Gokarna, Go-karna, Gokarṇā, Gokarṇa: 44 definitions
Introduction:
Gokarna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is a synonym of Sarpa (“snake”), according to the Amarakośa.—The Sanatkumāra Saṃhitā (III.36cd-37ab) states that snakes are of two kinds, Nāgas and Sarpas. While the former can take any form they desire, the latter are those which glide. The Amarakośa (verses I.10.3-6) gives 33 synonyms for snake [viz. Gokarṇa]. Snakes are said to reside in Nāgaloka which is located in the endless bowels of the earth with countless palaces, houses and towers, it is also known as pātālaloka.
Agriculture (Krishi) and Vrikshayurveda (study of Plant life)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) refers to a type of Patra (plant-leaf), which represents a technical term related to the morphology branch of “plant science”, which ultimately involves the study of life history of plants, including its origin and development, their external and internal structures and the relation of the members of the plant body with one another.— The vṛkṣāṅga-sūtrīya-adhyāya, i.e., the chapter of the bījotpatti-kāṇḍa of Parāśara’s Vṛkṣāyurveda deals with various parts of plants, e.g., Leaf (parṇa or patra). [...] A leaf which is shaped like the ear of a cow is called gokarṇa.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “mule deer”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Gokarṇa is part of the sub-group named Jāṅgalamṛga, refering to “animals living in forests”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण)—Sanskrit word for a kind of deer (Antilope picta). This animal is from the group called Kūlacara (‘shore-dwellers’). Kūlacara itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Ānupa (those that frequent marshy places).
The flesh of the Gokarna is sweet, demulcent, mild (soft), sweet in digestion and proves curative in cases of hæmoptysis, and generates Kapham in the system.
Gokarṇa in the Marathi language refers to the medicinal climber “Clitoria ternatea L.”, and is used for ethnomedicine treatment of Fever in Ahmednagar district, India. The parts used are: “Leaves”. Instructions for using the climber named Gokarṇa: The paste of Leaf mixed with the paste of adrak (Zingiber officinale) 1 g each—applied on forehead.
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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण)—A holy place on the bank of the Yamunā which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu visited. (Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya–17.191) Gokarṇa is situated in North Kanara, in the Karnataka state. It is about thirty-three miles southeast of Karwar. This place is very famous for the temple of Lord Śiva known as Mahā-baleśvara. Hundreds and thousands of pilgrims come to see this temple.
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Shaivism
Gokarṇā (गोकर्णा):—Sanskrit name of one of the twenty-four goddesses of the Sūryamaṇḍala (first maṇḍala of the Khecarīcakra) according to the kubjikāmata-tantra. The Khecarīcakra is the fifth cakra (‘internal mystic center’) of the five (pañcacakra) and is located on or above the head. She presides over the pītha (‘sacred site’) called Kāśmarī or Narmada (according to the Ṣaṭsāhasraṭippanī).
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is a Sanskrit word referring to one of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas. The presiding deity residing over the liṅga in this place (Gokarṇa) is named Mahābala. The list of sixty-eight svāyambhuvaliṅgas is found in the commentary of the Jirṇoddhāra-daśaka by Nigamajñānadeva. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.
Gokarṇā (गोकर्णा) is the name of a Goddess (Devī) presiding over Kāśmarī: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22). Her weapon is the mudrā and lakuṭa. Furthermore, Gokarṇā is accompanied by the Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) named Taḍijjaṅgha. A similar system appears in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18).
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is the name of a gaṇa (attendant of Śiva), mentioned in the Skandapurāṇa 4.2.53. In this chapter, Śiva (Giriśa) summons his attendants (gaṇas) and ask them to venture towards the city Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) in order to find out what the yoginīs, the sun-god, Vidhi (Brahmā) were doing there.
While the gaṇas such as Gokarṇa were staying at Kāśī, they were desirous but unable of finding a weakness in king Divodaśa who was ruling there. Kāśī is described as a fascinating place beyond the range of Giriśa’s vision, and as a place where yoginīs become ayoginīs, after having come in contact with it. Kāśī is described as having both the power to destroy great delusion, as well as creating it.
The Skandapurāṇa narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is the largest Mahāpurāṇa composed of over 81,000 metrical verses, with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.
1) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—See under Gokarṇa. (See full article at Story of Gokarṇa from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
2) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—An incarnation of Śiva. In the seventh Varāhakalpa Śiva was born as Gokarṇa and he then got four sons named, Kaśyapa, Uśanas, Cyavana and Bṛhaspati. (Śatarudrasaṃhitā, Śiva Purāṇa).
