Rajata, Rājatā, Rājata: 27 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
5. Kannada
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Introduction:

Rajata means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Rajat.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Rajata (रजत, “Silver”) is the name for a variation of ‘metal’ (dhātu/loha) from the sub-group named Śuddhaloha, according to the Rasaprakāśasudhākara: a 13th century Sanskrit book on Indian alchemy, or, Rasaśāstra. It is also known by the synonym Raupya.

Silver has 3 variations on its own:

khanija (‘mineral’, obtained from digging mines),
sahaja (‘natural’, produced or obtained from the peaks of hills),
kṛtrima (‘artificial’, obtained from mercurial transformation)

Source: Indian Journal of History of Science: Rasaprakāśa-sudhākara, chapter 4-5

Raupya (or, Rajata):—The ancient scholars have described the three varieties of silver, viz,

khanija (mineral),
sahaja (natural)
and kṛtrima (artificial).

That which become sujjvala (brighter or whiter) on heating on fire is considered as śuddha-silver. Kaladhauta is its synonym. It is considered best and may be used for all purposes and it may perform all the kāryas (actions) of silver.

The bhasma of Śuddha-rajata (silver) may be used internally mixed with madhu and ghee. It is known to cure eye diseases, kṣaya-roga, pittaja-roga, kāsa and chest diseases, pāṇḍu-roga, udara-roga and the diseases caused due to prokopa of all the doṣas and also in arūci (unrelishness)

Source: PMC: Therapeutic potentials of metals in ancient India

Rajata (Silver), another noble metal like gold, also attracted the attention of the ancient Acharyas. The use of silver in therapeutics dates back to the period of Charaka and his contempories. Though, its therapeutic applications are not as extensive as other metals like Tamra or Loha, the ancient classics reveal that silver also enjoyed an important place in Ayurveda therapeutics. Various useful formulations of ‘Rajata’ are: Balya, Rasayana, Medhya, Ayushya, Ojo Vardhaka, Vayah sthapaka etc. The normal dosage range given for ‘Rajata Bhasma’ is 30 mg. to 120 mg.

Classics of alchemy say s that, samples of Rajata which are clear, lustrous (Swachha), heavy (Guru), and with metallic sheen (Snigdham), and which also become bright white on heating or cutting (Dahe Chede Samaprabham), without any ridges or furrows (Sphota rahitam), is genuine, and can be considered acceptable for therapeutic purposes.

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa

Rajata (रजत).—One of the seven major mountains in Śākadvīpa, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 86. It is also known by the name Śāka. Śākadvīpa is one of the seven islands (dvīpa), ruled over by Medhātithi, one of the ten sons of Priyavrata, son of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century. It is composed of two parts and Sūta is the main narrator.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Rajata (रजत) refers to “silver”, representing a type of material for construction of a Liṅga, according to the Śivapurāṇa 1.22 while explaining the importance of the partaking of the Naivedya of Śiva:—“[...] with regard to the following phallic images viz:—[...] liṅgas made of silver (Rajata-liṅga) [...], the partaking of the Naivedya of Śiva is on a par with the rite of Cāndrāyaṇa. Even the slayer of a brahmin if he partakes of the remains of the food offered to the God quells all his sins immediately [...]”.

2) Rajata (रजत) is also mentioned as the material for a Liṅga in one’s house (geha), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.13, while explaining the mode of worshipping Śiva:—“[...] after worshipping Śiva with sandal paste, saffron, incense, various lamps, and food-offerings of different sorts he shall bow down again. In the house the liṅga shall be made of clay, silver (rajata) or any other metal or mercury. It shall be bowed to with devotion. If that is worshipped, all deities are worshipped. If the liṅga is made of clay it shall be installed duly”.

3) Rājata (रजत) refers to “silvery (clouds)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22. Accordingly as Sitā said to Śiva:—“[...] the most unbearable season of the advent of clouds (ghanāgama or jaladāgama) has arrived with clusters of clouds of diverse hues, and their music reverberating in the sky and the various quarters. [...] With the clusters of clouds dark, silvery (rājata) and red in colour clinging to the Mandara mountain (peak), Himālaya appears as the ocean of milk with the birds of diverse colours”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Rajata (रजत).—Son of Varatri.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 1. 79.

