Sthana, aka: Sthāna; 16 Definition(s)

Introduction

Sthana 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.

In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

1) Sthāna (स्थान) refers to a “temple”, and in a broader sense represents “devotional place” or “residence of God”. It is one of commonly used names for a temple, as found in Vāstuśāstra literature such the Mayamata and the Mānasāra.

2) Sthāna (स्थान) is a Sanskrit technical term denoting a “residence” in general, according to the lists of synonyms given in the Mayamata XIX.10-12 and the Mānasāra XIX.108-12, both populair treatises on Vāstuśāstra literature.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Sthāna (स्थान) is a Sanskrit technical term translating to “state”. It is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti.

Sthāna (स्थान) is a Sanskrit technical term, used in warfare, referring to the “stability” (of the king). The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature. (see the Nītiprakāśikā 8.86).

context information

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

1) Sthāna (स्थान, “posture”) refers to “standing posture”, to be used in the release of missiles of all kinds, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 11.

The six different kinds of sthānas are as follows:

1. vaiṣṇava,
2. sampāda,
3. vaiśākha,
4. maṇḍala,
5. ālīḍha,
6. pratyālīḍha.

2) Sthāna (स्थान) refers to “voice registers”. According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, it is part of the ‘vocal representation’ (vācika), which is used in communicating the meaning of the drama and calling forth the sentiment (rasa).

3) Sthāna (स्थान, “occasion”) refers to one of the five cause of songs (dhrūva) according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 32:—“The tāla of six or eight kalās observed in dhruvās will constitute their neasure (pramāṇa), and just as names (nāma) are applied to men according to their clan (gotra) family (kula) and customs (ācāra), so they are applied to dhruvās according to their depending on an occasions (sthāna)”.

The vocal registers (sthāna), just as in the vīṇā stringed instrument, were localized in the chest, throat and head

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., 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) and poetic works (kavya).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

1a) Sthāna (स्थान).—A Śukha god.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 1. 19.

1b) A mukhya gaṇa.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 100. 19.

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.

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Sthāna (स्थान).—Place of articulation; place of the production of sound, which is one of the chief factors in the production of sound; cf. अनुप्रदानात् संसर्गात् स्थानात् करणविन्ययात् । जायते वर्ण-वैशेष्यं परीमाणाच्च पञ्चमात् (anupradānāt saṃsargāt sthānāt karaṇavinyayāt | jāyate varṇa-vaiśeṣyaṃ parīmāṇācca pañcamāt), T.Pr. XXIII. 2. Generally there are given five places of the production of sound viz. कण्ठ, तालु, मूर्धन्, दन्त (kaṇṭha, tālu, mūrdhan, danta) and ओष्ठ (oṣṭha), respectively for the articulation of guttural, palatal cerebral, dental and labial letters and नासिका (nāsikā) as an additional one for the articulation of the nasal consonants ञू, मू,ङू, णू (ñū, mū, ṅū, ṇū) and नू (nū) For the Jihvamuliya sound (क), जिंह्वामूल (jiṃhvāmūla) is given as a specific one. For details and minor differences of views, see T. Pr. III, R. Pr. 1.18 to 20,R. T. 2-10; V. Pr. I. 65 to 84 and M. Bh, on P. I. 1. 9. (2) place, substratum, which is generally understood as the sense of the genitive case-affix in rules which prescribe substitutes; cf. षष्ठी स्थोनोयागा (ṣaṣṭhī sthonoyāgā). P. I. 1. 49.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Sthāna (स्थान) is a synonym for Deśa (“region”), according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands [viz., Sthāna], soil, mountains, jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees and plants and substances, with their various kinds.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Sthāna (स्थान) is the specific posture of the body which forms the predominant feature of any movement. It may be the sthānas prescribed for both men and women, or even those especially for women. It may be of the nature of standing, sitting, or lying down. Sthāna represents a definite form of the lines of the body in a fixed condition. There may be a rhombus between the knees or it may be an erect posture. All these determine the static aspect of the karaṇa. In a sthāna, the hands and body are involved. Even if the nṛtta-hastas undergo their specified course of action, the leg will not move away from their original placement.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Sthāna (स्थान, “state”).—One of the seven sub categories of ascetics (nirgrantha-muni);—What is the meaning of state /condition (sthāna) here? Here it implies the state of self-restraint. How many states of self-control are there? There are innumerable states of self-control induced by passions. How can the passion induced states of self control be innumerable? The continuous upgrade/ increase or downgrade /decrease of the passions cause innumerable states of passions. As self controlled is directly affected by passions, the states of self control also become innumerable due to the state of the passions.

