Sthairya: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Sthairya 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.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Sthairya (स्थैर्य, “self-steadiness”) refers to one of the eight aspects of the male’s sattva, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24. These sattvas form the support of sentiments (rasa) in drama and are defined according to the science of sāmānyābhinaya, or “harmonious representation”.
According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “not relinquishing any undertaking relating to duty, wealth and enjoyment irrespective of its good or bad results, īs called a ‘tenacity’ (sthairya)”.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Sthairya (स्थैर्य):—Stability
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Sthairya (स्थैर्य) refers to “steadiness” and represents one of the achievements of Haṭhayoga, according to the 17th-century Haṭhayogasaṃhitā: a compilation on Haṭhayoga that borrows extensively from the Haṭhapradīpikā.—[...] The stated aim of Haṭhayoga is to achieve purification (śodhana), firmness (dṛḍhatā), steadiness (sthairya), constancy (dhairya), lightness (lāghava), direct perception (pratyakṣa) and liberation (nirlipta) of the body (ghaṭa). Its Haṭhayoga has seven auxiliaries: the ṣaṭkarma, āsana, mudrā, pratyāhāra, prāṇasaṃyāma, dhyāna and samādhi.
1) Sthairya (स्थैर्य) refers to “steady (breath)”, according to the Yogabīja 150cd-151.—Accordingly: “Then, O goddess, when the union [of the individual self with the supreme self] has been accomplished, the mind dissolves. The breath becomes steady (sthairya) upon the arising of union in absorption (i.e., Layayoga). Because of the absorption, [transcendental] happiness, the highest state, whose bliss is of one's own self, is obtained”.
2) Sthairya (स्थैर्य) refers to “steadiness (of the body)”, according to the Bhojadeva’s Rājamārtaṇḍa (commentary on Yogasūtra of Patañjali) Sūtra 2.29.—Accordingly, while discussing Prāṇāyāma and Samādhi: “In this system, some [of the auxiliaries] such as concentration directly assist Samādhi; some [others] such as Yamas and the like, assist Samādhi [indirectly] by destroying hindrances such as violence to living beings [which is] contrary [to the aim of Samādhi]. Among these, posture and the like help the higher [auxiliaries]. For example, when posture is mastered, steadiness (sthairya) [of the body is achieved] for Prāṇāyāma. Thus, it also applies to the higher [auxiliaries]”.
3) Sthairya (स्थैर्य) refers to either (1) the “steadiness (of the mind)”, (2) the “stability (of semen)” or (3) the “stability (of the body)”, 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 the retention of semen: “When there is steadiness of the mind (manas-sthairya), the breath is steady. Because of this, semen becomes stable. Because of the stability of semen (bindu-sthairya), there is always strength [and so,] stability of the body (piṇḍa-sthairya) arises”.
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).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Sthairya (स्थैर्य) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Trāsanī forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Vajracakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the vajracakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs and Vīras [viz., Sthairya] each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum and a knife; they are dark-bluish-black in color.
Sthairya (स्थैर्य) refers to “steady (meditation)”, according to the Bhūśalyasūtrapātananimittavidhi section of Jagaddarpaṇa’s Ācāryakriyāsamuccaya, a text within Tantric Buddhism dealing with construction manual for monasteries etc.—Accordingly, “The excellent master [= officiant] in steady meditation (sthairya-dhyāna-samanvita), gazing upon the centre of the tip of his nose, should cast the cord on the surface of the site which has been levelled following the rules exactly. [The cord,] into which [the five threads of the five colours] are twined, has as its nature the five wisdoms and is purified. [It] does not have a knot, and is placed in the centre [of the site before casting]”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Sthairya (स्थैर्य, “firmness”) refers to an aspect of samyaktva (right belief) classified under the bhūṣaṇa heading, according to Hemacandra in his 12th century Yogaśāstra verse 2.16. Sthairya means strengthening the faith of anyone who is wavering in the Jaina creed or maintaining one’s own faith firmly despite the success of adherents of other religions.
Sthairya (स्थैर्य) refers to “firmness in Jain doctrine” and represents one of the Guṇas (“qualities”), according to chapter 1.1 [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, “[...] Vajranābha acquired strong Tirthakṛt-body-making and family-karma by the twenty sthānakas as follows:—[...] The ninth [sthānaka] is right-belief, free from the faults of doubt, etc., adorned with the qualities of firmness, etc. [viz., sthairya-guṇa], characterized by tranquillity, etc. [...]”.
