Bheshaja, Bheṣaja, Bheṣāja: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Bheshaja means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi. 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 Bheṣaja and Bheṣāja can be transliterated into English as Bhesaja or Bheshaja, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Bheshaj.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval IndiaBheṣaja (भेषज) or Bheṣajacatuṣka refers to one of the seven subsections of the Sūtrasthāna of the Carakasaṃhitā which enjoys a prime position among Ayurvedic treatises and is written in the form of advices of the sage Ātreya to the sage Agniveśa. The Carakasaṃhitā contains eight sections [viz., sūtrasthāna]. Sūtrasthāna contains 30 chapters. Of them the first 28 chapters are divided into seven subsections namely catuṣakas [viz., beṣaja-catuṣka].
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: archive.org: The Elephant Lore of the HindusBheṣaja (भेषज) refers to “(suitable) medicines” (for a domesticated elephant), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 11, “On the keeping of elephants and their daily and seasonal regimen”]: “8. Inspection of bed and water (?), exercise, suitable medicine (bheṣaja) [anuguṇaṃ bheṣajaṃ], rubbing down with powder, returning to the stall post, food accompanied by ghee and jaggery, giving of pastry, bathing, drinking water, and in the afternoon food accompanied by a quarter (of the amount) of sesame oil, and medicine, and then sleep—this is the daily routine of elephants, step by step”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: archive.org: Science And Technology In Medievel India (Ayurveda)Bheṣāja (भेषाज) or Bheṣājalakṣaṇa refers to one of the topics dealt with in the Rudradatta, as mentioned in A. Rahman’s Science and Technology in Medievel India: A bibliography of source materials in Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian.—Ancient and medieval India produced a wide range of scientific manuscripts and major contributions lie in the field of medicine, astronomy and mathematics, besides covering encyclopedic glossaries and technical dictionaries.—Bheṣāja-lakṣaṇa and other topics of the the Rudradatta deal with medicine.
Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsBheṣaja (भेषज):—Medicine
Source: Indian Journal of History of Science: Jvaranirnaya: a rare monograph on diagnosis of fevers from the pre-colonial eraBheṣaja (भेषज) refers to “medicines”, according to the Jvaranirṇaya: an Ayurvedic manuscript dealing exclusively with types of jvara (fevers) written by Sri Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍita in the 16th century CE.—The description of types of pacifications (upaśaya) is explained with examples. [...] Upaśaya is explained with the details of medicines (bheṣaja), diet (āhāra) and lifestyle modification (vihāra). These are explained with examples of diseases like rhinitis, diarrhoea, fever due to pitta predominance, psychosis, fever due to Kapha predominance, burns, rheumatic type of fever, fever with predominance of coldness.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraBheṣaja (भेषज) refers to “drugs”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 15) (“On the nakṣatras—‘asterisms’”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Those who are born on the lunar day of Mūla will be druggists (bheṣaja—mūle bheṣajabhiṣajo), heads of men, dealers in flowers, roots, fruits and seeds; will be rich and will delight in garden work. Those who are born on the lunar day of Pūrvāṣāḍha will be of gentle manners; fond of sea-voyage, truthful, cleanly and wealthy; will delight in earth work; will be boatmen; will be dealers in fruits and flowers of water. [...]”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraBheṣaja (भेषज) refers to “medicine” (consisting of herbs), according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 6.15cd-20]—“[...] When a man is seen to be afflicted with 100 diseases [and] weak, [he] is released [when the Mantrin] envelops his name [with the mṛtyuñjayamantra] and recites [it]. Any mantra that a wise man should recite, is enveloped by Amṛteśa. This mantra quickly [brings] him success, even if he is without good fortune. [The Mantrin] envelops medicine [consisting of herbs] (bheṣaja) with the Mantra. [He then] gives [the mantra wrapped medicine] to [the person whose] body is weak. At that very moment, his body gains nourishment and [becomes] strong”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Source: Wikisource: Ashtavakra GitaBheṣaja (भेषज) refers to the “remedy” (for the root of suffering), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Janaka says to Aṣṭavakra]: “[...] So now abandoning the body and everything else, by some good fortune or other my true self becomes apparent. [...] Knowledge, what is to be known, and the knower—these three do not exist in reality. I am the spotless reality in which they appear because of ignorance. Truly dualism is the root of suffering. There is no other remedy for it (bheṣaja) [dvaitamūlamaho duḥkhaṃ nānyattasyā'sti bheṣajam] than the realization that all this that we see is unreal, and that I am the one stainless reality, consisting of consciousness. [...]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarybhēṣaja (भेषज).—n S A drug, a medicine or medicament.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishbhēṣaja (भेषज).—n A medicine, a drug. bhēṣajī m A druggist.
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 dictionaryBheṣaja (भेषज).—a. [bheṣaṃ rogamayaṃ jayati ji-ḍa Tv.] Making well or healthy, curative.
-jam 1 A medicine, medicament, or drug; नरानम्ब त्रातुं त्वमिह परमं भेषजमसि (narānamba trātuṃ tvamiha paramaṃ bheṣajamasi) G. L.15; अतिवीर्य- वतीव भेषजे बहुरल्पीयसि दृश्यते गुणः (ativīrya- vatīva bheṣaje bahuralpīyasi dṛśyate guṇaḥ) Kirātārjunīya 2.4; व्याधिर्भेषजसंग्रहैश्च (vyādhirbheṣajasaṃgrahaiśca) Bhartṛhari 1.11.
