Phalgu, Phalgū: 22 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
Biology
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also
Buy products

Introduction:

Phalgu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Phalgu (फल्गु):—One of the sixty-seven Mahauṣadhi, as per Rasaśāstra texts (rasa literature). These drugs are useful for processing mercury (rasa), such as the alchemical processes known as sūta-bandhana and māraṇa.

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgraha

Phalgu (फल्गु) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Ficus hispida Linn.f.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning phalgu] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Phalgu (फल्गु) is the name of an ingredient used in the treatment of snake-bites such as those caused by the Mahāmaṇḍalī-snakes, according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Accordingly, one of the treatments is mentioned as follows: “The bite victim can be given a paste made out of the bark of Vetasa, Arjuna, the shell of Suraṭha and jaggery. A measure of the combination of powdered Vega, Phalgu and Palāśa can be used internally as a drink and externally as ointment”.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Phalgu (फल्गु) is a Sanskrit word referring to tree “Redwood fig tree”, a species of tropical fig tree from the Moraceae (mulberry/fig) family, and is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā. The official botanical name of the plant is Ficus hispida. The literal translation of Phalgu is “small, minute, insignificant” but can also mean “red, reddish”. It is used in traditional Indian medicine and is sweet, unctuous, refreshing and heavy.

Source: eJournal of Indian Medicine: Jajjaṭa’s Nirantarapadavyākhyā and Other Commentaries on the Carakasaṃhitā

Phalgu (फल्गु) is a variety of Kākodumbarikā, which refers to Ficus hispida Linn. f., and is a medicinal plant mentioned in the 7th-century Nirantarapadavyākhyā by Jejjaṭa (or Jajjaṭa): one of the earliest extant and, therefore, one of the most important commentaries on the Carakasaṃhitā.—Note: “Phalgu and Malapū are said to be two varieties of it (Kākodumbarikā/Kākoḍumbarikā or Kākodumbarī etc.; Ficus hispida Linn. f.). Ficus cunia Ham. ex. Roxb. may be one of the two.”.—(Cf. Glossary of Vegetable Drugs in Bṛhattrayī 89, Singh and Chunekar, 1999).—Note: Ficus cunia Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb. is a synonym of Ficus semicordata Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.—(Cf. The Plant List, A Working List of All Plant Species 34, 461, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden).

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstra

Phalgu (फल्गु) is a Sanskrit word for Ficus hispida (opposite leaved fig tree), identified by various scholars in their translation of the Śukranīti. This tree is mentioned as bearing good fruits. The King should plant such domestic plants in and near villages. He should nourish them by stoole of goats, sheep and cows, water as well as meat.

The following is an ancient Indian recipe for such nourishment of trees:

According to Śukranīti 4.4.105-109: “The trees (such as phalgu) are to be watered in the morning and evening in summer, every alternate day in winter, in the fifth part of the day (i.e., afternoon) in spring, never in the rainy season. If trees have their fruits destroyed, the pouring of cold water after being cooked together with Kulutha, Māṣa (seeds), Mudga (pulse), Yava (barley) and Tila (oil seed) would lead to the growth of flowers and fruits. Growth of trees can be helped by the application of water with which fishes are washed and cleansed.”

context information

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Phalgū (फल्गू).—A holy river. If one visits this place one would get the benefit of doing an Aśvamedha. (Śloka 98, Chapter 84, Vana Parva).

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Phalgu (फल्गु) refers to the name of a River or Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.82.86, III.85.9). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Phalgu) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Phalgu (फल्गु) [=Phalgulukā ?] refers to a river belonging to “Paścimottara (north-western division)” classified under the constellations of Uttarāṣāḍha, Śravaṇa and Dhaniṣṭhā, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Uttarāṣāḍha, Śravaṇa and Dhaniṣṭhā represent the north-western division consisting of [i.e., Phalgu, Guluhā] [...]”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Phalgu (फल्गु) refers to one of the various Nakṣatras mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Phalgu).

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Phalgu [फल्गु] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Ficus hispida L. fil. from the Moraceae (Mulberry) family having the following synonyms: Ficus oppositifolia, Ficus compressa, Covellia hispida. For the possible medicinal usage of phalgu, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.

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

1) Phalgu in India is the name of a plant defined with Bauhinia tomentosa in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Alvesia bauhinioides Welw. (among others).

2) Phalgu is also identified with Ficus carica It has the synonym Ficus carica L. subsp. rupestris (Boiss.) Browicz (etc.).

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

· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Taxon (1981)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1999)
· Botanical Magazine (5560)
· Bulletin du Jardin Botanique National de Belgique (1973)
· A Numerical List of Dried Specimens (5790)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Phalgu, for example pregnancy safety, side effects, extract dosage, chemical composition, health benefits, diet and recipes, 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

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Phalgu (फल्गु).—a. [phal-u guk ca Uṇādi-sūtra 1.18]

1) Pithless, unessential; unsubstantial; सारं ततो ग्राह्यमपास्य फल्गु (sāraṃ tato grāhyamapāsya phalgu) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.

2) Worthless, useless, unimportant; 'फल्गु तुच्छमसारं च (phalgu tucchamasāraṃ ca)' Yādava.; तरीषु तत्रत्यमफल्गु भाण्डम् (tarīṣu tatratyamaphalgu bhāṇḍam) Śiśupālavadha 3.76.

