Shreshtha, Śreṣṭha: 18 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Shreshtha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Śreṣṭha can be transliterated into English as Srestha or Shreshtha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Sreshth.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ) or Śreṣṭhāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of the Vātulāgama which is one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu. The purpose of revealing upāgamas (e.g., Śreṣṭha Āgama) is to explain more elaborately than that of mūlāgamas (e.g., Vātula-āgama) and to include any new idea if not dealt in mūlāgamas.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ) refers to the “best (of all the saline grounds)”, according to the Vārāṇasīmāhātmya verse 1.116-125.—Accordingly, “[...] And there is no rebirth (udbhava) in this world for those Pāśupata sages who follow the observance of the skull, they who abide by the Atimārga. For the practitioners of the Atimārga there is only indifference. Those who have set out on the Atimārga only delight in indifference. Those who die on the saline ground go along that path, but of all saline grounds Vārāṇasī is the best (śreṣṭha), O sage. And there is no sprouting for those who die there. The body abandoned on the cremation ground merges in the Lord of Time. [...]”.

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.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgraha

Śreṣṭhā (श्रेष्ठा) is another name for “Pṛśniparṇī” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning śreṣṭhā] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ) refers to the “eminent (princes)”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 4), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If, during the waxing moon, Mars should be eclipsed by a horn, the border (mleccha) princes as well as wicked rulers will suffer; if Saturn should be so eclipsed there will be fear from weapons and from hunger; if Mercury should be so eclipsed there will be drought and famine in the land; if Jupiter should be so eclipsed eminent princes [i.e., śreṣṭha] will suffer; and if Venus, the minor princes will suffer. As regards the waning moon the subject has been elsewhere treated”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ) refers to the “most excellent” (e.g., of the nymphs), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.15 (“Gaṇeśa’s battle”).—Accordingly, as Gaṇeśa fought with Śiva’s Gaṇas: “In the meantime the excellent nymphs (apsara-śreṣṭha) came there with flowers and sandal paste in their hands. You and other gods who were eager to witness the fight came there. O excellent sage, the excellent pathway of the firmament was entirely filled by them. Seeing the battle they were much surprised. Such a battle had never been witnessed by them before. [...]”.

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)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ) is a Sanskrit word referring to “beautiful”, “most excellent”, “distinguished” etc.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

śrēṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ).—a (S) Best, most excellent, pre-eminent, superior, chief.

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

śrēṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ).—a Best, most excellent, chief.

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

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ).—a. Best, most excellent, pre-eminent (with gen. or loc.).

2) Most happy or prosperous.

3) Most beloved, dearest.

4) Oldest, senior.

-ṣṭhaḥ 1 A Brāhmaṇa.

2) A king.

3) Name of Kubera.

4) Name of Viṣṇu.

-ṣṭham 1 Cow's milk.

2) Copper.

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

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ).—mfn.

(-ṣṭhaḥ-ṣṭhā-ṣṭhaṃ) 1. Best, excellent, most excellent, pre-eminent. 2. Oldest, senior. m.

(-ṣṭhaḥ) 1. Kuvera. 2. A king. 3. A Brahman. n.

(-ṣṭhaṃ) Cow's milk. E. śra for praśasta best, iṣṭhan aff. of the irr. superlative.

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

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ).—I. Superl. of śreyaṃs. 1. Best, excellent, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 40, 6; of a higher rank, [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 219. 2. Oldest, senior. 3. Superl. śreṣṭha + tama, The very best, [Hitopadeśa] iii. [distich] 87. Ii. m. 1. A king. 2. A Brāhmaṇa. 3. Kuvera. Iii. n. Cow's milk.

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

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ).—([superlative]) the fairest, most excellent or best of ([genetive], [locative], or —°), best in or with regard to ([locative] or —°); better than ([ablative] or [genetive]); most auspicious or fortunate. [neuter] the best.

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

1) Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ):—[from śreyas] mf(ā)n. most splendid or beautiful, most beautiful of or among (with [genitive case]), [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Rāmāyaṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] most excellent, best, first, chief (n. ‘the best or chief thing’), best of or among or in respect of or in (with [genitive case] [locative case], or [compound]), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

3) [v.s. ...] better, more, distinguished, superior, better than ([ablative] or [genitive case]), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.

4) [v.s. ...] most auspicious or salutary, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

5) [v.s. ...] oldest, senior, [Horace H. Wilson]

6) [v.s. ...] m. a king, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) [v.s. ...] a Brāhman, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) [v.s. ...] Name of Viṣṇu or Kubera, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) [v.s. ...] Name of a king, [Buddhist literature]

10) Śreṣṭhā (श्रेष्ठा):—[from śreṣṭha > śreyas] f. an excellent woman, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

11) [v.s. ...] Hibiscus Mutabilis, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] ([probably] [wrong reading] for lakṣmī-śr)

12) [v.s. ...] a kind of root resembling ginger, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

13) Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ):—[from śreyas] n. cow’s milk, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

14) [v.s. ...] copper, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ):—[(ṣṭhaḥ-ṣṭhā-ṣṭhaṃ) a.] Best, oldest. m. Kuvera; a king; a brāhman. n. Cow’s milk.

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

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Siṭṭha.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shreshtha 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

Śreṣṭha (श्रेष्ठ) [Also spelled sreshth]:—(a) the best; good; excellent, superior; hence ~[tapa] (a); ~[tama] (a); ~[tva] (nm), ~[tā] (nf).

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Śrēṣṭha (ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ):—

1) [adjective] worthy of high praise; grand; glorious; illustrious; splendid.

2) [adjective] most excellent; best; distinguished.

3) [adjective] first; senior; eldest; oldest.

4) [adjective] having continued success; prospering; flourishing.

--- OR ---

Śrēṣṭha (ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ):—

1) [noun] an excellent or best thing.

2) [noun] the most important thing.

3) [noun] greatness; eminence; superiority.

4) [noun] an excellent man.

5) [noun] Brahma, the Creator of the universe.

6) [noun] Śiva.

7) [noun] Viṣṇu.

8) [noun] Kubēra, the Regent of Wealth.

9) [noun] Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

10) [noun] a king, ruler.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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Search found 53 books and stories containing Shreshtha, Śreṣṭha, Srestha, Śrēṣṭha, Śreṣṭhā; (plurals include: Shreshthas, Śreṣṭhas, Sresthas, Śrēṣṭhas, Śreṣṭhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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