Note: The guṇas are: firmness in Jain doctrine (sthairya); promulgation of Jain doctrine (prabhāvanā); devotion to Jain doctrine (bhakti); expertness in it (kauśala); service to the tīrthas (tirthasevā). The tīrtha is either dravyatīrtha, places where the Tīrthakṛts were born, received initiation, kevalajñāna, and attained mokṣa; or bhāva-tīrtha, the fourfold congregation, or the chief Gaṇadhara.—(cf. Yogaśāstra 2.17.)
Sthairya (स्थैर्य) refers to “steadiness” (of the inner self), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Breath control is praised by mendicants, whose own opinions are well-established, for the accomplishment of meditation and for steadiness (sthairya-artha) of the inner self. Therefore, it should be learned directly and before [meditation] by the wise. Otherwise, even a little mastering of the mind cannot be done. It is considered by the teachers of old as threefold in accordance with the difference in characteristics. There is inhalation, holding and, immediately after that, exhalation”.
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
sthairya (स्थैर्य).—n S (sthira) Steadiness, settledness, fixedness, fastness, stillness. 2 Permanency, stability, endurance, continuance. 3 Constancy, firmness, faithfulness, stanchness, persistency &c. 4 Calmness, composedness, equableness or soberness (of mind, temper, affections).
sthairya (स्थैर्य).—n Steadiness; firmness; endurance. Calmness.
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
Sthairya (स्थैर्य).—[sthirasya bhāvaḥ ṣyañ]
1) Firmness, stability, fixity, steadiness.
2) Continuance.
3) Firmness of mind, resolution, constancy; अमानित्वं (amānitvaṃ) ...... स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः (sthairyamātmavinigrahaḥ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 13.7.
4) Patience.
5) Hardness, solidity.
6) Subduing the sense (jitendriyatva); ततस्तस्य परिज्ञाय महास्थैर्य महामुनेः (tatastasya parijñāya mahāsthairya mahāmuneḥ) Rām.7.3.27.
Derivable forms: sthairyam (स्थैर्यम्).
Sthairya (स्थैर्य) or Sthairyya.—n.
(-ryaṃ) 1. Firmness, stability. 2. Firmness of mind, resolution, fortitude. 3. Continuance. 4. Patience. 5. Hardness, solidity. E. sthira, and ṣyañ aff.
Sthairya (स्थैर्य).—i. e. sthita + ya, n. 1. Fitmness, stability, staying continually, [Pañcatantra] 225, 22. 2. Constancy, [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 102. 3. Patience, [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 238.
Sthairya (स्थैर्य).—[neuter] firmness, solidity, steadiness, constancy, calmness; p. vant.
1) Sthairya (स्थैर्य):—[from sthā] n. firmness, hardness, solidity, [Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] fixedness, stability, immobility, [Prabodha-candrodaya; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
3) [v.s. ...] calmness, tranquillity, [Pañcadaṇḍacchattra-prabandha]
4) [v.s. ...] continuance, permanence, [Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara]
5) [v.s. ...] steadfastness, constancy, perseverance, patience, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
6) [v.s. ...] firm attachment to, constant delight in ([locative case]), [Kāvya literature; Pañcatantra; Kathāsaritsāgara etc.]
Sthairya (स्थैर्य):—(ryyaṃ) 1. n. Firmness.
Sthairya (स्थैर्य):—(von sthira) n.
