Stava, Stāva: 17 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Stava 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 Stav.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Stava (स्तव) refers to “hymns (for eulogising someone)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.30 (“The Celebration of Pārvatī’s Return”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “On hearing that Pārvatī was returning, Menā and Himavat excessively delighted went ahead seated in a divine vehicle. [...] At that time the gods, seated in their aerial chariots in the sky, showered auspicious flowers, bowed to and eulogised her with hymns (stava). Then the Brahmins and others joyfully took you within the city in a resplendent chariot. Then the brahmins, the maids and other women took her within the house with due honour. [...]”.

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

Stava (स्तव) refers to the “praise” (of the holy Dharma), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 8.—Accordingly: “[Question]:—What do the words bodhi and sattva mean? [Answer]:—[...] Furthermore, sat means to praise (stava) the holy Dharma, tva means the essential nature of the holy Dharma. The Bodhisattva is so called because his mind is beneficial to himself and to others, because he saves all beings, because he knows the true nature of all dharmas, because he travels the Path of supreme perfect enlightenment and because he is praised by all the āryas. Why is that? Among all the attributes, that of the Buddha is foremost and because the Bodhisattva wishes to attain it, he is praised by the Āryas.”.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Stava (स्तव) refers to “praise”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] At that time, sixty koṭis of Bodhisattvas, having stood up from the congregation, joined their palms, paid homage to the Lord, and then uttered these verses in one voice: ‘(193) When the highest among humans was extinguished, O Lord, we will even sacrifice our bodies and lives to uphold the true dharma. (194) Leaving gain and fame, leaving all praises (saṃstava), but never leaving behind this dharma which sets forth the knowledge of the Buddha. [...]’”.

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: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra

Stava (स्तव) refers to one of the fourteen limbs of the external-corpus (aṅga-bāhya). The Aṅgabāhya refers to one of the two types of scriptural knowledge (śruta), which refers to one of the five types of knowledge (jñāna). according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 1.20, “scriptural knowledge (śruta) preceded by sensory knowledge (mati) is of two, or of twelve or of many kinds (e.g., stava)”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

stava (स्तव).—m (S) Praising, lauding, extolling; praise, applause, commendation.

--- OR ---

stava (स्तव).—prep On account of; for the sake of; because, for.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

stava (स्तव).—m Praise; extolling. prep For; on account of.

context information

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 dictionary

Stava (स्तव).—[stu-ap]

1) Praising, celebrating, eulogizing.

2) Praise, eulogium, panegyric; ततो गिरः पुरुषवरस्तवा- न्विता (tato giraḥ puruṣavarastavā- nvitā) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.47.18.

Derivable forms: stavaḥ (स्तवः).

--- OR ---

Stāva (स्ताव).—Praise, eulogy.

Derivable forms: stāvaḥ (स्तावः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Stava (स्तव).—according to Tibetan on Avadāna-śataka ii.166.6 (see Stavakarṇika), cited by Feer in note to translation(s) as rgya skegs (= lākṣā), and according to Index to Divyāvadāna, lac (in any case must be a cheap material): apareṇa stava-karṇikā Divyāvadāna 26.27, lac ear-ring. See next.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Stava (स्तव).—m.

(-vaḥ) 1. Praise, eulogium, panegyric. 2. Celebrating as a hero or hymning as a deity. E. ṣṭu to praise, ap aff.

--- OR ---

Stāva (स्ताव).—m.

(-vaḥ) Praise.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Stava (स्तव).—i. e. stu + a, m. 1. Praising, Mahābhārata 13, 7662. 2. Praise.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Stava (स्तव).—[masculine] praise, hymn, song.

--- OR ---

Stāva (स्ताव).—[masculine] praise; ka [adjective] & [masculine] praising, praiser.

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

1) Stava (स्तव):—1. stava m. or n. a [particular] substance, [Divyāvadāna]

2) 2a stavaka etc. See p. 1259, col. 1.

3) [from stu] 2b m. (for 1. See p. 1258, col. 3) praise, eulogy, song of praise, hymn, panegyric, [Ṛg-veda]; etc.

4) Stāva (स्ताव):—[from stu] m. praise, eulogy, [Inscriptions]

5) [v.s. ...] a praiser, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

6) Stāvā (स्तावा):—[from stu] f. Name of an Apsaras, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Stava (स्तव):—(vaḥ) 1. m. Praise, eulogium.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Stava (स्तव) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Thaya.

[Sanskrit to German]

Stava 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Stava (स्तव) [Also spelled stav]:—(nm) praise, eulogy, panegyric.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Stava (ಸ್ತವ):—

1) [noun] the act of praising; praise.

2) [noun] a hymn in praise of (a deity).

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 37 books and stories containing Stava, Stāva, Stāvā; (plurals include: Stavas, Stāvas, Stāvās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 1.2.157 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]

Verse 1.2.159 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]

Verse 1.2.158 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]

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Verse 1.11.7 < [Chapter 11 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra’s Birth]

Verses 4.19.138-139 < [Chapter 19 - A Thousand Names of Srī Yamunā]

Verse 1.16.29 < [Chapter 16 - Description of Śrī Rādhikā’s Wedding]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

Read Contents

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Verse 306 [Significance of Kramadarśana] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]

Introduction to the Cidgaganacandrikā