Sneha: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Sneha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Sneh.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationSneha (स्नेह) refers to “devotion”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.5.—Accordingly, after Goddess Śivā (i.e., Umā/Durgā) granted a boon to Menā:—“[...] O sage, when their mutual sexual intercourse took place, Menā conceived and the child in the womb gradually grew up. She gave birth to a beautiful son Maināka [...] In the city of Himācala there was a wonderful celebration of the event. The couple were highly delighted. Their pain was at an end [i.e., kleśa-saṃkṣaya]. He gave monetary gifts and charitable offerings to Brahmins. Their devotion [i.e., sneha] to Śivā and Śiva became increased. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexSneha (स्नेह).—The Vaiśya caste of Kuśadvīpa.*
- * Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 38.
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.
Vaisheshika (school of philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: VaiśeṣikaSneha (स्नेह, “viscosity”) is one of the additional guṇas (‘qualities’) added by Praśastapāda, on top of the seventeen guṇas in the Vaiśeṣika-sūtras. These guṇas are considered as a category of padārtha (“metaphysical correlate”). These padārthas represent everything that exists which can be cognized and named. Together with their subdivisions, they attempt to explain the nature of the universe and the existence of living beings.
Vaisheshika (वैशेषिक, vaiśeṣika) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. Vaisheshika deals with subjects such as logic, epistemology, philosophy and expounds concepts similar to Buddhism in nature
Nyaya (school of philosophy)
Source: Shodhganga: A study of Nyāya-vaiśeṣika categoriesSneha (स्नेह, “viscidity”) or Snehaguṇa refers to one of the twenty-four guṇas (qualities) according to Praśastapāda and all the modern works on Nyāya-Vaiśeṣika.—Sneha (viscidity) is the special quality (guṇa) as it is found only in one substance (dravy). According to Praśastapāda, sneha is oiliness and it is the special quality of ap (water). This quality is nitya in atoms of ap and anitya in composite ones. This quality is regarded as the cause of forming lump of powdered objects. It may be asked here why a special quality sneha is required for such piṇḍībhāva, i.e., the peculiar combination which holds particles of powder together, and why dravatva cannot serve this purpose. To this the Nyāya-Vaiśeṣikas reply that if dravatva can make lumps then melted gold will also form lumps of powder which is not possible. Hence, viscidity (sneha) is regarded as the extra-ordinary cause of forming such lumps. Viśvanātha adds that its abundance in oil helps in combustion.
Nyaya (न्याय, nyaya) refers to a school of Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. The Nyaya philosophy is known for its theories on logic, methodology and epistemology, however, it is closely related with Vaisheshika in terms of metaphysics.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Sneha (स्नेह) refers to “lubricant”, as mentioned in verse 4.29-31 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] If (a patient) has been debilitated by medicine, strengthening (him) gradually by food such as rice, sixty-day-old rice, wheat, mung-beans, meat, and ghee—(which), in combination with cardiac and stomachic remedies, (is) promotive of appetite and digestion—as well as by inunctions, massages, baths, and purgative and lubricant enemas [viz., nirūha-sneha-basti] (is) wholesome. Thus he recovers comfort, intensity of all the fires, faultlessness of intellect, colour, and senses, potency, (and) longness of life”.
Note: nirūha-sneha-basti (“purgative and lubricant enemas”) (ef. I 19.2) has been paraphrased by drag-po ’jam rtsi mas-btaṅ [v.l. gtoṅ] “enemas (made) of strong (and) mild fluids”.
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsSneha (स्नेह):—Oiliness, unctousness, lubricity, Moisture, Oil
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: ManthanabhairavatantramSneha (स्नेह) refers to “love”, according to Abhinavagupta’s Tantrāloka:—Accordingly, “[...] And that (emission) itself is God (bhagavat) whose nature shines perpetually within and is endowed with the energy of the centre, which is full of the current of all the things within (him). Beautiful with Cosmic Bliss (jagadānanda) generated from (his own) essential nature (that he has) aroused by (his) own will, he shines perpetually, beautiful with the juice (rasa) (of the aesthetic savor) of complete emission. That is the (pulsing) union (saṃghaṭṭa) of Śiva and Śakti said to be (their) love (sneha)”.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraSneha (स्नेह) refers to “liquid substances”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 7), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If Mercury should cut through the five constellations from Ārdrā to Maghā, mankind will suffer from wars, from hunger, from disease and from drought. If he should cut through the six constellations from Hasta, his disc appearing to rub against those of the stars, cows will suffer, the price of liquid substances [i.e., sneha] and of juice will rise, but there will be abundance of food grains in the land”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions1) Sneha (स्नेह) refers to “attachment” (which comes from desire and is destroyed by indifference), according to the Vārāṇasīmāhātmya verse 1.99ff.—Pulastya also reports that there is a pond there called Kālodaka, which arose when Kālarudra was playing on the cremation ground. At that time the Lord taught the observance of the skull (kapālavrata). He chopped off the fifth head of Brahmā, as a consequence of which there arose the holy Pāśupata pond. Mahādeva subsequently carries Brahmā’s skull around the world and unites with the cremation grounds. There he teaches that transmigration results from attachment (sneha), that attachment comes from desire (rāga), and that attachment is destroyed by indifference (vairāgya). When people attain indifference, their karma is destroyed and they attain unequalled happiness (saukhya). [...]