1b) Silver, came out of Śiva's eyes; hence dear to Pitṛs; but inauspicious and to be avoided in devakāryas.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 17. 22-3.

2a) Rājata (राजत).—A dāna; also Raupyācalam; the best gift is of 10,000 palams of silver; the giver goes to the world of the moon; then of 5,000 and then 2,500 palams; anything above 20 palams.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 83. 6; 91. 1ff.

2b) The silver vessel used by Pitṛs in milking the cow-earth;¹ out of Śiva's eye;² best for use in śrāddha.³

1) Matsya-purāṇa 10. 18.
2) Ib. 15. 31; 17. 20. 23.
3) Vāyu-purāṇa 73. 51; 74. 1.

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

Rajata (रजत) refers to “silver” and is used to describe certain Ketus (i.e., luminous bodies such as comets and meteors), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 11), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The Ketus or comets that appear bright like the moon, silver, snow, white jasmine and the white water lily [i.e., rajata—śaśikiraṇarajatahimakumudakundakusumopamāḥ] are the sons of the moon; they appear in the north and are in number; when they appear mankind will be happy. A single comet possessing three tails and three colours is called Brahmadaṇḍa (born of the creator); it appears anywhere; when it appears the world will come to an end. Thus have been stated briefly 101 Ketus and we will now proceed to state clearly the 1,000 Ketus already referred to”.

Source: Google Books: Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences (Astronomy)

1) Rajata (रजत) refers to the “silver” (metal used to produce ghaṭikā-yantra vessels), according to Bhāskara’s commentary on the Āryabhaṭīya.—Accordingly, “'How then is the one-sixtieth part of a nychthemeron to be determined?’ To this question, [the following] has to be said. In this connection some say: ‘The Ghaṭikā-yantra is a vessel [made out] of one of the metals like gold, silver or copper [i.e., suvarṇa-rajata-tāmra], hemispherical in shape (lit. semicircular), which holds (dhāraka) sixty palas of water and which is filled with or discharges [the same amount of water]’ [...]”.

2) Rājata (राजत) refers to “silver”, representing the material to be used for the images (pratimā) of the planet Venus, according to the grahaśānti (cf. grahayajña) section of the Yājñavalkyasmṛti (1.295-309), preceded by the section called vināyakakalpa (1.271-294), prescribing a rite to be offered to Vināyaka.—[Images of and offerings to grahas]—The materials which are used to compose the images (pratimā) of the grahas are prescribed: red copper (Sun), crystal (Moon), red sandal-wood (Mars), gold (Mercury and Jupiter), silver (Venus) [i.e., rājata], iron (Saturn), lead (Rāhu) and white copper (Ketu). Such prescriptions for the planetary images are not found in gṛhya texts except in the Āśvalāyanagṛhyapariśiṣṭa (2.3) where the materials are almost the same as those in Yājñavalkyasmṛti, the only difference being the use of saffron for Mercury instead of gold. According to the Śāntikalpa (13.3), red copper (Sun and Mars), gold (Mercury and Jupiter), silver (Moon and Venus), and black iron (Saturn, Rāhu, and Ketu) are used.

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.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)

Rajata (रजत) or “silver” refers to one of the materials used to make Colours in the ancient Indian tradition of Painting (citra), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, five colours are regarded as the primary ones, (viz., white, yellow, colour of vilomata, black, dark blue.). Various materials are seen to be used to make colours. e.g., kanaka (“silver”). A painter can create hundreds or thousands of colours by amalgamating the primary colours

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Rajata (रजत, “silver”) or Rūpya refers to a type of jewel (ratna), into which the universe was transformed by the Buddha’s miraculous power (ṛddhibala) according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XV). Accordingly, “Silver (rajata, rūpya) comes from burned rocks”.

