Ganika, Gaṇika, Gaṇikā: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Ganika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Gnika.
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstraGaṇikā (गणिका) is a Sanskrit word referring to “prostitute”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (also see the Manubhāṣya verse 4.209)
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexGaṇika (गणिक).—Courtesans.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 27. 14 and 41: 49. 23.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Śrīmad Devī BhāgavatamGaṇikā (गणिका) is the name of a tree found in maṇidvīpa (Śakti’s abode), according to the Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa 12.10. Accordingly, these trees always bear flowers, fruits and new leaves, and the sweet fragrance of their scent is spread across all the quarters in this place. The trees (e.g. Gaṇikā) attract bees and birds of various species and rivers are seen flowing through their forests carrying many juicy liquids. Maṇidvīpa is defined as the home of Devī, built according to her will. It is compared with Sarvaloka, as it is superior to all other lokas.
The Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa, or Śrīmad-devī-bhāgavatam, is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, a type of Sanskrit literature containing cultural information on ancient India, religious/spiritual prescriptions and a range of topics concerning the various arts and sciences. The whole text is composed of 18,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 6th century.
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramGaṇikā (गणिका) refers to one of the eight sacred fields (kṣetra), according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “The man of knowledge should mark the sacred fields located in the towns. [...] Now listen (to how it is) in the home. [...] Starting with the dish in due order, one should not touch these with one's feet, if one wants the best for oneself. One should stay far away from a broom and the wind produced by a winnowing fan. Obstacles (vighna), Siddhas and Yoginīs that have penetrated the wind enter the adept having identified (his) weak spot, and lay hold of the best (within him) for no reason. (The adept) abides in (each) place in the (eight) sacred fields, (namely) Gaṇikā, Śiras, Kālī, Kāla, Ālaya, Śiva, Kāliñjara, and Mahākāla”.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraGaṇikā (गणिका, “courtezan”) refers to a character of a theatrical part according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 35. Accordingly, “a woman who is always engaged in attending the teacher (ācārya) in connection with application of various arts and crafts, and is endowed with amorous movements, Emotion (hāva) and Feeling (bhāva), Temperament (sattva), discipline, sweetness of manners, and is conversant with the sixty-four arts and crafts (kalā), is expert in dealing with the king, and free from female diseases, and has sweet and endearing words, is clear in her speech, clever and undaunted by fatigue is called a courtezan (gaṇikā)”.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Gaṇikā (गणिका) refers to a “harlot”, and is mentioned in verse 2.40-44 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] taking food, (enjoying) women, sleeping, reading, and thinking at dawn and dusk; food (originating) from enemies, sacrifices, vagrants, meetings, harlots [viz., gaṇikā], and traders[...] (all these things) one shall eschew. In all activities of a wise (man) the world alone (is) his teacher”.
Note: Gaṇikā (“harlot”) has been paraphrased by smad-’thsoṅ, which properly means “she who sells her lower part”.
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: Google Books: Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences (Astronomy)Gaṇikā (गणिका) refers to a “courtesan”, according to the Ghaṭikāyantraghaṭanāvidhi, an unpublished manuscript describing the ritual connected with the setting up of the water clock and its invocation.—Accordingly, “[...] Now he tells the fruit of the rotation of the bowl, starting from the east etc., and ending in the middle. According as the bowl rotates in cardinal directions from the east up to the middle of the basin, it causes respectively the good fortune of having the husband alive and devoted (saubhāgya), death, near death of the bride (vadhū-mṛtisama), the body full of diseases, the girl becomes the favourite [of all], resembles a courtesan [i.e., gaṇikā-tulya], (?) virtuous, endowed wit h sons, wealth and relatives. Staying in the middle, [the bowl] grants noble [sons]. If the bowl becomes full (pūrṇā)[ and sinks] in the north, northeast, or in the east, it bestows auspiciousness; if it sinks (magnā) in the remaining directions, it is said to inflict widowhood on the girl”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka MaṇḍalaGaṇikā (गणिका) is the name of a Ḍākinī who, together with the Vīra (hero) named Gaṇika forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Guṇacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the guṇacakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs [viz., Gaṇikā] and Vīras are whitish red in color; they each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryGaṇikā.—(EI 33), same as devadāsī. (EI 7), a female elephant. Note: gaṇikā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarygaṇika : (adj.) having a following. || gaṇikā (f.), harlot; courtesan.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary1) Gaṇikā, 2 (f.)=gaṇanā, arithmetic Miln.3. (Page 241)
2) Gaṇikā, 1 (f.) “one who belongs to the crowd, ” a harlot, a courtesan (cp. gaṇakī) Vin.I, 231 (Ambapālī) 268, (do.); II, 277 (Aḍḍhakāsī); Ud.71; Miln.122; DhA.III, 104; VvA.75 (Sirimā); PvA.195, 199.—Customs of a gaṇikā J.IV, 249; V, 134.—Cp. saṃ°. (Page 241)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarygaṇikā (गणिका).—f S A courtesan or harlot.
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gaṇīka (गणीक).—prep By, to &c. each severally, per. Ex. vṛkṣāgaṇīka, khiḍakīgaṇīka, gṛhāgaṇīka, khēpēgaṇīka.
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gaṇīka (गणीक).—m Misused for gaṇaka. An astrologer &c.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishgaṇikā (गणिका).—f A courtesan or harlot.
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gaṇīka (गणीक) [-ta, -त].—prep By, to, &c., each severally, per.