2) A remedy or cure in general.
3) A kind of fennel.
4) Any spell against diseases.
5) Water (Ved.).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryBheṣaja (भेषज).—n.
(-jaṃ) 1. A remedy, a drug, a medicament. 2. A kind of fennel, (Nigella Indica.) E. bheṣa here interpreted disease, ji to conquer, aff. ḍa; or bhiṣaj a root of a particular class, and ac aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryBheṣaja (भेषज).—i. e. bhiṣaj + a (anomal.), n. 1. A medicine, a drug, a remedy, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 59; [Nala] 9, 30. 2. Help (against, gen.), [Pañcatantra] 184, 19. 3. A kind of fennel, Nigella indica.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryBheṣaja (भेषज).—[feminine] ī healthy, sanative; [neuter] a remedy or cure for (—°).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Bheṣaja (भेषज):—mf(ī)n. ([from] 1. bhiṣaj) curing, healing, sanative, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa]
2) n. a remedy, medicine, medicament, drug, remedy against ([genitive case] or [compound]), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
3) a spell or charm for curative purposes (generally from Atharva-veda), [???]
4) water, [Naighaṇṭuka, commented on by Yāska i, 12]
5) Nigella Indica, [Horace H. Wilson]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryBheṣaja (भेषज):—(jaṃ) 1. n. A remedy; fennel.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryBheṣaja (भेषज) [Also spelled bheshaj]:—(nf) a drug, medicine; remedy; ~[jīya] medicinal.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryBhesaja (भेसज) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Bhaiṣaja.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusBhēṣaja (ಭೇಷಜ):—
1) [noun] a substance or preparation used in the treatment of illness; a medicine.
2) [noun] a means which helps overcome, prevent, avoid something (esp. an evil).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryBheṣaja (भेषज):—n. 1. a medicine; 2. medical treatment; 3. water;
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)
Starts with: Bheshajabhakshana, Bheshajacandra, Bheshajacatushka, Bheshajagara, Bheshajakalpa, Bheshajakalpasarasamgraha, Bheshajakarana, Bheshajakrita, Bheshajalakshana, Bheshajanga, Bheshajasarvasva, Bheshajashastra, Bheshajata, Bheshajatarka, Bheshajavirya.
Full-text (+57): Vishvabheshaja, Akshibheshaja, Indrabheshaja, Bheshajanga, Munibheshaja, Jalashabheshaja, Rugbheshaja, Bheshajata, Bheshajakrita, Asravabheshaja, Bheshajacandra, Kilasabheshaja, Kshiptabheshaja, Ahrutabheshaja, Citrabheshaja, Bheshajatarka, Bheshajasarvasva, Bheshajavirya, Bheshajakarana, Haritabheshaja.
Relevant text
Search found 64 books and stories containing Bheshaja, Bhesaja, Bheṣaja, Bheṣāja, Bhēsaja, Bhēṣaja; (plurals include: Bheshajas, Bhesajas, Bheṣajas, Bheṣājas, Bhēsajas, Bhēṣajas). 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)
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
4. Atharvaveda-saṃhitā (f): Rudra as a Physician < [Chapter 2 - Rudra-Śiva in the Saṃhitā Literature]
2. Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (d): Tryambaka Homa < [Chapter 2 - Rudra-Śiva in the Saṃhitā Literature]
18. Tryambaka Homa < [Chapter 3 - Rudra-Śiva in the Brāhmaṇa Literature]
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
Multi-level interpretation, understanding, and application of the verse -'yogadapi visham teekshnam uttamam bheshajam bhavet, bheshajam chapi duryuktam teekshnam sampadyate visham'- a theore < [2023, Issue 03, March]
A review on management principles of arsha (haemorrhoids) as per acharaya charaka < [2024, Issue 05, May]
The concept of bhaishajya sevan kaala – a revive article < [2022, Issue 09 September]
Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita (by Pranab Jyoti Kalita)
6b. Hymn to Win the Love of a Husband < [Chapter 2 - The Strīkarmāṇi Hymns of the Atharvaveda]
5. Goddess Āpaḥ (Āpas) < [Chapter 4 - Female Deities and the Glorification of Women in the Atharvaveda]
6f. Hymns to Allay Jealousy < [Chapter 2 - The Strīkarmāṇi Hymns of the Atharvaveda]
Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita (by Laxmi Maji)
Treatment of Rudhirasrāva (excessive flow of blood) < [Chapter 3 - Diseases and Remedial measures (described in Atharvaveda)]
Introduction to the Vedas < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Natural Treatment in the Vedas < [Chapter 2 - The nature of treatment for diseases in the Ancient era]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 2 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 4 - Practice of Medicine in the Atharva-veda < [Chapter XIII - Speculations in the Medical Schools]
Part 1 - Āyurveda and the Atharva-veda < [Chapter XIII - Speculations in the Medical Schools]
Part 18 - Āyurveda Literature < [Chapter XIII - Speculations in the Medical Schools]