Vayasa, Vāyasa, Vayāsa: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Vayasa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi. 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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1) Vayasa (वयस).—A sūkta of the Sāma, recited in tank ritual.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 58. 37.
2a) Vāyasa (वायस).—To be fed with srāddha piṇḍa for long life;1 the crow as belonging to Indra, Varuṇa, Yama and Nirṛti;2 one of copper, as gift for the ceremonial connected with tank construction.3
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 12. 33; IV. 2. 174.
- 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 101. 171; 108. 31; 111. 40.
- 3) Matsya-purāṇa 58. 19.
2b) (see Vāyavya): a Yāmadeva.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 31. 7.
Vayāsa (वयास) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.48.7, I.53) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vayāsa) 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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical studyVāyasa (वायस) refers to the Rook (Corvus frugilegus), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraVāyasa (वायस) or Vāyasavidyā refers to the “prediction of events (from the cawing of crows)”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “A true Astrologer is also one who has thoroughly mastered the Science of Saṃhitā. [...] It treats of indradhvaja, of the rainbow and of architecture; of the prediction of events from casual words and gestures and from the cawing of crows [i.e., vāyasa-vidyā]; of the formation of zodiacal circles for purposes of horary astrology. It treats of the prediction of future events from phenomena connected with the deer, the dog and the motions of the wind; of the construction of temples, towers and palaces; of the casting of images and of founding the same; of the growth of plants and trees; of under currents; of certain annual ceremonies to be performed by princes for success in war. [...]”.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Vāyasa (वायस) refers to “crows”, according to Bāṇa’s Kādambarī (p. 225-226).—Accordingly, while describing the shire of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, “[Then follows the image of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, which matches the conception of Kālarātri in the passage from the Mahābhārata:] [...] she bore the coquettish apparel of a woman going out to meet Mahākāla at night, with a vine-like body furnished with a raiment reddened with saffron-dye, with a face with red eyes, whose brows were furrowed into a frown, whose lip was crimsoned with betel that was blood, whose cheeks were reddened by the light shed from ear-ornaments of pomegranate flowers, with a forehead on which there was a tilaka dot of vermillion made by a Śabara beauty, covered by a magnificent gold turban. She was worshipped (ārādhyamāna) by goats... mice... antelope and black serpents... She was praised on all sides by flocks of old crows (kaṭhora-vāyasa-gaṇa); [...]”.
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’.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureVāyasa (वायस) refers to “large birds” (responsible for crop-destruction, etc.), 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, [As the Bhagavān teaches a pacification ritual]: “[...] All stinging insects, mosquitos, ants, flying insects, bees, quivering bees, bumble bees, worms, ones with a sting, vātālikas, owls, mice, long-mouthed ones and so on and various sorts of pests perish. They will not appear. They will be destroyed. All crows, large birds (vāyasa), sparrows, cañcaṭikas, pigeons, surikas, owls, wagtails, parrots, mynas and so on perish. [...]”.
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
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryvāyasa : (m.) a crow.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryVāyasa, (cp. Vedic vāyasa a large bird, Epic Sk. vāyasa crow) a crow D. I, 9 (°vijjā: see DA. I, 93); S. I, 124; Sn. 447, 675; J. I, 500; II, 440; Miln. 373; DhA. III, 206; VvA. 27. (Page 609)
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 Dictionaryvāyasa (वायस).—m S A crow.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishvāyasa (वायस).—m A crow.
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 dictionaryVāyasa (वायस).—[vayo'sac ṇit Uṇādi-sūtra 3.118]
1) A crow; बलिमिव परिभोक्तुं वायसास्तर्कयन्ति (balimiva paribhoktuṃ vāyasāstarkayanti) Mṛcchakaṭika 1.3.
2) Fragrant aloe-wood, agallochum.
3) Turpentine.
4) A house facing the north-east.
-sam a multitude of crows.
Derivable forms: vāyasaḥ (वायसः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryVāyasa (वायस).—m.
(-saḥ) 1. A crow. 2. Agallochum, (Amyris Agallocha.) 3. Turpentine. f. (-sī) 1. A species of fig, (Ficus oppositifolia, Rox.) 4. A vegetable, (Solanum Indicum.) E. vay to go, Unadi aff. asac, and the radical vowel made long.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryVāyasa (वायस).— (probably vayas + a, Long-lived), I. m. 1. A crow, [Pañcatantra] 140, 16. 2. Two plants. Ii. f. sī. 1. A she-crow, [Hitopadeśa] 67, 13. 2. A species of fig, Ficus oppositifolia. 3. A vegetable, Solanum indicum. Iii. adj. 1. (vāyasa + a). Used by crows(?), [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 1, 5, 10. 2. (vayas + a), f. sī, Consisting of birds, [Nalodya, (ed. Benary.)] 1, 27.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryVayasa (वयस).—1. [masculine] bird.
