Vaisheshika, Vaiśeṣika, Vaishesika, Vaiseshika: 22 definitions

The Sanskrit term Vaiśeṣika can be transliterated into English as Vaisesika or Vaisheshika, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Vaisheshik.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक).—One excelling (viśeṣayet) in all the arts (kalā) is called a Vaiśeṣika (specialist) or one is also called Vaiśika because of his dealings with the courtezans (veśyopacāra).

context information

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).

Vaisheshika (school of philosophy)

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक) system advocates Dualistic Realism. It is said that this system has been founded on a Ṛk ascribed to the Seer Dīrghatamas. The Ṛk narrates that two birds which are intimate friends, reside in the same tree. One of them eats the sweet fruits, while the other without eating just looks on. The dualistic philosophers are influenced by this Ṛk which implies the distinction between the individual self and the Supreme self.

The founder of Vaiśeṣika is Kaṇāda. The name of this system Vaiśeṣika is derived from the word Viśeṣa. Viśeṣa as a separate category is discussed broadly in this system.52 We do not find this category in any other system of Indian Philosophy. So, Kaṇāda’s philosophy has come to be known as Vaiśeṣika system. The Vaiśeṣika system gives stress on the plurality and distinctness of physical things and finite souls. The special feature of this system is the theory of atomism.

context information

Vaisheshika (वैशेषिक, vaiśeṣika) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. Vaisheshika deals with subjects such as logic, epistemology, philosophy and expounds concepts similar to Buddhism in nature

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक) refers to:—A later division of the nyāya school of philosophy, also known as vaiśeṣika-darśana. It was founded by Kaṇāda Ṛṣi. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Ayurveda (science of life)

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक):—[vaiśeṣikaḥ] One of the orthodox indian philosophy postulated by Acharya kanada and famous for molecular theory

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक) is one of the six Hindu schools of philosophy (Vedic systems) of India. Historically, it has been closely associated with the Hindu school of logic, Nyaya. Although the Vaisheshika system developed independently from the Nyaya, the two eventually merged because of their closely related metaphysical theories.

Vaisheshika espouses a form of atomism and postulates that all objects in the physical universe are reducible to a finite number of atoms. Originally proposed by the sage Kaṇāda (or Kana-bhuk, literally, atom-eater) around the 2nd century BC.

According to the Vaisheshika school, all things which exist, which can be cognised, and which can be named are padārthas (literal meaning: the meaning of a word), the objects of experience. All objects of experience can be classified into six categories,

• dravya (substance),
• guṇa (quality),
• karma (activity),
• sāmānya (generality),
• viśeṣa (particularity)
• and samavāya (inherence).

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक) or Vaiśeṣikadarśana refers to the “school of Indian atomistic physics”, associated with the aulūkyadarśana of the Sarvadarśanasaṃgraha (lit., “ompendium of all the darśanas”) by Mādhavācārya (fourteenth century CE) refers to the most famous text of the Saṃgraha literary genre dealing in 16 chapters with different darśanas or schools of Indian philosophy.—The tenth darśana is named aulūkya-darśana, and it treats of the school of Indian atomistic physics, the vaiśeṣikadarśana, whose semi-mythical founder is the sage (muni) Ulūka (a name meaning ‘owl’, because according to the hagiographic tradition he had assumed the form of an owl in order to gratify Śiva), better known as Kaṇāda (atom-eater). The chapter contains a synopsis and a résumé of the root text of the school, the Vaiśeṣikasūtra. [...]

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक) refers to one of the “Eight Proponents of Eternalism” (Tibetan: rtag par smra ba brgyad). The complete list runs as follows: Sāṃkhyas, Brahmavādins, Vaiṣṇavas, Mīmāṃsakas, Śaivas, Vaiśeṣikas, Naiyāyikas, and Nirgranthas.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

In Jainism

Jain philosophy

Vaiśeṣikā (वैशेषिका) refers to a “follower of the Vaiśeṣika system of philosophy”, as occurring in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. I, P. 67, l 25]—Vaiśeṣikā (lit. “the investigator of distinctive properties”) is the name of the follower of the Vaiśeṣika system of philosophy. It is founded by Kaṇāda known as Kaṇabhakṣa, Kaṇabhuj, Kāṇāda, Ulūka and Aulukya. Pāśupata is another name for a Vaiśeṣika.

India history and geography

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक) or Vaiśeṣikatantra is the name of a Tantra mentioned in association with the Saundaryalaharī and Vāmakeśvara-tantra and a (further unknown) book in the possession of Kamlesh Punyark [=Śrī Kamaleśa Puṇyārka or श्री कमलेश पुण्यार्क].—This book contains a detailed discussion of the basics of Tantra and opens with a list of three times sixty-four Tantras. One such text is the वैशेषिक-तन्त्रम् [vaiśeṣika-tantram] or वैशेषिक [vaiśeṣika].

