Sira, aka: Shira, Sīra, Sirā, Śira; 10 Definition(s)

Introduction

Sira means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.

The Sanskrit term Śira can be transliterated into English as Sira or Shira, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Dhanurveda (science of warfare)

Sīra (सीर) refers to a “plough”. It is a Sanskrit word defined in the Dhanurveda-saṃhitā, which contains a list of no less than 117 weapons. The Dhanurveda-saṃhitā is said to have been composed by the sage Vasiṣṭha, who in turn transmitted it trough a tradition of sages, which can eventually be traced to Śiva and Brahmā.

context information

Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेद) refers to the “knowledge of warfare” and, as an upaveda, is associated with the Ṛgveda. It contains instructions on warfare, archery and ancient Indian martial arts, dating back to the 2nd-3rd millennium BCE.

Ayurveda (science of life)

1) Śirā (शिरा) refers to “fibrous roots” (of trees or plants), as mentioned in a list of five synonyms in the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands, soil, mountains, jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees [viz., Śirā] and plants and substances, with their various kinds.

2) Śira (शिर) refers to the “end part” of a tree or a creeper , as mentioned in a list of four synonyms, according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) verse 32.

1) Śira (शिर) is a Sanskrit technical term, referring to the “brain”. The term is used throughout Āyurvedic literature such as the Suśruta-saṃhitā and the Caraka-saṃhitā.

2) Sirā (सिरा) is a Sanskrit technical term, referring to “blood vessels” and is used throughout Āyurvedic literature such as the Carakasaṃhitā and the Suśrutasaṃhitā.

The Sanskrita term Sirā (सिरा) denotes veins, nerves, arteries and lymphatic vessels as well. Some read Śirā-varna (different colours of the Sirās) in lieu of Sirā-varnana (description of Sirās).

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Sirā is a medical term used in Ayurveda meaning "veins".

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

sira : (m.; nt.) (mano-group) the head. || sirā (f.) a tendon; vein.

Sira, (nt. and m.) (cp. Vedic śiras, śīan; Av. sarō, Gr. karaρa head, kέras horn, krani/on; Lat. cerebrum; Ohg. hirni brain) head, Nom. siraṃ Th. 2, 255, Acc. siraṃ A. I, 141; siro Sn. 768; sirasaṃ J. V, 434; Instr. sirasā Vin. I, 4; D. I, 126; Sn. 1027; Loc. sirasmiṃ M. I, 32; sire DA. I, 97; in compounds siro- A. I, 138.—sirasā paṭiggaṇhāti to accept with reverence J. I, 65; pādesu sirasā nipatati to bow one’s head to another’s feet, to salute respectfully Vin. I, 4, 34; Sn. p. 15, p. 101. siraṃ muñcati to loosen the hair J. V, 434; cp. I. 47; mutta° with loose hair KhA 120=Vism. 415; adho-siraṃ with bowed head, head down A. I, 141; IV, 133; J. VI, 298; cp. avaṃ°; dvedhā° with broken head J. V, 206; muṇḍa° a shaven head DhA. II, 125. (Page 711)

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Sirā, (Sk. sirā) (f.) a bloodvessel, vein Mhvs 37, 136; nerve, tendon, gut J. V, 344, 364; °-jāla the network of veins J. V, 69; PvA. 68. (Page 711)

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Sīra, (Vedic sīra) plough ThA. 270 (=naṅgala). (Page 712)

context information

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

śira (शिर).—n (S) The head. 2 The crop or top of a tree. 3 The van of an army. 4 śira or śīra is used, like the word rāsa q. v., in the sense A head or an individual, in expressing the number of a body of horses; as ghōḍā śīra cāra. śira surī tujhyā hātīṃ (My &c.) life awaits your disposal. śira hātāvara ghēṇēṃ To take one's head in one's hand; to be heroically daring: also to be reckless of life. See Judges xii. 3; 1 Sam. xix. 5, xxviii. 21. śirātōrā or śirāturā asaṇēṃ g. of s. To possess superiority over or in. śirāṃ tōrā or -turā lāvaṇēṃ -dākhaviṇēṃ -miraviṇēṃ To put a plume upon one's head. Hence To assert superiority or preeminence. śirīṃ On the head of, i. e. at the very moment of; as lagnācyā śirīṃ, prasaṅgācyā śirīṃ kāmācyā śirīṃ. śirīṃ asaṇēṃ To be at or over (as a protector or keeper of) the head of. See 1 Sam. xxviii. 2. Ex. śirīṃ asatāṃ paṇḍharīnātha || cintā kimapi na karāvī ||.

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śira (शिर).—ind The sound uttered in driving off a cat.

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śirā (शिरा).—f (S) Any vessel of the body really, or supposed to be, tubular; as an artery or a vein, a nerve, a tendon or sinew, a muscle or fibre, a bowel or gut. See the popular form śīra.

