Vishtha, Viṣṭhā, Visthā: 14 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Shaivism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
See also

Introduction:

Vishtha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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 term Viṣṭhā can be transliterated into English as Vistha or Vishtha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा) refers to “(insect) feces”, according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 4.3-6, while describing the interpretation of dreams]—“In [auspicious] dreams [the dreamer] drinks wine, eats raw flesh, smears insect feces (krimi-viṣṭhā-anulepa) and sprinkles blood. He eats food of sour milk and smears a white garment. [He holds] a white umbrella over his head, decorates [himself] with a white garland or ribbon. [He sees] a throne, chariot or vehicle, the flag of royal initiation. He decorates [these things] with a coral, betel leaf fruit. [He also] sees Śrī or Sarasvatī”.

context information

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 3: The Lower and middle worlds

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा, “excreta”) refers to one of the eight types of extraordinary healing (auṣadhi), which itself is a subclass of the eight ṛddhis (extraordinary powers). These powers can be obtained by the Ārya (civilized people) in order to produce worldly miracles. The Āryas represent one of the two classes of human beings according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.46, the other being Mleccha (barbarians).

What is meant by extraordinary power to heal by excreta (viṣṭhā-riddhi)? It is the extraordinary power by which the air which touches the excreta of an ascetic cures a patient when it touches his body.

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

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

viṣṭhā (विष्ठा).—f (S) Fæces, ordure, excrement.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

viṣṭhā (विष्ठा).—f Fæces, ordure, excrement.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा).—

1) Feces, ordure, excrement; सोमविक्रयिणे विष्ठा भिषजे पूयशोणितम् (somavikrayiṇe viṣṭhā bhiṣaje pūyaśoṇitam) Manusmṛti 3.18;1.91.

2) The belly.

3) Ved. Interval.

--- OR ---

Visthā (विस्था).—1 Ā.

1) To stand apart.

2) To remain, stay, dwell, remain fixed or stationary; पदैर्भुवं व्याप्य वितिष्ठमानम् (padairbhuvaṃ vyāpya vitiṣṭhamānam) Śiśupālavadha 4.4.

3) To spread, be diffused.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा).—(?) in Divyāvadāna 274.22, according to Index rope (i.e. lasso), but all that is clear is that it is some means of catching and holding: nedaṃ kenacid viṣṭhayā vā śiṭayā (see śiṭā) vā karkaṭakena vā gṛhītavyaṃ. Possibly read ciṣṭhayā or ciṣṭayā = AMg. ciṭṭhā, with MIndic i for e, = Sanskrit ceṣṭā, with movements (of the hands, etc.); but this is naturally doubtful.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा).—f.

(-ṣṭhā) 1. Fæces, ordure, excrement. 2. The belly. E. vi before sthā to stay, (in the intestines,) affs. aṅ and ṭāp .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा).—see viṣṭā.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा).—1. [feminine] place, province, domain, division, party; kind, form.

--- OR ---

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा).—2. [feminine] = 2 viṣ.

--- OR ---

Visthā (विस्था).—[Middle] (A.) stand apart, go asunder, be spread in or over ([accusative]); part with or be separated from ([ablative]); stand firm, not budge. [Causative] spread, extend.

Visthā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms vi and sthā (स्था).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा):—[from viṣ] 1. viṣṭhā f. (for 2. 3. See p. 999, col. 1) = 3. viṣ, feces, excrement ([accusative] with √kṛ or vi-√dhā, to void excr°), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata etc.] (often [wrong reading] viṣṭā).

2) [=vi-ṣṭhā] 2. vi-ṣṭhā (√sthā; for 1. viṣṭhā See p. 996, col. 2) [Ātmanepada] -tiṣṭhate (cf. [Pāṇini 1-3, 22]; [Vedic or Veda] and [Epic] also [Parasmaipada]),

2) —to stand or go apart, be spread or diffused or scattered over or through ([accusative] or adhi with [locative case]), [Ṛg-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Atharva-veda];

2) —to be removed or separated from ([instrumental case]), [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Atharva-veda];

2) —to stand, be stationary stand still, remain firm, abide, dwell, stop, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.;

2) —to keep ground, not to budge, [Rāmāyaṇa];

2) —to be present or near, [Mahābhārata];

2) —to be engaged in ([locative case]), [Harivaṃśa] :—[Causal] (only [Aorist] -tiṣṭhipaḥ) to spread, expand, [Ṛg-veda i, 56, 5.]

3) [v.s. ...] 3. vi-ṣṭhā f. place, position, station, form, kind, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa; ???]

4) [v.s. ...] a rope (?), [Divyāvadāna]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा):—[vi-ṣṭhā] (ṣṭhā) 1. f. Fæces, ordure.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Viṭṭhā, Vitthakka.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vishtha in German

context information

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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Viṣṭhā (विष्ठा):—(nf) faeces, excrement, night soil.

context information

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Search found 7 books and stories containing Vishtha, Viṣṭhā, Vistha, Visthā, Vi-stha, Vi-sthā, Vi-shtha, Vi-ṣṭhā; (plurals include: Vishthas, Viṣṭhās, Visthas, Visthās, sthas, sthās, shthas, ṣṭhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 4.220 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]

Verse 3.180 < [Section VIII - Śrāddhas]

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Rig Veda 10.168.2 < [Sukta 168]

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Text 3 < [Chapter 3 - Tṛtīya-yāma-sādhana (Pūrvāhna-kālīya-bhajana–niṣṭhā-bhajana)]

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Verse 1.17.5-6 < [Chapter 17 - The Lord’s Travel to Gayā]

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18. Goddess Pṛthivī < [Chapter 4 - Female Deities and the Glorification of Women in the Atharvaveda]

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Chapter 37 - On the eighty-six Kuṇḍas and their characteristics < [Book 9]