Tantu, Tamtu: 28 definitions
Introduction:
Tantu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi, biology. 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaTantu (तन्तु).—A Brahmavādī son of Viśvāmitra. (Chapter 4, Anuśāsana Parva).
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesTantu (तन्तु) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIII.4.54, XIII.4) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Tantu) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of Sriharsa1) Tantu (तन्तु) in saptatantu refers to 1) “seven metres” or 2) “seven soma sacrifices”.—Cf. Saptatantu which is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 11.100.—The word [sapta-tantu] literally means “that which has seven tantus”, but the meaning of tantu is not clear. [...] Malli also explains tantu as saṃsthā in his commentary on Māgha 14.6 (saptatantumadhigantumicchataḥ).
2) Tantu (तन्तु) can also refer to the “officiating priest”.—Sāyaṇa in his commentary on Ṛgveda 10.124.1 gives two explanations of the word [sapta-tantu]. The [second] explanation is the more probable. Tantu means here “one who extends”, and “organiser”, i.e. the officiating priest. The word is used in this sense in Bhāgavata 4.24.37, [...]. The word is used in this sense also in Bhāgavata 3.19.28 (addressed to the Varāha incarnation of Viṣṇu). Here tantu clearly means vistāraka, though the commentator says “akhilayajñānāṃ tantave vistārāya kāraṇāyeti vā”.
3) Tantu (तन्तु) can also refer to “thread”.—In the Naiṣadhacarita vere in question the word saptatantu means at first sight “seven-threaded” (see footnote to translation), but the ordinary meaning of tantu “thread” does not seam to have anything to do with a sacrifice.
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’.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Tantu (तन्तु) refers to a “web” (viz., of a spider), as mentioned in verse 5.6-8 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] Not shall one drink (water that is) [...]: nor (celestial water) that (is) seasonable (but) the first (of the season), (because it is) polluted by its mixture with the webs [viz. tantu], feces, urine, and poison of spiders etc. [...] (such water) one shall not drink”.
Note: Tantu (“web”) has been rendered by daṅ-ba, which is not attested in this meaning and is either a corruption or a secondary form of dar (“silk”); cf. 3.13, where NP have daṅ but CD write dar.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Tantu (तन्तु) refers to a “spider’s thread”, symbolizing the “supreme energy (kalā)”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] Purification takes place in the middle of the Secret Place (guhya) (the Yoni). He should check the inhaled breath (apāna). He should check the exhaled breath (prāṇa) there. By checking (the two breaths, Kuṇḍalinī) straightens and should enter the Circle of the Moon. The Supreme Energy (kalā), whose form is (subtle and straight) like a spider’s thread [i.e., ūrṇā-tantu], rains down (nectar). Thus, one should recollect that the Self is flooded with the drops (of that energy) blazing with rays (of power). (One should recollect) that it is sprinkled by means of that Yoga of Nectar (amṛtayoga). [...]”.
2) Tantu (तन्तु) refers to the “thread” of a spider, symbolizing a “meditator mounting up by means of OṂ”, according to the Maitryupaniṣad.—Accordingly, “Verily there are two Brahmans to be meditated upon: sound (śabda) and non-sound (aśabda). Now non-sound is revealed only by sound. Now, in this case the Sound-Brahman is OṂ. Ascending by it, one comes to an end in non-sound... This is immortality... As a spider mounting up by means of his thread (tantu) obtains free space, thus, assuredly, indeed, does that meditator, mounting up by means of OṂ, obtain independence (svātantrya).... Passing beyond this variously characterized Sound-Brahman, men disappear into the supreme, the non-sound, the unmanifest Brahman”.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraTantu (तन्तु) or Tantuvāya refers to “weavers”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 15) (“On the nakṣatras—‘asterisms’”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Those who are born on the lunar day of Hasta will be thieves, dealers in elephants, charioteers, chief ministers, painters, merchants and dealers in pod-grains; learned in the Śāstras and of bright appearance. Those who are born on the lunar day of Citrā will be dealers in jewels, precious stones, fine cloths, writers and singers, manufacturers of perfumes, good mathematicians, weavers (tantuvāya), surgeons, oculists and dealers in Rājadhānya. [...]”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsTantu (तन्तु) (or Sūtra) refers to the Śaktitantu (“cord of power”), according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 7th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—[The padmamālā-vidhi prescribes installing deities within series of nine, seven and eight lotuses].—What renders the lotuses into garlands is the thread which binds them. The Brahmayāmala first introduces this idea in presenting the second garland (that of the Yoginīs), describing the lotuses as “bound together by the cord of śakti, like gems [strung] by a cord”. The terms utilized are śaktitantu and śaktisūtra, meaning, respectively, a thread or a cord of śakti. This divine power binding the lotuses together is consubstantial with the supreme Goddess herself, the Nine-Syllable Vidyā whose being encompasses the deities of the maṇḍala.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraTantu (तन्तु) refers to a “thread”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 9.5-11, while explaining the universality of Amṛteśa]—“Amṛteśa is supreme. He is free of disease. His nature is inherent, fully enumerated, constant, eternal, and immovable. [He has] no form or color, and is the highest truth. Because of that, he is omnipresent. The splendid Deva delights in all āgamas, pervades all mantras, and grants all siddhis. In this way, he is like a transparent crystal sewn onto a colored thread (tantu—yadvat tantau protaṃ sitādike), always reflected with its color, [and] seeking [to] look like this and that. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchTantu (तन्तु) refers to a “spider’s web”, according to the Bhāṣya (commentary) on the Pātañjalayogaśāstra Sūtra 3.42.—Accordingly, “... [The yogin] who has mastered the connection [between body and space] becomes light. Because he is light, he can walk on water. Then, having walked on merely a spider’s thread (tantu) [tataḥ sūrṇanābhitantumātre vihṛtya], he walks on a ray of light. Then, he moves in the ether as he wishes”.