3) Gokarṇā (गोकर्णा).—In the great battle Karṇa sent a serpentmissile against Arjuna. The serpent named Aśvasena was the power behind the missile and Gokarṇā was the mother of that serpent. (Śloka 42, Chapter 90, Karṇa Parva).
4) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—A sacred place of Purāṇic importance situated on the extreme north of Kerala. Origin. There was once on the banks of the river, Tuṅgabhadrā, a village made sacred and prosperous by the brahmins who lived there. In that village lived a noble brahmin named Ātmadeva. His wife was a quarrelsome woman named Dhundhulī. Even after many years of married life they got no children and Ātmadeva, greatly grief-stricken, left his home and went to the forests. He was sitting on the shore of a lake after quenching his thirst from it when a Sannyāsin came that way. Ātmadeva told him about his domestic life and pleaded that he should suggest a way to get a son for him. The sannyāsin sat in meditation for some time and contemplated on the horoscope of Ātmadeva and regretfully informed him that according to his horoscope he was to have no children for seven successive births. He, therefore, advised Ātmadeva to abandon all his worldly pleasures and accept sannyāsa for the rest of his life. But Ātmadeva was not to be discouraged by this prophecy and he urged the sannyāsin to help him somehow to get a child. The sanyāsin then gave him a fruit and asked him to give it to his wife and ask her to observe a life of fasting for a period of one year.
1a) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—A place sacred to Śiva, in extent half a yojana on the western sea; visited by Balarāma. Sages of this place came to Dvārakā;1 a tapovanaṃ, called Dhūtapāpasthalam; sacred to Rudra.2 Swallowed by sea, the sages left to the Sahya hill and reported of the erosion to Rāma on the Mahendra hill. Addressed by them, Rāma appealed to Varuṇa who at first did not turn up. When he grew wroth, Varuṇa promised to give back the land.3 Here Yama performed penance and became a Lokapāla and lord of Pitṛs; sacred to Pitṛs.4 Sacred to Bhadrakarṇikā;5 a sacred place for the performance of śrāddha; nearby is the R. Tāmraparṇī; sacred to Śankara.6
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 79. 19; 90. 28 [4]; Vāyu-purāṇa 23. 172.
- 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 13. 19; IV. 44. 96.
- 3) Ib. III. 56. 7-56; 57. 12 to the end and ch. 58. whole.
- 4) Matsya-purāṇa 11. 18-20; 22. 38.
- 5) Matsya-purāṇa 13. 30; 181. 25.
- 6) Vāyu-purāṇa 48. 30; 77. 19-21.
1b) The avatar of the 16th dvāpara in the holy Gokarṇa vana with four sons.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 23. 172.
1c) A ṛtvik at the sacrifice of Brahmā.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 106. 39.
1d) A measurement by the ring finger.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 7. 97; Vāyu-purāṇa 8. 103.
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.32.3, III.83.22, III.86.12). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Gokarṇa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) or Gokarṇatīrtha is the name of a Tīrtha (holy places) mentioned in the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—At a little distance from Revā (Narmadā) there is the famous Gokarṇa-tīrtha where Siva is present to shower benefits on the people. By visiting Gokarṇa a person becomes the attendant of Rudra. Towards the northwest direction of Gokarṇa there is another tīrtha where Bhadrakāli and Mahādeva Śiva are present. By visit to this tīrtha one gets the fruit of offering thousand cows. And towards the southern direction of Gokarṇa, Maheśvara is present in Sindhu-tīrtha. A visit to Sindhu-tīrtha gives the result of rājasūya sacrifice.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is the name of a city mentioned in the “story of Śrutasena”, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 33. Accordingly, “there lived long ago in the Deccan, in a city called Gokarṇa, a king named Śrutasena, who was the ornament of his race and possessed of learning”.
