Ushnik, Uṣṇik: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Ushnik means something in 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 Uṣṇik can be transliterated into English as Usnik or Ushnik, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaUṣṇik (उष्णिक्).—One of the seven horses of the Sun. The seven horses of the Sun are, Gāyatrī, Bṛhatī, Uṣṇik, Jagatī, Triṣṭup, Anuṣṭup, and Paṅkti. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Aṃśa 2, Chapter 8).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexUṣṇik (उष्णिक्).—A poetic metre; a horse of the sun's chariot.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 12. 45; XI. 21. 41; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 22. 72; Matsya-purāṇa 125. 47; Vāyu-purāṇa 51. 65; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 8. 5.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraUṣṇik (उष्णिक्) refers to a class of rhythm-type (chandas) containing seven syllables in a pāda (‘foot’ or ‘quarter-verse’), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 15. There are twenty-six classes of chandas and out of them arise the various syllabic meters (vṛtta), composed of four pādas, defining the pattern of alternating light and heavy syllables.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)
Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature1) Uṣṇik (उष्णिक्) is one of the twenty-six varieties of Sanskrit metres (chandas) mentioned in the Chandaśśāstra 1.15-19. There are 26 Vedic metres starting with 1 to 26 letters in each pāda. It is a common belief that the classical metres are developed from these 26 metres. Generally a metre has a specific name according to it’s number of syllables (akṣara). But sometimes the same stanza is called by the name of another metre from the point of view of the pādas.
Uṣṇik is one of the seven prominent metres mentioned by Piṅgala as being associated with the Devatā (deity): Savitā, Svara (note): Ṛṣabha, Colour: dappled and Gotra (family): Kāśyapa
2) Uṣṇik (उष्णिक्) is the alternative name of a Sanskrit metre (chandas) mentioned by Hemacandra (1088-1173 C.E.) in his auto-commentary on the second chapter of the Chandonuśāsana. Uṣṇik corresponds to Śikhā (according to Bharata). Hemacandra gives these alternative names for the metres by other authorities (like Bharata), even though the number of gaṇas or letters do not differ.
Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Ushnika, Ushnikar, Ushnike, Ushnikku, Ushnikri, Ushnikrita.
Full-text (+10): Ushnih, Chandas, Anushtup, Trishtup, Jagati, Pamkti, Kamini, Drutagaticapala, Kusumavati, Prakashita, Bhogavati, Cancalagati, Mudita, Madhukarika, Bhramaramala, Subhadra, Pipilikamadhya, Bhramaramalika, Rishicchands, Saptashvas.
Relevant text
Search found 24 books and stories containing Ushnik, Uṣṇik, Usnik; (plurals include: Ushniks, Uṣṇiks, Usniks). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.19.38 < [Chapter 19 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Verse 4.17.8 < [Chapter 17 - Prayers to Srī Yamunā]
Verse 4.19.106 < [Chapter 19 - A Thousand Names of Srī Yamunā]
The Chariots Of Navgrahas < [Astrology In Garuda Purana]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Chapter 330 - An abridgement of the rules of metres
Chapter 329 - An abridgement of rules of prosody relating to the Vedic metres
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita (by Pranab Jyoti Kalita)
1. List of Hymns pertaining to Women < [Chapter 2 - The Strīkarmāṇi Hymns of the Atharvaveda]
Dasarupaka (critical study) (by Anuru Ranjan Mishra)
Part 3-6 - Samavakāra rules < [Chapter 6 - Samavakāra (critical study)]
Part 15 - Conclusion < [Chapter 6 - Samavakāra (critical study)]
Dhanañjaya on the ten types of drama < [Introduction]