Vatsyayana, aka: Vātsyāyana; 4 Definition(s)

Introduction

Vatsyayana 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.

In Hinduism

Nyaya (school of philosophy)

Vātsyāyana (वात्स्यायन).—The first commentator of the Nyāyasūtra is Vātsyāyana and the name of his work is Nyāyabhāṣya. Vātsyāyana is also known as Pakṣilasvāmin who mentioned in his work the views of the earlier Naiyāyikas. According to S.N. Dasgupta, his date is about 4th century A.D.29 Rādhākrishnan also accepts the same date.

Purana

Vātsyāyana (वात्स्यायन).—Kāśyapa gotrakāras.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 199. 6.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Vātsyāyana is the name of a Hindu philosopher in the Vedic tradition who is believed to have lived around 3rd century CE in India. His name appears as the author of the Kama Sutra and of Nyāya Sutra Bhāṣya, the first commentary on Gotama's Nyāya Sutras. His name is sometimes confused with Mallanaga, the prophet of the Asuras, to whom the origin of erotic science is attributed.

Hardly anything is known about him, although it is believed that his disciples went on his instructions, on the request of the Hindu Kings in the Himalayan range to influence the hill tribals to give up the pagan cult of sacrifices. He is said to have created the legend of Tara among the hill tribes as a tantric goddess. Later as the worship spread to the east Garo hills,the goddess manifest of a 'yoni' goddess Kamakhya was created. His interest in human sexual behavior as a medium of attaining spirituality was recorded in his treatise Kama Sutra.

It is impossible to fix the exact date either of the life of Vatsyayana or of his work. It is believed that he must have lived between the 1st and 6th century AD, on the following grounds: He mentions that Satakarni Satavahana, a king of Kuntal, killed Malayevati his wife with an instrument called Katamari by striking her in the passion of love.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vātsyāyana (वात्स्यायन).—

1) Name of the author of the Kāmasūtras (a work on erotic subjects).

2) Name of the author of a commentary on the Nyāya Sūtras.

Derivable forms: vātsyāyanaḥ (वात्स्यायनः).

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