The suffix smāra (from smaranam – 'utterances' or 'memorization') signifies 'memory', not 'speech'. The compound apasmāra means 'loss of memory/dementia/amnesia', 'gibberish', that is, nonsensical or unintelligible speech or ego (Ahamkara).[3] The Ayurvedic disease concept 'Apasmara' (see below) referred to certain neurological disorders having such memory loss (not speech) as a symptom, but, given the absence, at the time, of such modern adjuncts to diagnosis as brain-scanning, it is hard now to determine with any exactitude what all these may have been.
Hinduismedit
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Nataraja dancing the cosmic dance of creation, destruction and moksha (ultimate liberation) upon the prone body of Apasmara, the dwarf demon of avidya (ignorance or lack of spiritual insight) – Chola bronze, Musée Guimet.
To preserve knowledge in the world, Apasmara must be subdued, not killed, as to do so would disturb the necessary balance between spiritual knowledge and ignorance.[2] Killing Apasmara would symbolise the attainment of knowledge without the (essential) effort, dedication and hard work involved, and this would lead to the devaluing of knowledge in all its forms. To subdue Apasmara, Shiva adopted the form of Nataraja – the Lord of Dance – and performed the cosmic dance of tāṇḍava. During this dance, Nataraja suppressed Apasmara by crushing him with his right foot. As Apasmara is one of the few demons destined to immortality, it is believed that Shiva forever remains in his Nataraja form suppressing Apasmara for eternity.[2][4]
Nataraja's right foot is planted squarely on a horrible little subhuman creature - the demon, Muyalaka. A dwarf, but immensely powerful in his malignity, Muyalaka is the embodiment of ignorance, the manifestation of greedy, possessive selfhood. Stamp on him, break his back! And that's precisely what Nataraja is doing. Trampling the little monster down under his right foot. But notice that it isn't at this trampling foot that he points his finger; it's at the left foot, the foot that, as he dances, he's in the act of raising from the ground. And why does he point at it? Why? That lifted foot, that dancing defiance of the force of gravity - it's the symbol of release, of moksha, of liberation.[5]
This mythological dwarf is generally depicted with his hand in the Añjali Mudrā. He is often depicted in this posture in depictions of Nataraja.
Apasmara is also visible in depictions of Dakshinamurti, another form of Shiva as a guru who imparts wisdom of the shastras to sages. The representation of Apasmara with Dakshinamurti is very similar to that of it being associated with Nataraja, with it being crushed by the right foot and having to be subdued.
Disease concept in Ayurvedaedit
The concept of Apasmara in Āyurveda relates to a group of neurological disorders, one of which may be identified as epilepsy:[6][7] according to Maharṣi Caraka, there are 4 types of apasmāra.[7] These 4 types of apasmara are Vataja, Pitaja, Kapahaja and Sannipataja.These can be related to conditions associated with loss of memory like amnesia and dementia or temporal lobe epilepsy with fugue states or hysteria.[8] Charakhas instituted this classification depending upon the different doshas of the body.
^DeVito, Carole; DeVito, Pasquale (1994). India - Mahabharata. Fulbright-Hays Summer Seminar Abroad 1994 (India). United States Educational Foundation in India. p. 5.
^Knappert, Jan Indian Mythology, a volume in the series Encyclopedias of Myth and Legend pub. The Aquarian Press (An Imprint of Harper Collins) 1991 pps. 181-2.
^Huxley, Aldous Island First published by Chatto and Windus 1962.
