Aluka, Āluka, Alūkā: 15 definitions

Introduction:

Aluka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 India

Āluka (आलुक) refers to a type of vegetable, according to the Kāmasūtra IV.1.29, and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—From the Kāmasūtra, it appears that kūṣmāṇḍa (pumpkin gourd), āluka (an esculent root), palaṃki (a pot herb), damanaka, āmrātaka, ervāruka (a kind of cucumber), trapusa (cucumber), bottle gourd and brinjal were in common use.

Āluka or “potato” 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 āluka (potato)]. These agents consumed on a large scale can cause indigestion for certain people. The remedies [viz., taṇḍulavāri (rice-water)] for these types of indigestions are also explained therewith.

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Ālūka (आलूक) is another name for Elavālu, a medicinal plant possibly identified with Prunus cerasus Linn. (sour cherry) from the Rosaceae or “rose” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.124-126 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Ālūka and Elavālu, there are a total of fourteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Āluka (आलुक) is a Sanskrit word referring to plant species in the Dioscoreaceae family, but most commonly refers to Dioscorea alata (purple yam). Certain plant parts of Āluka 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”.

Ayurveda book cover
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.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Alūkā (अलूका) is the name of Vidyārājñī (i.e., “wisdom queen”) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Alūkā).

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Jaina Yoga

Āluka (आलुक) in Sanskrit or Ālu in Prakrit refers to taro (Arum colocasia). Today this word tends to be given the meaning of ‘potato’. This plant is classifed as ananta-kāya, or “plants that are inhabited by an infinite number of living organisms”, and therefore are abhakṣya (forbidden to consume) according to both Nemicandra (in his Pravacana-sāroddhāra v245-246) and Hemacandra (in his Yogaśāstra 3.44-46). Those plants which are classified as ananta-kāyas (e.g., āluka) seem to be chosen because of certain morphological peculiarities such as the possession of bulbs or rhizomes orthe habit of periodically shedding their leaves; and in general theyare characterized by possibilities of vegetative reproduction.

General definition book cover
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.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Aluka in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don from the Araceae (Arum) family having the following synonyms: Alocasia indica, Alocasia montana. For the possible medicinal usage of aluka, 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.

Aluka in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Gisekia pharnaceoides L. from the Molluginaceae (Carpetweed) family having the following synonyms: Gisekia linearifolia, Gisekia molluginoides, Gisekia rubella.

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

Aluka in India is the name of a plant defined with Colocasia esculenta in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Arum colocasioides Desf. (among others).

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

· Bulletin of the National Science Museum (1953)
· Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (4154)
· Meletemata Botanica (1832)
· Acta Horticulturae Sinicae (1984)
· Plantae Javanicae Rariores (1848)
· Gartenflora (1892)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Aluka, for example extract dosage, diet and recipes, chemical composition, side effects, pregnancy safety, health benefits, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

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

1) Āluka, 2 (adj.) (etym.?) susceptiblé of, longing for, affected with (-°) Vin.I, 288 (sīt°); DA.I, 198 (id.); J.II, 278 (taṇh° greedy). (Page 110)

2) Āluka, 1 = ālu J.IV, 46 (C. for ālupa). (Page 110)

Pali book cover
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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Āluka (आलुक).—

1) A kind of ebony (kāmālu).

2) An epithet of Śeṣa.

-kam An esculent root.

Derivable forms: ālukaḥ (आलुकः).

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

Āluka (आलुक).—m.

(-kaḥ) 1. A name of the chief of the Nagas or serpent race: see śeṣa. 2. An esculent root: see ālu. E. kan added to the preceding.

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

1) Āluka (आलुक):—[from ālu] m. a kind of ebony, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of Śeṣa (the chief of the Nāgas or serpent race)

3) [v.s. ...] (also) mixture of 5 of the 6 flavours (see rasa) excepting sour, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] mfn. sweet (and) salt (and) pungent (and) bitter (and) astringent, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) [from ālu] n. a particular fruit (= āruka q.v.), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) [v.s. ...] the esculent root of Amorphophallus Campanulatus.

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

Āluka (आलुक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A name of the chief of the serpent race.

[Sanskrit to German]

Aluka 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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Aluka (ಅಲುಕ):—

1) [noun] the act of shaking (oneself) to and fro or back and forth in quick succession.

2) [noun] the act of shaking (an object).

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Āluka (ಆಲುಕ):—

1) [noun] a water jug.

2) [noun] the tree, black ebony, with hard, heavy dark, durable wood, native to Asia.

3) [noun] 3.Ādi Śeṣa, the mythological king of serpents.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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