Shastra

See also: shastra

English

Etymology

From Sanskrit शास्त्र (śāstra, “precept, rule, book or treatise”).

Noun

Shastra (plural Shastras)

1. A treatise for authoritative instruction in Hinduism, especially one explaining the Vedas.
   • 1999, Prakashanand Saraswati, The True History and the Religion of India: A Concise Encyclopedia of Authentic Hinduism, published 2001, page 555:

     There are six Darshan Shastras called the six schools of philosophy. They are: (1) Poorv Mimansaby Sage Jaimini, (2) Nyay by Sage Gautam, (3) Vaisheshik by Sage Kanad, (4) Sankhya by Bhagwan Kapil, (5) Yog by Sage Patanjali, and (6) Uttar Mimansa (Brahm Sutra) by Bhagwan Ved Vyas. All the six Darshan Shastras are in sutra form.

   • 2004, T. K. Oommen, Nation, Civil Society and Social Movements: Essays in Political Sociology‎^[1], page 170:

     There is an interesting link between the need to anchor sociologist's training with knowledge of Sanskrit and the observation that the Shastras are sociological because the latter are in Sanskrit.

   • 2005, Ashim Bhattacharyya, Bhagavan Shri Krsna & Bhagavat Dharma, unnumbered page:

     The answers to both questions are found in the Shastras of the Sanatana Dharma.

Usage notes

Often used in combination (in the names of particular examples). (The Sanskrit term is generally used as a suffix, roughly equivalent to -logy.)

Alternative forms

• Sastra, Shastah, Shaster, Shastrah

See also

• Shastri