Spanda, Spamda: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Spanda means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Spanda (स्पन्द) refers to the “pulse” (of the supreme level of speech—parā vāc), according to Kṣemarāja in his commentaries on the Netratantra and the Svacchandabhairavatantra, which is well known to the Kubjikā Tantras.—‘Sound’ (nāda) is the name given to the pulse (spanda) of the supreme level of Speech (parā vāc), which animates the highest reality. The Netratantra refers to it as a form of sound that pervades the universe. Kṣemarāja explains that the energy of the higher levels initially manifests in two aspects. One is subjective, as the aggregate of the energies of Speech that function as the denotators (vācaka) of the second aspect, which consists of the aggregate of the energies of Speech, which they denote (vācya). When the initial impulse towards manifestation arises, the energy of consciousness retains the pulse of the second aspect within itself and expresses the pulse of the first aspect in the form of undifferentiated Sound. [...]
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.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Spanda (स्पन्द) refers to “movement”, according to the 10th century Mokṣopāya or Mokṣopāyaśāstra 6.182.13-17.—Accordingly, “With regard to each of [the three:] perceiver (draṣṭṛ), perception (darśana) and perceived objects (dṛśya), the state of mere knowledge is the essence; therefore there is not in the least a difference from it (i.e. knowledge), like a flower in space (is not different from space). (13) What is of the same kind becomes one. Therefore mutual perception [of things] determines their unity. (14) If wood, stones and other [material objects] did not have knowledge as their nature, then there would be a permanent non-perception of these, which would even be nonexistent. (15) When the whole beauty of perceptible objects has but one form of mere knowledge, then, whether it is different or identical, it becomes known through knowledge. (16) This whole [group of] perceptible objects in the world has expanded [as] mere knowledge, just as wind [i.e., vāyu] is mere movement [i.e., spanda-mātra] and the ocean mere water. (17)”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Spanda (स्पन्द) refers to the “pulsation (of consciousness and vitality)”, according to the Mahānayaprakāśa by Arṇasiṃha (Cf. verse 182-197).—Accordingly, “The indestructible Skyfarer is the one whose body is the pulsation (spanda-deha) (of consciousness and vitality) which is the Supreme Self. His lord who is this (absolute) free of contact (with the phenomenal world) is said to be Khagendra”.
Spanda (स्पन्द) or Spandarūpa refers to the “(universal) pulse (or throb)” [?], according to the Netratantroddyota commentary on 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 22.14]—“Praṇava is the universal pulse (spanda-rūpa—amānyaspandarūpaḥ) or throb that is unstruck, active ideation (verbalization that is not the result of contact with organs) which is like kalpa, the first acceptance of the cognition and action of all that is to be known and done for all living beings, because there could be no knowing and no doing without [praṇava]. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Spanda (स्पन्द) refers to the “movement (of the breath)”, according to the Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma: an influential 15th-century Sanskrit manual on Hatha-Yoga dealing with techniques to channel one’s vital energy.—Accordingly, while discussing methods for conquering the mind: “Acquiring spiritual knowledge, associating with the wise, abandoning habitual tendencies and stopping the movement of the breath (prāṇa-spanda); according to tradition, [all] these methods are effective in conquering the mind. The [mind] is quickly overcome by these [methods of restraint] like the dust of the earth by streams [of water]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Spanda (स्पन्द) refers to the “motion (of standing crops)” (observed during hunting), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “Hunting by watching the motion of standing crops is that in which animals are killed by the indication of the motion of wheat and other standing crops in which they hide themselves. In Sanskrit it is named Yāvaśī. This is ‘played’ by two or three horsemen who are expert archers. It is successful, if the advance is slow and the motion of standing crops (śasya-spanda) carefully observed. It doesn’t produce much fatigue, but it produces great excitement”.
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
Shaiva philosophy
Spanda (स्पन्द) refers to “vibration” or “vibrative consciousness” (which comes out of the blissful nature of the Absolute).—The Kashmir Śaiva thinkers believe in pluralism because not all human beings are alike and the different paths and Philosophies are meant for different kinds of people. [...] Unlike the Brahman of Advaita Vedānta which is not conscious of itself and inactive, the Supreme Reality here embraces in itself the static and the dynamic, knowledge and action. One of the central concepts of this school is spanda, vibration, which comes out of the blissful nature of the Absolute and makes for its dynamic and creative activity. The dynamism of the world flows from the very heart of vibrative Consciousness or spanda. This is also related to the conception of Śiva’s Śaktis or dynamic Energies. [...]
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Spanda (स्पन्द).—[spand-ghañ]
1) Throbbing, palpitation.
2) Vibration, tremor, motion; मनो मन्दस्पन्दं बहिरपि चिरस्यापि विमृशन् (mano mandaspandaṃ bahirapi cirasyāpi vimṛśan) Bhartṛhari 3.51.