Also, “These jewels (eg, rajata) are of three types, Human jewels (manuṣya-ratna), Divine jewels (divya-ratna) and Bodhisattva jewels (bodhisattva-ratna). These various jewels remove the poverty (dāridrya) and the suffering (duḥkha) of beings”.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Rajata (रजत) (Tibetan: dṅul) refers to “silver” (i.e., a type of jewel or precious metal), according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “[...] Then the Bodhisattva Ratnavyūha said to the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja: ‘Son of good family, please pour down rain of all kinds of jewels from the sky’. Immediately after his words, the great rain of immeasurable, incalculable amount of jewels, equal to Mount Sumeru in size, with various kinds of names and colors, poured down from ten directions. To wit, gold, silver (rajata), crystal, lapis lazuli, emerald, ruby, white coral, Śrīgarbha gem, stainless jewel, red coral gem, moonstone, sunstone, illuminating gem, brightening gem, Jambū-light gem, fire-light gem, [...]”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

rajata : (nt.) silver.

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

Rājatā, (f.) (abstr. fr. rājā) state of being a king, kingship, sovereignty J. I, 119 (anuttara-dhamma° being a most righteous king). (Page 568)

— or —

Rajata, (nt.) (Vedic rajata; see etym. under rajati) silver D. I, 5 (explained at DA. I, 78 as a general name for all coins except gold: kahāpaṇas etc.); S. I, 92; Sn. 962 (in simile; explained at Nd¹ 478 as jātarūpa), J. V, 50; 416 (hema° gold & silver); Vv 35¹ (°hema-jāla); DhA. II, 42 (°paṭṭa silver tablet or salver); IV, 105 (°gabbha silver money box or cabinet for silver, alongside of kahāpaṇa-gabbha and suvaṇṇa°); VbhA. 64 (explained as “kahāpaṇa”); PvA. 95 (for rūpiya). (Page 561)

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.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

rajata (रजत).—n S Silver. 2 In Sanskrit. Silver or gold.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

rajata (रजत).—n Silver.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Rajata (रजत).—a [rañj atac nalopaḥ Uṇādi-sūtra 3.11]

1) Silvery, made of silver.

2) Whitish.

-tam 1 Silver; शुक्तौ रजत- मिदमिति ज्ञानं भ्रमः (śuktau rajata- midamiti jñānaṃ bhramaḥ); Kirātārjunīya 5.41; N.22.52.

2) Gold.

3) A pearl-ornament or necklace.

4) Blood.

5) Ivory.

6) An asterism, a constellation.

7) A mountain.

--- OR ---

Rājata (राजत).—a. (-tī f.) [रजत इदम् अण् (rajata idam aṇ)] Silvery, made of silver; लीलां दधौ राजतगण्डशैलः (līlāṃ dadhau rājatagaṇḍaśailaḥ) Śiśupālavadha 4.13.

-tam Silver.

--- OR ---

Rājatā (राजता).—Royalty, sovereignty, royal rank or position.

[Sanskrit to German]

Rajata 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Rajata (रजत) [Also spelled rajat]:—(nm) silver; (a) silvery; white; bright; —[jayaṃtī] silver jubilee; ~[paṭa] silver screen, cinema screen; -[pātra] a utensil; ~[maya] silvery, made of silver.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Rajata (ರಜತ):—

1) [adjective] of white colour.

2) [adjective] made of silver.

--- OR ---

Rajata (ರಜತ):—

1) [noun] silver (symbol - Ag.).

2) [noun] a string of pearls.

3) [noun] gold (symbol - Au.).

4) [noun] the tusk of an elephant.

5) [noun] the mathematical process of finding the difference between two numbers or quantities; a deducting one quantity from another; subtraction.

--- OR ---

Rājata (ರಾಜತ):—

1) [adjective] made of, covered with or containing silver.

2) [adjective] of the colour of or resembling silver.

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 44 books and stories containing Rajata, Rājatā, Rājata, Raja-ta, Rāja-tā; (plurals include: Rajatas, Rājatās, Rājatas, tas, tās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 8.136 < [Section XXIII - Measures]

Verse 8.137 < [Section XXIII - Measures]

Verse 5.111 < [Section XIII - Purification of Substances]

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Rig Veda 8.25.22 < [Sukta 25]

Rig Veda 10.13.5 < [Sukta 13]

Rig Veda 1.188.6 < [Sukta 188]

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Verse 2.16.9 < [Chapter 16 - The Worship of Tulasī]

Verses 6.19.25-27 < [Chapter 19 - In the First Fortress of Dvārakā, the Glories of Līlā-sarovara, etc.]

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6. Materials for Colours Used in Painting < [Chapter 5 - Painting and Image Making]