The Sanskrit terms Aḷakam and Āḷakam can be transliterated into English as Alakam or Aliakam, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Biology (plants and animals)

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

1) Alakam in India is the name of a plant defined with Calotropis gigantea in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Periploca cochinchinensis Lour. (among others).

2) Alakam is also identified with Cirsium verutum It has the synonym Cnicus verutus D. Don (etc.).

3) Alakam is also identified with Nymphaea lotus.

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

· Taxon (1977)
· The Flora of British India (1872)
· Taxon (1980)
· Systema Vegetabilium (1826)
· Hortus Kewensis (1811)
· Science and Culture (1980)

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

Alakam (अलकम्).—ind. In vain, for nothing; Ṛgveda 1.71.6.

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

Alakam (अलकम्).—[adverb] in vain, for nothing.

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

Alakam (अलकम्):—ind. in vain, for nothing, [Ṛg-veda x, 71, 6 and 108, 7.]

[Sanskrit to German]

Alakam 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.

Tamil dictionary

Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil Lexicon

Alakam (அலகம்) noun probably from அலகு. [alagu.] Elephant-pepper climber. See ஆனைத்திப்பலி. (வைத்திய மலையகராதி) [anaithippali. (vaithiya malaiyagarathi)]

--- OR ---

Aḷakam (அளகம்) noun

1. cf. halā. Water; நீர். (பிங்கலகண்டு) [nir. (pingalagandu)]

2. cf. ala. Porcupine's quill; பன்றி முள். (திவா.) [panri mul. (thiva.)]

--- OR ---

Aḷakam (அளகம்) noun < alaka.

1. Woman's hair; பெண்மயிர். (பிங்கலகண்டு) [penmayir. (pingalagandu)]

2. Curl; மயிர்க் குழற்சி. (பிங்கலகண்டு) [mayirk kuzharsi. (pingalagandu)]

--- OR ---

Ālakam (ஆலகம்) noun cf. āmalaka. Emblic myrobalan. See நெல்லி. (வைத்திய மூலிகை) [nelli. (vaithiya muligai)]

--- OR ---

Āḷakam (ஆளகம்) noun Calabash. See சுரை. (வைத்திய மலையகராதி) [surai. (vaithiya malaiyagarathi)]

--- OR ---

Aḻakam (அழகம்) noun < alaka. Woman's tresses; பெண்டிர் கூந்தல். அழகத் திருநுதலா ளாய்ந்து [pendir kunthal. azhagath thirunuthala laynthu] (புறப்பொருள்வெண்பாமாலை [purapporulvenpamalai] 12, வென்றிப். [venrip.] 16).

--- OR ---

Aḷakam (அளகம்) noun < alaka. Curls of hair on the forehead; நுதலைச்சார்ந்த முன்னுச்சிமயிர். [nuthalaicharntha munnuchimayir.] (தக்கயாகப்பரணி பக். [thakkayagapparani pag.] 266.) அலமரு திருமுகத் தளகத் தப்பிய [alamaru thirumugath thalagath thappiya] (பெருங்கதை உஞ்சைக். [perungathai unchaig.] 33, 119).

--- OR ---

Aḷakam (அளகம்) noun

1. See அளக்காய். ((சங்கத்தகராதி) தமிழ்சொல்லகராதி) [alakkay. ((sangathagarathi) thamizhsollagarathi)]

2. cf. halā. Rain-water; மழைநீர். (பச்சிலைமூலிகை அகராதி) [mazhainir. (pachilaimuligai agarathi)]

context information

Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Alaka-manda, Alakaman, Alakamanda, Alakampu.

Full-text: Ai-panmuti, Ucchvasita, Akalam.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Alakam, Aalagam, Alagam, Aḷakam, Ālakam, Āḷakam, Aḻakam, Azhagam, Azhakam; (plurals include: Alakams, Aalagams, Alagams, Aḷakams, Ālakams, Āḷakams, Aḻakams, Azhagams, Azhakams). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)

Rig Veda 10.108.7 < [Sukta 108]

Rig Veda 10.71.6 < [Sukta 71]

show preview

Kamashastra and Classical Sanskrit literature (study) (by Vishwanath K. Hampiholi)

Chapter 3.3 - How to court Women < [Chapter 4 - Kamasutra part 3 (Kanya-samprayuktaka-adhikarana)—Critical study]

show preview