Sharira
/ʃəˈriːrə/noun
In Hindu and Buddhist contexts, the body or bodily form, especially in contrast with the soul or consciousness.
Did you know?In Buddhist usage, śarīra can refer to revered relics believed to remain after cremation, sometimes appearing as pearl-like crystalline beads.
Etymological Timeline
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śarīra
“Body or bodily form”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śarīra
“The physical body, often contrasted with the inner self or spirit”
Early Buddhist Sanskrit
Buddhist Sanskrit
śarīra
“A bodily relic, particularly remains associated with a Buddha or revered teacher”
Pali tradition
Pali
sarīra
“Body; bodily remains or relics”
19th–20th Century
English
sharira
“An English transliteration used in Hindu, Buddhist, and Theosophical writing for the body or bodily principle”
Modern English
English
sharira
“The body or a sacred bodily relic, depending on context”