In Hinduism

Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Journal of the University of Bombay Volume V: Apabhramsa metres (2)

Skandhaka (स्कन्धक) refers to a variation Gīti, which itself is a variety of Gāthā: one of the oldest Prakrit meters probably developed out of the epic Anuṣṭubh, as discussed in books such as the Chandonuśāsana, Kavidarpaṇa, Vṛttajātisamuccaya and Svayambhūchandas.—Among the metres derived from the Gāthā, Gīti, Upagīti and Udgīti are most important. Gīti is made with two first halves of a Gāthā. [...] If in a Gīti, pañcamātras were substituted for any of the caturmātras without any restriction, it gets the name Vicitrā, and if a caturmātra is substituted for the last long letter in each half, the Gīti is called Skandhaka.

context information

Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Skandhaka (स्कन्धक) refers to the “shoulders”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.15 (“Gaṇeśa’s battle”).—Accordingly, after Gaṇeśa spoke to Śiva’s attendants: “[...] Then seizing a big iron club and standing at the doorway he smashed the Gaṇas. Some got their hands broken, others got their backs smothered. The heads of others were shattered and the foreheads of some were crushed. The knees of some were fractured, the shoulders (skandhaka) of others were blasted. Those who came in front were hit in the chest. Some fell on the ground, some fled in various directions, some got their legs broken and some fled to Śiva. [...]”.

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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Skandhaka (स्कन्धक) refers to a “chapter” (of a compilation or text), according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 3).—Accordingly, “[...] Finally a Brahmin monk named Kātyāyana, wise and of keen faculties (tīkṣnendriya), completely recited the three Baskets (tripiṭaka), the inner and outer texts (ādhyātmika-bahya-sūtra). Wishing to explain the words of the Buddha, he compiled the jñānaprasthānāṣṭagrantha. The first chapter (skandhaka) deals with the supreme worldly Dharmas (laukikāgradharma). Subsequently, his disciples made from it a vibhāṣā for people of ages to come who could not completely understand the Aṣṭagrantha (or Jñānaprasthāna)”.

context information

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Skandhaka (स्कन्धक) refers to a kind of ārya-meter, according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism. Accordingly, “[...] After reciting a hymn of praise delightful with various dhruvakas, ślokas, utsāhas and skandhakas also, with galitas, vastuvadanas, and prose, the Indra of Acyuta with, his gods slowly emptied the pitchers over the Lord of the World. Being turned over the Master’s head, the water-pitchers shone like rain-clouds over the peak of Sumeru”.—(cf. See Hemacandra Chandonuśāsana, chapter 4, padas 6 and 7, pp. 30f.)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Skandhaka (स्कन्धक) refers to the “(excellent) trunk”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “The wishing tree of the true doctrine which is firm, whose large and very thick root has come forth from compassion for various living souls, whose twelve reflections are massive branches, which is guidance for a householder, whose excellent trunk is the way to heaven (svācāra-suskandhaka), whose splendid blossom is heavenly bliss [and] whose fruit is virtuous inactivity, is caused to ascend by worshippers of the Jina from water in the teachings of the splendid Jinas which are richly wooded”.

context information

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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Skandhaka.—(EI 3; HRS), known from Gujara-Pratīhāra records; name of a tax; probably, a cess at a certain rate per shoulder-load. Note: skandhaka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Skandhaka (स्कन्धक):—[from skandha] n. a kind of Āryā metre, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Kāvyādarśa]

[Sanskrit to German]

Skandhaka in German

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Skaṃdhaka (ಸ್ಕಂಧಕ):—[noun] = ಸ್ಕಂಧ - [skamdha -] 10.

context information

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: Skandhakasama.

Ends with: Avaskandhaka, Pancaskandhaka, Samkirnaskandhaka, Suskandhaka, Triskandhaka, Upaskandhaka, Utskandhaka.

Full-text (+9): Askandaka, Pancaskandhaka, Khandaka, Triskandhaka, Skandaka, Prathama-skandha, Second Buddhist Council, Samkirnaskandhaka, Marganaka, Dhruvaka, Tipitaka, Bahyasutra, Sloka, Tikshnendriya, Adhyatmikasutra, Ashtagrantha, Skandha, Galita, Vastuvadana, Utsaha.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Skandhaka, Skamdhaka, Skaṃdhaka; (plurals include: Skandhakas, Skamdhakas, Skaṃdhakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Bhesajjakkhandhaka (Chapter on Medicine) (by Hin-tak Sik)

The Vinaya Piṭaka, Skandhaka, and Bhesajjakkhandhaka < [Chapter 2 - Background Information]

(c) The Bhesajjakkhandhaka (Chapters on Medicine) < [Chapter 2 - Background Information]

(b) The Skandhaka < [Chapter 2 - Background Information]

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Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

Appendix 3 - The traditions regarding Kātyāyana < [Chapter III - General Explanation of Evam Maya Śruta]

Part 3 - The origin of the aṣṭagrantha-abhidharma and the Ṣaṭpādabhidharma < [Chapter III - General Explanation of Evam Maya Śruta]

Introduction to third volume < [Introductions]

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Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 4: Birth ceremonies of Ṛṣabha < [Chapter II]

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