Raktabija, Raktabīja, Rakta-bija: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Raktabija means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚāktismThe Raktabīja (रक्तबीज) is the name of the demon, whose blood Kālī is displayed as drinking in Hindu iconology. The drops of the demon’s blood represent the our desires, and the depiction of the drinking of the blood (by Kālī), symbolizes the “swallowing” of these desires, cravings and attachments.
Source: Red Zambala: The 10 Great Wisdom GoddessesThe demon who was Kālī’s nemesis on the field of battle was Rakta-bīja —the blood-seed demon, whose every drop of spilt blood generated another demon like him — representing our desires. Each and every desire that is fulfilled begets another desire just as strong. The only way to terminate this cycle is to decapitate the demon and to drink his blood. The drinking of the blood symbolises the quaffing of all desires, cravings and attachments which are the basis for our existential suffering.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaRaktabīja (रक्तबीज).—General. Rebirth of Rambhāsura, father of Mahiṣāsura. Stories of Raktabīja and Rambhāsura are inextricably intertwined. (See full article at Story of Raktabīja from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexRaktabīja (रक्तबीज).—An Asura killed by Durgā.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 29. 76.
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 VarahamihiraRaktabīja (रक्तबीज) (Cf. Raktakabīja) refers to “red seeds”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 8), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The first year of the next yuga sacred to Indrāgni is known as Paridhāvi; the remaining years are—Pramādin, Ānanda, Rākṣasa and Anala. In the year Paridhāvi the Madhyadeśa will suffer and the ruling princes will perish, there will be slight rain and fear from fire; in the year Pramādi mankind will be disposed to be inactive; villagers will be at strife; red flowers and red seed will be destroyed [i.e., raktabīja—raktakapuṣpabījanāśaḥ]. In the next year mankind will be happy. In the years Rākṣasa and Anala there will be deaths and decay in the land; in Rākṣasa again the summer crops will thrive and in Anala there will be fear from fire and much suffering in the land”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Raktabija in India is the name of a plant defined with Arachis hypogaea in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Arachis nambyquarae Hoehne) (The Nambiquara tribe, also spelled Nambikwara, reside in the southwestern part of the Brazilian Amazon. (among others).
2) Raktabija is also identified with Bixa orellana It has the synonym Orellana americana var. leiocarpa Kuntze (etc.).
3) Raktabija is also identified with Citrullus lanatus It has the synonym Cucumis vulgaris E.H.L. Krause (etc.).
4) Raktabija is also identified with Lepidium sativum It has the synonym Crucifera nasturtium E.H.L. Krause (etc.).
5) Raktabija is also identified with Pterocarpus santalinus It has the synonym Lingoum santalinum (L.f.) Kuntze (etc.).
6) Raktabija is also identified with Punica granatum.
7) Raktabija is also identified with Sapindus emarginatus It has the synonym Sapindus trifoliatus Turcz. (etc.).
8) Raktabija is also identified with Sapindus laurifolius It has the synonym Sapindus laurifolius Balb. ex DC..
9) Raktabija is also identified with Sapindus trifoliatus It has the synonym Sapindus emarginatus Hort. Alger. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Cytologia (1983)
· Darwiniana (1939)
· Rev. Hortic. (1895)
· Cytologia (1982)
· Cytologia (1989)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Raktabija, for example diet and recipes, extract dosage, side effects, chemical composition, health benefits, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryraktabīja (रक्तबीज).—m (S Proper name of an asura from whose blood when shed sprang up fresh asura) A term for a bug.
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 dictionaryRaktabīja (रक्तबीज).—the pomegranate tree.
Derivable forms: raktabījaḥ (रक्तबीजः).
Raktabīja is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms rakta and bīja (बीज).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Raktabīja (रक्तबीज):—[=rakta-bīja] [from rakta > raj] m. the pomegranate tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a physician, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
[Sanskrit to German]
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 corpusRaktabīja (ರಕ್ತಬೀಜ):—
1) [noun] the tree Punica granatum of Puniaceae family; pomegranate.
2) [noun] its round fruit with a red, leathery rind and many seeds coverd with red, juicy, edible flesh; pomegranate.
3) [noun] name of a demon slain by Durge.
4) [noun] (fig.) a disease, problem, evil practices, etc. that multiplies when one tries to eradicate or control it.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Raktabijaka, Raktabijam, Raktabijasura.
Full-text (+168): Raktabijasura, Raktavija, Varahi, Raktakabija, Citta, Aparajita, Bhima, Mahakali, Revati, Shobhana, Ida, Shakuni, Nikumbha, Kutumbika, Vitta, Brahmi, Dhriti, Vaishnavi, Rakta, Pingakshi.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Raktabija, Rakta-bija, Rakta-bīja, Raktabīja; (plurals include: Raktabijas, bijas, bījas, Raktabījas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Markandeya Purana (Study) (by Chandamita Bhattacharya)
5. Origin of Caṇḍikā Śakti < [Chapter 3]
7. Description Devi’s Function < [Chapter 3]
Śaktism (worship of Śakti as the female goddess) < [Chapter 4]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 29 - On the killing of Raktabīja < [Book 5]
Chapter 27 - On the description of the war of Raktabīja < [Book 5]
Chapter 28 - On the description of the fighting of the goddesses < [Book 5]
Jivanandana of Anandaraya Makhin (Study) (by G. D. Jayalakshmi)
Analysis of Goddess Parameśvarī < [Chapter 6 - Dramatic aspects of the Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 47 - Dhūmralocana, Caṇḍa, Muṇḍa and Raktabīja are slain < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 50 - The incarnation of Śatākṣī etc. < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 48 - The manifestation of Sarasvatī < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Bhagavad-gita Mahatmya (by N.A. Deshpande)