Atmaraksha, Atman-raksha, Ātmarakṣa, Ātmarakṣā: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Atmaraksha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
The Sanskrit terms Ātmarakṣa and Ātmarakṣā can be transliterated into English as Atmaraksa or Atmaraksha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Ātmarakṣā (आत्मरक्षा) refers to “protecting oneself”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as Gaganagañja said to Ratnapāṇi: “Son of good family, the thirty-two dharmas are included in sixty-four dharmas. What are those sixty-four? [...] (9) the unhindered thought is included in protecting oneself (ātmarakṣā) and protecting others; (10) the equal attitude to all living beings is included in the absence of distinction and a single taste; (11) indefatigability is included in the nature as a dream and the nature as an illusion; (12) works to be done for all beings is included in supernormal knowledges and skillful means; [...]’”.
Ātmarakṣā (आत्मरक्षा) refers to “self-protection”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [as the Bhagavān teaches the offering of the root spell], “[...] Having enchanted ash-water twenty-one times, and having sprinkled it [on himself], self-protection (ātmarakṣā) will be established. Having enchanted mustard seeds 108 times, and enchanted drinking water seven times at the time of the rumbling of clouds, one should throw mustard seeds towards the sky. Cloud-binding should be given in the sky. Facing the clouds all seized flowers and fruits fall onto the ground. [...]”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Ātmarakṣa (आत्मरक्ष).—One of the ten sub-types of gods (devas), according to Jain cosmology. The name can also be spelled as Ātmarakṣaka and are also known by the name Rākṣasa. The occupation of the āmarakṣas is to act as bodyguards.
Ātmarakṣa (आत्मरक्ष) refers to a group of deities living in the Īśāna heaven, as mentioned in chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly, as the door-keeper of the Śrīprabha palace said to the previous incarnation of Ṛṣabha:
“Today, O Lord, we are fortunate, having you as our lord. Show favor to us, humble, with your nectar-like glance. O Master, this is the Īśāna-heaven, granting anything wished for, with great and imperishable glory, always the abode of happiness. In that heaven you now adorn the palace Śrīprabha which was gained by your merit. [...] These are your body-guard (Ātmarakṣa), always armed, keen, carrying thirty-six weapons, expert in guarding their master. [...]”.
Ātmarakṣa (आत्मरक्ष, “body guard”) refers to one of the ten grades (ranks) of celestial beings (deva), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.4. These celestial beings (devas, gods) are of four orders /classes” and each class of celestial beings has ten grades (e.g., Ātmarakṣa).
Who are called body-guards (ātmarakṣa)? The body-guards are like body guards of Indra.
Ātmarakṣā (आत्मरक्षा) or Ātmarakṣāstavana refers to one of the Stotras included in the manuscript of the Saptasmaraṇa (dealing with classical hymns and stotras from Jain literature), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Atmaraksha in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrader from the Cucurbitaceae (Pumpkin) family having the following synonyms: Cucumis colocynthis, Colocynthis vulgaris. For the possible medicinal usage of atmaraksha, 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.
Atmaraksha [आत्मरक्षा] in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. from the Cucurbitaceae (Pumpkin) family having the following synonyms: Trichosanthes palmata, Trichosanthes bracteata, Modecca bracteata.
Atmaraksha in India is the name of a plant defined with Citrullus colocynthis in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Cucumis colocynthis L. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Garcia Orta, Sér. Bot. (1976)
· Species Plantarum
· The Gardeners Dictionary (1754)
· Linnaea (1838)
· Index Seminum [Goettingen] (1833)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Atmaraksha, for example extract dosage, chemical composition, diet and recipes, side effects, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Ātmarakṣā (आत्मरक्षा).—
1) Name of a plant (indravāruṇīvṛkṣa).
2) self protection.
Ātmarakṣā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ātman and rakṣā (रक्षा).
Ātmarakṣā (आत्मरक्षा):—[=ātma-rakṣā] [from ātma > ātman] f. the plant Trichosanthes Bracteata (a creeper with poisonous fruit), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Ātmarakṣā (आत्मरक्षा):—(ā + ra) f. Name einer Pflanze, Cucumis colocynthis (mahendravāruṇī, vulg. vaḍamākāl, das nach [VOIGT] Trichosanthes bracteata, eine Schlingpflanze mit giftiger Frucht, ist), [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma]
Ātmarakṣā (आत्मरक्षा):—f. Trichosanthes bracteata.
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.
Nepali dictionary
Ātmarakṣā (आत्मरक्षा):—n. self-defense;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Raksha, Atman.
Starts with: Aatmarakshak, Atmarakshaka, Atmarakshana, Atmarakshane, Atmarakshastavana.
Full-text: Atmarakshastavana, Zi fang hu, Amarakshaka, Raksha, Sakhaya, Saptasmarana, Pararaksha, Angadushani, Rakshasa, Deva.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Atmaraksha, Aatmaraksha, Ātma-rakṣā, Atma-raksa, Ātma-rakṣa, Atma-raksha, Ātman-rakṣā, Atman-raksa, Atman-raksha, Ātmarakṣa, Atmaraksa, Ātmarakṣā; (plurals include: Atmarakshas, Aatmarakshas, rakṣās, raksas, rakṣas, rakshas, Ātmarakṣas, Atmaraksas, Ātmarakṣās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 4.4 - Ten grades of celestial beings < [Chapter 4 - The Celestial Beings]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 176 < [Hindi-Sindhi-English Volume 1]
Page 273 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Page 175 < [Hindi-Gujarati-English Volume 1]
Cidvilasastava by Amrtananda (by Brian Campbell and Ben Williams)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 107 < [Volume 12 (1912)]
Parama Samhita (English translation) (by Krishnaswami Aiyangar)
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Flora (9): Common weed < [Chapter 5 - Aspects of Nature]