Svalpa, Svālpa, Su-alpa: 19 definitions

Introduction:

Svalpa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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 Swalp.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Agriculture (Krishi) and Vrikshayurveda (study of Plant life)

Source: Shodhganga: Drumavichitrikarnam—Plant mutagenesis in ancient India

Svalpa (स्वल्प) refers to a “small (hole)” (bore in the fruit of certain plants), as prescribed by certain bio-organical recipes for plant mutagenesis, according to the Vṛkṣāyurveda by Sūrapāla (1000 CE): an encyclopedic work dealing with the study of trees and the principles of ancient Indian agriculture.—Accordingly, “A small (svalpa) hole should be bored [svalpaṃ chidraṃ vidhāya ca] in a tender Benincasa hispida, and the seed of the Azadirachta indica, profusely smeared with honey and melted butter should be dropped in through the hole. After the gourd is fully ripe the seed should be carefully extracted and sown. It then produces plant which ample wealth in the form of Solanum melongena of huge size”.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Svalpa (स्वल्प) is a Sanskrit technical term translating to “small” or “minute”, and is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Suśrutasaṃhitā or the Carakasaṃhitā.

Ayurveda book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Ayurveda from relevant books on Exotic India

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

1) Svalpa (स्वल्प) refers to “unimportant”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 1), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] In the present treatise, I have rejected questions and re-questions, historical narrations, unimportant [i.e., svalpa] planetary phenomena and all that is useless; and my purpose is to speak clearly only of the vital truths of the several subjects treated of”.

2) Svalpa (स्वल्प) refers to a “small (moon)”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 4).—Accordingly, “Having thus described the shape of the moon we next proceed to describe her size (generally): if the moon should appear small [i.e., svalpa] there will be famine, and if big, prosperity, in the land. If the middle of the moon (candra) should appear small, there will be hunger in the land and princes will be afflicted with cares. If the middle should appear big she will cause prosperity and plenty”.

Jyotisha book cover
context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Jyotisha from relevant books on Exotic India

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Svalpa (स्वल्प) refers to “very few”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.6.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] Menā bore the characteristic signs of pregnancy which almost indicated the imminent rise in pleasure of her lord and served as the auspicious cause for the future bliss of the gods. The weakness of her body did not allow her to wear ornaments. Her face became pale like the Lodhra flower. She resembled the night when there are very few stars [i.e., svalpa-bha] and the moon is in a waning state. [...]”.

Purana book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Purana from relevant books on Exotic India

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Svalpa (स्वल्प) refers to “very little (breathing)”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Now], I shall define the nature of that highest, mind-free absorption which arises for those devoted to constant practice. [...] By means of an absorption for the length of a Pala (i.e., six breaths), [the Yogin] who is seated in his [yogic] posture, does not tire. Then, the Yogin breathes very little (svalpa-śvāsa) and blinks very little. [...]”.

Yoga book cover
context information

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).

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Yoga from relevant books on Exotic India

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Svalpa (स्वल्प) refers to a “small (diminution)” (in shameful deeds), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Also when a corporeal [soul] who is complete, having consciousness, with five senses [and] possessing limbs thus comes into being among the plants and animals then it is not because of a very small diminution in shameful deeds (svalpa-aśubha-kṣaya). When sentient beings attain here the human state endowed with attributes characterized by place, birth, etc. that is because of the insignificance of [their] actions, I think”.

Synonyms: Stoka.

General definition book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of General definition from relevant books on Exotic India

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Svalpa.—(EI 24), small; sometimes prefixed to the name of a locality (e. g. Svalpa-Vallūra), etc., to distinguish it from others of the same name but styled ‘big’ or ‘medium’. Cf. Kṣudra-Dharmagiri and Mahā-Dharmagiri; Vaḍa-Hosa and Maṃjhi- Hosa (EI 35). Note: svalpa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
context information

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

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of India history from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

svalpa (स्वल्प).—a (S su & alpa) Very little or few.

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

svalpa (स्वल्प).—a Very little or few.

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.

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Marathi from relevant books on Exotic India

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Svalpa (स्वल्प).—a. [suṣṭhu alpaṃ prā° sa°] (compar. svalpīyas; superl. svalpiṣṭha)

1) Very small or little, minute.

2) Trifling, insignificant.

3) Brief, short; स्वल्पं तथायुः (svalpaṃ tathāyuḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.

4) Very few.

--- OR ---

Svālpa (स्वाल्प).—a. (-lpī f.)

1) Little, small.

2) Few.

-lpam 1 Littleness, smallness.

2) Smallness of number.

--- OR ---

Svalpa (स्वल्प).—a. see s. v.

Svalpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and alpa (अल्प). See also (synonyms): svalpaka.

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

Svalpa (स्वल्प).—mfn.

(-lpaḥ-lpā-lpaṃ) 1. Very small. 2. Very few. E. su very, alpa little or few.

--- OR ---

Svālpa (स्वाल्प).—mfn.

(-lpaḥ-lpī-lpaṃ) 1. Small. 2. Few. n.

(-lpaṃ) 1. Littleness. 2. Paucity. E. svalpa, and aṇ aff.

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

Svalpa (स्वल्प).—adj. 1. very small, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 23; svalpena, for a very short time, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 134. 2. very few.

Svalpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and alpa (अल्प).

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

Svalpa (स्वल्प).—[adjective] very small or minute, insignificant; [instrumental] for a very short time. Compar. tara & svalpīyaṃs.

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

1) Svalpa (स्वल्प):—[=sv-alpa] mf(ā)n. very small or little, minute, very few, short (ena, ‘in a short time’), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata etc.]

2) Svālpa (स्वाल्प):—[=sv-ālpa] mfn. ([from] sv-alpa) very little or small, few, [Horace H. Wilson]

3) [v.s. ...] n. littleness, paucity, [ib.]

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

1) Svalpa (स्वल्प):—[(lpaḥ-lpā-lpaṃ) a.] Very small, very few.

2) Svālpa (स्वाल्प):—[(lpaḥ-lpī-lpaṃ) a.] Little, few. n. Littleness, paucity.

[Sanskrit to German]

Svalpa 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.

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Svalpa (स्वल्प) [Also spelled swalp]:—(a) little, very little; very small; ~[lpāhāra] light refreshment; ~[lpāhārī] one who eats a very limited quantity.

context information

...

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Hindi from relevant books on Exotic India

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Svalpa (ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ):—

1) [adjective] small in amount, number or degree; not much; little.

2) [adjective] small in size; not big, large or great; little.

3) [adjective] short in duration or distance; brief; not long.

--- OR ---

Svalpa (ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ):—[adverb] in a small degree; to a slight extent; only slightly; not much; little.

context information

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

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Kannada from relevant books on Exotic India

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Svalpa (स्वल्प):—adj. 1. very small; little; 2. trifling; insignificant;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

Discover the meaning of svalpa in the context of Nepali from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: