Srishti, aka: Sṛṣṭi, Sṛṣṭī; 10 Definition(s)

Introduction

Srishti means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 terms Sṛṣṭi and Sṛṣṭī can be transliterated into English as Srsti or Srishti, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि, “creation”) refers to one of the fifty-six vināyakas located at Kāśī (Vārāṇasī), and forms part of a sacred pilgrimage (yātrā), described in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa (Skanda-purāṇa 4.2.57). He is also known as Sṛṣṭivināyaka, Sṛṣṭigaṇeśa and Sṛṣṭivighneśa. These fifty-six vināyakas are positioned at the eight cardinal points in seven concentric circles (8x7). They center around a deity named Ḍhuṇḍhirāja (or Ḍhuṇḍhi-vināyaka) positioned near the Viśvanātha temple, which lies at the heart of Kāśī, near the Gaṅges. This arrangement symbolises the interconnecting relationship of the macrocosmos, the mesocosmos and the microcosmos.

Sṛṣṭi is positioned in the South-Western corner of the sixth circle of the kāśī-maṇḍala. According to Rana Singh (source), his shrine is located at “Kalika Gali, out of D 8 / 3”. Worshippers of Sṛṣṭi will benefit from his quality, which is defined as “the controller of creation and reliever from strivers”. His coordinates are: Lat. 25.18583, Lon. 83.00625 (or, 25°11'09.0"N, 83°00'22.5"E) (Google maps)

Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is a holy city in India and represents the personified form of the universe deluded by the Māyā of Viṣṇu. It is described as a fascinating city which is beyond the range of vision of Giriśa (Śiva) having both the power to destroy great delusion, as well as creating it.

Sṛṣṭi, and the other vināyakas, are described in the Skandapurāṇa (the largest of the eighteen mahāpurāṇas). This book narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is composed of over 81,000 metrical verses with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.

Sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि).—(creation) The Indian theory of creation is given below: Triguṇas (The three attributes). The base of the universe is the set of the three attributes. They are Sattva (purity), Rajas (passion) and Tamas (inertia). Only things which could be seen, possess these three attributes. Things which could be seen are perishable. The indestructible could not be seen. Shape or form is an attribute. God has no form. So god is without attributes. The God devoid of attributes can be realised by knowledge, but cannot be seen with the ordinary eyes. The three attributes have a power each. Knowledge is the power of Sattva, activity, the power of Rajas and reason the power of Tamas. (See full article at Story of Sṛṣṭi from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि) refers to the “work of creation”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.15:—“[...] when God Śiva vanished, I, Pitāmaha (grandfather) of the worlds fell into contemplation (dhyāna) pondering on the means of carrying out His words of direction. Then after bowing down to Śiva, getting knowledge (jñāna) from Viṣṇu and attaining the highest bliss (parānanda), I decided to start the work of creation (sṛṣṭi)”.

1a) Sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि).—A son of Ugrasena.^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 24.

1b) Creation is of three kinds in primitive times —at will, at mere sight and at a simple touch. But after Dakṣa's epoch creation by sexual union came into being; (in the Vaivasvata epoch, came sexual union Br. P.);¹ creation starting when the balance of the guṇas is disturbed;² according to Sānkhya.³

• 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 4. 3; II. 37. 48; Matsya-purāṇa 5. 2; Vāyu-purāṇa 63. 45.
• 2) Ib. 5. 9.
• 3) Ib. 4. 46-90.

1c) A son of Dhruva; asked his own shadow to become a woman, and this was Chāyā, mother of five sons, Prācīnagarbha and others.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 96-8.

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 Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि) or Sṛṣṭividyā refers to a type of Vidyā (occult science) as defined in the Jaina Pāribhāṣika Śabdakośa.

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 geogprahy

Sṛṣṭī is one of the Brāhmaṇa donees mentioned in the “Asankhali plates of Narasiṃha II” (1302 A.D.). When a grant was made to a large number of Brāhmaṇas, the chief amongst the donees seems to have been called Pānīyagrāhin especially. In the present record, though all the donees (eg., Sṛṣṭī) are referred to as Pāṇigrāhi-mahājana, their list is headed by a Brāhmaṇa with Pāṇigrahī as his surname.

These copper plates (mentioning Sṛṣṭī) were discovered from the house of a Santal inhabitant of Pargana Asankhali in the Mayurbhanj State (Orissa). It was made when king Vīra-Narasiṃhadeva was staying at the Bhairavapura-kaṭaka (city, camp or residence).

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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

Marathi-English dictionary

sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि).—f (S) Creating or making; joining, attaching, forming. Pr. pratijīvīṃ sṛṣṭi bhinna. 2 The expansion or development of Brahma constituting the universal system. Ex.of comp. manōrathasṛṣṭi Mental creation, castle-building: also mental creations, pictures, or phantasms: also fictions of the imagination. svapnasṛṣṭi Dreams, the illusory creation of Morpheus. jīvasṛṣṭi The creation of the Soul or Self; the objects and relations as subsisting, whether with or without correspondence with the external world, in the affections and apprehensions of the sentient principle. māyika sṛṣṭi The unreal representations of necromancy or sorcery; the unreal appearances of the material universe; illusory or false exhibitions generally. Also kalpa- nāsṛṣṭi, mānasī sṛṣṭi, āsurī sṛṣṭi, bhūtasṛṣṭi, brahmasṛṣṭi, viśvāmitrasṛṣṭi &c. Of these such as demand explanation will be found in order.

sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि).—f Creation; the world. Nature, the physical nature.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि).—f. [sṛj-ktin]

1) Creation, anything created; किं मानसी सृष्टिः (kiṃ mānasī sṛṣṭiḥ) Ś.4; या सृष्टिः स्रष्टुराद्या (yā sṛṣṭiḥ sraṣṭurādyā) Ś.1.1; स्त्रीरत्नसृष्टि- रपरा प्रतिभाति सा मे (strīratnasṛṣṭi- raparā pratibhāti sā me) Ś.2.1; सृष्टिरोद्येव धातुः (sṛṣṭirodyeva dhātuḥ) Me.84; Bhāg. 1.19.16.

2) The creation of the world.

3) Nature, natural property.

4) Letting loose, emission.

5) Giving away, a gift; सृष्टिर्मृष्टिर्द्विजाश्चाग्र्याः श्राद्धकर्मसु संपदः (sṛṣṭirmṛṣṭirdvijāścāgryāḥ śrāddhakarmasu saṃpadaḥ) Ms. 3.255.

6) The existence of properties or qualities.

7) The absence of properties.

8) Offspring (saṃtāna); संसृष्टा ब्राह्मणैरेव त्रिषु वर्णेषु सृष्टयः (saṃsṛṣṭā brāhmaṇaireva triṣu varṇeṣu sṛṣṭayaḥ) Mb.12.6.42.

Derivable forms: sṛṣṭiḥ (सृष्टिः).

Sṛṣṭi (सृष्टि).—f.

(-ṣṭiḥ) 1. Creation, creating. 2. Nature, natural property or disposition. 3. The absence of properties. 4. The existence of properties or qualities. 5. Giving away, gift. 6. Letting loose. E. sṛj to create or abandon, aff. ktin .

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