Disha (dik) is one among nine fundamental substances (dravya). The place and existence of a subject are stated with space or direction. Cognition (jnana) of placement of a particular thing, its relative reality is done only through knowing the direction (disha). Knowledge of ‘disha’ is an integral part of life. Both living and non-living matters from a single electron in an atom to the ever-expanding universe, follow the concept of disha. Dik is everywhere, all around us.
Philosophy of space and time is the branch of philosophy concerned with the issues surrounding the ontology, epistemology, and character of space and time. While such ideas have been central to philosophy from its inception, the philosophy of space and time was both an inspiration for and a central aspect of early analytic philosophy. The subject focuses on a number of basic issues, including whether time and space exist independently of the mind, whether they exist independently of one another and questions about the nature of identity.
Cardinal directions are a derived idea from how the earth rotates. The sun rises on one side, sets on the other, and at right angles to both of those is the north star, which never moves, or an equivalent stellar constellation (the north star has changed over time, and is different in the southern hemisphere.) From these, you can infer a fourth direction, and you have cardinal directions.
| Section/Chapter | Concepts/ Disha (directions) |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bhojani M. K. 1, Arunlal1 |
| Reviewer | Basisht G.2 |
| Editors | Deole Y.S.3, Basisht G.2 |
| Affiliations |
1 Department of Sharira Kriya, All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi 2 Charak Samhita Research, Training and Development Centre, I.T.R.A., Jamnagar, India 3 Department of Kayachikitsa, G.J.Patel Institute of Ayurvedic Studies and Research, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, India |
| Correspondence emails |
meera.samhita@aiia.gov.in, carakasamhita@gmail.com |
| Date of first publication: | April08, 2022 |
| DOI | under process |
The names we are familiar with (north, south, east, west) are Germanic and replaced the Latin names (borealis, australis, orientalis, occidentalis) during the migration period (400-800 A.D.)
During the migration period, the Germanic names for the cardinal directions entered the Roman languages, where they replaced the Latin names borealis (or septentrionalis) with north, australis (or meridionalis) with south, occidentalis with west and orientalis with east. It is possible that some northern people used the Germanic names for the intermediate directions. Medieval Scandinavian orientation would thus have involved a 45 degree rotation of cardinal directions.
North (Proto-Germanic *norþ-) derived from the proto-Indo-European *nórto-s 'submerged' from the root *ner- 'left, below, to the left of the rising sun' whence comes the Ancient Greek name Nereus.
East (*aus-t-) from the word for dawn. The proto-Indo-European form is *austo-s from the root *aues- 'shine (red)'. See Ēostre.
South (*sunþ-), derived from proto-Indo-European *sú-n-to-s from the root *seu- 'seethe, boil'. Cognate with this root is the word Sun, thus "the region of the Sun".
West (*wes-t-) derived from a word for "evening". The proto-Indo-European form is *uestos from the root *ues- 'shine (red)', itself a form of *aues-. Cognate with the root are the Latin words vesper and vesta and the Ancient Greek Hestia, Hesperus and Hesperides.
Sanskrit literature use the names of the Gods associated with each direction: east (Indra), southeast (Agni), south (Yama/Dharma), southwest (Nirrti), west (Varuna), northwest (Vayu), north (Kubera/Heaven) and northeast (Ishana/Shiva). North is associated with the Himalayas and heaven, while the south is associated with the underworld or land of the fathers (Pitruloka). These Gods are called as Dikpalas. The Dikpalas (also called Lokapalas) are known in Hinduism as the guardians of the directions. Each God or Goddess represents a specific cardinal direction and are used in ritual for various purposes. There are two other Gods included in the dikpalas (protectors of direction). Brahma is a God that is associated with the zenith, the upward direction. He is commonly understood as having a significant impact in the Hindu creation story. Vishnu is the God that is associated with the nadir, or downward direction. The concept of ashtadikpalas symbolically denotes that God is every where and in every direction. In whatever direction you proceed or offer your worship, you will ultimately find the God.
The concept of ashtadikpalas was a post Vedic development. It is the basis of all the Vastu shastra and the theory of navigation is the much later phenomenon which dwelled into the theory of four cardinal directions.
Thus, Hindus seems to be the oldest tradition practicing this unique concept at macro level, in terms of dikpala – vastu shastra etc. but also at the micro-level like quantum theory, theory of relativity etc.
