Gitaka, Gita-ka, Gītaka: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Gitaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Gītaka (गीतक) refers to “songs”, to be played as part of the first preliminary performed after the removal of the stage curtain, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 5. The type of song can be either of the Madraka or Vardhamānaka class.
Performing the gītaka preliminary pleases the Gods (devas). According to Nāṭyaśāstra 5.57-58, “The performance of the Preliminaries which means worshipping (pūjā) the gods (devas), is praised by them (i.e. gods) and is conducive to duty, fame and long life. And this performance whether with or without songs, is meant for pleasing the Daityas and the Dānavas as well as the gods.”
Gitaka is a well structured song format. There were major divisions or groups of Gitakas, each group having seven song-forms. The seven forms of the first Division were (Sapta-rupa): Madraka; Aparantaka; Ullopyaka; Prakari; Ovenaka; Rovindaka; and, Uttara. And, the seven forms under the second Division were: Asarita; Vardhamana; Chandaka; Panika; Rik; Gatha; and, Sama.
Every Gitaka, in turn, had two sections: Vastu and Anga. The different forms of Gitaka were classified according to the variations of their Vastu (section of the text) and Anga (styles of rendering the texts). The other distinguishing features were: Svara; Tala; and, Pada.
Gītaka (गीतक) consists of seven varieties, according to the Dattilakohalīyam, one of the works ascribed to Kohala—a celebrated authority of the ancient period along with others such as Bharata, Yāṣṭika, Śārdūla, Kāśyapa etc.—Tāla is said to be of two types—mārga and deśī. [...] Next the concept of gītaka is described.
The [following] varieties of gītaka are explained followed by a description of ekakala-madraka, namely—
- madraka,
- aparāntaka,
- ullopya,
- prakarṣa,
- oveṇaka,
- rovindaka and
- uttara
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Gitashastra (science of music)
Gītaka (गीतक, “melodious”) refers to one of the sixteen words that together make up the elā musical composition (prabandha), according to the Saṅgītaśiromaṇi 67-84. Elā is an important subgenre of song and was regarded as an auspicious and important prabandha (composition) in ancient Indian music (gāndharva). According to nirukta analysis, the etymological meaning of elā can be explained as follows: a represents Viṣṇu, i represents Kāmadeva, la represents Lakṣmī.
Gītaka is one of the sixteen words of elā and has a presiding deity named gaurī (the brilliant one) defined in the Saṅgītaśiromaṇi (“crest-jewel of music”), which is a 15th-century Sanskrit work on Indian musicology (gāndharvaśāstra).
Gītaka (गीतक) is of three types—sama, ardhasama and viṣama.—[Cf. Saṅgītanārāyaṇa, Vol. I, p.310]—When all four pādas have equal number if mātras, it is known as sama. When the first and third pādas are equal and the second and fourth are equal, it is ardhasama, and when the four pādas have different number if mātras it is viṣama-gītaka. The same verses are also found in the work Saṅgītārṇavacandrika and Saṅgītasaraṇi.—Miśrā and Nīlakaṇṭha make a note that these are types of saṅkaragīta.
Gitashastra (गीतशास्त्र, gītaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of Music (gita or samgita), which is traditionally divided in Vocal music, Instrumental music and Dance (under the jurisdiction of music). The different elements and technical terms are explained in a wide range of (often Sanskrit) literature.
Biology (plants and animals)
Gitaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Cocos nucifera in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Cocos nana Griff. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Illustrations of the Botany … of the Himalayan Mountains (1840)
· Species Plantarum
· The Gardeners Dictionary
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)
· Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. (2005)
· International Journal of Dermatology (2007)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Gitaka, for example side effects, pregnancy safety, health benefits, diet and recipes, extract dosage, chemical composition, 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
Pali-English dictionary
Gītaka, (nt.) & gītikā (f.) a little song J.III, 507. (Page 252)
gītaka (ဂီတက) [(na) (န)]—
[gīta+ka]
[ဂီတ+က]
[Pali to Burmese]
gītaka—
(Burmese text): တေး၊ သီချင်း။
(Auto-Translation): Song, music.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Gītaka (गीतक).—A song; Y.3.113.
Derivable forms: gītakam (गीतकम्).
Gītaka (गीतक).—[gīta + ka] (vb. gai), n. A song, [Yājñavalkya, (ed. Stenzler.)] 3, 113.
Gītaka (गीतक).—[neuter] = [preceding] [neuter]
1) Gītaka (गीतक):—[from gīta] n. a song, hymn, [Yājñavalkya iii, 113; Bhāgavata-purāṇa viii; Viṣṇu-purāṇa] ([Sāhitya-darpaṇa i, 2/3, 14]), [Kathāsaritsāgara]
2) [v.s. ...] a kind of metre (narkuṭaka), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā civ, 52]
3) [v.s. ...] melody (seven in number), [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa xxiii, 51 and 59]
4) Gītakā (गीतका):—[from gītaka > gīta] a metre of 4 x 20 syllables
5) [v.s. ...] a stanza composed in the Gīti metre, [Kathāsaritsāgara cxvii, 109] (with reference to, [65 f.]) (cf. daśa-gītikā.)
Gītaka (गीतक):—(von gīta) n. Gesang [Yājñavalkya’s Gesetzbuch 3, 113.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa] in [Sāhityadarpana 2, 14.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 8, 15, 21.] sapta svarā grāmarāgāḥ sapta gītakāni ca saptaiva tāvatīścāpi mūrchanāḥ [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 23, 51. 59.]
--- OR ---
Gītaka (गीतक):—Gesang, Lied [Kathāsaritsāgara 69, 114.] vīṇāyāṃ gītakaṃ jagau [106, 23.] ein best. Versmaass, = narkuṭaka [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 104, 52.]
Gītaka (गीतक):——
1) n. — a) Gesang , Lied. — b) ein best. Versmaass. — c) etwa Gesangsweise (deren sieben). —
2) f. tikā — a) ein kurzer Gesang , ein kleines Lied. gāthikā v.l. — b) ein best. Metrum. — c) eine Strophe im Gīti-Metrum.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Gitakadi, Gitakala, Gitakali, Gitakandika, Gitakandikaparishishta, Gitakara, Gitakari.
Full-text (+14): Samgitaka, Stutigitaka, Aparantaka, Rovindaka, Ovenaka, Madraka, Uttara, Komalagitaka, Ullopyaka, Prakari, Auvenaka, Ullopya, Sarobindu, Samgitakagriha, Samgitakapada, Kshudragita, Prakarsha, Ardhasama, Avagadha, Gitika.
Relevant text
Search found 10 books and stories containing Gitaka, Gita-ka, Gīta-ka, Gītaka, Gītakā; (plurals include: Gitakas, kas, Gītakas, Gītakās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study) (by Padma Sugavanam)
Kohala and Gītā (12): Musical Compositions < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Kohala and Gītā (15): The concept of Prastara < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Part 2.2 - Contents of Dattilakohalīyam < [Chapter 4 - Works attributed to Kohala]
Arts in the Puranas (study) (by Meena Devadatta Jeste)
4. Music in the Markandeya Purana < [Chapter 1 - Music in the Puranas]
6.1. Music in the Vishnudharmottara Purana < [Chapter 1 - Music in the Puranas]
5. Music in the Vayu Purana < [Chapter 1 - Music in the Puranas]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 229 < [Volume 8 (1910)]
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
Part 3 - Literature on Ancient Indian Music < [Introduction, Part 2]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 18 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 786 < [Hindi-Sindhi-English Volume 2]
Page 498 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)