Dūtīcakra), according to the Kubjikāmata-tantra and the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā.
2) Śuṣkā (शुष्का):—Sanskrit name of one of the thirty-two female deities of the Somamaṇḍala (second maṇḍala of the Khecarīcakra) according to the kubjikāmata-tantra. These goddesses are situated on a ring of sixteen petals and represent the thirty-two syllables of the Aghoramantra. Each deity (including Śuṣkā) is small, plump and large-bellied. They can assume any form at will, have sixteen arms each, and are all mounted on a different animal.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsŚuṣka (शुष्क) refers to “drying (herbs)”, according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[The intercourse (saṃga)]:—[...] He should dry brahmamaṇḍūkī together with its roots in the shade (chāyā-śuṣka). He should mix it with grape-juice, candied sugar and ghee. He should have it three times [a day] for three months in portions measuring a dice as food and drink and he should drink milk. His semen will not deteriorate in millions of years if he practises sex [with Māyā]. His [semen] will never ever wane. It is for the rejuvenation of the body, O Priyā. [...]”.

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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaŚuṣka (शुष्क).—A Maharṣi who lived in the Gokarṇa temple. When Bhagīratha brought Gaṅgā from heaven to the earth, sea water began to rise and the temples situated near the sea were submerged. At that time Śuṣka went along with other Maharṣis to visit Paraśurāma at the Mahendra mountain. In response to Śuṣka’s prayer, Paraśurāma raised the submerged temples including the Gokarṇa temple, above the water.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1) Śuṣka (शुष्क).—A sage who waited on Paraśurāma with other sages for the reclamation of Gokarṇa and insisted that an established rule may be broken for the sake of dharma.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 57. 1, 23-4.
2) Śuṣkā (शुष्का).—See Śuṣkarevatī.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 179. 85.

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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsŚuṣka (शुष्क):—Dry; dryness; one of the gunas described by Bhava Prakasha; caused due to activated Prithvi, Vayu & Tejas;

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: ManthanabhairavatantramŚuṣkā (शुष्का) is a name for the Goddess, according to the Devīpañcaśatikā verse 2.74-79.—Accordingly: “One should draw the supreme goddess there. She is Śuṣkā and, auspicious, her face is emaciated. She has two arms and one face. She has no flesh and no blood (runs through her veins). (Made of just) tendons and bones, her body is thin and she likes (to eat) human entrails and the like constantly. She is seated on Rudra’s severed head and her feet are placed on two (others). On the left is Viṣṇu’s head and on the right that of Indra and her legs are bent. She is the first (of all the deities) and fills (and nourishes all things). [...]”.

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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraŚuṣka (शुष्क) refers to “that which is dried” (e.g., ‘dried cow dung’), according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXXII-XXXIV).—Accordingly, “When one is making fire by friction, first the flame takes fire on the soft grass and dried cow dung (śuṣka-gomaya) and, as the strength of the fire increases, it is able to consume big pieces of moist wood. It is the same for the concentration of loving-kindness (maitrī-samādhi): at the beginning, when one make the vows for loving-kindness, one applies them only to one’s friends; but when the mind of loving-kindness has grown, enemies and relatives become mixed up and one sees them all as experiencing happiness: this is because the dhyānas or samāpattis of loving-kindness have grown and are becoming complete”.
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureŚuṣka (शुष्क) refers to the “dryness” (of forest flowers, fruits, etc.), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [after the Bhagavān reached the vicinity of the residence of Vaiśravaṇa], “Then at the time of drought [at] the lotus lake, all forest flowers, fruits, leaves and foliage were dry (śuṣka), the flowers withered. The fish, Makaras, Timiṅgilas, alligators, bees and various other water-born beings were deprived of water, and when only little water remained they fled in the ten directions, dashed, ran with pained hearts because their lives were obstructed and ruined”.

