Arkendu, Arka-indu: 7 definitions

Introduction:

Arkendu means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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)

Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Arkendu (अर्केन्दु) or Sūryendu refers to the “sun an moon”, as mentioned in verse 5.1-2 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] vitalizing, refreshing, pleasing one’s stomach, satisfying, stimulating one’s intellect, thin, of indistinct taste, savoury, cold, light, (and) nectar-like (is) Ganges water fallen from the sky; (as it is), however, touched by sun, moon, and wind [viz., arkendu-māruta] (in falling), it is largely dependent upon place and time so far as its wholesomeness and unwholesomeness are concerned”.

Ayurveda book cover
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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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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Arkendu (अर्केन्दु) (Cf. Raviśaśin) refers to the “sun and the moon”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “She who is KLĪṂ, the goddess Klinnā, accompanied by the Goddess and endowed with the consciousness of the Command is Vakrā whose form is the Triangle. Supreme with (the sacred energy of the) nasal (letters in her Vidyā), she is Parā, the foremost knowledge. She has three eyes. (As) the Sun and Moon (arkendu) she shines as the Ray (of divine light), and is the goddess called Ciñciṇī. I praise her, she who residing in the Void, is the goddess whose eyes are the Sun and Moon and consists of thirty-two syllables”.

Source: Manblunder: Saundaryalaharī

Arkendu (अर्केन्दु) refers to the “sun and moon”, according to the 8th century Saundaryalaharī composed by Ādi Śaṃkarācārya in praise of Supreme Goddess Śaktī.—Accordingly, as Śaṃkarācārya describes the gross form of Parāśakti’(or Umā, consort of Śiva):—“[...] your face with a pair of ear rings that reflect on Your lustrous cheeks appear to me as the chariot of Manmatha with four wheels. Manmatha sitting on this chariot fights against Śiva, who uses earth as His chariot and sun and moon as its wheels [viz., arkendu-caraṇa]”.

Note: The verse says that Manmatha after mounting on the seat of this chariot of four wheels decides to fight against Śiva, who appears to have ascended on earth the earth using it as a chariot and using sun and moon as its wheels [viz., arkendu-caraṇa]. This is the gross interpretation of this verse.

Shaktism book cover
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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.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Yoga Vasishtha Maharamayana

Arkendu (अर्केन्दु) or Candrārka refers to the “sun and the moon” and is used to describe mount Meru, according to the Yogavasistha 6.19.—Accordingly, as the crow Caṇḍa said:—“[...] will point it out to you, in the high mountain of Meru in the polar region; which is the seat of all the celestials, and the great receptacle of all the treasures and gems on earth. [...] This mountain stands as the lofty pillar of gold, in the midst of the great dome of the universe; it is lightet by the luminous orbs of the sun and moon [viz., candrārka] as its two lamps, and is the residence of all kinds of animals. [...] With its two eye balls of the rolling sun and moon [viz., candrārka], it glances over the surrounding hillocks, as the king seated in the centre, looks on the courtiers sitting all about him. [...] It has thousands of ridges and steeps, craigs and cliffs, below its two eyes of sun and moon [viz., arkendu]; and these are lauded as celestial regions by the Gods, Gandharvas and Kinnaras that inhabit in them”.

Purana book cover
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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.

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Kavya (poetry)

[«previous next»] — Arkendu in Kavya glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Arkendu (अर्केन्दु) refers to the “sun and moon”, and is used by emperor Naravāhanadatta to describe Goddess Kālarātri, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 109. Accordingly, “... thou art the power of life, animating all creatures, of loving nature, skilful in directing the discus to the head of thy foes; thee I adore. Hail! thou, that under the form of Durgā dost console the world with thy trident and other weapons streaming with the drops of blood flowing from the throat of the slain Mahiṣa. Thou art victorious, dancing with a skull full of the blood of Ruru in thy agitated hand, as if thou wast holding the vessel of security of the three worlds. Goddess beloved of Śiva, with uplifted eyes, though thy name means the night of doom, still, with skull surmounted by a lighted lamp, and with a skull in thy hand, thou dost shine as if with the sun and moon [viz., sa-arkendu]”.

Kavya book cover
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Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: WorldCat: Samarāṅgaṇa sūtradhāra of Bhojadeva

Arkendu (अर्केन्दु) refers to the “sun and the moon”, according to the Samarāṅgaṇa Sūtradhāra verse 4.15.—“[...] the Nāgas, the Sages, the Nymphs he created through mind. The sun and the moon [viz., arkendu] took birth in the eye capable of wandering in the firmament. and from the limbs also the constellation of stars or group of planets [viz., nakṣatracakra] and from the five senses took birth the pentad of planets and comets (grahapañcaka)”.

Vastushastra book cover
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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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Arkendu (अर्केन्दु) refers to the “sun and moon”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “The rain clouds, wind, sun, moon (arkendu), earth, ocean and Indra—those, which are protected by the doctrine, are of service to the whole world. I think, that doctrine, whose progress is unimpeded, has arisen for the benefit of the world of living souls in the guise of world-protectors”.

Synonyms: Sūryendu.

General definition book cover
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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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