Upavasa, aka: Upavāsa; 8 Definition(s)
Introduction
Upavasa 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
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Upavāsa (उपवास) refers to “vasting”. It is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti and the Baudhāyana-dharmasūtra.
(Source): Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstra
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.
Purana
Upavāsa (उपवास).—Upavāsa means going back from sin and leading a good life. (Upā (varta) = go back and Vāsa = A life). All actions which are not good, must be relinquished. Those who observe Upavāsa should abstain from using flesh, Masūra (pulse), caṇaka (a kind of gram), Varaku (a kind of grain), green leaves prepared), honey, rice etc. and from contact with women. He should not wear flowers, ornaments, or fashionable dress; should not inhale fragrant smoke, and fragrance of any sort. Cleaning the teeth and using collyrium also are prohibited. Instead of cleaning the teeth in the morning Pañcagavya (Milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung of cow) should be taken in. Drinking water several times, using betel leaves, sleeping in the day time and sexual act also should be avoided. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 175).
(Source): archive.org: Puranic Encyclopaedia
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Upavāsa (उपवास, “fast”) according to the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXII).—In agreement with the Sarvāstivādin-Vaibhāṣikas, the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra makes the fast or upavāsa, in the proper meaning of fast, consist of the renunciation of taking a meal outside of the proper time; the other eight renunciations are the members of the fast (upavāsāṅga). The Sautrāntikas do not hold this opinion for, they say, according to the sūtra, immediately after the renunciation of having a meal outside of the time, the person fasting should say: “By this eighth member, I am imitating the rule, I am conforming to the rule of the Arhats”. Cf. Kośa, IV, p. 68.
(Source): Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
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
Pali-English dictionary
upavāsa : (m.) fasting; abstaining from enjoyments.
(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English DictionaryUpavāsa, (fr. upa + vas, see upavasati) keeping a prescribed day, fasting, self-denial, abstaining from enjoyments (Same as uposatha; used extensively in BSk. in meaning of uposatha, e.g. at Av. Ś I. 338, 339; Divy 398 in phrase aṣṭânga-samanvāgataṃ upavāsaṃ upavasati) A. V, 40 (? uncertain; vv. ll. upāsaka, ovāpavāssa, yopavāsa); J. VI, 508; SnA 199 (in expln. of uposatha). (Page 147)
(Source): Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary
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
upavāsa (उपवास).—m (S) Keeping a fast: also a fast. upavāsīṃ Without having eaten; with empty belly.
(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryupavāsa (उपवास).—m A fast. upavāsī n Fasting.
(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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-English dictionary
Upavāsa (उपवास).—a. Staying near; तेषूपवासान्विबुधानुपोष्य (teṣūpavāsānvibudhānupoṣya) Mb.3.118.14.
-saḥ 1 A fast; सोपवासस्त्र्यहं वसेत् (sopavāsastryahaṃ vaset) Y.1.175,3.19; Ms.11.196 (a fast is a religious act and consists in abstaining from every kind of sensual gratification).
2) Kindling a sacred fire.
3) A fire-altar.
(Source): DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Search found 15 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Proshadhopavasa | Prosadhopavāsa (प्रोसधोपवास) or Prosadhopavāsavrata refers to the “vow for fasting at regular i... | |
| Poshadhopavasa | Poṣadhopavāsa (पोषधोपवास) or Poṣadhopavāsapratimā represents the fourth of eleven pratimā (stag... | |
| Vratopavasa | Vratopavāsa (व्रतोपवास).—a fast for a vow. Derivable forms: vratopavāsaḥ (व्रतोपवासः).Vratopavā... | |
| Vishala | Viśālā (विशाला) is the name of one of the thirty-two Yakṣiṇīs mentioned in the Kakṣapuṭatantra,... | |
| Kurukshetra | Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र).—General. Made famous by the Mahābhārata, Kurukṣetra is a sacred place... | |
| Attha | 1) Attha, 3 pres. 2nd pl. of atthi (q. v.). (Page 24)2) Attha, 2 (nt.) (Vedic asta, of uncertai... | |
| Akshama | Akṣama (अक्षम).—a. [na. ta.]1) Unfit, incompetent, unable; कार्यं°, पलायन,° उपवास° (kāryaṃ°, pa... | |
| Upavasatha | Upavasatha (उपवसथ) according to the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXII).—In the Vedas, upav... | |
| Devahita | Devahita (देवहित) is the name of a Brahmin that healed the Buddha’s backache according to appen... | |
| Ujjaya | Ujjaya (उज्जय).—One of the sons of Viśvāmitra. They were Brahmavādins. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana P... | |
| Upasa | upāsa (उपास).—m Fasting or a fast. upāśī a Fast- ing, hungry. | |
| Aupavasika | Aupavāsika (औपवासिक).—a. (-kī f.) [उपवास-ठञ् (upavāsa-ṭhañ)] Fit for fasting, able to fast. | |
| Attha-garudhamma | 1) Aṭṭha, 2 see attha. (Page 16)2) Aṭṭha, 1 (Vedic aṣṭau, old dual, Idg. *octou, pointing to a ... | |
| Aupavasa | Aupavāsa (औपवास).—a. (-sī f.) [उपवास-अण् (upavāsa-aṇ)] Given during fasting (money); to be done... | |
| Attha-samapattiyo | 1) Aṭṭha, 2 see attha. (Page 16)2) Aṭṭha, 1 (Vedic aṣṭau, old dual, Idg. *octou, pointing to a ... |
Relevant text
Search found 13 books and stories containing Upavasa or Upavāsa. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 2.1 - The taking of vows by the Upavāsatha < [Section II.1 - Morality of the lay person or avadātavasana]
Part 2 - The eightfold morality of the upavāsastha (introduction) < [Section II.1 - Morality of the lay person or avadātavasana]
Part 2.3 - Why celebrate the upavāsa of six days of fasting < [Section II.1 - Morality of the lay person or avadātavasana]
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Notes on penances < [Notes]
Apastamba Dharma-sutra (by Āpastamba)
Āpastamba Yajña-paribhāṣā-sūtras (by Āpastamba)
Narada Parivrajaka Upanishad of Atharvaveda (by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar)