anya vāpa

 

In Sanskrit, anya‑vāpa (अन्यवाप) literally means “one who sows for others” 

and refers specifically to the Indian cuckoo, known for laying its eggs in 

other birds’ nests.

✅ Core meaning

• anyavāpa (अन्यवाप) is a Sanskrit compound:
  • anya = “other, someone else”

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  • vāpa = “sowing seeds; one who sows”

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• Literally: “one who sows (its eggs) for others.”
• Figuratively: the cuckoo, because it lays eggs in the nests of other birds 
  • This definition appears in the Vājasaneyī Saṃhitā and classical lexicons

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• (a well‑known trait in Indian tradition).
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✅ Lexical definitions from the results

• Wisdom Library:
  • “Anyavāpa — the cuckoo leaving the eggs in the nests of other birds.”

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• Wiktionary:
  • “Compound of anya (‘other’) + vāpa (‘sowing seeds’). Literally: ‘one
  • who sows its seeds for others’, referring to the cuckoo’s habit.”

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✅ Grammatical notes

• Gender: masculine (m.)
• Form: tatpuruṣa compound (anya + vāpa)
• Vedic usage: attested in Vājasaneyī Saṃhitā 24.37

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✅ If you meant the separate words “anya” and “vāpa”

• anya (अन्य) = “other, different, another” (very common Sanskrit adjective)

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• vāpa (वाप) = “sowing; one who sows” (in compounds, often metaphorical)

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✅ Summary

anya‑vāpa / anyavāpa is a classical Sanskrit word meaning “the cuckoo,”

based on the idea that it “sows” (lays) its eggs in the nests of others.