Vapus, Vapush: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Vapus means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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)
1) Vapus (वपुस्).—A daughter of Dakṣa. Dharmadeva married her. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Aṃśa 1, Chapter 7).
2) Vapus (वपुस्).—A celestial maid. She made a futile attempt to hinder the penance of the hermit Durvāsas, and by the curse of the hermit she had to take birth as the daughter of Kundhara by Menakā in the next birth. (Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, 1, 49, 56; 2, 41).
Vapus (वपुस्) refers to a “body”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.25 (“The seven celestial sages test Pārvatī”).—Accordingly, as the seven Sages said (with false words) to Pārvatī: “[...] The trident-bearing Śiva has an inauspicious body [i.e., amaṅgala-vapus], is free from shame and has no home or pedigree. He is naked and ill-featured. He associates with ghosts and goblins and the like. That rogue of a sage has destroyed your discretion with his deception. He has deluded you with apparently good arguments and made you perform this penance. [...]”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Vapus (वपुस्) refers to a “body”, according to the Mahānayaprakāśa by Arṇasiṃha.—Accordingly, “[...] (Again, She is called Maṅgalā because she is) the intense inebriation brought about by the flux of the juice of the aesthetic delight [i.e., rasaugha] penetrated by the Supreme (experienced) by moving in the Supreme Space, which is free of the differentiated manifestation of (the phases of) emanation and the rest. She is ever the Inexplicable (anākhyā state) of the Supreme Principle whose body is the Wheel (of consciousness) [i.e., cakra-vapus]. Thus she is called Maṅgalā (Auspicious) here (in the world), and her nature is free of obscuration”.
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)
Vapus (वपुस्) (Cf. Aṅga) refers to the “body”, according to the Halāyudhastotra verse 34-35.—Accordingly, “The visitation of the wives of the distinguished sages in the Pine Park, the oblation with seed in Fire, the twilight dance: Your behaviour is not reprehensible. O Three-eyed one! The doctrines of the world do not touch those who have left worldly life, having passed far beyond the path of those whose minds are afflicted by false knowledge. The gods all wear gold and jewels as an ornament on their body (vapus). You do not even wear gold the size of a berry on your ear or on your hand. The one whose natural beauty, surpassing the path [of the world], flashes on his own body (aṅga), has no regard for the extraneous ornaments of ordinary men”.
Vapus (वपुस्) refers to the “form” (of a deity), according to 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 10.7cd-17ab, while describing the worship of Bhairavī and Bhairava]—“[...] One meditates on [Bhairava] as having equal radiance to snow, jasmine, the moon, or pearls. [...] He is] equal in radiance to yellow orpiment. The Sādhaka remembers Deva, who has the form of icchā, with whatever beautiful [form of the deity the Sādhaka chooses]. [Thus, the Deva] gives [the Sādhaka] the fruits of icchāsiddhi. Any one [of the deity’s] forms (vapus) bestows, any one beautiful [form] grants siddhis. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Vapus (वपुस्) refers to the “body”, according to sources such as the Candrāvalokana and the Anubhavanivedanastotra.—Accordingly, while describing the highest reality through the practice of Śāmbhavī Mudrā: “[...] [The Yogin’s] eyes are half open, his mind steady and his gaze placed at the tip of the nose. Even his moon and sun have dissolved and his body (vapus) is motionless. He goes to that supreme intensely radiant state, the highest reality, which has the appearance of light and is devoid of everything external. What could be spoken of here that is greater [than this]?”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Vapus (वपुस्) refers to the “corporeal body”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “[...] If hunting is to be altogether prohibited, how can meat, skin, horn and other articles prescribed for sacrifices be obtained? Similarly, by sleeping in the day time, the corporeal body (vapus), which is the means for attaining the three great objects of life, is preserved from such diseases as indigestion, and so on. [...]”.
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Vapus (वपुस्, “beauty”) as in vapus-mada refers to “pride in one’s beauty” and represents one of the eight forms of vainglory (mada), according to Samantabhadra in his Ratna-Karaṇḍa-śrāvakācāra (with commentary of Prabhācandra). These eight madas are included in the twenty-five blemishes (dṛg-doṣas), which are generally held to be the eight madas, the three mūḍhatās, the six anāyatanas, and the eight doṣas.
1) Vapus (वपुस्) (Cf. Deha) refers to the “body”, according to the Yaśastilaka Campū verse 2.123-214.—Accordingly, “Never imagine that thou art composed of the body (deha-ātmaka), because the body (vapus) is utterly different from thee. Thou art all consciousness, an abode of virtue and bliss; whereas the body, because it is inert, is an unconscious mass. The body exists and grows so long as thou art in existence. When thou art dead, it disappears in the form of earth, air and the like. Composed of the elements it is devoid of feelings such as joy, like a corpse. Hence the blissful self is surely different from the body.
