Sarpashirsha, Sarpa-shirsha, Sarpaśīrṣa: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Sarpashirsha 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.
The Sanskrit term Sarpaśīrṣa can be transliterated into English as Sarpasirsa or Sarpashirsha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)One of the Twenty-eight Single Hands (hasta):—Sarpa-śīrṣa (snake-head): the middle of the Patāka hand ishollowed. Usage: sandal-paste, snake, slowness, sprinkling,cherishing, etc., giving water to gods and sages, the flappingof elephants' ears, massage of wrestlers.
According to another book: same definition. This hand isderived from Vishnu, who showed it when he offered to protectthe Devas against Bali, and promised to put him down. Itssage is Vāsava (Indra), its colour turmeric, its race Deva, itspatron deity Śiva. Usage: rouge (kuṅkuma), mud, prāṇāyama, washing the face, occasion of charity, sandal paste, elephant, ashort man, massage of wrestler’s shoulders, fondling, milk, water, saffron, bashfulness, concealing a child, image, drinking water,clinging (līna), saying “Very true”, Brāhmaṇa caste, turmericcolour, saying “It is proper”, answering, sprinkhng sandalpowder, appljdng sandal paste, etc., holding the breasts, etc. ofwomen.
Note: To indicate prāṇāyama the sarpa-śīrṣa hand is held upon the bridge of the nose, precisely as in the daily ritual of regulated breathing.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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 (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Sarpaśīrṣa (सर्पशीर्ष):—[=sarpa-śīrṣa] [from sarpa] mfn. having a head like a sn°, [Vasiṣṭha]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a [particular] position of the hands, [Catalogue(s)]
3) [v.s. ...] n. a [particular] brick, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Kāṭhaka]
[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)
Partial matches: Shirsha, Sarpa.
Starts with: Sarpashirshan.
Full-text (+1): Rahu, Pushpaputa, Shanaishcara, Kshira, Nagabandha, Gajadanta, Hamsapaksha, Svarbhanu, Hasta, Carrying, Tusk, Evening, Waving, Giving, Elephant, Shivatandava, Cavity, Nataraja, Flower, Anugrahamurti.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Sarpashirsha, Sarpa-shirsha, Sarpa-śīrṣa, Sarpa-sirsa, Sarpaśīrṣa, Sarpasirsa; (plurals include: Sarpashirshas, shirshas, śīrṣas, sirsas, Sarpaśīrṣas, Sarpasirsas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Abhinaya-darpana (English) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
Chapter 18 - Hands denoting Nine Planets
Chapter 13 - Twenty-four Combined Hands
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
2.2. Hand Postures (b): Saṃyukta-hasta < [Chapter 3 - Drama and Dance]
Gati in Theory and Practice (by Dr. Sujatha Mohan)
Gati pertaining to Characters < [Chapter 3 - Application of gati in Dṛśya-kāvyas]