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Vayasa (वयस).—2. [neuter] (—°) = 2 vayas.
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Vāyasa (वायस).—1. [masculine] bird, crow; [feminine] ī crow-hen.
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Vāyasa (वायस).—2. [feminine] ī relating to crows.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vayasa (वयस):—[from vayas] 1. vayasa m. = vayas2, a bird, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā]
2) [from vayas] a (ifc.) = 3. vayas (See uttara-, pūrva-, madhyama-v).
3) Vāyasa (वायस):—m. ([from] vayas) a bird, ([especially]) a large bird, [Ṛg-veda i, 164, 52] (cf. [Nirukta, by Yāska iv, 17])
4) a crow, [Brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata] etc.
5) a prince of the Vayas [gana] pārśvādi
6) Agallochum or fragrant aloe, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) turpentine, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) a house facing the north-east, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) mf(ī)n. relating or peculiar to crows, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
10) consisting of birds, [Nalôd.]
11) containing the word vayas [gana] vimuktādi
12) n. a multitude of crows, [Pāṇini 4-2, 37 [Scholiast or Commentator]]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryVāyasa (वायस):—(saḥ) 1. m. A crow; Agallochum; turpentine. f. Species of fig; a vegetable.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Vāyasa (वायस) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vāyasa.
[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 dictionaryVāyasa (वायस) [Also spelled vayas]:—(nm) a crow.
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Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryVāyasa (वायस) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Vāyasa.
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 corpusVayasa (ವಯಸ):—
1) [noun] = ವಯಸ್ಸು - [vayassu -] 1.
2) [noun] (in compounds) a man of such and such an age.
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Vayasa (ವಯಸ):—[noun] a particular gain of horses.
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Vāyasa (ವಾಯಸ):—
1) [noun] any of a genus (Corvus, family Corvidae) of large, nonmigratory passerine birds with glossy black plumage and a typical harsh call; a crow.
2) [noun] the fig tree Ficus hispida ( = F. oppositifolia) of Moraceae family; crow fig.
3) [noun] its fruit.
4) [noun] the tree Agati grandiflora of Leguminosae family.
5) [noun] (myth.) name of a hell.
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 (+7): Vayacam, Vayacampannu, Vayacan, Vayacanavan, Vayacarati, Vayasadani, Vayasadini, Vayasagana, Vayasahva, Vayasajangha, Vayasantaka, Vayasanvita, Vayasapilu, Vayasapinda, Vayasapraveshashanti, Vayasarati, Vayasari, Vayasaruta, Vayasarutalipi, Vayasashanti.
Ends with (+19): Aranyavayasa, Avayasa, Dhanvayasa, Dvayasa, Gajadvayasa, Gulphadvayasa, Hastidvayasa, Jalavayasa, Jivayasha, Kamdharadvayasa, Kanthadvayasa, Kathoravayasa, Kshapitavayasa, Madhyamavayasa, Nagaravayasa, Navayasa, Niravayasa, Nirvayasa, Nivayasa, Pandaravayasa.
Full-text (+45): Jalavayasa, Aranyavayasa, Shuklavayasa, Uttaravayasa, Nirvayasa, Vayasavidya, Vayasekshu, Vayasarati, Uttamavayasa, Vayasoli, Vayatam, Vayasari, Vayasahva, Tirthavayasa, Payasa, Vayasatiriya, Vayasashanti, Vayasavidyika, Vayasatira, Savayasa.
Relevant text
Search found 19 books and stories containing Vayasa, Vāyasa, Vayāsa; (plurals include: Vayasas, Vāyasas, Vayāsas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study) (by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah)
5. Fauna (different types of animals) < [Chapter 7 - Environmental awareness and Hygiene Conciousness]
11. Popular Beliefs, Omens and Superstitions < [Chapter 6 - Other Socio-Cultural Aspects]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.8.43 < [Chapter 8 - The Disappearance of Jagannātha Miśra]
Verse 1.10.100 < [Chapter 10 - Marriage with Śrī Lakṣmīpriyā]
Verse 1.9.93 < [Chapter 9 - Nityānanda’s Childhood Pastimes and Travels to Holy Places]
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.18 < [Section III - The Observances of the Accomplished Student]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.19.17 < [Chapter 19 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]