Sthulashiras, Sthūlaśiras: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Sthulashiras means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 term Sthūlaśiras can be transliterated into English as Sthulasiras or Sthulashiras, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Sthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्) is the name of a rākṣasa and friend of Supratīka, who was a yakṣa and servent of Kubera, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara chapter 2. Supratīka was cursed to be born as a piśāca by Kubera after the latter perceived his friendship with Sthūlaśiras.
2) Sthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्) is the name of a Yakṣa according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 56. Accordingly, as Piṅgadatta said to Vimala: “... there is a Yakṣa named Sthūlaśiras, and I know a charm to propitiate him, by which he bestows the boon that one desires. By means of this charm acquired by me, propitiate now the Yakṣa and ask him for genitals for your son [Prabhākara]: the strife will calm down at once”.
The story of Sthūlaśiras was narrated by Marubhūti order to entertain the company of prince Naravāhanadatta.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Sthūlaśiras, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraSthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्) is the name of a sage who was in the company of Bharata when he recited the Nāṭyaveda them, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 35. Accordingly, they asked the following questions, “O the best Brahmin (lit. the bull of the twice-born), tell us about the character of the god who appears in the Preliminaries (pūrvaraṅga). Why is the sound [of musical instruments] applied there? What purpose does it serve when applied? What god is pleased with this, and what does he do on being pleased? Why does the Director being himself clean, perform ablution again on the stage? How, O sir, the drama has come (lit. dropped) down to the earth from heaven? Why have your descendants come to be known as Śūdras?”.
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).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Sthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्).—General information. A hermit. It is observed that he was alive in the ages of both Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata. Other details.
(i) He shone in the court of Yudhiṣṭhira. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 4, Verse 11).
(ii) It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 135, Verse 8, that Yudhiṣṭhira once visited his beautiful hermitage.
(iii) In olden days this hermit had performed penance on the North East side of Meru. (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Chapter 243, Verse 59).
(iv) It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 26, Verse 5, that this hermit Sthūlaśiras was one of the hermits who had visited Bhīṣma on his bed of arrows.
(v) Kabandha became a Rākṣasa (giant) because of the curse of Sthūlaśiras. (For detailed story see under Kabandha). (See full article at Story of Sthūlaśiras from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
2) Sthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्).—A giant. Once a servant of Vaiśravaṇa made friends with this giant and Vaiśravaṇa cursed his servant. (See under Guṇāḍhya).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्).—mfn.
(-rāḥ-rāḥ-raḥ) Large-headed. n.
(-raḥ) A large head or summit. E. sthūla bulky, and śiras the head.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्).—[adjective] large-headed; [masculine] [Name] of a Ṛṣi etc.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Sthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्):—[=sthūla-śiras] [from sthūla > sthūl] m. ‘large-headed’, Name of a Ṛṣi, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa]
2) [v.s. ...] of a Rākṣasa, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
3) [v.s. ...] of a Yakṣa, [ib.]
4) [v.s. ...] n. a large head or summit, [Horace H. Wilson]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySthūlaśiras (स्थूलशिरस्):—[sthūla-śiras] (raḥ) 1. n. A large head or summit. a. Large-headed.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Sthula, Shiras.
Full-text: Sthaulashirsha, Kanabhuti, Pingadatta, Dirghajangha, Shirsha.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Sthulashiras, Sthūlaśiras, Sthulasiras, Sthula-shiras, Sthūla-śiras, Sthula-siras; (plurals include: Sthulashirases, Sthūlaśirases, Sthulasirases, shirases, śirases, sirases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 81 - The Importance of Gaṅgā < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]
Chapter 19 - Conversation of the Seven Sages < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section CXXXV < [Tirtha-yatra Parva]
Section XXVI < [Anusasanika Parva]
Section CCCXLIII < [Mokshadharma Parva]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 85 - Granting of Boons to Durvāsas < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Chapter 255 - Glory of Ṛṣitīrtha < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 5 - Redemption from Curse of Alaṃbuṣā and Vidhūma < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)