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).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and SubjectsTantu (तन्तु) appears properly to mean ‘thread’, and in particular the ‘warp’ of a piece of weaving, as opposed to Otu, the ‘woof’. Both senses are found in the Atharvaveda. In the Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa the ‘warp’ is called anuchāda, the ‘woof’ paryāsa, the tantavaḥ being the ‘threads.’ In the Taittirīya-saṃhitā, on the other hand, the ‘warp’ is prācīna-tāna, the ‘woof’ otu.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesTantu (तन्तु) refers to the “threads” or “channels” (in the middle of one’s navel region), according to chapter 50 of the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “Now, I will explain the characteristic of Mahākaṅkāla. [...] [The practitioner] devotes himself to the yogic union of churner and the churnable by means of the threads (tantu) (viz., channels) in the middle of [his] navel region. [Awakening minds,] assuming the shape of the letter ha , [flow down] from [his] head appearing like single threads (viz., channels). [...]”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Tantu in India is the name of a plant defined with Amaranthus retroflexus in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Galliaria retroflexa (L.) Nieuwl. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· American Midland Naturalist (1914)
· A Numerical List of Dried Specimens (6896)
· Boletim da Sociedade Broteriana (1989)
· Acta Botanica Neerlandica (1977)
· Mitteilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Solothurn (1920)
· New Botanist (1983)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Tantu, for example chemical composition, health benefits, side effects, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarytantu : (m.) string; cord; thread.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryTantu, (Vedic tantu, cp. tanta) a string, cord, wire (of a lute) J. V, 196. (Page 296)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryṭāṇṭū (टांटू).—n (Imit.) Crepitus ventris. 2 Used as ad. See ṭhāṇṭhū.
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tantu (तंतु).—m (S) A thread or string; and, freely, a chord, a wire, a strip (as of leather, bark, gut), a fibre, filament, capillament, a tendril, a thread-like worm &c. 2 fig. Connection, tie, string of dependence. v lāga. 3 A term for the only surviving male of a race. 4 S Offspring, progeny, race.
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tantū (तंतू).—m (tantu S) A long thread-like creature, or having long antennæ and numerous arms. It is found in the yamunā, narmadā and other rivers, and in tanks, and is said to entangle swimmers and draw them under water.
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tāntū (तांतू).—m (tantu S) A thread, line, string; and, freely, a wire, a strip or slip (as of leather or gut), a fibre, filament, capillament. 2 A seventeen-joint slip of dūrvā or bent grass, with its root, offered to dēvī annually during the first five years after the marriage of a girl.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishtantu (तंतु).—m A thread; a fibre.
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tāntū (तांतू).—m A thread, line; a fibre, wire.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryTantu (तन्तु).—[tan-tun]
1) A thread, cord, wire, string, line; चिन्तासंततितन्तु (cintāsaṃtatitantu) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 5.1; Meghadūta 7.
2) A cob-web R.16.2.
3) filament; विसतन्तुगुणस्य कारितम् (visatantuguṇasya kāritam) Kumārasambhava 4. 29.
4) An offspring, issue, race; स्वमाययाऽवृणोद्गर्भं वैराट्याः कुरुतन्तवे (svamāyayā'vṛṇodgarbhaṃ vairāṭyāḥ kurutantave) Bhāgavata 1.8.14; Mahābhārata (Bombay) 6.43.98.
5) A shark.
6) The Supreme Being; Bhāgavata 8.16.31.
7) A snare, fetter (pāśa); ते तानावारयिष्यन्ति ऐणेयानिव तन्तुना (te tānāvārayiṣyanti aiṇeyāniva tantunā) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 5. 57.41.
Derivable forms: tantuḥ (तन्तुः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryTantu (तन्तु).—m.
(-ntuḥ) 1. A thread. 2. A shark. 3. Offspring, race, descendants. E. tan to spread or stretch, Unadi affix tun.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryTantu (तन्तु).—[tan + tu], m. 1. A thread, Mahābhārata 1, 806; epithet of the supreme deity, Being the thread, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 8, 16, 31. 2. A cobweb, [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in
Tantu (तन्तु).—[masculine] thread, string, cord, wire, warp of a weft; uninterrupted line i.e. continuation of a sacrifice, propagation of a race, etc.; also concr. the propagator of a family (cf. seq.).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Tantu (तन्तु):—[from tan] m. a thread, cord, string, line, wire, warp (of a web), filament, fibre, [Ṛg-veda] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] a cobweb, [Horace H. Wilson]
3) [v.s. ...] a succession of sacrificial performances, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] any one propagating his family in regular succession, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra iii; Āpastamba-dharma-sūtra; Taittirīya-upaniṣad; Mahābhārata] (cf. kula-) etc.