1) Festigkeit, Härte: aṅgānām [Yājñavalkya’s Gesetzbuch 3, 80.] udarasya [Mahābhārata 1, 4492.] [Suśruta 1, 18, 10. 151, 6.] doṣa [2, 358, 7.] kṛt [1, 48, 7.] [VĀGBH. 1, 6, 16.] kara [Suśruta 1, 182, 4.] vyāyāmaḥ sthairyakarāṇām (hitatamam) [CARAKA 1,25.] [Oxforder Handschriften 230,b,44.] —
2) das Feststehen, Unbeweglichkeit [DHĀTUP. 3, 13. fg.] [Vopadeva’s Grammatik 8, 106, Anf.] [morgenländischen Gesellschaft 27, 26.] [Prabodhacandrodaja 5, 2.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 85, 7. 11, 16, 33.] āsana [SARVADARŚANAS. 174, 12.] sthāne sthairyamavāpnoti festes Verbleiben in seiner Stellung [KĀM. NĪTIS. 5, 5.] manasaḥ festes Gerichtetsein des Geistes auf einen Punkt [Oxforder Handschriften 91,a,9.] a Unsicherheit [Rājataraṅgiṇī 4, 81.] [SARVADARŚANAS. 163, 15.] —
3) Bestand, Dauerhaftigkeit [Spr. (II) 5934.] śarīra [Kathāsaritsāgara 94, 135.] [SARVADARŚANAS. 97, 11. fg. 99, 20.] prīti [Rājataraṅgiṇī 1, 375] [?(pl.). Sāhityadarpana 243. Scholiast zu Kapila 1, 33.] a Unbestand, Vergänglichkeit [Spr. (II) 855. 6279.] —
4) Standhaftigkeit, Ausdauer [Bhagavadgītā 13, 7.] [Mahābhārata 3, 17381.] [Harivaṃśa 7598.] [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 106, 32. 4, 55, 2. 5, 83, 4.] [KĀM. NĪTIS. 4, 29. 37. 13, 31. 19, 7.] [Spr. (II) 3482, v. l. 4012. 7049. 7236.] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 3, 157. 6, 242. 344.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 1, 16, 29. 36. 3, 28, 5.] manaḥ dass. [Spr. (II) 7436.] — 2)4): sthairye ca himavāniva [Mahābhārata 6, 502.] [Rāmāyaṇa] [Gorresio 1, 1, 20 (18] [SCHL.][). 2, 1, 21. 6, 102, 26.] —
5) festes Hängen an, dauerndes Gefallen an (loc.): kathaṃ tasyāḥ sthairyaṃ syāttvayi [Kathāsaritsāgara 52, 282.] sā tasminrājñi nadīva sāgare sthairyaṃ babandha [362.] na kathaṃcidrṛhe sthairyamālambate [Pañcatantra 225, 23.] yogamahotsave [Spr. (II) 1956.] mantrastasya mahībhartuḥ vāstavyabandhacintāyāṃ sthairyamāyayau [Rājataraṅgiṇī 4, 623.]
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Sthairya (स्थैर्य):—
2) manaḥ ebend. [4, 114.] śubhasthairyeṇa cetasaḥ [84.]
Sthairya (स्थैर्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Thirima, Theria.
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
Sthairya (स्थैर्य):—(nm) steadiness; firmness; stability.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Sthairya (ಸ್ಥೈರ್ಯ):—
1) [noun] = ಸ್ಥಿರತೆ - [sthirate -] 1 & 3.
2) [noun] resoluteness of the mind; firmness; determination.
3) [noun] forbearance; patience.
4) [noun] the quality of being incessant; incessantness; continuance.
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 (+0): Stairyam, Sthairyadhyana, Sthairyaja, Sthairyakara, Sthairyakrit, Sthairyartha, Sthairyasthaman, Sthairyavant, Sthairyavat, Sthairyavattva, Sthairyavicarana.
Full-text (+41): Asthairya, Manahsthairya, Sthairyavicarana, Cittasthairya, Sthairyakrit, Stairyam, Sthairyakara, Sthairyavattva, Prakarya, Sthairyavat, Atmasthairya, Sthairyaja, Sthairyasthaman, Sthairyavant, Thirima, Caittiriyam, Theria, Skhadana, Naitikasthairya, Sthairyya.
Relevant text
Search found 56 books and stories containing Sthairya; (plurals include: Sthairyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.261 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Verse 3.2.161 < [Part 2 - Affection and Service (dāsya-rasa)]
Verse 4.3.49 < [Part 3 - Chivalry (vīrya-rasa)]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 11.22 < [Chapter 11 - Additional Ornaments]
Text 10.272 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 1013 < [Hindi-Malayalam-English Volume 1]
Page 1129 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 645 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Samkhya elements in the Bhagavata-purana (by Jumli Nath)
Part 2.4 - Means of liberation: the Yogic path < [Chapter 4b - Liberation as reflected in the Bhāgavatapurāṇa]
Part 5 - Similarities and Dissimilarities on the concept of Liberation < [Chapter 5 - Sāṃkhya and the Bhāgavata-purāṇa: Comparative note]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Mode of action of pada-abhyanga < [2023: Volume 12, April special issue 6]
A review on pathya-apathya (indicationscontraindications) in nasa roga < [2020: Volume 9, August special issue 9]
Childhood mental disorder and complementary medicine < [2018: Volume 7, April issue 7]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.4.80 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]