Sraj: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Sraj means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Sraj (स्रज्) refers to “garlands”, mentioned in verse 3.52-53 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] when hungry, one shall turn to bitter, sweet, astringent, and light food, [...]; to water [...] devoid of dirt, (and) destructive of dirt [...] (and that is) neither causative of effusions nor rough, (but) nectar-like among the beverages etc.; (and)—beautifully adorned) with sandal, cuscus, camphor, pearls, garlands [viz., sraj], and (fine) clothes— [...]”.
Note: Mukta (“pearl”) has been translated by mu-tig chun (“pearl ornament”), whereas sraj (“garland”) has been paraphrased by ’phyaṅ-(’)phreṅ, which properly means “dangling wreath”. For ’phyaṅ (miscarved ’phyan in P) CD read ’phyaṅs (miscarved ’phyeṅs in C), the perfect participle being, however, less satisfactory in this connection.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraSraj (स्रज्) refers to “garlands”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 18.63-68, while describing the iconography of Mṛtyujit and the consort Amṛtalakṣmī]—“After [the Mantrin] has meditated on the beautiful form as indicated earlier, he should worship Mṛtyujit and Śrī Devī [Amṛtalakṣmī], [...]. [She is as] white as pearls, covered in white clothes, adorned and resplendent with jewels, white garlands of pearls, moonstone, etc. [Amṭralaksṃī is] beautifully adorned with white garlands, wreathes, Mālās (sita-sraj—sitasradgāmamālābhiḥ), [and] lotuses. [She] laughs, has beautiful limbs [and] a bright white smile. [...]”.
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.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)Sraj (स्रज्) refers to “wearing good garlands”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “[...] Prosperity is attained by meritorious deeds (sukṛta), and it is desired for the enjoyment of the objects of the senses; that enjoyment again is connected somehow or other with the eighteen kinds of ‘vices’. Pure and unmixed enjoyment, unconnected with any of these, is nowhere to be found. The enjoyment of wearing good garlands (sraj), anointing with sandal-paste and eating choice food is said to be connected with them. [...]”.
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and SubjectsSraj (स्रज्, ‘garland’) is mentioned in the Rigveda and later as often worn by men when anxious to appear handsome, as at a wedding and so on. The Aśvins are described as ‘lotus-wreathed’ (puṣkara-sraj).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)Sraj (स्रज्) refers to “chaplet” [=garland flowers?], according to Kuladatta’s Kriyāsaṃgrahapañjikā, a text within Tantric Buddhism representing a construction manual for monasteries.—Accordingly, [while describing pratiṣṭhā in chapter 4]—“Then the king should satisfy the architects, the assistants, and the spectators with a bracelet, a finger-ring, a garment, gold, heap of chaplet (sraj-pūga), tāmbūla, or other [articles] according to [the donor’s] wealth”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySraj (स्रज्).—f. [sṛjyate sṛj-kvin ni°]
1) A chaplet, wreath or garland of flowers) especially one worn on the head); स्रजमपि शिरस्यन्धः क्षिप्तां धुनोत्यहिशङ्कया (srajamapi śirasyandhaḥ kṣiptāṃ dhunotyahiśaṅkayā) Ś.7.24.
2) A garland (in general.)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySraj (स्रज्).—f. (-srak or -srag) 1. A chaplet, a wreath of flowers worn over the forehead. 2. Any garland or string of flowers. E. sṛj to quit, ktin aff., and the vowel changed to its congener.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySraj (स्रज्).—vb. sṛj, f. A chaplet, a wreath of flowers, a garland, Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 3322; [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in
Sraj (स्रज्).—[feminine] wreath, garland (—° also sraja & srajas).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Sraj (स्रज्):—mfn. ([from] √1. sṛj) turning, twisting, winding (ifc. [nominative case] -sraṭ; cf. rajju-sarja), [Pāṇini 8-2, 36 [Scholiast or Commentator]]
2) f. ([nominative case] srak) a wreath of flowers, garland, chaplet worn on the head, any wr° or g°, circle, series, chain (audakī srak, ‘a watery g°’ id est. ‘one woven with water-flowers’; loka-sraji, ‘in the circle of the worlds’), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
3) a kind of tree, [Kauśika-sūtra]
4) a kind of metre, [Piṅgala Scholiast, i.e. halāyudha]
5) Name of a [particular] constellation (when the Kendras are occupied by three auspicious planets except the moon), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySraj (स्रज्):—[(k-g)] 5. f. A garland, a wreath of flowers.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Sraj (स्रज्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Saā, Saga.
[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)
Starts with: Sragdhara, Sraja, Srajamaladharin, Srajan, Srajanem, Srajas, Srajay, Srajaya, Srajayati, Srajin, Srajishtha, Srajivat, Srajiyas, Srajva, Srajvan, Srakpuga.
Ends with (+7): Akshasraj, Antrasraj, Chhota hansraj, Hansraj, Haritasraj, Hiranyasraj, Israju, Kalo hansraj, Lambasraj, Lotan hansraj, Manisraj, Mlanasraj, Muktasraj, Parisraj, Pushkarasraj, Pushpasraj, Samvaranasraj, Sasraj, Shirahsraj, Sitasraj.
Full-text (+46): Pushkarasraj, Sragvin, Muktasraj, Underakasraj, Sragdhara, Antrasraj, Srajas, Manisraj, Saa, Srajivat, Sraganu, Vanasraj, Parisrajin, Sraja, Varasraj, Saga, Shrag, Srajin, Srashtrita, Srashtavya.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Sraj; (plurals include: Srajs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 7.112 < [Chapter 7 - Literary Faults]
Gobhila-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
Asvalayana-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)