Vastuka, Vāstuka, Vāstūka, Vashtuka: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Vastuka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval IndiaVāstuka (वास्तुक) refers to a type of vegetable, according to the Suśrutasaṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 46.334, and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—Suśruta refers to the vegetable flowers, leaves, fruits, stems and bulbs. Of the pot herbs satīna, vāstuka, cuñcu, cilli, green radish, maṇḍūkaparṇī and jivantī were regarded the best. [...] According to Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya Sūtrasthāna VIII.42-43 (also Aṣṭāṅgasaṅgraha Sūtrasthāna VII.134), paṭola, kūṣmāṇḍa, suniṣaṇṇaka, jīvanti, unripe radish and vāstuka are good vegetables.
Vāstuka or “spinach” is mentioned in a list of potential causes for indigestion in the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana).—A complete section in Bhojanakutūhala is devoted for the description of agents that cause indigestion [viz., fruits of vāstuka (spinach)]. These agents consumed on a large scale can cause indigestion for certain people. The remedies [viz., khadira (Acacia catechu)] for these types of indigestions are also explained therewith.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyVāstuka (वास्तुक) is a Sanskrit word referring to Chenopodium murale (nettle-leaved goosefoot), from the Amaranthaceae family. Certain plant parts of Vāstuka are eaten as a vegetable (śāka), according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. The plant is therefore part of the Śākavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic value of the plant. Note that Chenopodium murale is a synonym of Chenopodiastrum murale.
According to Satish Chandra Sankhyadhar in his translation of the Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 7.122-123), Vāstuka is listed as a synonym of Vāstūka, which is identified with Chenopodium album (lamb’s quarters). This plant (vāstūka) is listed with the following synonyms: Vāstuka, Vāstu, Vastuka, Hilamocikā, Śākarāja, Rājaśāka and Cakravati. The Rājanighaṇṭu is a 13th-century Āurvedic encyclopedia.
Properties according to the Carakasaṃhitā: The vegetables of Vāstuka alleviate three doṣas. It is also laxative.
Properties according to the Rājanighaṇṭu: Vāstūka is sweet, cooling, alkaline besides being slightly acidic. It controls all the three doṣas and is an appetiser. It alleviates fever and is effective in haemorrhoides. It also acts as a mid laxative and diuretic.
Botanical description: This is found throughout India in the cultivated field. That is why its one of the synoyms (according to Bhāvaprakāśa) is Yavaśāka, because it grows in the fields of barley (and also wheat). It contains carotene and Vitamine C and used as laxative and anthelmintic, also contains an anthelmintic oil called Chenopodium oil, which is effective against hook worm.
Species: Vāstūka is mainly of two types: Gauravāstūka and Sugandhavāstūka. The species with bigger and red leaves is identified as Gauravāstūka or Chenopodium purpurascens (synonym of Chenopodium giganteum). This is refered by Surendra Mohan in Kaidevanighaṇṭu as Cillī and the American species containing 60% Chenopodium is known as Chenopodium ambrosioides (synonym of Dysphania ambrosioides). Chuṇekar has described it by the name Sugandhavāstūka. Chenopodium botrys (synonym of Dysphania botrys) is used as a substitute for the American species.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraVāstuka (वास्तुक) is a Sanskrit technical term denoting a “residence” in general, according to the lists of synonyms given in the Mayamata XIX.10-12, which is a populair treatise on Vāstuśāstra literature.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 5Vāstuka (वास्तुक) is the name of a plant, part of which is considered a vegetable fit for use in oblation offerings, according to verse 25.128b-134 of the 8th-century Īśvarasaṃhitā. Accordingly, “... they [eg., Vāstuka] are to be cut with a knife or sickle uttering vīryanantra, shall notice the (presence of the worms), insects and wash them (vegetables) many times, with water. They are to be kept as before, in cooking vessels, either alone or mixed up with each other with salt, pepper, mustards, jīraka, leaves of śrīparṇī, water, waters of the coconut, their fruits and grinded with honey mixed up with ghee, together with pulses, black gram, neem and varieties of green gram with soups. Kinds of green gram and others without soup but with salt and others”.