What is the state (sthāna) of husk (pulāka) and kaṣāya-kuśīla ascetics? They have the minimum states attained. What is the meaning of lowest state of attainment? The lowest state of self control found in husk and kaṣāya-kuśīla ascetics is called the lowest state of attainment.

Sthāna (स्थान) refers to one of the twelve limbs of the internal-corpus (aṅga-praviṣṭa). The Aṅgapraviṣṭa 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 (eg., sthāna) or of many kinds”.

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

sthāna (स्थान).—n (S) A place in general, a spot. 2 Situation, site, local position. 3 Place, figuratively; the fit period, season, juncture, occasion; the opportune or appropriate point (of time, space, or in any connection or relation of nature, order &c.) 4 Stead, room, lieu, place.

sthāna (स्थान).—n A place; situation. Stead, room.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Sthāna (स्थान).—[sthā-lyuṭ]

1) The act of standing or remaining, stay, continuance, residence; न किल भवतां देव्याः स्थानं गृहेऽभिमतं ततः (na kila bhavatāṃ devyāḥ sthānaṃ gṛhe'bhimataṃ tataḥ) U.3.32.

2) Being fixed or stationary.

3) A state, condition; स्थानत्रयात्परं प्राप्तं ब्रह्मभूतमविक्रियम् (sthānatrayātparaṃ prāptaṃ brahmabhūtamavikriyam) Bhāg.1.18.26.

4) A place, spot, site, locality; अक्षमालामदत्त्वास्मात्स्थानात्पदात्पदमपि न गन्तव्यम् (akṣamālāmadattvāsmātsthānātpadātpadamapi na gantavyam) K.

5) Station, situation, position.

6) Relation, capacity; पितृस्थाने (pitṛsthāne) 'in the place or capacity of a father'; भक्ष्यस्थाने (bhakṣyasthāne) Pt.2.26.

7) An abode, a house, dwelling-house; स एव (sa eva) (nakraḥ) प्रच्युतः स्थानाच्छुनापि परिभूयते (pracyutaḥ sthānācchunāpi paribhūyate) Pt.3.46.

8) (a) A country, region, district. (b) A town, city.

9) Office, rank, dignity; अमात्यस्थाने नियोजितः (amātyasthāne niyojitaḥ).

1) Object; गुणाः पूजास्थानं गुणिषु न च लिङ्गं न च वयः (guṇāḥ pūjāsthānaṃ guṇiṣu na ca liṅgaṃ na ca vayaḥ) U.4.11.

11) An occasion, a matter, subject, cause; पराभ्यूहस्थानाःयपि तनुतराणि स्थगयति (parābhyūhasthānāḥyapi tanutarāṇi sthagayati) Māl.1.14; स्थानं जरापरिभवस्य तदेव पुंसाम् (sthānaṃ jarāparibhavasya tadeva puṃsām) Subhāṣ; so कलह°, कोप°, विवाद° (kalaha°, kopa°, vivāda°) &c.

12) A fit or proper place; स्थानेष्वेव नियोज्यन्ते भृत्याश्चाभरणानि च (sthāneṣveva niyojyante bhṛtyāścābharaṇāni ca) Pt. 1.72.

13) A fit or worthy object; स्थाने खलु सज्जति दृष्टिः (sthāne khalu sajjati dṛṣṭiḥ) M.1; see स्थाने (sthāne) also.

14) The place or organ of utterance of any letter; (these are eight :-aṣṭau sthānāni varṇānāmuraḥ kaṇṭhaḥ śirastathā | jihvāmūlaṃ ca dantāśca nāsikauṣṭhau ca tālu ca Śik.13.)

15) A holy place.

16) An altar.

17) A place in a town, square, court.

18) The place or sphere assigned after death to persons according as they perform or neglect their prescribed duties.

19) (In politics, war &c.) The firm attitude or bearing of troops, standing firm so as to repel a charge; स्थाने युद्धे च कुशलानभीरुनविकारिणः (sthāne yuddhe ca kuśalānabhīrunavikāriṇaḥ) Ms.7.19.

2) A halt.

21) A stationary condition, a neutral or middle state; स्थानं वृद्धिः क्षयश्चैव त्रिवर्गश्चैव दण्डजः (sthānaṃ vṛddhiḥ kṣayaścaiva trivargaścaiva daṇḍajaḥ) Mb.12.59. 31.

22) That which constitutes the chief strength or the very existence of a kingdom, a stamina of a kingdom; i.e. army, treasure, town, and territory; Ms.7. 56 (where Kull. renders sthānaṃ by daṇḍakoṣapurarāṣṭrātmakaṃ caturvidham).

