Sindura, Sindūra, Simdura: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Sindura means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.
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In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstraSindūra (सिन्दूर) refers to either “red lead”, “mercury oxide” or “vermilion” (powdered mineral cinnabar). It is used in Ayurvedic literature such as the Rasaprakāśasudhākara (Sanskrit book on rasaśāstra, or ‘Indian medicinal alchemy’).
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: ManthanabhairavatantramSindūra (सिन्दूर) refers to “vermilion”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] (6) The Wheel of the Command is between the eyebrows. It is a fire in the form of a Point. In the middle of it is the seed of power (śaktibīja), red like vermilion [i.e., sindūra-aruṇa-sannibha]. [...] (Perfect) contemplation (samādhi) is with (these) sixteen aspects and is (attained) within the form of the sixfold deposition (ṣoḍhānyāsa). He who knows this is (a veritable) Lord of Yogis, the others (who do not) are (just) quoting from books. Once attained the plane that is Void and Non-void, the yogi is freed from bondage”.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Sindūra (सिन्दूर) refers to “(the hue of) vermillion”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] Her body is beautiful and bears the hue of vermillion (sindūra-sundaratanu). Its middle part is slim, [and] she is the repository of beauty. She is slightly bent like a young elephant because of her pitcher-like breasts, resembling the temples of a young elephant. Her eyes are moving and wide like those of a deer. She is moon-faced, her smiles are gentle, and she serves as the felicitous banner of the Love-god. [...]”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraSindūra (सिन्दूर) refers to “vermillion”, 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 10.7cd-17ab, while describing the worship of Bhairavī and Bhairava]—“[Bhairavī] has the appearance of vermillion or lac (lākṣā-sindūra-saprabhā). [She has] erect hair, a large body and is dreadful and very terrifying. [She has the medicinal plant] śatavārī, is five-faced, and adorned with three eyes. [Her hands bear] curved talons curved [She has] eyes like the hollow of a tree and wears a garland of severed heads. [Ten-]armed, like Bhairava [she also] bears Bhairava’s weapons [of an axe and hatched]. [...]”.
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: Shiva Purana - English TranslationSindūra (सिन्दूर) refers to “red powder” (applied to the head during the marriage ceremony), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.50 (“Description of fun and frolic”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] At the behest of the Brahmins, Śiva applied Red powder (sindūra) on the head of Pārvatī. The lustre of Pārvatī at that time was beyond description and very wondrous. Thereafter at the bidding of the Brahmins both sat on the same cushion and attained such a lustre as accentuated joy in the hearts of the devotees. O sage, then they returned to their apartment and, at my behest performed the rite of Saṃsrava Prāśana, of wonderful sportive nature that they were. [...]”.
Note: The printing of red lead on the head of the bride by the bridegroom is the most striking feature of the present day marriage ceremonies, nowhere mentioned in the Gṛhyasūtras. The later Paddhatis, however, refer to this custom. Cf. Gadādhara on P.G.S. 1.8.9.
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.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)Sindūra (सिन्दूर) or “vermilion” refers to one of the materials used to make Colours in the ancient Indian tradition of Painting (citra), according to the 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. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, five colours are regarded as the primary ones, (viz., white, yellow, colour of vilomata, black, dark blue.). Various materials are seen to be used to make colours. e.g., sindūra (“vermilion”). A painter can create hundreds or thousands of colours by amalgamating the primary colours
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Oxford Academic: Homo Ritualis: Hindu Ritual and Its Significance to Ritual TheorySindūra (सिन्दूर) refers to “applying of vermilion” and represents one of the various marriage rites of the Hindu Newars, mentioned in the Daśakarmavidhi: a marriage handbook from Bhaktapur containing both Hindu and Newar marriage ceremonies.—Despite many congruencies between Hindu Parbatiyā and Hindu Newar marriage handbooks, it becomes evident that Newar marriage handbooks mention specific ritual elements that cannot be found in the Brahmanical-Sanskritic texts.—The Sindūra rite is usually performed at the House of the Groom and is mentioned under the sub-heading of “other marriage rites”.
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Shodhganga: A cultural study on the jain western Indian illustrated manuscriptsSindūra (सिन्दूर).—Red lead (sindūra) was used in ancient paintings and its hue is light, used by western Indian painters. The colour was prepared by roasting white lead in open air till it attained deep colour. The nῑm gum was used as a medium with it.
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.
India history and geography
Source: What is India: Inscriptions of the ŚilāhārasSindūra (सिन्दूर) is the name of a member of the mahāparṣad (assembly) mentioned in the “Ciñcaṇī plate of the reign of Cittarāja”. Accordingly, “Now, while the Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara, the illustrious Cāmuṇḍarāja, who, by his religious merit, has obtained the right to the five mahāśabdas... is governing Saṃyāna, he addresses all persons, whether connected with himself or others (such as Sindūra)...”.