'^M.S. Krishnamurthy, Epilepsy - Ayurvedic Understanding and its Treatment
^ abB.V. Manyam (1992), Epilepsy in ancient India. Epilepsia. 1992 May-Jun;33(3):473-5
Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
December 15, 2023
apasmara, sanskrit, अपस, romanized, apasmāra, dwarf, represents, spiritual, ignorance, nonsensical, speech, hindu, mythology, also, known, muyalaka, muyalakan, clutching, cobra, trampled, beneath, foot, nataraja, shiva, lord, dance, contents, etymology, medica. Apasmara Sanskrit अपस म र romanized Apasmara is a dwarf who represents spiritual ignorance and nonsensical speech in Hindu mythology 1 2 He is also known as Muyalaka or Muyalakan Apasmara clutching a cobra and trampled beneath the foot of Nataraja Shiva as lord of dance Contents 1 Etymology and medical application of name 2 Hinduism 3 Disease concept in Ayurveda 4 See also 5 References 6 SourcesEtymology and medical application of name editThe suffix smara from smaranam utterances or memorization signifies memory not speech The compound apasmara means loss of memory dementia amnesia gibberish that is nonsensical or unintelligible speech or ego Ahamkara 3 The Ayurvedic disease concept Apasmara see below referred to certain neurological disorders having such memory loss not speech as a symptom but given the absence at the time of such modern adjuncts to diagnosis as brain scanning it is hard now to determine with any exactitude what all these may have been Hinduism editThis section may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia s quality standards You can help The talk page may contain suggestions December 2022 nbsp Nataraja dancing the cosmic dance of creation destruction and moksha ultimate liberation upon the prone body of Apasmara the dwarf demon of avidya ignorance or lack of spiritual insight Chola bronze Musee Guimet To preserve knowledge in the world Apasmara must be subdued not killed as to do so would disturb the necessary balance between spiritual knowledge and ignorance 2 Killing Apasmara would symbolise the attainment of knowledge without the essential effort dedication and hard work involved and this would lead to the devaluing of knowledge in all its forms To subdue Apasmara Shiva adopted the form of Nataraja the Lord of Dance and performed the cosmic dance of taṇḍava During this dance Nataraja suppressed Apasmara by crushing him with his right foot As Apasmara is one of the few demons destined to immortality it is believed that Shiva forever remains in his Nataraja form suppressing Apasmara for eternity 2 4 Nataraja s right foot is planted squarely on a horrible little subhuman creature the demon Muyalaka A dwarf but immensely powerful in his malignity Muyalaka is the embodiment of ignorance the manifestation of greedy possessive selfhood Stamp on him break his back And that s precisely what Nataraja is doing Trampling the little monster down under his right foot But notice that it isn t at this trampling foot that he points his finger it s at the left foot the foot that as he dances he s in the act of raising from the ground And why does he point at it Why That lifted foot that dancing defiance of the force of gravity it s the symbol of release of moksha of liberation 5 This mythological dwarf is generally depicted with his hand in the Anjali Mudra He is often depicted in this posture in depictions of Nataraja Apasmara is also visible in depictions of Dakshinamurti another form of Shiva as a guru who imparts wisdom of the shastras to sages The representation of Apasmara with Dakshinamurti is very similar to that of it being associated with Nataraja with it being crushed by the right foot and having to be subdued Disease concept in Ayurveda editThe concept of Apasmara in Ayurveda relates to a group of neurological disorders one of which may be identified as epilepsy 6 7 according to Maharṣi Caraka there are 4 types of apasmara 7 These 4 types of apasmara are Vataja Pitaja Kapahaja and Sannipataja These can be related to conditions associated with loss of memory like amnesia and dementia or temporal lobe epilepsy with fugue states or hysteria 8 Charakhas instituted this classification depending upon the different doshas of the body See also editAtman Hinduism Hindu philosophy Mysticism Temporal lobe epilepsy Geschwind syndromeReferences edit T A Gopinatha Rao 1997 Elements of Hindu Iconography Motilal Banarsidass pp 223 229 237 ISBN 978 81 208 0877 5 a b c Shiva as Lord of the Dance Nataraja Chola period c 10th 11th century The Art Institute of Chicago United States DeVito Carole DeVito Pasquale 1994 India Mahabharata Fulbright Hays Summer Seminar Abroad 1994 India United States Educational Foundation in India p 5 Knappert Jan Indian Mythology a volume in the series Encyclopedias of Myth and Legend pub The Aquarian Press An Imprint of Harper Collins 1991 pps 181 2 Huxley Aldous Island First published by Chatto and Windus 1962 M S Krishnamurthy Epilepsy Ayurvedic Understanding and its Treatment a b B V Manyam 1992 Epilepsy in ancient India Epilepsia 1992 May Jun 33 3 473 5 Ayurvedic Epilepsy Treatment https www epilepsytreatment org ayurvedic treatment for epilepsySources editDictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend ISBN 0 500 51088 1 by Anna Dallapiccola Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Apasmara amp oldid 1174290346, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
