In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Gītaka (गीतक) refers to “songs”, to be played as part of the first preliminary performed after the removal of the stage curtain, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 5. The type of song can be either of the Madraka or Vardhamānaka class.

Performing the gītaka preliminary pleases the Gods (devas). According to Nāṭyaśāstra 5.57-58, “The performance of the Preliminaries which means worshipping (pūjā) the gods (devas), is praised by them (i.e. gods) and is conducive to duty, fame and long life. And this performance whether with or without songs, is meant for pleasing the Daityas and the Dānavas as well as the gods.”

Source: Wisdom Library: Saṅgītaśiromaṇi

Gītaka (गीतक, “melodious”) refers to one of the sixteen words that together make up the elā musical composition (prabandha), according to the Saṅgītaśiromaṇi 67-84. Elā is an important subgenre of song and was regarded as an auspicious and important prabandha (composition) in ancient Indian music (gāndharva). According to nirukta analysis, the etymological meaning of elā can be explained as follows: a represents Viṣṇu, i represents Kāmadeva, la represents Lakṣmī.

Gītaka is one of the sixteen words of elā and has a presiding deity named gaurī (the brilliant one) defined in the Saṅgītaśiromaṇi (“crest-jewel of music”), which is a 15th-century Sanskrit work on Indian musicology (gāndharvaśāstra).

Source: Sreenivasarao’s blog: Music of India

Gitaka is a well structured song format. There were major divisions or groups of Gitakas, each group having seven song-forms. The seven forms of the first Division were (Sapta-rupa): Madraka; Aparantaka; Ullopyaka; Prakari; Ovenaka; Rovindaka; and, Uttara. And, the seven forms under the second Division were: Asarita; Vardhamana; Chandaka; Panika; Rik; Gatha; and, Sama.

Every Gitaka, in turn, had two sections: Vastu and Anga. The different forms of Gitaka were classified according to the variations of their Vastu (section of the text) and Anga (styles of rendering the texts). The other distinguishing features were: Svara; Tala; and, Pada.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Gitaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Cocos nucifera in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Cocos nana Griff. (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Illustrations of the Botany … of the Himalayan Mountains (1840)
· Species Plantarum
· The Gardeners Dictionary
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)
· Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. (2005)
· International Journal of Dermatology (2007)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Gitaka, for example side effects, pregnancy safety, health benefits, diet and recipes, extract dosage, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Gītaka, (nt.) & gītikā (f.) a little song J.III, 507. (Page 252)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Gītaka (गीतक).—A song; Y.3.113.

Derivable forms: gītakam (गीतकम्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gītaka (गीतक).—[gīta + ka] (vb. gai), n. A song, [Yājñavalkya, (ed. Stenzler.)] 3, 113.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gītaka (गीतक).—[neuter] = [preceding] [neuter]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Gītaka (गीतक):—[from gīta] n. a song, hymn, [Yājñavalkya iii, 113; Bhāgavata-purāṇa viii; Viṣṇu-purāṇa] ([Sāhitya-darpaṇa i, 2/3, 14]), [Kathāsaritsāgara]

2) [v.s. ...] a kind of metre (narkuṭaka), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā civ, 52]

3) [v.s. ...] melody (seven in number), [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa xxiii, 51 and 59]

4) Gītakā (गीतका):—[from gītaka > gīta] a metre of 4 x 20 syllables

5) [v.s. ...] a stanza composed in the Gīti metre, [Kathāsaritsāgara cxvii, 109] (with reference to, [65 f.]) (cf. daśa-gītikā.)

[Sanskrit to German]

Gitaka in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Gitakadi, Gitakali, Gitakandika, Gitakandikaparishishta, Gitakara, Gitakari.

Ends with: Komalagitaka, Samgitaka, Sangitaka, Stutigitaka, Udgitaka.

Full-text (+4): Auvenaka, Sarobindu, Samgitaka, Aparantaka, Samgitakagriha, Samgitakapada, Komalagitaka, Stutigitaka, Ullopya, Gitika, Avagadha, Varna, Mahajanika, Gauri, Rovindaka, Utthapani, Ovenaka, Ullopyaka, Bahiryavanika, Pravritta.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Gitaka, Gītaka, Gītakā; (plurals include: Gitakas, Gītakas, Gītakās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)

Part 3 - Literature on Ancient Indian Music < [Introduction, Part 2]

Chapter V - Preliminaries of a Play (pūrvaraṅga)

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The Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)

Canto XXIII - Kuvalayāśva’s visit to Pātāla

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