Varcas: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Varcas 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Varchas.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Varcas (वर्चस्).—Son of Soma, one of the eight Vasus. Manoharā was the mother of Varcas. Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna was the next birth of Varcas. (For further details see under Abhimanyu).
2) Varcas (वर्चस्).—The son of Sucetas, a Brahmin born in the family of Gṛtsamada. This Varcas had a son called Vihavya. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 30, Stanza 61).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationVarcas (वर्चस्) refers to “lustre”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.5.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada the birth of Menā’s daughter:—“[...] She made clay idol of the Goddess and worshipped her by offering various things on the banks of the Gaṅgā in Auṣadhiprastha. On some days she observed a complete fast. On some days she observed sacred rites. Some days wind alone constituted her food and some days she drank only water. With her mind fixed on Śivā, Menā passed twenty seven years with pleasure and brilliant lustre [i.e., mṛṣṭa-varcas]. [...]”.
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)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramVarcas (वर्चस्) refers to “radiant energy”, according to the commentary on the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as Bhairava promises Himavat: “[...] You will offer oblations in the radiant energy (varcas) of the fire in the middle of the End of the Twelve and the Nine (navānta). Established in the vital breath, you will be the sacrificial priest (adhvaryu)”.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Varcas (वर्चस्) [=varcasa?] refers to the “sacred power (of the purohita)”, according to Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṃśa.—Accordingly to verse 1.61-64, Vasiṣṭha’s “holy spells defeat the enemy even from a distance”, and “his offering thrown into the fire becomes rain for the crops parched by drought”. It is the sacred power (brahmavarcasa) of the purohita thanks to which diseases and other disasters avoid the people. The king attributes the welfare and safety of his country to his Guru.
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’.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryVarcas (वर्चस्).—n. [varc-asun]
1) Vigour, energy, power.
2) Light, lustre, brilliance, splendour; स्वरेण वर्चसा चैव प्रेक्षितेन च वानर (svareṇa varcasā caiva prekṣitena ca vānara) ...... व्यक्तिं वां नोपलक्षये (vyaktiṃ vāṃ nopalakṣaye) Rām.4.12.31.
3) Form, figure, shape.
4) Ordure, feces.
5) Semen virile.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryVarcas (वर्चस्).—I. n. 1. Lustre, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 49, 4. 2. Form, Mahābhārata 1, 1076; [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 2. ed. 79, 80. 3. Excrements. Ii. m. The son of Candra.
— Cf. brahmavarcasa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryVarcas (वर्चस्).—[neuter] light, brightness, lustre, colour, the illuminating power of fire or the sun, power or strength i.[grammar], vitality, energy, activity; excrement, ordure.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Varcas (वर्चस्):—[from varca] n. (√ruc) vital power, vigour, energy, activity, ([especially]) the illuminating power of fire or the sun id est. brilliance, lustre, light, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
2) [v.s. ...] colour, [Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
3) [v.s. ...] splendour, glory, [Kāvya literature; Purāṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] form, figure, shape, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] excrement, ordure, feces, [Rājataraṅgiṇī; Suśruta]
6) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a son of Soma, [Mahābhārata]
7) [v.s. ...] of a son of Su-tejas or Su-ketas, [ib.]
8) [v.s. ...] of Rākṣava, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa] ([Scholiast or Commentator])
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Varcas (वर्चस्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vacca.
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Varcahkumbhika, Varcahkuti, Varcasa, Varcasin, Varcask, Varcaska, Varcaskasthana, Varcassu, Varcasthana, Varcasva, Varcasva-kayama, Varcasvant, Varcasvat, Varcasvin, Varcasvita, Varcasya, Varcograha.
Ends with (+20): Adhivarcas, Adhovarcas, Adityavarcas, Agnivarcas, Anunavarcas, Ativarcas, Avarcas, Aviddhavarcas, Baddhavarcas, Bhinnavarcas, Bhurivarcas, Brahmavarcas, Dasmavarcas, Dhumavarcas, Gadhavarcas, Gudhavarcas, Hastivarcas, Hatavarcas, Hemavarcas, Hiranyavarcas.
Full-text (+57): Vacca, Agnivarcas, Anunavarcas, Varcasvin, Sahasravarcas, Varcasa, Padmavarcas, Gadhavarcas, Aviddhavarcas, Mushtivarcas, Adhovarcas, Brahmavarcas, Bhinnavarcas, Sukhavarcas, Suryavarcas, Gudhavarcas, Varcasvat, Bhinnavarcastva, Vihavya, Varcaska.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Varcas; (plurals include: Varcases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 2.23.15 < [Sukta 23]
Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita (by Laxmi Maji)
Introduction to the Vedas < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
The Sacrifices of Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha (study) (by Aparna Dhar)
Summary of the Agnihotra Sacrifice < [Chapter 2 - Vedic Sacrifices described in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 31 - Description of Creation (2) < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]