Vaicitrya: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Vaicitrya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Vaichitrya.
In Hinduism
Shaiva philosophy
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य) refers to a “variety (of successive phenomena)”, according to the Vṛtti on the Īśvarapratyabhijñāvivṛtivimarśinī 2.165.—Accordingly, “[...] And this [generality of externality] is established in the [mere] experience: ‘[this is] external to the house.’ And as a consequence, [something] may be established to be external to consciousness as well and to project [its specific form onto consciousness], just as [something is external] to a mirror [and projects its specific form onto the mirror, and it may be established to be so] on the basis of the [logical] reason that is the variety of successive phenomena (kramika-ābhāsa-vaicitrya) [experienced by any conscious being]”.
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य) refers to the “varying nature” (of the bondage of souls), according to Bhaṭṭa Rāmakaṇṭha’s 10th-century Tattvatrayanirṇayavivṛti—a commentary on the 7th-century Tattvatrayanirṇaya by Sadyojyoti which discusses philosophical aspects of Śiva including the theories of Puruṣas (souls), Māyā (primal matter) and Mala (the innate impurity afflicting souls).—Accordingly, [commentary before first verse]: “Obeisance to Him who gives to souls the varied fruits, namely experience, liberation and whatever is connected as the means of achieving those two, after ascertaining the varying nature (vaicitrya) of their bondage, which can be the result of past action, derived from primal matter and of the type [of impurity] that belongs to [each] individual [bound soul]. [...]”.
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य) refers to “wonderful diversity”, according to the Ciñcinīmatasārasamuccaya verse 7.193cd-195.— Accordingly, “Once pierced through the divine plane of consciousness which is attended by the Sun of Consciousness and, having melted it with the rays of consciousness and drunk the best of juices, (one attains) the Supreme Void, which is consciousness free of being and non-being. Within it is the juice of the essence which has expanded out of the Supreme Void. It is the field of one's own inner outpouring and is diversified by many kinds of wonderful diversity (nānā-vaicitrya-citrita)”.
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य) [=Citra?] refers to “wonderful” (creation), according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] O goddess, I praise you with mind and speech. [...] Dwelling originally in the abode of Śiva, you multiply yourself sixfold and prepare the path of existence where you nurture wonderful and manifold creation (vaicitrya-citra-racana-udbhava) with your own six forms. You shed moonlight on the path of Suṣumṇā that is charming due to the beautiful appearance of the six lotuses serving as [your] bases”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य) refers to the “diversity (of the world)”, according to the Netratantroddyota commentary on 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 22.11]—“[...] The diversity of the world (jagat-vaicitrya) has passed away from him, [as have] contracted manifestations [such as persons or things]. He is called the threefold protector because he protects all and he is the liberating, because he is the savior. Śiva is Mṛtyujit, whose nature is Paramaśiva, which is salvation. He protects those whose minds are terrified And this is the nirvacana of netranātha on the basis of similarity of syllables and vowels. [...]”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य) refers to the “sorrow (of life)”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Brother, deceived by living beings, you do not obtain happiness, you do not contemplate your own true nature, you do not perceive the sorrow of life (janman-vaicitrya—na vetsi janmavaicitryaṃ)”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य).—n S Variegatedness, diversifiedness as to color.
vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य).—n Variegatedness.
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
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य).—[vicitrasya bhāvaḥ ṣyañ]
1) Variety, diversity.
2) Manifoldness.
3) Strangeness.
4) Strikingness; as in वाच्यवैचित्र्य (vācyavaicitrya) K. P.1.
5) Surprise.
6) Sorrow, despair.
Derivable forms: vaicitryam (वैचित्र्यम्).
See also (synonyms): vaicitra.
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य).—n.
(-tryaṃ) 1. Variety. 2. Surprise. 3. Manifoldness. E. vicitra astonishing, ṣyañ aff.
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य).—i. e. vi-citra + ya, n. 1. Variety, [Hitopadeśa] pr. [distich] 2, M. M. 2. Surprisingness, [Mālatīmādhava, (ed. Calc.)] 16, 2; surprise, 36, 9. 3. Sorrow, [Mālatīmādhava, (ed. Calc.)] 46, 12; despair, 66, 16.
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य).—[neuter] variety, diversity.
1) Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य):—[from vaicitra] n. variety, manifoldness, diversity, [Kapila; Hitopadeśa; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] = vaicitrī above, [Kāvya literature; Sāhitya-darpaṇa] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] [wrong reading] for vaicittya, [Mālatīmādhava]
4) [v.s. ...] sorrow, despair, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य):—(tryaṃ) 1. n. Variety; wonderfulness.
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य):—(von vicitra) n.
1) Mannichfaltigkeit, Verschiedenartigkeit [Kapila 3, 51.] [Nīlakaṇṭha 41. 114.] [Prooemium im Hitopadeśa 2.] [Spr. (II) 1375.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 80, 3. 88, 15.] [Kathāsaritsāgara 12, 77. 94, 136.] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 1, 6. 8, 2395.] [] zu [Bṛhadāranyakopaniṣad] [?S. 221. Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 70. KUSUM. 4, 21. 7, 20. Sāhityadarpana 102, 9. Bhāgavatapurāṇa 5, 26, 1. 6, 1, 46.] —
2) Seltsamkeit, Absonderlichkeit, Wunderbarkeit [MĀLATĪM. 16, 2.] [Sāhityadarpana 691.] [Kāśikīvṛtti] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 3, 3, 96.] prabhāva [Śatruṃjayamāhātmya 3, 1.] bhavasvabhāva [Rājataraṅgiṇī 8, 1790. 1792.] —
3) fehlerhaft für vaicittya [MĀLATĪM. 46, 12. 66, 16.]
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vaicitta.
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
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य):—(nm) peculiarity, typicalness; characteristic quality; strangeness.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Vaicitrya (ವೈಚಿತ್ರ್ಯ):—
1) [noun] quality, state, fact or instance of being diverse; diversity.
2) [noun] the feeling of surprise, admiration, and awe aroused by something strange, unexpected, incredible, etc.; wonder.
3) [noun] that which is quite unusual or uncommon; strangeness.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Vaicitrya (वैचित्र्य):—n. 1. variety; diversity; 2. manifoldness; 3. strangeness; 4. strikingness; 5. surprise; astonishment;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+0): Vaicitryanaya, Vaicitryartha, Vaicitryavirya.
Full-text (+7): Vaicitra, Gunavaicitrya, Vaicitryavirya, Ayurvaicitrya, Vaicitryanaya, Ukti, Vaicitta, Vaichitrya, Hitopadesha, Vaicittya, Pudgala, Abhasavaicitrya, Nanavaicitrya, Citra, Vaicitravirya, Janmavaicitrya, Shou liang cha bie, Bandhavaicitrya, Citrita, Kramika.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Vaicitrya; (plurals include: Vaicitryas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 8.14 < [Chapter 8 - Literary Qualities]
Text 1.12 < [Chapter 1 - The Purpose of Poetry]
Text 8.6 < [Chapter 8 - Literary Qualities]
Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study) (by Padma Sugavanam)
Kohala and Nāṭya (5): Other varieties of plays: Saindhavaka < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Kohala and Gītā (15): The concept of Prastara < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Alankara Sastra (English study) (by V. Raghavan)
4. Abhinavagupta’s own view of Laksana < [Chapter 1 - The history of Lakshana (poetic adornments)]
Chapter 5a - The history of Riti in Sanskrit poetics
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 332 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Page 450 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 3]
Page 941 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 71 < [Volume 21 (1918)]
Tattvasangraha [with commentary] (by Ganganatha Jha)