2) Sneha (स्नेह) is commonly listed among the “five nectars” (pañcāmṛta), according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra, Tāntrikābhidhānakośa and Prabodhacandrodaya.—The extraction of the five nectars (pañcāmṛta-ākarṣaṇa), as well as other, Kāpālika-type cremation ground practices, also figure in the Brahmayāmala, as Hatley (2007, 143ff.) points out. The five substances are not listed in a systematic way, but they usually seem to include these four: semen (śukra), blood (rakta), fat/marrow (medas) and sneha (see also the entry pañcāmṛta in Tāntrikābhidhānakośa, vol. III). Other sources also describe Kāpālikas as making use of various parts of the human body. Kāpālikas use human flesh (mahāmāṃsa), brain (mastiṣka), intestines (antra), fat (vasā) and blood (kīlāla) in ritual, and drink alcohol (surā), according to Prabodhacandrodaya 3.13.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraSneha (स्नेह) refers to “moist” (e.g., pieces of moist wood), 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 and, as the strength of the fire increases, it is able to consume big pieces of moist wood (sa-sneha-kāṣṭha). 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”.
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: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsSneha (स्नेह) refers to “love”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Certainly, O friend, these twelve reflections are the female friends of those whose good fortune is liberation [and] they are practised to procure their friendship by wise men who are absorbed in connection [with them]. When these [reflections] are correctly done constantly for the pleasure of the lords of Yogīs (i.e. the Jinas), a joyful woman in the form of liberation with a heart kindly disposed to love [com.—sneha-prasanna-cittā—‘the one with a heart kindly disposed to love’], is produced”.
Synonyms: Praṇaya.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarysneha : (m.) affection; love; oil; fat.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionarySneha, see sineha. (Page 727)
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 Dictionarysnēha (स्नेह).—m (S) Any oleaginous or unctuous substance; oil, fat, grease. 2 The property of cohesion, cohesiveness. 3 fig. Affection, attachment, fondness, friendship, love. This figurative sense is the popular sense. snēhānta or snēhāvara pāṇī ghālaṇēṃ To extinguish or to damp affection or love.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishsnēha (स्नेह).—m Any unctuous substance; cohesi- veness. Fig. Friendship.
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 dictionarySneha (स्नेह).—[snih-ghañ]
1) Affection, love, kindness, tender ness; स्नेहदाक्षिण्ययोर्योगात् कमीव प्रतिभाति मे (snehadākṣiṇyayoryogāt kamīva pratibhāti me) V.2.4 (where it has sense 6 also); अस्ति मे सोदरस्नेहोऽप्येतेषु (asti me sodarasneho'pyeteṣu) Ś.1.
2) Oiliness, viscidity, unctuousness, lubricity (one of the 24 Guṇas according to the Vaiśeṣikas)
3) Moisture; तृष्णासंजननं स्नेह एष तेषां पुनर्भवः (tṛṣṇāsaṃjananaṃ sneha eṣa teṣāṃ punarbhavaḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.218.33.
4) Grease, fat, any unctuous substance.
5) Oil; निर्विष्टविषयस्नेहः स दशान्तमुपेयिवान् (nirviṣṭaviṣayasnehaḥ sa daśāntamupeyivān) R.12.1; Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.82 (where the word has sense 1 also), 221; R.4.75.
6) Any fluid of the body, such as semen.
Derivable forms: snehaḥ (स्नेहः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySneha (स्नेह).—m.
