Introduction

Alternative spellings of this word include Gairik.

In Hinduism

Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

1) Gairika (गैरिक) is a Sanskrit technical term corresponding to “Red Ochre”. It is commonly used in Rasaśāstra literature (Medicinal Alchemy) such as the Rasaprakāśasudhākara or the Rasaratna-samuccaya. Gairika is an ingredient often used in various Ayurvedic recipes and Alchemical preparations.

2) Gairika (गैरिक, “hematite, red ochre”):—One of the eight uparasa (‘secondary minerals’), a group of eight minerals, according to the Rasaprakāśasudhākara: a 13th century Sanskrit book on Indian alchemy, or, Rasaśāstra. Ochre is a natural earth pigment that is colored by varying amounts of hematite

There are two known varieties of Gairika (“hematite”):

1. Pāsāṇagairika (copper color),
2. Svarṇagairika (deep red color)

Source: archive.org: Rasa-Jala-Nidhi: Or Ocean of indian chemistry and alchemy

Gairika refers to “red ochre”. (see Bhudeb Mookerji and his Rasajalanidhi)

Source: Indian Journal of History of Science: Rasaprakāśa-sudhākara, chapter 6

Gairika (hematite / red ochre).—There are two varieties of Gairika:

1. Pāsāṇagairika,
2. Svarṇagairika.

context information

Rasashastra (रसशास्त्र, rasaśāstra) is an important branch of Ayurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasashastra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Wisdom Library: Raj Nighantu

Gairika (गैरिक) refers to the “metallic products” of the mountains (śaila) according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands, soil, mountains [viz., Gairika], jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees and plants and substances, with their various kinds.

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.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: OpenEdition books: Architectural terms contained in Ajitāgama and Rauravāgama

Gairikā (गैरिका) refers to “hematite (used as a dye) §§ 2.10, 16.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Gairika (गैरिक).—a. (-kī f.) [गिरौ भवः ठञ् (girau bhavaḥ ṭhañ)] Mountain-born.

-kaḥ, -kam Red chalk; संसर्पिभिः पयसि गैरिकरेणुरागैः (saṃsarpibhiḥ payasi gairikareṇurāgaiḥ) Śi.5. 39.

-kam Gold.

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

Gairika (गैरिक).—mfn.

(-kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) Mountain, mountain-born or produced n.

(-kaṃ) 1. Red chalk, or as sometimes applied, red orpiment. 2. Gold. E. giri a mountain, affix ṭhak.

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

Gairika (गैरिक).—i. e. giri + ika, n. Red chalk, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 83, 12.

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

Gairika (गैरिक).—[neuter] (ā [feminine]) red chalk.

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

1) Gairika (गैरिक):—[from gaira] mfn. = ra, [Horace H. Wilson]

2) [v.s. ...] n. gold, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] red chalk (sometimes used as a red ornament), [Mahābhārata vii, ix, xiv; Rāmāyaṇa; Suśruta; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

4) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] a class of ascetics, [Śīlāṅka] (in Prākṛt geruya)

5) Gairikā (गैरिका):—[from gairika > gaira] f. red chalk, [Suśruta iv, 25, 36.]

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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