Shvetavarna, Śvetavarṇa: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Shvetavarna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Śvetavarṇa can be transliterated into English as Svetavarna or Shvetavarna, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexŚvetavarṇa (श्वेतवर्ण).—A Kulaparvata of the Bhadrāśva.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 43. 14.
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 termsŚvetavarṇa (श्वेतवर्ण):—White colour
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: ManthanabhairavatantramŚvetavarṇa (श्वेतवर्ण) refers to “that which is white like snow”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, while describing Trikhaṇḍā: “[...] She has three sections, three faces, a divine form and large belly. She has three eyes on each face and is blissful with wine. (The face) in front is white like snow [i.e., śvetavarṇa-ābha], a jasmine flower or the moon. Content and tranquil, its gaze is immersed in subtle contemplation and, radiant with divine jewels, is adorned with jewel earrings. [...]”.
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: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Śvetavarṇa (श्वेतवर्ण) is the name of a Kinnara appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Śroṇa, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of Jambudvīpa [e.g., the Kinnara Śvetavarṇa in Śroṇa], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesŚvetavarṇa (श्वेतवर्ण) refers to “(that which is) white in color”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[...] [The Causal Vajra-holder] is white in color (śvetavarṇa), [has] four faces, [has] three eyes [on each], [has] twelve arms, is devoted to the yoga of union with wisdom (his female consort), and is adorned with youthful ornaments. [His four faces are], counterclockwise, white, green, red, and yellow [in color, respectively]. [He has] twisted locks of hair and has a crossed vajra and a crescent moon on the face (head). [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryŚvetavarṇā (श्वेतवर्णा).—(most mss. sveta°), Divyāvadāna 263.9, according to Index an astrologer's instrument, according to [Boehtlingk] 7.379 chalk; what is clear is that it is something used in astrological calculation; see the passage, s.v. gaṇitra.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śvetavarṇa (श्वेतवर्ण):—[=śveta-varṇa] [from śveta > śvit] mfn. white-coloured, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
2) Śvetavarṇā (श्वेतवर्णा):—[=śveta-varṇā] [from śveta-varṇa > śveta > śvit] f. chalk, [Divyāvadāna]
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)
Partial matches: Shveta, Varna.
Full-text: Ganitra, Bhaktiganapati, Shrona, Anitya.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Shvetavarna, Shveta-varna, Śveta-varṇa, Sveta-varna, Śveta-varṇā, Śvetavarṇa, Svetavarna, Śvetavarṇā; (plurals include: Shvetavarnas, varnas, varṇas, varṇās, Śvetavarṇas, Svetavarnas, Śvetavarṇās). 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 2.19.19 < [Chapter 19 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Verse 8.13.6 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 39 - The procedure for the gift of golden horse < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 7.33.1 < [Sukta 33]
Shri Gaudiya Kanthahara (by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati)