Svasharira, Svaśarīra: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Svasharira means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Svaśarīra can be transliterated into English as Svasarira or Svasharira, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर) refers to “one’s own body”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā..—Accordingly, “The one called the venerable Ciñciṇīśa who, born in one’s own body [i.e., svaśarīra-saṃbhūta], is the subtle exertion (īśadyatana) (that impells the body and mind). And how else is he? One should worship him along with the Vidyā called Kukārā”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Kavya (poetry)
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर) refers to “one’ own body”, according to Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṃśa verse 8.88-90.—Accordingly: “The wise say that death is the natural state of embodied creatures and life is a change in that state. If a being remains breathing even for a moment it is surely fortunate. The foolish man regards the loss of his dear one as a dart shot into his heart. Another man looks on the same as a dart that has been pulled out, for it is a door to beatitude. When we are taught that our own body (svaśarīra) and soul unite and then separate, tell me which wise person should be tormented by separation from the external objects of the senses?”.
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’.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर) refers to “one’s own body”, according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[Visualisation of Parameśvara]:—[...] His heart is agitated with sexual desire. His lotus face displays a faint smile. This is how the Yogin should visualise his body (svaśarīra) for a long time, as transformed into Śiva. All his limbs are perfumed with sandal, aloe, camphor, musk and saffron. He has a beautiful face. He is surrounded by millions of gem islands, in a chamber on a fine bed”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर) refers to “one’s own body”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.44 (“Menā regains consciousness”).—Accordingly, as Menā said to the Sages: “See what I will do to Pārvatī of evil inclination. I will give her deadly poison or I will push her down in a deep well. Or I will cut her into many pieces with weapons and arrows. Or I will drown my daughter Pārvatī in the deep sea. Or I will certainly cast off my body (svaśarīra). But I will never give my daughter to Śiva of hideous form. [...]”.
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.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर) refers to “one’s own body” (which is of no concern to a true Yogī), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Aṣṭavakra says to Janaka]: “[...] The wise man stands out by being free from anticipation, without attachment to such things as children or wives, free from desire for the senses, and not even concerned about his own body (svaśarīra). [niścintaḥ svaśarīre'pi nirāśaḥ śobhate budhaḥ] Peace is everywhere for the wise man who lives on whatever happens to come to him, going to wherever he feels like, and sleeping wherever the sun happens to set. [...]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर) refers to “one’s own body”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, “Now there lived a Brahmin called Viṣṇudatta in Navanagara. [...] He enchanted an iron stake and placed it on the head of that Nāga. The head of the Nāga burst and it felt great pain. The Nāga became extremely angry with great fury. Then in a moment, an instant, a short time, the Nāga’s body (svaśarīra) was overcome with great pain by the intensity of swaying. Then because of this rays came forth from its body and the fields of the Brahmin were burnt. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर).—n.
(-raṃ) Own body. E. sva, and śarīra body.
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर):—[=sva-śarīra] [from sva] n. o°’s own body or person, [Rāmāyaṇa]
Svaśarīra (स्वशरीर):—[sva-śarīra] (raṃ) 1. n. Own body.
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: Sharira, Shva.
Starts with: Svashariraprabha, Svasharirasambhuta, Svashariravat.
Full-text: Svasharirasambhuta, Svashariravat, Pradhanata, Cincinisha, Shva, Shen ming, Samuttha, Samucchraya.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Svasharira, Sva-śarīra, Sva-sarira, Sva-sharira, Svaśarīra, Svasarira; (plurals include: Svashariras, śarīras, sariras, shariras, Svaśarīras, Svasariras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 691 < [Hindi-Malayalam-English Volume 2]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
The body in early Hatha Yoga (by Ruth Westoby)
Appendix 2 - Gorakṣaśataka (select verses)
Appendix 1 - Dattātreyayogaśāstra (select verses)
Sovereignty over the bodies of others < [Conclusion: Bodily sovereignty]
Brihaddevata attributed to Shaunaka (by Arthur Anthony Macdonell)
Part 23 - Visvamitra and Vac Sasarpari; Spells against the Vasisthas < [Chapter 4 - Deities of Rigveda I.126–IV.32]
Yogatattva Upanishad (translation and study) (by Sujata Jena)
Gommatsara by Acharya Nemichandra (by Bai Bahadur J. L. Jaini)
The concept of Pratima and Vrata < [Introduction (volume 2)]