This plate (mentioning Sindūra) was found together with eight others at Chincaṇī in the Ḍahāṇu tāluka of the Ṭhāṇā District, North Koṅkaṇ, in 1955. The object of the inscription is to record the grant, by Cāmuṇḍarāja, of a ghāṇaka (oil-mill) in favour of the temple Kautuka-maṭhikā of the goddess Bhagavatī at Saṃyāna. The gift was made by pouring out water on the hand of the Svādhyāyika (scholar) Vīhaḍa, on the fifteenth tithi of the dark fortnight (i.e. amāvāsyā) of Bhādrapada in the śaka year 956.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossarySindūra.—(IA 19), corruption of sindhura, an elephant. Note: sindūra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarysindūra : (m.) red arsenic.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysindūra (सिंदूर).—m n (S Popularly śēndūra) Red lead, minium.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishsindura (सिंदुर).—m n Red lead.
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 dictionarySindūra (सिन्दूर).—[syand-uran saṃprasāraṇam Uṇādi-sūtra 1.68] A kind of tree.
-ram Red lead; स्वयं सिन्दूरेण द्विपरणमुदा मुद्रित इव (svayaṃ sindūreṇa dviparaṇamudā mudrita iva) Gītagovinda 11; N.22.45.
Derivable forms: sindūraḥ (सिन्दूरः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySindūra (सिन्दूर).—n.
(-raṃ) Red lead, minium. m.
(-raḥ) A sort of tree. f. (-rī) 1. Red cloth or clothes. 2. Rochani, (a sort of Crinum.) 3. A plant, (Lythrum fruticosum.) E. syanda to ooze, Unadi aff. ūran; also sindura
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySindūra (सिन्दूर).— (vb. syand ?), I. m. A sort of tree. Ii. f. rī. 1. Red clothes. 2. The name of two plants. Iii. n. Red lead, minium, [Ṛtusaṃhāra] 1, 24; [Kathāsaritsāgara, (ed. Brockhaus.)] 23, 78 (red colour).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySindūra (सिन्दूर).—[neuter] red lead, minium.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Sindūra (सिन्दूर):—m. ([according to] to [Uṇādi-sūtra i, 69], [from] √syand) a sort of tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) a proper Name [Catalogue(s)]
3) n. red lead, minium, vermilion, [Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara] etc.
4) (= rakta-śāsana, rāja-lekha, and rāja-lekhitadakṣiṇa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.])
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySindūra (सिन्दूर):—(raṃ) 1. n. Red lead. m. Sort of tree. f. (ī) Red clothes; a sort of crinum.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Sindūra (सिन्दूर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Siṃdūra.
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionarySiṃdūra (सिंदूर) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Sindūra.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusSiṃdura (ಸಿಂದುರ):—[noun] = ಸಿಂಧೂರ [simdhura]1.
--- OR ---
Siṃdura (ಸಿಂದುರ):—[noun] = ಸಿಂಧುರ [simdhura].
--- OR ---
Siṃdura (ಸಿಂದುರ):—[noun] = ಸಿಂಧುವಾರ [simdhuvara].
--- OR ---
Siṃdūra (ಸಿಂದೂರ):—[noun] = ಸಿಂಧೂರ [simdhura]1.
--- OR ---
Siṃdūra (ಸಿಂದೂರ):—[noun] = ಸಿಂಧುರ [simdhura].
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 (+1): Simdurambore, Sindura-dana, Sindura-dani, Sindura-halnu, Sindura-lagaunu, Sindura-puchinu, Sindura-yatra, Sindurabhushana, Sindurabindu, Sinduradi, Sindurakarana, Sinduranirgama, Sinduraprakara, Sinduraprakaratika, Sindurapushpi, Sindurarasa, Sindurarashi, Sindurarpana, Sinduraruna, Sinduratilaka.
Ends with: Girisindura, Javasindura, Rasasindura, Svarnasindura.
Full-text (+32): Sindurakarana, Sinduratilaka, Rasasindura, Simdura-jatra, Sindurika, Sindurita, Sindurarasa, Simdura, Sinduraprakaratika, Sinduranirgama, Sinduraprakara, Kartt, Karttri, Sindurapushpi, Centuram, Vangaja, Saindura, Cinturavaippu, Svarnasindura, Virarajas.
Relevant text
Search found 28 books and stories containing Sindura, Sindūra, Simdura, Siṃdūra, Siṃdura; (plurals include: Sinduras, Sindūras, Simduras, Siṃdūras, Siṃduras). 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 5.19.20 < [Chapter 19 - The Festival on Śrī Kṛṣṇa Return]
Verse 2.9.26 < [Chapter 9 - Brahmā’s Prayers]
Verses 5.7.16-17 < [Chapter 7 - The Killing of Kuvalayāpīḍa]
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
6. Materials for Colours Used in Painting < [Chapter 5 - Painting and Image Making]
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
1.20. Use of Sindūra (Vermilion) < [Chapter 1 - Cosmetics]
2.6. Pharmaceutical use of Lipstick < [Chapter 1 - Cosmetics]
1.2. Materials (r): Various other Precious Gems < [Chapter 3 - Ornaments]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Treatment for fever (115): Kasturi-bhusana rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]
Treatment for fever (56): Nagadi rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]
Treatment for fever (116): Suvarnadi rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)
Verse 14 < [Section 2]
Dasarupaka (critical study) (by Anuru Ranjan Mishra)
Part 13 - Status of Women in the Samudramanthana < [Chapter 6 - Samavakāra (critical study)]
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