Rakshaka, Rakṣaka: 16 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Purana
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Rakshaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

The Sanskrit term Rakṣaka can be transliterated into English as Raksaka or Rakshaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Rakshak.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Rakṣaka (रक्षक) refers to the “watchmen” (during a Vedic ritual), as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.27. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] once a great sacrifice was started by Dakṣa, [...] The guardians of the quarters (dikpāla) became the gatekeepers and watchmen (rakṣaka). They were well-equipped in arms and had many attendants to assist them. They were very enthusiastic”.

2) Rakṣaka (रक्षक) refers to a “Vīrabhadra’s body-guards”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.33. Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] Receiving his command, with his head bowed down in reverence, Vīrabhadra set off immediately to the place of sacrifice. [...] Many strong lions, tigers, crocodiles, huge fishes and thousands of elephants constituted his body-guard (Rakṣaka)”.

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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Rakṣaka (रक्षक) refers to the “protector (of the buddhaśāsana—Dharma)”, according to the Kalaśa Pūjā [i.e., Kalasha Worship] ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “Dark-blue colored, mounted on a corpse, a dharma protector (buddhaśāsana-rakṣaka), A lord bearing a knife and skull bowl, Mahākāla, I give homage”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Rakṣaka (रक्षक) refers to one of the ten divisions of Gods, situated in the “upper World” (ūrdhvaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly:—“[...] The 10 divisions of the gods are: Indras, Sāmānikas, Trāyastriṃśas, Pārṣadyas, Rakṣakas, Lokapālas, Anīkas, Prakīrṇas, Ābhiyogikas, Kilbiṣikas. [....] The Rakṣakas are bodyguards (i.e., of Hari). [...]”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

rakṣaka (रक्षक).—a (S) That preserves, keeps, protects. 2 fig. A miser.

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

rakṣaka (रक्षक).—a That preserves, keeps. Fig. A miser.

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

Rakṣaka (रक्षक).—a. (-kṣikā f.) [रक्ष्-ण्वुल् (rakṣ-ṇvul)] Guarding, protecting.

-kaḥ A protector, guardian, guard, watchman.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Rakṣaka (रक्षक).—mfn.

(-kaḥ-kṣikā-kaṃ) Who or what protects, &c. m.

(-kaḥ) 1. A guardian, a protector. 2. A watch, a guard. E. rakṣa to preserve, vun aff.

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

Rakṣaka (रक्षक).—[rakṣ + aka], I. adj. Who or what protects, who tends, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 102. Ii. m. A protector, a guardian, [Hitopadeśa] 91, 1, M.M.

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

Rakṣaka (रक्षक).—[masculine] rakṣikā [feminine] guardian, protector.

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

Rakṣaka (रक्षक):—[from rakṣ] mf(ikā)n. = rakṣa1 [Kathāsaritsāgara; Pañcatantra; Hitopadeśa] (cf. aṅga-, go-, dhana-r etc.)

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

Rakṣaka (रक्षक):—[(kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) a.] Preserving. m. A guardian, a guard.

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

Rakṣaka (रक्षक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Rakkhaa, Rakkhaga.

[Sanskrit to German]

Rakshaka 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

Rakṣaka (रक्षक) [Also spelled rakshak]:—(a and nm) protectant/protector; saviour/defender; guard; keeper; custodian; -[dala] guard.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Rakṣaka (ರಕ್ಷಕ):—[adjective] protecting, tending to protect; guarding.

--- OR ---

Rakṣaka (ರಕ್ಷಕ):—[noun] a man who protects; a protector; a guard.

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 13 books and stories containing Rakshaka, Rakṣaka, Raksaka; (plurals include: Rakshakas, Rakṣakas, Raksakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Rig Veda 8.19.29 < [Sukta 19]

Rig Veda 1.22.18 < [Sukta 22]

Rig Veda 10.92.2 < [Sukta 92]

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Verse 2.19.185 < [Chapter 19 - The Lord’s Pastimes in Advaita’s House]

Verse 2.11.50 < [Chapter 11 - The Characteristics of Nityānanda]

Verse 3.5.368 < [Chapter 5 - The Pastimes of Nityānanda]

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Introduction to Section 6.2 < [Section 2 - Second Tiruvaymoli (Min itai matavarkal)]

Pasuram 10.5.2 < [Section 5 - Fifth Tiruvaymoli (Kannan Kalal-inai)]

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Verse 8.13.94 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]