5) [v.s. ...] a line of descendants, [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa vii, 17]
6) [v.s. ...] any continuity (as of thirst or hope), [Mahābhārata xii, 7877; Mālatīmādhava]
7) [v.s. ...] Name of a Sāman, [Ārṣeya-brāhmaṇa]
8) [v.s. ...] = -nāga, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] ([gana] gargādi) Name of a man, [Pravara texts iv, 1]
10) [v.s. ...] cf. kāṣṭha-, vara-, sapta-.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryTantu (तन्तु):—(ntuḥ) 1. m. A thread; a shark; an offspring, descendant.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Tantu (तन्तु) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Taṃtu.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryTantu in Hindi refers in English to:—(nm) a thread, fibre; filament; tendril; cord or string of a musical instrument; ~[ka] a fibril; ~[maya] fibrous; -[vadya] stringed musical instrument; ~[vaya] a weaver; spider..—tantu (तंतु) is alternatively transliterated as Taṃtu.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryTaṃtu (तंतु) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Tantu.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusTaṃṭu (ತಂಟು):—[noun] = ತಂಟೆ [tamte].
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Taṃtu (ತಂತು):—
1) [noun] a thread a) a light, fine, string-like length of material made up of two or more fibres or strands of spun cotton, flax, silk, etc. twisted together and used in sewing; b) a similar fine length of synthetic material, as nylon or plastic or of glass or metal; c) the fine, stringy filament extruded by a spider, silkworm, etc.; d) any of the yarns of which a fabric is woven.
2) [noun] something that connects, binds, joins or brings together different people; ತಂತು ಮಾತ್ರ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ [tamtu matra brahmana] tantu mātra brāhmaṇa = ತಂತು ಹಾರುವ [tamtu haruva]; ತಂತು ಮಾತ್ರ ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ [tamtu matra brahmanya] tantu mātra brāhmaṇya the life or condition of a brāhmaṇa who does not observe the duties and rites of a brāhmaṇa.
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Taṃtu (ತಂತು):—
1) [noun] a crafty or underhanded device, manoeuvre, stratagem or the like, intended to deceive or cheat; an artifice; a trick.
2) [noun] that which forms an important, core part of a whole; a thing, subject that is of much significance, consequence or value.
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Tāṃṭu (ತಾಂಟು):—
1) [verb] to strike or smash violently.
2) [verb] to find the product of two or more numbers by multiplication; to multiply.
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 (+54): Tamtucita, Tamtugara, Tamtugattu, Tamtuharuva, Tamtukara, Tamtukriye, Tamtukula, Tamtupaka, Tamtupata, Tamtusnayu, Tamtuyamtra, Tantu-vava, Tantubha, Tantubhuta, Tantucaram, Tantucaramaram, Tantucarana, Tantucharana, Tantugarbha, Tantujala.
Ends with (+37): Ahevatantu, Alimgavarnatamtu, Anaittantu, Appulakittantu, Ashatantu, Bisatantu, Cenkirai-t-tantu, Centantu, Dhvanitamtu, Dirghatantu, Ekatantu, Ettantu, Hem-tantu, Ilantantu, Iyattantu, Jnanatantu, Karatantu, Karunait-tantu, Kashthatantu, Kiraittantu.
Full-text (+116): Tantuvigraha, Tantuniryasa, Tantusara, Tantuvaya, Sutratantu, Tantuparvan, Kashthatantu, Tantava, Tantukita, Tantubha, Padmatantu, Tantusamtati, Tantuvana, Tantushala, Tantuvapa, Tantusamtana, Saptatantu, Tantukashtha, Tantutva, Tantunaga.
Relevant text
Search found 25 books and stories containing Tantu, Ṭāṇṭū, Tantū, Tāntū, Tamtu, Taṃtu, Taṃṭu, Taṇṭu, Tāṃṭu, Tāṇṭu, Tāṇtu; (plurals include: Tantus, Ṭāṇṭūs, Tantūs, Tāntūs, Tamtus, Taṃtus, Taṃṭus, Taṇṭus, Tāṃṭus, Tāṇṭus, Tāṇtus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.12.108 < [Chapter 12 - The Lord’s Wandering Throughout Navadvīpa]
Verse 1.12.110 < [Chapter 12 - The Lord’s Wandering Throughout Navadvīpa]
Verse 1.12.113 < [Chapter 12 - The Lord’s Wandering Throughout Navadvīpa]
Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation (by S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar)
Pasuram 6.6.2 < [Section 6 - Sixth Tiruvaymoli (Malukku, vaiyam alanta)]
Pasuram 3.10.1 < [Section 10 - Tenth Tiruvaymoli (Canmam Palapala)]
Pasuram 7.2.6 < [Section 2 - Second Tiruvaymoli (Kankulum Pakalum)]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)
Hiranyakesi-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)