2) Vapus (वपुस्) refers to the “body”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Is one not disturbed by [family] attachments? Is this body not cut down by diseases (vapus—vapur idaṃ kiṃ chidyate nāmayair)? Does death not open its mouth? Do calamities not do harm every day? Are hells not dreadful? Are not sensual pleasures deceiving like a dream? Because of which, having discarded one’s own benefit, you have a desire for the world which is like a city of Kiṃnaras”.
Synonyms: Śarīra, Deha, Kalevara.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Vapus (वपुस्).—a. [vap-usi] Handsome, beautiful (Ved.). -n.
1) (a) Body, person; (smaraṃ) वपुषा स्वेन नियोजयिष्यति (vapuṣā svena niyojayiṣyati) Ku- 4.42; नवं वयः कान्तमिदं वपुश्च (navaṃ vayaḥ kāntamidaṃ vapuśca) R.2.47; Śiśupālavadha 1.5. (b) Form, figure, appearance; लिखितवपुषौ शङ्खपद्मौ च दृष्ट्वा (likhitavapuṣau śaṅkhapadmau ca dṛṣṭvā) Meghadūta 82; परिघः क्षतजतुल्यवपुः (parighaḥ kṣatajatulyavapuḥ) Bṛ. S.3.25.
2) Essence, nature; अष्टानां लोकपालानां वपुर्धारयते नृपः (aṣṭānāṃ lokapālānāṃ vapurdhārayate nṛpaḥ) Manusmṛti 5.96.
3) Beauty, a beautiful form or appearance; 'वपुः क्लीबं तनौ शस्ताकृतावपि (vapuḥ klībaṃ tanau śastākṛtāvapi)' इति मेदिनी (iti medinī); श्रमेण च विवर्णानां वक्त्राणां विल्पुतं वपुः (śrameṇa ca vivarṇānāṃ vaktrāṇāṃ vilputaṃ vapuḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 11.2.34.
4) Ved. A wonderful phenomenon, wonder.
5) Ved. Water.
Vapus (वपुस्).—n.
(-puḥ) 1. The body. 2. A handsome form or figure. 3. Beauty, beautiful appearance. E. vap to sow, Unadi aff. usi .
Vapus (वपुस्).— (cf. vapā), n. 1. The body, [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 221. 2. A handsome form or figure, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 16. 3. Beauty,
Vapus (वपुस्).—[adjective] wondrous, [especially] wondrous beautiful; [neuter] wonder, wonderful or beautiful appearance; form, shape, body.
1) Vapuṣ (वपुष्):—[from vap] in [compound] for vapus.
2) Vapus (वपुस्):—[from vap] mfn. having form or a beautiful form, embodied, handsome, wonderful, [Ṛg-veda]
3) [v.s. ...] n. form, figure, ([especially]) a beautiful form or figure, wonderful appearance, beauty (puṣe ind. for beauty; vapur dṛśaye, a wonder to see), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
4) [v.s. ...] n. nature, essence, [Manu-smṛti v, 96; x, 9 etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] n. (ifc. f(uṣī). ) the body, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
6) [v.s. ...] f. Beauty personified as a daughter of Dakṣa and Dharma, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
7) [v.s. ...] Name of an Apsaras, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
Vapus (वपुस्):—(puḥ) 5. n. The body, fine form.
[Sanskrit to German]
Vapuṣ (वपुष्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vau.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Vapuhsat, Vapuhsrava, Vapunmata, Vapurguna, Vapusha, Vapushe, Vapushi, Vapushma, Vapushmamta, Vapushmana, Vapushmant, Vapushmat, Vapushmati, Vapushmatta, Vapushprakarsha, Vapushtama, Vapushtara, Vapushy, Vapushya, Vapusiddhi.
Full-text (+81): Vapushmat, Vapushtama, Vapushmati, Vapushtara, Vapunmata, Purnavapus, Apus, Amritavapus, Vapusha, Candravapus, Meghavapus, Vapu, Dridhavapus, Shatavapus, Kuvapus, Govapus, Saumyavapus, Vapurguna, Vapuhsrava, Vapushmant.
Relevant text
Search found 20 books and stories containing Vapus, Vapush, Vapuṣ; (plurals include: Vapuses, Vapushes, Vapuṣs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Yavanajataka by Sphujidhvaja [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 5.14 < [Chapter 5 - Rules of Impregnation]
Verse 8.26 < [Chapter 8 - The Birth of Sovereigns]
Verse 8.9 < [Chapter 8 - The Birth of Sovereigns]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
Kushtha in Ayurveda a comprehensive study < [Vol. 9 No. 10 (2024)]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.2.10 < [Part 2 - Ecstatic Expressions (anubhāva)]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 6.2.13 < [Chapter 2 - Residence in Śrī Dvārakā]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)