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

vaiśēṣika (वैशेषिक).—m S A follower of the school of philosophy called vaiśēṣika.

Sanskrit dictionary

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक).—a. (-kī f.)

1) Characteristic, special; विषये वर्तमानानां यं तं वैशेषिकैर्गुणैः (viṣaye vartamānānāṃ yaṃ taṃ vaiśeṣikairguṇaiḥ) (prāhurviṣayagoptāram) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.47.7; 7.5.15.

2) Belonging to the Vaiśeṣika doctrine.

-kaḥ A follower of the Vaiśeṣika doctrine.

-kam [viśeṣaṃ padārtha- bhedamadhikṛtya kṛto granthaḥ ṭhañ] One of the six principal Darśanas or systems of Hindu philosophy founded by Kaṇāda; it differs from the Nyāya philosophy of Gautama in that it recognizes only seven instead of sixteen categories or heads of predicables (the earlier writers e. g. Kaṇāda recognizing only six), and lays particular stress upon Viśeṣa.

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक).—m.

(-kaḥ) A follower of the Vaiśeshika doctrine. n.

(-kaṃ) The Vaiśeshika doctrine, or branch of the Nyaya or logical school of philosophy, instituted by Kanada. It differs from Gautama'S system in recognizing only seven categories instead of sixteen. E. viśeṣa difference, (from the original Nyaya of Gautama,) ṭhañ aff.

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक).—i. e. viśeṣa + ika, I. adj. 1. Characteristic, Bhāṣāp. 43. 2. Belonging to the Vaiśeṣika doctrine (cf. Ii.), Bhāṣāp. 104; 140. Ii. n. A peculiar philosophical system, the Vaiśeṣika doctrine. Iii. m. A follower of the Vaiśeṣika doctrine, [Kusumāñjali, (ed. Cowell.)] 3, 8 (p. 29, 13, ed. Cowell).

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक).—[feminine] ī particular, specific, extraordinary. [masculine] a follower of the Vaiśeṣika doctrine; [neuter] peculiarity, characteristic, [Name] of a philos, system.

1) Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक):—mf(ī)n. ([from] vi-śeṣa, p.990) special, peculiar, specific, characteristic, [Āpastamba; Suśruta; Bhāṣāpariccheda; Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]

2) distinguished, excellent, pre-eminent, [Mahābhārata]

3) relating or belonging to or based on or dealing with the Vaiśeṣika doctrine, [Bhāṣāpariccheda; Madhusūdana]

4) m. a follower of the V° doctrine, [Kapila; Kusumāñjali; Buddhist literature]

5) n. peculiarity, distinction, [Kaṇāda’s Vaiśeṣika-sūtra]

6) Name of the later of the two great divisions of the Nyāya school of philosophy (it was founded by Kaṇāda, and differs from the, ‘Nyāya proper’ founded by Gautama, in propounding only seven categories or topics instead of sixteen; and more especially in its doctrine of viśeṣa, or eternally distinct nature of the nine substances, air, fire, water, earth, mind, ether, time, space, and soul, of which the first five, including mind, are held to be atomic), [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 65 etc.]

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A follower of the Vaisheshika doctrine. a. That doctrine, or branch of the Nyāya school.

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vaisesia.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vaisheshika in German

Hindi dictionary

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक) [Also spelled vaisheshik]:—(nm) one of the six major systems of Indian philosophy.

Kannada-English dictionary

Vaiśēṣika (ವೈಶೇಷಿಕ):—

1) [adjective] of a distinct or particular kind or character; special.

2) [adjective] relating or belonging to or based on or dealing with the ವೈಶೇಷಿಕ [vaisheshika] doctrine (see ವೈಶೇಷಿಕ [vaisheshika]2 below).

--- OR ---

Vaiśēṣika (ವೈಶೇಷಿಕ):—

1) [noun] that which is of a distinct or particular kind or character; a special thing.

2) [noun] one of the six classical system of Indin philosophy, founded by the sage Kaṇāda, which upholds the eternally distinct nature of the nine substances, air, fire, water, earth, mind, ether, time, space and soul; its central feature is its theory on the atomic structure of the universe, which are never destroyed, even when the world ends.

3) [noun] a follower or supporter of this philosophy.

Nepali dictionary

Vaiśeṣika (वैशेषिक):—n. one of the six darshans (दर्शन [darśana] ); atomic theory as propounded by Kanada;

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