Do you know the connection between the names of an ancient Mauryan queen and a modern tabla virtuoso?
A Facebook user asked me, “What does Tishyarakshita mean? It is the name of a former IAS officer, Tishyarakshita Chatterjee.”
My answer follows.
1/n
The name is ‘tiṣyarakṣitā’ (तिष्यरक्षिता), a rare name.
‘Tiṣya’ (तिष्य, “in whom one is pleased or delighted”) and ‘sidhya’ (सिध्य, “in whom [actions] are accomplished”) are both names of the ‘puṣya’ (पुष्य, “he who nourishes or supports [actions]”) asterism.
2/n
‘Puṣya’ asterism is γ, δ, and θ Cancri. These names suggest that the asterism was considered very auspicious.
‘rakṣitā’ (रक्षिता) =“she who is protected”.
So, ‘tiṣyarakṣitā’ (तिष्यरक्षिता) = “she who is protected by ‘puṣya’” (तिष्येण पुष्येण रक्षिता तिष्यरक्षिता).
3/n
Question: “Many North Indians have the last name ‘Singh’. Why do they write and pronounce ‘Singh’ when the word is ‘simha’/सिंह? In Hindi they pronounce सिंघ but write सिंह. For example, Rajnath Singh is राजनाथ सिंह in Hindi. I am from South, I find it unusual.”
1/n
My answer
Yes, the original Sanskrit is ‘siṃha’ (सिंह), “a lion”. However, in Prakrit this becomes ‘sīha’, ‘siṃgha’, or ‘siṅgha’.
In the ancient Prakrit Grammar Prākṛta-prakāśa, by rule ईत्सिंहजिह्वयोश्च (1.17), Sanskrit ‘siṃha’ (सिंह) becomes Prakrit ‘sīha’ (सीह).
2/n
In later Prakrit, another form ‘siṃgha’ (सिंघ), which optionally becomes ‘siṅgha’ (सिङ्घ), is also attested. In his Prakrit grammar (eighth chapter of the Siddhahema-śabdānusāsana), Ācārya Hemacandra (12th century CE) has a rule मांसादेर्वा (1.29).
3/n
विषयवस्तु: गोस्वामी तुलसीदास कृत श्रीहनुमान्-चालीसा पर जगद्गुरु रामभद्राचार्य कृत महावीरी व्याख्या का चतुर्थ संस्करण। विशिष्ट शब्दार्थ और अनुवाद सहित व्याख्या। पद्यार्धानुक्रमणी, शब्दानुक्रमणी, और हनुमान्जीकी आरती सम्मिलित।
भाषा: हिन्दी
व्याख्याकार: जगद्गुरु रामानन्दाचार्य स्वामी रामभद्राचार्य
संपादक: मनीषकुमार शुक्ल और नित्यानन्द मिश्र
पुस्तकरूपरेखा: नित्यानन्द मिश्र
अक्षर-संयोजन: नित्यानन्द मिश्र
आवरण चित्र: भँवरलाल गिरधारीलाल शर्मा (सन् १९२४–२००७), राजस्थान चित्रकला के प्रसिद्ध पुरोधा
The cotton tree (Bombax ceiba L.), called ‘Śālmali’ in Sanskrit and ‘semal’/‘semar’ in Hindi, is well known in Sanskrit literature. One is amazed on seeing the rich set of names used for this tree in Sanskrit. The names indicate a very close observation of nature.
1/n
1) ‘kaṇṭakadruma’ (कण्टकद्रुम): “the thorny tree”. The stem of the tree has conical spines
2) ‘devavṛkṣa’ (देववृक्ष): “the tree of the gods”. As per the Mahābhārata (XII.156.7, Gita Press edition), Pitāmaha (Brahmā) rested under a Śālmali tree after creating the worlds.
2/n
3) ‘nirgandhapuṣpa’ (निर्गन्धपुष्प): “with scentless flowers”. The red flowers of the tree (third image) do not have a strong odour. The flower is beautiful but when it ripens, there are only cotton fibres which cannot be eaten. This led the great poet Sūradāsa to write—