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Prabhupada Books: Sri Caitanya CaritamrtaVāstuka (वास्तुक) refers to “spinach”, according to the Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta 2.3.44ff—Accordingly:—“[...] among the cooked vegetables were paṭolas, squash, mānakacu and a salad made with pieces of ginger and various types of spinach [viz., vāstuka]. [...] Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa was offered all the food, and the Lord took it very pleasantly”
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)
Source: Journal of the University of Bombay Volume V: Apabhramsa metres (2)1) Vastuka (वस्तुक) is another name for Rāsāvalaya, which is a catuṣpadi metre (as popularly employed by the Apabhraṃśa bards), as discussed in books such as the Chandonuśāsana, Kavidarpaṇa, Vṛttajātisamuccaya and Svayambhūchandas.—Rāsāvalaya (Vastuka) has 21 mātrās in each of their four lines, divided into groups of 6, 4, 6, 5 mātras.—Vastuka and Catuṣpadī seem to be similar common names applied to the Catuṣpadis in general.
2) Vastuka (वस्तुक) is another catuṣpadi metre.—This Vastuka has 25 mātrās in their lines, divided intogroups of 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3 mātrās, where the two trimātras in the middle must have a short letter at their end, i.e., 10th and 11th as also 13th and 14th mātrās must never be combined into a long letter.
Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāVastuka (वस्तुक) refers to “(that which a) basis” (as opposed to Avastuka—‘no basis’), according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “How then, son of good family, does the Bodhisattva bring all living beings to maturity given the fact that they are originally pure. The realm of living beings, son of good family, is originally pure, and thus their roots have no basis (avastuka). The Bodhisattva, son of good family, having understood that the roots of all dharmas are completely cut off, brings living beings to maturity, and then he does not hold the view of a self, the view of a living being, the view of a life principle, or the view of a person. [...]”.
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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryVāstuka.—a building site. See Ghoshal, H. Rev. Syst., pp. 97-98. Note: vāstuka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsVastuka [वास्तुक] in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Chenopodium album L. from the Amaranthaceae (Amaranth) family having the following synonyms: Anserina candidans, Atriplex viridis, Chenopodium album. For the possible medicinal usage of vastuka, 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) Vastuka in India is the name of a plant defined with Chenopodium album in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Atriplex alba (L.) Crantz (among others).
2) Vastuka is also identified with Chenopodium hederiforme It has the synonym Botrys albus Nieuwl. (etc.).
3) Vastuka is also identified with Chenopodium olukondae It has the synonym Chenopodium album L. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Taxon (1981)
· Institutiones Rei Herbariae (1766)
· Acta Horti Gothoburgensis (1938)
· American Midland Naturalist (1914)
· J. Palynol. (1980)
· Deutsche Botanische Monatsschrift (1901)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Vastuka, for example health benefits, chemical composition, side effects, extract dosage, diet and recipes, 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 Dictionaryvastūka (वस्तूक).—f (vastu) A toy, plaything, sweetmeat &c. (given to coax or amuse a child).
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 dictionaryVastuka (वस्तुक).—Chenopodium Album (Mar. cākavata, candanabaṭavā).
Derivable forms: vastukam (वस्तुकम्).
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Vāstuka (वास्तुक).—a. Left ramaining on the sacrificial ground; उवाचोत्तरतोऽभ्येत्य ममेदं वास्तुकं वसु (uvācottarato'bhyetya mamedaṃ vāstukaṃ vasu) Bhāgavata 9.4.6.
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Vāstuka (वास्तुक) or Vāstūka (वास्तूक).—Chenopodium Album (Mar. cākavata).
Derivable forms: vāstukam (वास्तुकम्), vāstūkam (वास्तूकम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryVastuka (वस्तुक).—n.
(-kaṃ) A potherb, (Chenopodium album.) E. vas to abide, (in the ground,) ukañ aff., and tuṭ augment; also vāstuka, vāstūka, &c.