(-haḥ) 1. Affection, kindness. 2. Oil, unguent, grease, any unetuous or greasy substance. 3. Oiliness, lubricity, viscidity, (one of the twenty-four Gunas of the Vaiśeshikas.) 4. Moisture. 5. A fluid of the body. E. ṣṇih to be unctuous, &c., aff. ghañ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySneha (स्नेह).—i. e. snih + a, m. 1. Oil, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 4, 75; unguent, grease, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 93; [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 64, 68. 2. Moisture, the corporeal fluids, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 12, 120. 3. Oiliness, viscidity, Bhāṣāp. 4; 86. 4. Affection, love, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 178; [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 111 (plur., read snehān āhuḥ).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySneha (स्नेह).—[masculine] stickiness; oil, grease, a fluid of the body; attachment, love, friendship for ([locative], [genetive], or —°).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Sneha (स्नेह):—[from snih] a m. (or n. [gana] ardharcādi; ifc. f(ā). ) oiliness, unctuousness, fattiness, greasiness, lubricity, viscidity (also as one of the 24 Guṇas of the Vaiśeṣika branch of the Nyāya [philosophy]), [Suśruta; Yājñavalkya; Tarkasaṃgraha; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha] ([Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 69])
2) [v.s. ...] oil, grease, fat, any oleaginous substance, an unguent, [Śāṅkhāyana-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc.
3) [v.s. ...] smoothness, glossiness, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
4) [v.s. ...] blandness, tenderness, love, attachment to, fondness or affection for ([locative case] [genitive case], or [compound]), friendship with (saha), [Maitrī-upaniṣad; Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
5) [v.s. ...] moisture, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
6) [v.s. ...] a fluid of the body, [ib.]
7) [v.s. ...] ([plural]) Name of the Vaiśyas in Kuśa-dvīpa, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
8) b etc. See p. 1267, col. 2.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySneha (स्नेह):—(haḥ) 1. m. Affection, kindness; oil, grease; oiliness.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Sneha (स्नेह) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇeha, Saṇeha.
[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 dictionarySneha (स्नेह) [Also spelled sneh]:—(nm) love, affection; oil, oily substance; ~[ka] a lubricant; ~[na] lubrication; massaging oil; ~[nīya] see -[yogya; ~baddha] attached, bounded by love/affection; -[pātra] object of love, beloved; -[yogya] lovable; -[joḍanā] to establish bonds of affection/love; —[toḍanā] to break bonds of love.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusSnēha (ಸ್ನೇಹ):—
1) [noun] the quality of being oily or viscous; viscousness.
2) [noun] that which is oily.
3) [noun] any of various mixtures of solid or semisolid triglycerides found in adipose animal tissue or in the seeds of plants; fat.
4) [noun] wetness; dampness; moisture.
5) [noun] any of the vital fluids of the body (as semen).
6) [noun] a friendly relation or intimacy.
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 (+79): Snehabaddha, Snehabandha, Snehabasti, Snehabhanda, Snehabhandajivin, Snehabhanga, Snehabhava, Snehabhilashi, Snehabhu, Snehabhumi, Snehabhuyishtha, Snehabhyakta, Snehabija, Snehabijah, Snehabijaka, Snehabuddhi, Snehaccheda, Snehachchheda, Snehacheda, Snehachheda.
Ends with (+31): Abhisneha, Amamdasneha, Anabhisneha, Anusneha, Apatyasneha, Asneha, Asthisneha, Atisneha, Baddhasneha, Bahihsneha, Bhartrisneha, Bhavatsneha, Bijasneha, Catusneha, Dadhisneha, Dvijasneha, Guptasneha, Jatasasneha, Jatasneha, Katusneha.
Full-text (+213): Snehapriya, Snehapakva, Tilasneha, Mamsasneha, Katusneha, Snehabhu, Sneharanga, Nadisneha, Snehasha, Snehanuvritti, Mastakasneha, Anusneham, Sasneham, Snehaviddha, Jatasneha, Bhartrisneha, Snehapana, Snehasara, Pratisneha, Snehapravritti.
Relevant text
Search found 58 books and stories containing Sneha, Snēha; (plurals include: Snehas, Snēhas). 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 2.8.20 < [Chapter 8 - Description of Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa]
Verse 4.4.4 < [Chapter 4 - The Story of the Kauśalā Women]
Verse 1.4.33 < [Chapter 4 - Description of Questions About the Lord’s Appearance]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.3.106 < [Part 3 - Fraternal Devotion (sakhya-rasa)]
Verse 3.2.78 < [Part 2 - Affection and Service (dāsya-rasa)]
Verse 3.2.84 < [Part 2 - Affection and Service (dāsya-rasa)]
Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories (Study) (by Diptimani Goswami)
Qualities (14): Sneha (Viscidity) < [Chapter 4 - Quality and Action]
Divisions of Quality < [Chapter 4 - Quality and Action]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.3.27 < [Chapter 3 - Bhajana (loving service)]
Verse 2.4.27 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Verse 2.4.263 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Sushruta Samhita, volume 4: Cikitsasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
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