23) Likeness, resemblance.

24) Part or division of a work, section, chapter &c.

25) The character or part of an actor.

26) Interval, opportunity, leisure.

27) (In music) A note, tone, modulation of the voice; तौ तु गान्धर्वतत्त्वज्ञौ स्थानमूर्च्छनकोविदौ (tau tu gāndharvatattvajñau sthānamūrcchanakovidau) Rām.1.4.1 (com.- 'yadūrdhvaṃ hṛdayagranthe kapolaphalakādadhaḥ | prāṇasaṃcāraṇasthānaṃ sthānamityabhi- dhīyate ||...... iti śāṇḍilyaḥ).

28) A pose, posture (of archers etc.).

29) An order of the life (āśrama); मैत्रेयीति होवाच याज्ञवल्क्य उद्यास्यन्वा अरेऽहमस्मात् स्थानादस्मि (maitreyīti hovāca yājñavalkya udyāsyanvā are'hamasmāt sthānādasmi) Bṛ. Up.2. 4.1.

3) Ground (bhūmi); स्थानासनिनो भूमि-पाषाण-सिकता- शर्करा-वालुका-भस्मशायिनः (sthānāsanino bhūmi-pāṣāṇa-sikatā- śarkarā-vālukā-bhasmaśāyinaḥ) Mb.12.192.1.

31) Sustenance, maintenance; यच्चेदं प्रभवः स्थानं भूतानां संयमो यमः । स्वभावेनैव वर्तन्ते द्वन्द्वसृष्टानि भूरिशः (yaccedaṃ prabhavaḥ sthānaṃ bhūtānāṃ saṃyamo yamaḥ | svabhāvenaiva vartante dvandvasṛṣṭāni bhūriśaḥ) || Mb.12.238.2 (com. sthānaṃ poṣaṇam).

32) A mode or attitude in fighting; अस्त्रयन्त्राणि चित्राणि स्थानानि विविधानि च (astrayantrāṇi citrāṇi sthānāni vividhāni ca) Mb.9.57.18.

33) Storage (of goods); आगमं निर्गमं स्थानं तथा वृद्धिक्षयावुभौ । विचार्य सर्वपण्यानां कारयेत् क्रयविक्रयौ (āgamaṃ nirgamaṃ sthānaṃ tathā vṛddhikṣayāvubhau | vicārya sarvapaṇyānāṃ kārayet krayavikrayau) || Ms.8.41.

34) A state of perfect tranquillity.

35) Any organ of sense.

36) Shape, form, appearance (as of the moon).

37) An astronomical mansion.

Derivable forms: sthānam (स्थानम्).