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Vāstuka (वास्तुक).—n.
(-kaṃ) A potherb: see vāstūka .
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Vāstūka (वास्तूक).—n.
(-kaṃ) A potherb, (Chenopodium album, and other edible species.) E. vāstu the site of a house, ṭhak aff., and form irr. (growing there;) also with the vowel unaltered vāstuka .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryVāstuka (वास्तुक).—vāstūka, n. A potherb, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 79, 14 (ū).
Vāstuka can also be spelled as Vāstūka (वास्तूक).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryVastuka (वस्तुक).—[adjective] having as subject (—°).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vastuka (वस्तुक):—[from vas] mfn. (ifc.) = vastu2, substance, essence (in an-ūna-v, ‘of perfect substance or nature’ [Mālavikāgnimitra i, 6/7])
2) [v.s. ...] n. Chenopodium Album, [Horace H. Wilson]
3) Vāṣṭukā (वाष्टुका):—f. Name of a village, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]
4) Vāstuka (वास्तुक):—[from vāstava] mfn. left remaining on the sacrificial ground, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa] (cf. [preceding] and vāstu-ha)
5) [v.s. ...] m. n. Chenopodium Album, [Suśruta]
6) Vāstūka (वास्तूक):—[from vāstava] m. n. Chenopodium Album, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vastuka (वस्तुक):—(kaṃ) 1. n. A potherb.
2) Vāstuka (वास्तुक):—(kaṃ) 1. n. A potherb. a. Local.
3) Vāstūka (वास्तूक):—(kaṃ) 1. n. A potherb.
[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 corpusVastuka (ವಸ್ತುಕ):—
1) [noun] the essence, summary.
2) [noun] the structure of a thing, with reference to which it is made of.
3) [noun] the classical style in literature.
4) [noun] a kind of literary form in which both verses and prose are used alternatively.
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Vāstuka (ವಾಸ್ತುಕ):—[noun] the potherb Chenopodium album ( = C. atriplices) of Chenopodiaceae family; goosefoot.
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: Vaastukarm, Vastukah, Vastukakara, Vastukala, Vastukale, Vastukalpa, Vastukamarga, Vastukamu, Vastukara, Vastukarma, Vastukarman, Vastukashakata, Vastukashakina, Vastukathana, Vastukaushika, Vastukavi, Vastukavya.
Ends with: Amlavastuka, Anunavastuka, Aranyavastuka, Avastuka, Catushpadavastuka, Chukravastuka, Cukravastuka, Dronavastuka, Gaudavastuka, Kashthavastuka, Lohitavastuka, Napitavastuka, Nirvastuka, Prativastuka, S-opajata-anya-vastuka, Srigalavastuka, Sugandha-vastuka, Suvastuka, Udbhutavastuka.
Full-text (+23): Aranyavastuka, Amlavastuka, Vastukashakata, Ghanamala, Cukravastuka, Rajashaka, Candila, Vastukamarga, Cilli, Vastukashakina, Pamsupattra, Kankella, Anunavastuka, Kashthavastuka, Takkadeshiya, Suvastuka, Nirvastuka, S-opajata-anya-vastuka, Napitavastuka, Srigalavastuka.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Vastuka, Vāstuka, Vāstūka, Vastūka, Vashtuka, Vāṣṭukā; (plurals include: Vastukas, Vāstukas, Vāstūkas, Vastūkas, Vashtukas, Vāṣṭukās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.272 < [Section XXI - Relative Merits of the Offering-Materials]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.4.297 < [Chapter 4 - Descriptions of Śrī Acyutānanda’s Pastimes and the Worship of Śrī Mādhavendra]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 23 - Diet in piles < [Chapter V - Piles]
Shishupala-vadha (Study) (by Shila Chakraborty)
Tax system according to Kauṭilya < [Chapter 5 - Policies of taxation]
Taxpayers King < [Chapter 1 - Concept of Vijigīṣu king]
Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study) (by K. Vidyuta)
3. Temple Architecture (Prāsāda or Vimānā) < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]