3) Small, minute; नामरूपविभेदेन फल्ग्व्या च कलया कृताः (nāmarūpavibhedena phalgvyā ca kalayā kṛtāḥ) Bhāgavata 8.3.22.

4) Vain, unmeaning.

5) Weak, feeble, flimsy; फल्गूनि तत्र महतां जीवो जीवस्य जीवनम् (phalgūni tatra mahatāṃ jīvo jīvasya jīvanam) Bhāgavata 1.13.47.

6) Untrue.

7) Beautiful, lovely.

-lguḥ f.

1) The spring season.

2) The opposite-leaved fig-tree (Mar. bokhāḍā).

3) Name of a river at Gayā.

4) A red powder of wild ginger (Mar. gulāla) thrown by the Hindus over one another at the Holi festival.

5) (du.) (In astrol.) Name of a नक्षत्र (nakṣatra).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Phalgu (फल्गु).—(gender not known, only in cpds.; in Sanskrit adj., worthless; Pali pheggu in meaning 1, phaggu in meaning 2), (1) ‘accessory wood…next to the pith, but inferior and worth- less’ ([Pali Text Society’s Pali-English Dictionary]): Mahāvyutpatti 433 apagata-śākhā-pattra-palāśā-laṭikā- (read latikā with Index, Tibetan khri śiṅ, creeper; or with Mironov prapāṭikā)-tvak-phalguḥ, [bahuvrīhi] (here Tibetan skyon, fault, defect, not parallel with prec. words but having them as dependents); apagata-phalgu, adj., = Pali °phegguka, free from weak wood ([Pali Text Society’s Pali-English Dictionary]), Mahāvyutpatti 7636 (°guḥ; here Tibetan sñiṅ po ma yin pa, what is not the pith); Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 39.4 (°guḥ); (parṣad) phalgu-vyapagatā (so with WT, [compound]) Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 44.14; tvagbhārataś ca phalgutaś ca sārataś ca (of trees) Divyāvadāna 628.1, similarly 12; fig., of dauṣṭhulya in men, tvaggataṃ phalgugataṃ sāragataṃ Bodhisattvabhūmi 356.25; (2) nt., a certain religious observance (defined for Pali, Majjhimanikāya (Pali) commentary i.179.1 ff.): śuddhasya hi sadā phalgu Udānavarga xvi.15 = Majjhimanikāya (Pali) i.39.19.

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

Phalgu (फल्गु).—i. e. sphurj + a, I. adj. 1. Pithless, sapless. 2. Vain, worthless, [Pañcatantra] pr. [distich] 10. 3. Weak, [Hitopadeśa] iii. [distich] 79. Ii. f. 1. The opposite-leaved fig-tree. 2. The spring season. 3. Falsehood.

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

Phalgu (फल्गु).—([feminine] phalgu, phalgū & phalgvī) reddish; small, minute, weak ([abstract] tā† [feminine]); [feminine] [dual] [Name] of a lunar mansion.

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

1) Phalgu (फल्गु):—mf(U/, or vī)n. reddish, red, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā]

2) small, minute, feeble, weak, pithless, unsubstantial, insignificant, worthless, unprofitable, useless, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] etc. etc.

3) f. Ficus Oppositifolia, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) a red powder usually of the root of wild ginger (coloured with sappan wood and thrown over one another by the Hindūs at the Holī festival; cf. phalgūtsava), [Horace H. Wilson]

5) the spring season, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) ([scilicet] vāc) a falsehood lie, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) Name of a river flowing Past Gayā, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa]

8) f. [dual number] (in [astrology]) Name of a Nakṣatra.

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

Phalgu (फल्गु):—(lguḥ) 2. f. The opposite leaved fig-tree; name of a river; falsehood; a red powder; spring; season. a. Sapless; vain; weak.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Phalgu (फल्गु) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Phaggu.

[Sanskrit to German]

Phalgu 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Phalgu (ಫಲ್ಗು):—

1) [adjective] trivial; trifling; little.

2) [adjective] not interesting or satisfying; dull or empty; uninteresting; jejune.

--- OR ---

Phalgu (ಫಲ್ಗು):—

1) [noun] a small, little thing.

2) [noun] an uninteresting thing.

3) [noun] ficus tree Ficus hispida ( = F. oppositifolia) of Moraceae family; crow fig tree.

4) [noun] its fruit.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 36 books and stories containing Phalgu, Phalgū; (plurals include: Phalgus, Phalgūs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Sannipātas (fevers due to Vāta, Pitta and Kapha) < [Chapter 4 - Āyurvedic principles in Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]

Act II (Summary) < [Chapter 3 - Summary of the Play Jīvānandana Nāṭaka]

show preview

Text 24 < [Chapter 2 - Dvitīya-yāma-sādhana (Prātaḥ-kālīya-bhajana)]

Text 22 < [Chapter 4 - Caturtha-yāma-sādhana (Madhyāhna-kālīya-bhajana–ruci-bhajana)]

Text 10 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]

show preview

Verse 1.17.65 < [Chapter 17 - The Lord’s Travel to Gayā]

Verse 2.7.99 < [Chapter 7 - The Meeting of Gadādhara and Puṇḍarīka]

Verse 2.24.92 < [Chapter 24 - The Lord Displays His Universal Form to Advaita]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

Verse 1.2.31 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]