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryśuṣka (शुष्क).—a (S) Dry; not wet, moist, succulent, or sappy. 2 fig. Dried and shrunken through sickness or fasting.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishśuṣka (शुष्क).—a Dry. Fig. Dried and shrunken through sickness.
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 dictionaryŚuṣka (शुष्क).—p. p. [śuṣ-kta]
1) Dry, dried up; शाखायां शुष्कं करिष्यामि (śākhāyāṃ śuṣkaṃ kariṣyāmi) Mṛcchakaṭika 8.
2) Parched up, sear.
3) Shrivelled, shrunk up, emaciated.
4) Feigned, pretended, mock; कामिनः स्म कुरुते करभोरूर्हारि शुष्करुदितं च सुखेऽपि (kāminaḥ sma kurute karabhorūrhāri śuṣkaruditaṃ ca sukhe'pi) &Saute;i.1.69.
5) Empty, vain, useless, unproductive; M.2.
6) Groundless, causeless.
7) Offensive, harsh; तस्म नाकुशलं ब्रूयान्न शुष्कां गिरमीरयेत् (tasma nākuśalaṃ brūyānna śuṣkāṃ giramīrayet) Manusmṛti 11.35.
-ṣkam Anything dry (as wood, cowdung).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚuṣka (शुष्क).—mfn.
(-ṣkaḥ-ṣkā-ṣkaṃ) 1. Dry, dried. 2. Groundless, causeless. 3. Unproductive, unprofitable. 4. Emaciated, withered. 5. Feigned. 6. Offensive. E. śuṣ to dry, aff. kta, or Unadi aff. kak .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚuṣka (शुष्क).—see śuṣ.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚuṣka (शुष्क).—[adjective] dry, hard ([with] gir [feminine] hard speech); useless, vain; [neuter] = seq.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śuṣka (शुष्क):—[from śuṣ] 1. śuṣka mf(ā)n. dried, dried up, dry, arid, parched, shrivelled, emaciated, shrunk, withered, sere, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
2) [v.s. ...] useless, fruitless, groundless, vain, unprofitable, empty, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] mere, simple (See -gāna)
4) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a man (a relative of Sukha-varman; cf. śuṣkaṭa-varman), [Rājataraṅgiṇī]
5) [v.s. ...] n. (and m. [gana] ardharcādi) anything dry (e.g. dry wood, dry cow-dung etc.), [Ṛg-veda; Viṣṇu-smṛti, viṣṇu-sūtra, vaiṣṇava-dharma-śāstra]
6) [from śuṣ] 2. śuṣka [Nominal verb] (only [infinitive mood] śuṣkitum) to become dry, [Divyāvadāna]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚuṣka (शुष्क):—[(ṣkaḥ-ṣkā-ṣkaṃ) a.] Dry; groundless, unprofitable.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śuṣka (शुष्क) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sukka, Susia.
[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 dictionaryŚuṣka (शुष्क) [Also spelled shushk]:—(a) dry/dried; withered, parched; arid; emaciated; tedious (as —[kārya]); prosaic; unfeeling; hard; ~[tā] dryness; parched condition; aridity; witheredness; emaciatedness/emaciation;tedium prosaicness; unfeeling temperament; hardness; —[vyavahāra] unfeeling dry behaviour.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusŚuṣka (ಶುಷ್ಕ):—
1) [adjective] dried; dried up; dry; arid; parched.
2) [adjective] shrunk; withered; saples.
3) [adjective] baseless; groundless.
4) [adjective] useless; fruitless.
5) [adjective] emaciated; that has become lean.
6) [adjective] pretentious; showy.
7) [adjective] harsh; rough; hard.
8) [adjective] uninteresting; boring; dull; tiresome.
--- OR ---
Śuṣka (ಶುಷ್ಕ):—
1) [noun] that which is emaciated, lean or weak.
2) [noun] a thin thing.
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 (+55): Shushkabhringara, Shushkabhringariya, Shushkacarcana, Shushkacchardi, Shushkacchavi, Shushkacharchana, Shushkadriti, Shushkagana, Shushkagarbha, Shushkagomaya, Shushkagra, Shushkahridaya, Shushkahridaye, Shushkajnananiradara, Shushkaka, Shushkakalaha, Shushkakantha, Shushkakasa, Shushkakashtha, Shushkakshetra.
Ends with: Acakshushka, Apashushka, Ashushka, Ashushushka, Atapashushka, Atishushka, Ativishushka, Avashushka, Chayashushka, Lakshanaikacakshushka, Parishushka, Pratishushka, Samshushka, Shushkashushka, Sushushka, Upashushka, Vicakshushka, Vishushka.
Full-text (+116): Shushkardra, Shushkavaira, Atapashushka, Samshushka, Shushkanna, Shushkavrana, Shushkarshas, Shushkanga, Parishushka, Shushkata, Sukka, Shushkakasa, Shushkarudita, Shushkacarcana, Shushkakalaha, Shushkagana, Shushkapaka, Shushkamamsa, Ashushka, Apashushka.
Relevant text
Search found 21 books and stories containing Shushka, Śuṣkā, Śuṣka, Suska; (plurals include: Shushkas, Śuṣkās, Śuṣkas, Suskas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 11.35 < [Section II - The Brāhmaṇa’s Responsibilities and Privileges regarding Sacrificial Performances]
Ramayana of Valmiki (by Hari Prasad Shastri)
Chapter 56 - Shri Vasishtha conquers Vishvamitra < [Book 1 - Bala-kanda]
Charaka Samhita (English translation) (by Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society)
Chapter 19 - The Eight Abdominal affections (udara-roga) < [Sutrasthana (Sutra Sthana) — General Principles]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.4.30 < [Chapter 4 - Bhakta (the devotee)]
Verse 2.4.177 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Verse 2.2.29 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]
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