Etymology and derivation
The Sanskrit word ‘disha’ or ‘dik’ means direction. The fundamental substance responsible for cognition of directions like east, west etc. is known as dik or disha. Dik is omnipresent, all pervasive, and eternal (nitya). [Tarka Sangraha][1] Disha is a quarter or region pointed at, direction, cardinal point.[Monier-Williams][2]
Even though various directions are used in daily practices, the fundamental substance disha is only one and is omnipresent. For example, suppose a person goes mile after mile in a single direction. In that case, he cannot see the end of that particular direction or dik. Hence the ‘disha’ is only one and eternal.[3]
Synonyms used in Ayurveda Samhita
Disha, kakubha, kashtha, asha, harita are the synonyms of dik.[Amarakosha][4]
Divisions
The direction comes to be regarded as the east, from the sun's past, future or present conjunction. The east direction is termed as ‘prachi’, because the sun first (prak) moves (anchati) there. The east is a direction of the first conjunction of the Sun occurred, or will take place, or is taking place in the course of its circulation around mount Meru in the Indian subcontinent. The south, west and north are also similarly distinguished. [Kanadarahasyam][5]
The earliest navigation methods involved observing landmarks or watching the direction of the sun and stars. Few ancient sailors ventured out into the open sea. Instead, they sailed within sight of land in order to navigate. When that was impossible, ancient sailors watched constellations to mark their position. Celestial navigation, Global Positioning System and map & compass are the three main types of navigation.[6]
Rightness and leftness have their technical or recognized meanings.
Ten directions
Though dik is unitary, it is divided into ten types for the convenience of expressions. They are particular conjunctions in relation to the region of the rising sun.
1. Prachi (East)
The direction with the conjunction of the sun in the present, past and future times is prachi or east. The direction in which the sun rises or the sun is visualised foremost is called prachi. The direction nearer to the rising mountain (udayachala) is called prachi or purva.
2. Pratichi or pashchima (West)
The direction in which the sun sets is called pratici. The direction of the vicinity of the setting mountain (astachala) or nearer to sunset is pratichi or pashchima.
3. Udichi or uttara (North)
The direction in which the sun moves upward. On facing towards the east, the direction on the left side is called udichi or uttara. The direction which is nearer to the mountain Meru is called north.
4. Avachi or Dakshina (South)
The direction where the sun moves downward direction is avachi or dakshina. The direction opposite to the mountain Meru and lying to the right hand of a man facing east is Avachi. It is very nearer to the Vindhya mountain ranges.
5.Agneya: The direction between the east and south (dakshinapurva). 6. Nairuti: The direction between the south and west (dakshinapashchima). 7.Vayavya: The direction between the west and north (uttarapashchima). 8. Eshanya: The direction between the north and east (uttarapurva).
These four are called sub directions (upadisi).
9. Brahmi: It is the upper direction (urdhwadik). 10. Nagi: It is the downward direction (adhadik).
Dik is eternal and all-pervading. It is an instrumental cause of all effects.
Qualities of Dik
- Numerics (sankhya)
- Measurement (parimana)
- Distinctness (prithaktwa)
- Conjunction (samyoga)
- Disjunction (vibhaga)
How can directions be a substance? (Dikdravyatwasiddhi)
The substance having qualities (guna) and actions (karma) is called a ‘dravya’. Disha possesses a set of qualities, as mentioned above. It gives the knowledge of different directions (east-west etc.) Therefore, it is termed as ‘dravya’.
Page under development.
- ↑ Suktankar, S., 1930. Tarkasamgraha of Annambhatta with his Tarkadipika. 1st ed. Bombay: The Bombay Book Depot, pp.11, 55.
- ↑ Williams M, Neumann E, Cappeller C. A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and philologically arranged with special reference to cognate Indo-European languages. 2nd ed. Vol. xxxiv. Oxford, UK: The Clarendon Press; 1899.
- ↑ Narasimhacharyulu KVL. Padartha Vijnana. 4th ed. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Krishnadas Academy; 2010. P.68-72
- ↑ Amarakosha 1.3.1.1.1
- ↑ Nandalal Sinha, The Sacred Books of the Hindus, Vol.v1. The Panini Office, Bhuvaneswari Asrama, Allahabad, 1923.
- ↑ Dunn, Margery G. (Editor). (1989, 1993). "Exploring Your World: The Adventure of Geography." Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society.