Triratra, Tri-ratra, Trirātra: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Triratra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationTrirātra (त्रिरात्र) refers to the “three days (of the monthly course)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.54 (“Description of the duties of the chaste wife”).—Accordingly, as a Brahmin lady said to Pārvatī: “[...] During the three days (trirātra) of her monthly course she shall neither show her face nor speak to him. She shall not speak within his hearing till she becomes pure after her bath. After her bath she shall see her husband’s face and not that of anyone else. Or after thinking on her husband she shall then gaze at the sun. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchTrirātra (त्रिरात्र) [=rātratraya?] refers to the “time of three nights”, 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. [...] In three days and nights (rātratraya) [ahorātratrayeṇāpi], the Yogin who is introverted through absorption spontaneously has the faculty of seeing from afar. [...]”.
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).
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: archive.org: History of Dharmasastra (Vol II Part I)Trirātra (त्रिरात्र) or Trirātravrata refers to “(the observance of keeping for) three nights (after marriage)” and represents one of the various Marriage Rites (saṃskāra) according to the Āpastamba-gṛhya-sūtra VIII.8-10—The main outlines of the marriage saṃskāra show a remarkable continuity for several thousand years from the times of the Rig Veda down to modern times.—Trirātra-vrata refers to “keeping for three nights after marriage certain observances”. Vide Aśvalāyana for the observances which are enumerated by almost all sūtrakaras. Āpastamba-gṛhya-sūtra VIII.8-10, Baudhāyana-gṛhya-sūtra I.5.16-17 contain the interesting injunction that the newly married pair should sleep on the ground on the same bed for three nights, but should interpose between them a staff of udumbara wood anointed with perfumes and wrapped round with a garment or a thread and that on the fourth night it should be removed with the verses Ṛgveda X.85.21-22 and thrown into water.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureTrirātra (त्रिरात्र) refers to “three nights”, 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 [after Sāgara taught the Nāga-vow mantra], “[...] O Bhagavān, if we do not send forth rain showers after three nights (trirātra), then, O Bhagavān, we will have leprosy. We will have bodies of extremely bad smell. We will be adversary to the teaching of all Buddhas. Disappointing the Three Worlds, let there not be a downfall from a Nāga-womb for us.91 O Bhagavān, [if] there are other acts to be employed, we will be to his assistance everywhere”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarytrirātra (त्रिरात्र).—n (S) A period of three nights and three days.
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trirātra (त्रिरात्र).—ad (S) For, during, whilst, through &c. three days and three nights. Ex. kanyēnēṃ mātēcēṃ ā- śauca tri0 dharāvēṃ.
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 dictionaryTrirātra (त्रिरात्र).—a. lasting for three nights.
-traḥ a festival lasting for three nights.
-tram a period of three nights.
Trirātra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms tri and rātra (रात्र).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryTrirātra (त्रिरात्र).—n.
(-traṃ) Three nights collectively, or the duration of three nights. E. tri three, and rātri night; compounded with a numeral rātri substitutes a for its final, and becomes neuter. tisṛṇāṃ rātrīṇāṃ samāhāraḥ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryTrirātra (त्रिरात्र).—[adjective] lasting three days (lit. nights); [masculine] such a festival; [neuter] such a period i.[grammar], [accusative] for three days, [ablative] & [instrumental] after three days.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Trirātra (त्रिरात्र):—[=tri-rātra] [from tri] n. sg. 3 (nights or) days, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Kauśika-sūtra]
2) [v.s. ...] ([plural] [Mahābhārata iii, 82, 18])
3) [v.s. ...] mfn. lasting (3 nights or) days, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa xiii; Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
4) [v.s. ...] m. a sacrificial performance of 3 days, [Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] cf. aśva-, garga-, baida-
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryTrirātra (त्रिरात्र):—[tri-rātra] (traṃ) 1. n. Three nights collectively or their duration.
[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)
Starts with: Triratram, Triratrantala, Triratrat, Triratravaram, Triratravrata.
Full-text (+15): Ashokatriratra, Ashvatriratra, Triratram, Dvaiparaka, Baidatriratra, Vyushtatriratra, Chandomapavamanatriratra, Atriratrayajin, Vyushtitriratra, Triratrat, Antarvasutriratra, Sarvavedatriratra, Kusurubindutriratra, Gargatriratra, Triratravaram, Triratrena, Carakatriratra, Abhojana, Paraka, Goshpadatriratravrata.
Relevant text
Search found 22 books and stories containing Triratra, Tri-ratra, Tri-rātra, Trirātra; (plurals include: Triratras, ratras, rātras, Trirātras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Formal Education System in Ancient India (by Sushmita Nath)
Ceremonies associated with Upanayana (initiation) < [Chapter 2 - Rituals of the Education System]
Panchavimsha Brahmana (English translation) (by W. Caland)
Chapter 10 - The twelve-day rite (and its stomas)
Chapter 20 - Ahinas (soma-rites of between one and thirteen days)
Chapter 14 - Chandoma days (of the twelve-day rite) (continued)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Gautama Dharmasutra (by Gautama)
Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 70 - The Vow of Nadī-trirātra < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]