In Hinduism

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: archive.org: South Indian Festivities (astronomy)

The peculair custom of people placing a layer of the leaves of the plant Erukku (Calotropis gigantea), Sanskrit arka, on the head and with that bathe in rivers, deserves examination. It is believed that this plant is symbolical of decay. There is a saying current that the houses of a partial judge and a false witness are destined to be overgrown with this plant, and its flowers are said to be the favourite flowers of Shiva, the lord of destruction and of the burning-ghats. Why should people place some of the leaves of this plant of such evil repute on their heads and bathe on this occasion? The rationale is simple when properly understood. The nature of plants as well as animals is everundergoing changes with the change of influence of the planets over the objects on earth. A careful observer might notice this in men, animals and plants.

context information

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.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Erukku [எருக்கு] in the Tamil language is the name of a plant identified with Calotropis gigantea Calotropis gigantea (L.) W. T. Aiton from the Apocynaceae (Oleander) family. For the possible medicinal usage of erukku, 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.

Erukku in the Malayalam language is the name of a plant identified with Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand. from the Apocynaceae (Oleander) family having the following synonyms: Asclepias procera, Calotropis wallichii, Madorius procerus.

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

1) Erukku 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) Erukku is also identified with Calotropis procera It has the synonym Asclepias gigantea L. (etc.).

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

· Mediators Inflamm. (2005)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2005)
· Systema Vegetabilium (1820)
· Nepal Med. Coll. J. (2006)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Hortus Kewensis (1811)

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

Tamil dictionary

Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil Lexicon

Erukku (எருக்கு) noun probably from arka. [Malayalam: erikku.] Yarcum, madar, medium shrub, Calotropis gigantea; செடிவகை. எருக்கின் முகிழ்நோக்கும் [sedivagai. erukkin mugizhnokkum] (தணிகைப்புராணம் களவு. [thanigaippuranam kalavu.] 274).

--- OR ---

Erukku (எருக்கு) [erukkutal] 5 transitive verb

1. To kill; கொல்லுதல். (திவா.) [kolluthal. (thiva.)]

2. To harass, trouble; வருத்துதல். படி றெருக்கி [varuthuthal. padi rerukki] (கலித்தொகை [kalithogai] 81).

3. To cut, hew; வெட்டுதல். பைம்புத லெருக்கி [vettuthal. paimbutha lerukki] (பத்துப்பாட்டு: முல்லைப்பாட்டு [pathuppattu: mullaippattu] 25).

4. To beat, as a drum; தாக்குதல். வீதிதோ றெருக்கி . . . முரசறைந்தகாலை [thakkuthal. vithitho rerukki . . . murasarainthagalai] (சீவகசிந்தாமணி [sivagasindamani] 609).

5. To strike, as a bush; அடித்தல். பகுவாய் ஞமலியொடு பைம்புத லெ ருக்கி [adithal. paguvay gnamaliyodu paimbutha le rukki] (பத்துப்பாட்டு: பெரும்பாணாற்றுப்படை [pathuppattu: perumbanarruppadai] 112).

6. To destroy; அழித் தல். நாடுகெட வெருக்கி [azhith thal. nadugeda verukki] (பதிற்றுப்பத்து [pathirruppathu] 83, 7).

7. To lay a burden upon; சுமத்துதல். [sumathuthal.] (W.)

8. To produce sound on a musical instrument of percussion; தாக்கி ஒலியெழச்செய்தல். இன்னிசை முரச மியமர மெருக்க [thakki oliyezhacheythal. innisai murasa miyamara merukka] (பெருங்கதை நரவாண. [perungathai naravana.] 6, 63).

--- OR ---

Erukku (எருக்கு) noun < எருக்கு-. [erukku-.] Harm; துன்பம். தூதர்தம்முயிர்க் கெருக்கிடை யெய்தினு மெண்ணற் பாலரோ [thunpam. thutharthammuyirk kerukkidai yeythinu mennar palaro] (புரூரவ. போர்புரி. [pururava. porpuri.] 6).

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: Erukkural.

Ends with: Atipperukku, Celvaccerukku, Cerukku, Conitapperukku, Cutakapperukku, Irattapperukku, Katarperukku, Kuticcerukku, Nerukku, Palancerukku, Pataiccerukku, Patin-ettamperukku, Perukku, Sevverukku, Vayirraipperukku, Vellai erukku, Vellai-erukku, Vellaiyerukku, Vellerukku, Yerukku.

Full-text (+8): Catapatam, Tariccan, Vellai erukku, Attaticam, Nupam, Alarpal, Cataputam, Erukkilaimanci, Nattappila, Vellerukku, Civavallapam, Campalotti, Marttantam, Cataputpi, Ashta-tacamulam, Erukkural, Vellai-erukku, Arkku, Katterumai, Arukkam.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Erukku; (plurals include: Erukkus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)

Chapter 85 - Thiruparankundram or Tirupparankunram (Hymn 2) < [Volume 3.7 - Unto the last]

Chapter 22 - Thiruchotruthurai or Tiru-Corrutturai (Hymn 94) < [Volume 3.2 - Pilgrim’s progress: to Chola]

Chapter 4.3 - (b) The seven Tandava Dances of Shiva < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]

+ 3 more chapters / show preview

Parama Samhita (English translation) (by Krishnaswami Aiyangar)

Chapter 5 - The prescribed disposal of articles of worship (dravya-vidhāna)

show preview

Pallava period (Social and Cultural History) (by S. Krishnamurthy)

Socio-Religious Life of the Pre-Pallava Period < [Chapter 3 - Socio-Religious Life]

show preview