Visha, aka: Viśa, Visa, Viṣa, Viṣā, Vīśa; 12 Definition(s)

Introduction

Visha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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.

The Sanskrit terms Viśa and Viṣa and Viṣā and Vīśa can be transliterated into English as Visa or Visha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Viṣa (विष, “poisonous”):—Another name for Ativiṣā, a medicinal plant (Aconitum heterophyllum) used in the treatment of fever (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which is part of the Mādhavacikitsā, a Sanskrit classical work on Āyurveda.

On the characteristics of poison (viṣa) in general, the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayam Uttarasthāna 35.7cd-8ab reads: “Poison is sharp (tīkṣṇa), hot (uṣṇa), rough (rūkṣa), bright (viśada), pervading (vyavāya), going quickly (āśukara), light (laghu), shining (vikāṣi), subtle (sūkṣman), having indistinct taste (i), unripe (apāki) in quality (guṇa).” See also Carakasaṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 23.24-27; Suśrutasaṃhitā Kalpasthāna 2.19cd-23; Aṣṭāṅgasaṃgraha Uttarasthāna 40.12.

Viṣa (विष) refers to “poison”. These includes 10 references of Vatsanābha usages. Guṭikā is maximum (4) dosage form in the management of Viṣa. Vatsanābha (Aconitum ferox), although categorized as sthāvara-viṣa (vegetable poisons), has been extensively used in ayurvedic pharmacopoeia.

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.

Purāṇa

Viṣa (विष) is the name of a mountain situated at lake Mānasa and mount Gandhamādana, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 75. The Gandhamādana mountain lies on the eastern side of mount Meru, which is one of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, ruled over by Āgnīdhra, a grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

1) Viśa (विश).—A Ṛṣi.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 62. 22.

2a) Viṣa (विष).—A Śiva god.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 32.

2b) An Asura, attacked by Nakuli Devī.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 28. 39.

2c) A son of Danāyuṣa; father of four sons all bent on doing cruelty.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 68. 30, 33.

2d) Produced by the churning of the ocean by the Devas and Asuras.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 54. 49; 62. 180.

context information

The Purāṇas (पुराण, purana) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahāpurāṇas total over 400,000 ślokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Nāṭyaśāstra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Viṣa (विष).—Death from drinking poison (viṣa) should be represented by throwing out of hands and feet and other limbs, and the power of the poison will lead to the quivering action of the different parts of the body.

The first stage of the action of poison is the thinness (kṣāma or kārśya) of the body, the second tremor (vepathu), the third a burning sensation (dāha), the fourth hiccup (hikkā), the fifth froth in the mouth (phena), the sixth breaking of the neck (śirobhañja or grivābhaṅga), the seventh paralysis (jaḍatā) and the eighth death (maraṇa). These particular representations should be combined with suitable psychological states (bhāva) and with sufficient sattva, and representation of other popular aspects of these should be learnt from the people.

context information

Nāṭyaśāstra (नाट्यशास्त्र, natya-shastra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition of performing arts, (e.g., 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 (nāṭya) and poetic works (kāvya).

In Buddhism

Pali

visa : (nt.) poison; venom.

Visa, (nt.) (cp. Vedic viṣa; Av. viš poison, Gr. i)όs, Lat. vīrus, Oir. fī: all meaning “poison”) poison, virus, venom M. I, 316=S. II, 110; Th. 1, 418; 768; Sn. 1 (sappa° snake venom); A. II, 110; J. I, 271 (halāhala° deadly p.); III, 201; IV, 222; Pug. 48; Miln. 302; PvA. 62, 256; ThA. 489.—On visa in similes see J. P. T. S. 1907, 137. Cp. āsī°.

—uggāra vomiting of poison SnA 176. —kaṇṭaka a poisoned thorn or arrow, also name of a sort of sugar DhsA. 203. —kumbha a vessel filled with p. It. 86. —pānaka a drink of p. DhA. II, 15. —pīta (an arrow) dipped into poison (lit. which has drunk poison). At another place (see pīta¹) we have suggested reading visappita (visa+appita), i.e. “poison-applied, ” which was based on reading at Vism. 303. See e.g. J. V, 36; Miln. 198; Vism. 303, 381; DhA. I, 216. —rukkha “poison tree, ” a cert. tree Vism. 512; VbhA. 89; DA. I, 39. —vaṇijjā trading with poison A. III, 208. —vijjā science of poison DA. I, 93.—vejja a physician who cures poison (ous snake-bites) J. I, 310. —salla a poisoned arrow Vism. 503. (Page 638)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Viṣa (विष, “poison”) refers to an article of food classified as abhakṣya (forbidden to eat) according to Nemicandra (in his Pravacana-sāroddhāra v245-246). Poison (viṣa) is not to be taken even if its effect can be counteracted by mantras because it will in any event kill innumerable gaṇḍolaka organisms in the stomach and because if death ensues it may provoke great delusions in the last hours. Later writers, from the fifteenth century onwards, here mention opium (ahi-phena).

context information

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

viṣa (विष).—n (S) Poison. Nine kinds are reckoned; viz. kākōla, kālakūṭa, halāhala, saurāṣṭrika, śaulkikēya, brahmaputra, pradīpana, dārada, vatsanābha. By the word viṣa simply Animal poison is generally understood. See sthāvaraviṣa. 2 Applied metaphorically to anything exceedingly bitter; also to anything baleful, baneful, dire, deadly. viṣa mānaṇēṃ To abominate or abhor. viṣācī parikṣā (Tasting of poison to determine upon it.) Venturing upon any dangerous experiment or hazardous action. v pāha.

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visā (विसा).—f (vīsa) An aggregate of twenty considered as an unit by simple men in counting or reckoning, a score. Ex. tyājakaḍē mājhyā pāñca visā rupayē yāyācē āhēta.

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vīsa (वीस).—a (viṃśati S) Twenty. Pr. visāṃ nāhīṃ tara tisāṃ nāhīṃ tara jaśācā tasā He will be good at twenty, if not, at thirty, if not, he will remain as he is.

viṣa (विष).—n Poison. Anything exceedingly bitter.

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visā (विसा).—f A score.

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vīsa (वीस).—a Twenty. Veneral.

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