Derivable forms: spandaḥ (स्पन्दः).
Spanda (स्पन्द).—m.
(-ndaḥ) 1. Throbbing, throb. 2. Tremor, motion, vibration. E. spadi to shake, ghañ aff.
Spanda (स्पन्द).—[spand + a], m. Trembling, motion, Bhāṣāp. 158.
Spanda (स्पन्द).—[masculine] quivering, throbbing, motion i.[grammar]
Spanda (स्पन्द) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—śaiva, by Abhinavagupta. Oudh. Xvi, 124.
1) Spanda (स्पन्द):—[from spand] m. throbbing, throb, quiver, pulse, tremor, vibration, motion, activity, [Kāvya literature; Rājataraṅgiṇī; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a Śaiva [work] by Abhinava-gupta.
Spanda (स्पन्द):—(von spand) m.
1) das Zucken: dakṣiṇākṣi [Mṛcchakaṭikā 97, 14.] pakṣma [Spr. (II) 2003.] kara (Hand und Strahl) [1539.] dakṣiṇabāhu [Scholiast] zu [Śākuntala 15.] vāmetarabhuja [ADBHUTASĀRA] ebend.tṛṇaspande pi śaṅkitam [Rājataraṅgiṇī 8, 466.] mṛduspandam [?adv. Gītagovinda 3, 16.] Bewegung überh.: kriyā spandaḥ, jñānasya spandānātmakatvāt [KUSUM. 45, 4. 54, 4.] [Bhāṣāpariccheda 158.] mano mandaspandam (so zu lesen) [Spr. (II) 5256.] a adj. unbeweglich [UTTARAR. 96, 10 (125, 13).] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 5, 364.] unwandelbar: praṇaya [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 7, 4, 41.] —
2) Titel einer Schrift [HALL 197.] kārikā, nirṇaya, nilaya ebend. vivṛti [198.] sūtra [196. fg.] spandārthasūtrāvalī [198.] śāstra [Oxforder Handschriften 239,a,18.] — Vgl. niṣpanda, 2. nispanda, tailaspandā, nīla, śveta, sparśa .
Spanda (स्पन्द) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Phaṃda.
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
Spaṃda (स्पंद) [Also spelled spand]:—(nm) vibration, pulsation; throbbing.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Spaṃda (ಸ್ಪಂದ):—
1) [noun] a throbbing, palpitating; palpitation.
2) [noun] a slight movement.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Spanda (स्पन्द):—n. 1. throbbing; palpitation; 2. vibration; tremor; motion;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+8): Spandacaritra, Spandadeha, Spandakarika, Spandamana, Spandamatra, Spandan, Spandana, Spandanacaritra, Spandanamatra, Spandanananda, Spandanilaya, Spandanirnaya, Spandanirodhana, Spandapradipa, Spandapradipika, Spandarthasutravali, Spandarupa, Spandasamdoha, Spandasarvasva, Spandashastra.
Full-text (+72): Parishpanda, Aspanda, Sparshaspanda, Vishpanda, Nihspanda, Tailaspanda, Madhushpanda, Spandapradipa, Snayuspanda, Spandanirnaya, Spandasamdoha, Spandapradipika, Karaspanda, Shvetaspanda, Spandanilaya, Spand, Spandakarika, Spandasutra, Spandavivriti, Spandashastra.
Relevant text
Search found 44 books and stories containing Spanda, Spamda, Spaṃda; (plurals include: Spandas, Spamdas, Spaṃdas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 480 < [English-Gujarati-Hindi (1 volume)]
Page 323 < [Hindi-Gujarati-English Volume 3]
Page 391 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 159 < [Volume 12 (1912)]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.4.65 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]
Verse 3.1.27 < [Part 1 - Neutral Love of God (śānta-rasa)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 311 < [Volume 12 (1898)]
Pratyabhijna and Shankara’s Advaita (comparative study) (by Ranjni M.)
4.3. The Spanda school of philosophy < [Chapter 2 - Historical and Cultural background of Pratyabhijñā and Advaita Vedānta]
4. Various Schools of Kashmir Śaivism (Introduction) < [Chapter 2 - Historical and Cultural background of Pratyabhijñā and Advaita Vedānta]
5. Non-dualism in Āgamic Tradition < [Chapter 1 - Introduction: Non-dualism in Indian philosophy]
Principle of Shakti in Kashmir Shaivism (Study) (by Nirmala V.)
Part 8 - Śākta Nature: The Inherent Unconscious of Spanda < [Chapter 3 - Evolution of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Part 7 - Spanda: The Doctrine of Visible Śaiva Inclination < [Chapter 3 - Evolution of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Part 9 - Re-presenting ‘Vibrating Consciousness’ as ‘Vibration of Consciousness’ < [Chapter 3 - Evolution of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Related products