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śirā (शिरा).—m ( P) Sirup, sugar boiling in order to be candied: also juice of fruits, essence of herbs, roots &c. obtained by decoction, a vegetable extract. rob. 2 A certain sweetmeat.

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śirā (शिरा).—m ( H Extremity or end.) The border or boundary (of a field, village, hill &c.)

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śirā (शिरा).—a ind Excellent, capital, fine, superior, superlatively good. A very popular word.

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śīra (शीर).—f (śirā S) A vein or an artery: also a muscle or fibre: any vessel of the body (really or as supposed to be) tubular; a nerve, a tendon or sinew, a bowel or gut. 2 A vein or fibre (of a leaf, cocoanut, or other fruit): also a streak resembling it in wood or stone: also, hence, the edge of a plank, post, or piece of timber. śirā ghēṇēṃ To undergo venesection. śirā or śīra ghēṇēṃ -kāḍhaṇēṃ -tōḍaṇēṃ -dēṇēṃ To open veins or a vein; to perform venesection. śirā tānaṇēṃ or śirā tānūna ōraḍaṇēṃ -bōlaṇēṃ -bhāṇḍaṇēṃ -raḍaṇēṃ -vāda karaṇēṃ &c. To call -speak -quarrel or dispute -cry or wail -argue &c. loudly or with vehement straining or effort. śirā or śīra tōḍaṇēṃ To hough or hamstring (a horse &c.) śirā nighaṇēṃ g. of s. To have one's veins standing out conspicuously; i. e. to be lean and gaunt. śirā phugaviṇēṃ To puff and pout (in high dudgeon or anger). śīra phuṭaṇēṃ in. con., as mhaśīlā, gāyīlā, ghōḍīlā, bāyakōlā, To have one's milk set a flowing. 2 (as ghōḍyālā, pōrālā) To begin to grow vigorously.

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śīra (शीर).—f n C A platted half-branch of a Cocoanut.

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śīra (शीर).—n (śira S through H) The head. Pr. śīra salāmata tō pagaḍyā pacāsa. For phrases and compounds see under śira. Note. The compounds śīrakhaṇḍa, śīragōmī, śīraṭōpa, śīraphōḍyā &c., as compounded with śīra, should be written thus and be inserted in order here, but, as popularly confounded with the compounds with śira S and with P, and therefore ordinarily written śira- khaṇḍa, śiragōmī &c., they appear so written and in order under śira.

śira (शिर).—n The head. The top of a tree. The van of an army. śira surī tujhyā hātī (My, &c.) life awaits your disposal. śira hātāṃvara ghēṇēṃ. Take one's head in one's hand; be reckless of life. śirīṃ On the head of, i. e. at the very moment of. Ex. prasaṅgācyā śirīṃ. śirī asaṇēṃ Be at or over the head of.

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śirā (शिरा).—m Syrup. A sweetmeat. f A vein. a Excellent.

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śīra (शीर).—n The head. f A vein. A fibre. śirā ghēṇēṃ Undergo venesection. śirā ghēṇēṃ-kāḍhaṇēṃ Perform venesection. śirā tāṇaṇēṃ or śirā tāṇūna ōraḍaṇēṃ-bōlaṇēṃ-bhāṇḍaṇēṃ Call, speak, quarrel or dispute loudly or with vehement straining or effort. śirā phugaviṇēṃ To puff and pout (in anger).

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śira (शिर).—1 The head.

2) The root of the pepper plant (m. also according to some, in these senses).

-raḥ 1 A bed.

2) A large serpent.

Derivable forms: śiram (शिरम्).

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Śirā (शिरा).—Any tublar vessel of the body, a nerve, vein, artery, blood-vessel.

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Śīra (शीर).—[śīṅ-rak Uṇ.2.13] A large snake; see सीर (sīra) also.

Derivable forms: śīraḥ (शीरः).

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Sira (सिर).—The root of long pepper.

Derivable forms: siraḥ (सिरः).

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Sirā (सिरा).—

1) Any tubular vessel of the body (as a vein, artery, nerve &c.).

2) A bucket, baling vessel.

3) Ved. A stream; त्वं वृत्रमाशयानं सिरासु महो वज्रेण सिष्वपो वराहुम् (tvaṃ vṛtramāśayānaṃ sirāsu maho vajreṇa siṣvapo varāhum) Ṛ.v.1.121.11.

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Sīra (सीर).—[si-rak pṛṣo° Uṇ.2.25]

1) A plough; सीरभेदैः कृषिः प्रोक्ता मन्वाद्यैर्ब्राह्मणादिषु (sīrabhedaiḥ kṛṣiḥ proktā manvādyairbrāhmaṇādiṣu) Śukra.4.26; सद्यः सीरोत्कषण- सुरभि क्षेत्रमारुह्य मालम् (sadyaḥ sīrotkaṣaṇa- surabhi kṣetramāruhya mālam) Me.16.

2) The sun.

3) The Arka plant.

Derivable forms: sīraḥ (सीरः).

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