Sthāna (स्थान).—nt. (in all these mgs. = Pali ṭhāna, but hardly Sanskrit sthāna except as indicated below), (1) point, matter, subject: (anyāṃ devāṃ) divyehi daśahi sthānehi abhibhavati, divyenāyuṣā (so with varṇena, sukhena, aiśvaryeṇa, parivāreṇa; rūpeṇa, divyehi śabdehi, gandhehi, rasehi, praṣṭavyehi) Mv i.337.15; similarly ii.190.13 (rūpehi for rūpeṇa, sparśehi for praṣṭavyehi); similarly Pali SN iv.275.2 (et alibi; here, dibbena āyunā, then vaṇṇena, sukhena, yasena, adhipateyyena; dibbehi rūpehi, saddehi, gandhehi, rasehi, phoṭṭhabbehi); in Mv iii.302.5, same with only pañcahi sthānehi, the first five above; five vidyāsthāna, see this, also called simply sthānāni, points, subjects (of learning); the fifth of these is śilpa(karma)- sthānavidyā, compare Divy 109.21 (kuśalā) Bodhisattvāḥ teṣu teṣu śilpasthānakarmasthāneṣu,…in various matters of arts and crafts; also RP 41.13 sarvaśilpasthānakarma- sthāna-vidhijñāḥ; in Karmav 64.7 mātāpitaraḥ pañca sthānāni pratyanuśaṃsamānāḥ (expecting five matters) putram icchanti, some other group than the vidyā-sthānāni must be meant, perh. the five ānisaṃsā of a virtuous man as in Pali DN ii.86.1 ff.; durdṛśam imaṃ sthānaṃ (hard to see thru is this subject), yad…pratītyasamutpādaḥ Mv iii.314.4; (paravipattiḥ) saṃvejanīyaṃ sthānaṃ Divy 432.16, a matter that should be shuddered at; anākhyātam idaṃ sthānam SP 230.8—9, an article (of creed) not yet made known (Kern); dharma-nigūḍha-sthānam 233.12, secret article of the doctrine; anyatamānyatamat sthānam adhyāpadya Bhīk 23b.4, having violated one or another point (item, of the code of conduct); 24a.1; evaṃrūpaṃ sthānaṃ nādhyāpatsyasc 24b.5; asmin sthāne, in (on) this point, subject, matter, SP 317.3; 318.11 (tathāgataḥ khalv asmin sthāne, on this subject, 'saṃpramoṣadharmā; Kern here wrongly in his position); atra sthāne 323.4; (2) much as in Sanskrit (BR s.v. sthāna, 1 w), underlying condition, occasion, virtually cause (compare Pali DN comm. i.77.32 ṭhānaṃ vuccati kāraṇaṃ): trayāṇāṃ sthānānāṃ saṃmukhībhāvāt (as a result of the presence of three things, conditions) putrā jāyante duhitaraś ca Divy 1.12, 15; (ṣaṇṇāṃ) sthānānām āścaryādbhuto loke prādurbhāvaḥ Av ii.55.2, of six conditions (or causes) is a marvelous and miraculous appearance in the world (they are then listed; the first is a Tathāgata, who in the story has just performed a miracle); na pramādasthānam asyopasaṃharati Bbh 15.24, he does not produce for him an occasion for heedless- ness; kaukṛtya-sthānaṃ SP 287.2, see kaukṛtya; (3) basis, cause, so organ, implement: tenaikaṃ daṇḍasthānaṃ pre- ṣitam Divy 531.11, he sent out an instrument of punish- ment = a punitive force or expedition (Index, an army corps; not plausible); similarly MSV ii.71.16; (4) in cpd. sthānāsthāna, (skandha-dhātv-āyatana-pratītyasamutpā- da-)-sthānāsthāna- Bbh 4.8, either possibilities and im- possibilities (see 5 below), or sound and unsound pro- positions or conclusions (regarding…), and so in other cases, see s.v. asthāna; in Pali CPD s.v. aṭṭhāna, and PTSD s.v. ṭhāna(ṭṭhāna); (5) occasion, hence possibility: sthānam etad vidyati yaṃ (it is quite possible that) ete mama (acc.) jīvitāto vyaparopayitvā (°pitvā, mss.)… Mv i.350.11; sthānam etaṃ vidyati yaṃ Sudarśanā upa- krameṇa ātmānaṃ māreyā ii.448.12; sthānam etad vidyate yat…Divy 109.14; 159.28; 175.27; 228.12; 273.16; 512.5; Gv 404.23, etc., common; (without yad) sthānaṃ (one ms. adds ca) me…Sudarśanā paribhavati Mv ii.491.19 (so mss., which however are confused); with neg. (compare Pali n' etaṃ ṭhānaṃ vijjati), referring to following, na etaṃ sthāna (so read with v.l., m.c.) vidyati, yatra…Mv iii.46.2 (verse); but usually to preceding, nedaṃ sthānaṃ vidyate Vaj 34.8; Mmk 395.3; naitat sth° vi° Dbh 25.16; [Page610-b+ 71] sthānam etan na saṃvidyate LV 215.19 (verse); iti naitat sthānaṃ vidyate SP 333.9.

Sthāna (स्थान).—n.

(-naṃ) 1. Place, spot, site, situation. 2. Stay, staying, continuance, being fixed or stationary and exempt, from increase or diminution. 3. Likeness, resemblance. 4. Leisure, interval. 5. An open place in a town, a green, a plain, a square. 6. A house, a dwelling. 7. A section, a chapter, a book. 8. One of the three objects of government, the middle state, as neither loss nor gain, nor discomfiture nor success, nor expenditure nor accumulation, &c. 9. A town, a city. 10. Office, appointment. 11. Degree, station. 12. Halt. 13. Firmness of troops, keeping in array. 14. The act of standing firm so as to resist a charge. 15. State, condition. 16. The stamina of a kingdom, regarded as consisting of four parts, viz:—Army, treasury, city, and territory. 17. Proper or right place. 18. Country, region, district. 19. Any place or sphere assigned after death to men according as they do their duty or neglect it. 20. A holy place. 21. An altar. 22. An open place in a town. 23. The part or character of an actor. 24. An object. 25. A worthy or proper object. 26. Object, point, place. 27. A modulation of voice, note, tone. 28. Intimation, indication. E. ṣṭhā to stay, to be fixed, aff. lyuṭ .

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