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 dictionaryGaṇikā (गणिका).—[gaṇaḥ samūho'styasyāḥ bhartṛtvena gaṇ-ṭhañ]
1) A harlot, courtezan; गुणानुरक्ता गणिका च यस्य वसन्तशोभेव वसन्तसेना (guṇānuraktā gaṇikā ca yasya vasantaśobheva vasantasenā) Mṛcchakaṭika 1.6; गणिका नाम पादुकान्तरप्रविष्टेव लेष्टुका दुःखेन पुनर्निरा- क्रियते (gaṇikā nāma pādukāntarapraviṣṭeva leṣṭukā duḥkhena punarnirā- kriyate) Mṛcchakaṭika 5; निरकाशयद्रविमपेतवसुं वियदालयादपरदिग्गाणिका (nirakāśayadravimapetavasuṃ viyadālayādaparadiggāṇikā) Śi. 9.1.
2) A female elephant; कच्चिन्न गणिकाश्वानां कुञ्जराणां च तृप्यसि (kaccinna gaṇikāśvānāṃ kuñjarāṇāṃ ca tṛpyasi) Rām.2.1.5.
3) A kind of flower.
4) A kind of jasmine.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryGaṇika (गणिक) or Gaṇin.—teacher: Mahāvastu iii.392.7 (prose) -tīr-thika-gaṇikā (v.l. °gaṇi), n. pl., heretical teachers.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryGaṇikā (गणिका).—f.
(-kā) 1. A courtezan, a harlot. 2. A sort of Jasmin. (J. auriculatum.) 3. A tree, commonly Ganiyari, (Premnaspinosa.) 4. A female elephant. 5. Counting, enumerating. E. gaṇa to reckon, &c. ṇvul aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryGaṇikā (गणिका).—i. e. gaṇa + ka, f. A harlot, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 209.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryGaṇikā (गणिका).—[feminine] a harlot, courtesan.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Gaṇikā (गणिका):—[from gaṇaka > gaṇ] a f. a harlot, courtezan, [Manu-smṛti iv; Yājñavalkya i, 161; Mahābhārata xiii; Mṛcchakaṭikā] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] a female elephant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] Jasminum auriculatum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] Aeschynomene Sesban, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] = gaṇikārikā q.v., [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] counting, enumerating, [Horace H. Wilson]
7) [v.s. ...] apprehension, [Horace H. Wilson]
8) [from gaṇ] b f. of ṇaka q.v.
9) Gāṇika (गाणिक):—[from gāṇakārya] mfn. familiar with the Gaṇas (in [grammar]) [gana] ukthādi and kathādi.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryGaṇikā (गणिका):—(kā) 1. f. A harlot; a jasmin; an elephant; counting.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Gaṇika (गणिक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Gaṇiya, Gaṇiyā.
[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 dictionaryGaṇikā (गणिका) [Also spelled gnika]:—(nf) a prostitute, harlot.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusGaṇika (ಗಣಿಕ):—
1) [noun] a man who has the knowledge of arithmetic or one who calculates; a professional arithmetician or accountant.
2) [noun] a man who foretells the future by studying the position of the moon, sun and stars, that is believed to affect human affairs and destiny; an astrologer.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Ganika-karana, Ganikabhavana, Ganikadarika, Ganikajana, Ganikamgane, Ganikanna, Ganikapada, Ganikapratoli, Ganikapravahana, Ganikari, Ganikarika, Ganikarike, Ganikavata, Ganikavati.
Ends with: Alinganika, Antarganika, Anupariganika, Devaganika, Gananganika, Ganasanganika, Jalaganika, Ksharuganika, Marganika, Naganika, Praganika, Roganika, Rudraganika, Samganika, Sanganika, Shimganika, Shvaganika.
Full-text (+32): Ganiya, Ganikya, Shvaganika, Devaganika, Ganikanna, Ganikapada, Ganagani, Antarganika, Gaṇin, Jalaganika, Samganika, Ganika-karana, Varakanyaka, Rudraganika, Gnika, Praganika, Ganaki, Ganeru, Vilasini, Ganikarika.
Relevant text
Search found 18 books and stories containing Ganika, Gaṇika, Gaṇikā, Gaṇīka, Gāṇika; (plurals include: Ganikas, Gaṇikas, Gaṇikās, Gaṇīkas, Gāṇikas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dasarupaka (critical study) (by Anuru Ranjan Mishra)
Introduction to the Bhāṇa type of Drama < [Chapter 2 - Bhāṇa (critical study)]
Part 13 - Status of Women in the Ubhayābhisārikā < [Chapter 2 - Bhāṇa (critical study)]
Part 3-6 - Prakaraṇa rules < [Chapter 10 - Prakaraṇa (critical study)]
The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa (by Dhrubajit Sarma)
Part 7 - Comparison [of the Maṅkhakośa] with other koṣas < [Chapter V - The Maṅkhakośa]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Story of the patience of Kṣāntirṣi < [Chapter XXIV - The Virtue of Patience]
Part 1 - Definition of illicit love (kāmamithyācāra) < [Section I.3 - Abstention from illicit love]
Mahāsutasoma-jātaka (story of Sutasoma and Kalmāṣapāda) < [Part 4 - The Bodhisattva in the Abhidharma system]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.209 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]
Kautilya Arthashastra (by R. Shamasastry)
Chapter 27 - The Superintendent of Prostitutes < [Book 2 - The duties of Government Superintendents]
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
2.12. Pharmaceutical use of Perfumes < [Chapter 1 - Cosmetics]