The story of Gokarṇa was narrated to Udayana (king of Vatsa) by Yaugandharāyaṇa in order to demonstrate that “matrons cannot endure the interruption of a deep affection” demonstrated by the anecdote that “chaste women, when their beloved is attached to another, or has gone to heaven, become careless about all enjoyments and determined to die, though their intentions are inscrutable on account of the haughtiness of their character”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Gokarṇa, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) refers to the “distance between the stretched out thumb and little finger” and represents a type of measurement, as defined in the texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—Besides the smaller units known as dehāṅgula there are other larger relative units of length, which are called prādeśa, tāla, vitasti and gokarṇa. The distance between the stretched out thumb and little finger is gokarṇa.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) (or Ruru, Raṅku, Eṇa) refers to the animal “Nilgai [Blue bull]” (Boselaphus tragocamelus).—The Smṛtis mention several domestic as well as wild animals that are enumerated in context of specifying expiation for killing them, the flesh being used as a dietary article to give satisfaction to the Manes (Pitṛs) in Śrāddha rites, the law of transmigration due to various sins committed as well as in the context of specifying gifts to be given on various occasions. These animals [viz., Gokarṇa] are chiefly mentioned in the Manusmṛti, Parāśarasmṛti [Chap.6], Gautamasmṛti [17.2 and 15.1], Śātātapasmṛti [II.45-54], Uśānasmṛti [IX.7-9; IX.12-13], Yājñavalkyasmṛti [I.170-171; I.175; I.258- 260], Viṣṇusmṛti [51.3;51.6;51.26;51.33;80.3-14], Uttarāṅgirasasmṛti [X.15-17], Prajāpatismṛti [Śrāddhatyājyavastuvarṇanam. 138-143], 9 Kāśyapasmṛti [Section on Prāyaścittavarṇanam], Vṛddha Hārītasmṛti [6.253-255] and Kātyāyanasmṛti [27.11].
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.
Shaktism
1) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is the name of a sacred region, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra verse 3.135-138, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—The eight secondary fields are Kadaṃba, Alamba, Gokarṇa, the Vindhya mountain, Vimaleśvara, Sindhumāla, Mahāsena, and Mātaṅga.
2) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) refers to one of the eight Heroes (vīra-aṣṭaka) associated with Pūrṇagiri or Pūrṇapīṭha (which is located in the northern quarter), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight heroes (vīrāṣṭaka): Chadmaka, Pramāthin, Prakṛṣṭa, Pramodin, Śaṅkukarṇa, Gokarṇa, Saṃvatsara, Mahotsava.
3) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is the name of the Maṭha associated with Candra, one the eight Sacred Seats (pīṭha), according to the Yogakhaṇḍa (chapter 14) of the Manthānabhairavatantra.
Gokarṇā (गोकर्णा) is the name of a Mātṛkā-Śakti created by Mahārudra in order to control the plague of demons created by Andhakāsura.—Accordingly, Andhaka-Asura tried to kidnap Umā (Devī Pārvatī), and was fiercely attacked by Mahārudra who shot arrows at him from his mahāpināka. when the arrows pierced the body of Andhakāsura, drops of blood fell to earth and from those drops, thousands of Andhakas arose. To control this plague of demons, Mahārudra created Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Gokarṇā] and ordered them to drink the blood of the demons and drain them dry.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) or Gokarṇamudrā refers to one of the Mudrās (gestures) discussed in chapter 31 of the Mārkaṇḍeyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2200 Sanskrit verses mainly dealing with temple-building, iconography, pūjā (worship procedures), utsava (festivities) and prāyaścitta (expiatory measures).—Description of chapter [mudrā-vidhāna]: As a part of worship [pūjāṅga], it is ordained in the śāstras that certain mudrā-gestures be done to please the gods (1). The ones listed and described are [e.g., Gokarṇa-mudrā] [...]. When some of these are to be used in the worship of God is given (49b-58).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) or Gokarṇeśvara refers to one of the “eight passionless ones” (Aṣṭavaitarāga or Aṣṭavītarāga), according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
1) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is the name of an Antaradvīpa, situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“The Mlecchas are free from (knowledge of) virtue and vice, and also those born in the Antaradvīpas. The 56 Antaradvīpas are as follows: Half of them are to the east and west of Kṣudrahimavat in the four intermediate directions, beginning with northeast. [...] Beyond them (i.e., northeast, southeast and other intermediate directions) at a distance of 400 yojanas and with an equal length and width, at the intermediate points, northeast, etc., are the Antaradvīpas, Hayakarṇa, Gajakarṇa, Gokarṇa, Śaṣkulīkarṇa, respectively”.
2) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is the name of a Yakṣa who created the city Rāmapurī, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.5 [The kidnapping of Sītā] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly: “[...] Awakened at dawn by an auspicious noise, Rāma saw the magnificent city and the Yakṣa carrying a lute. He said to the astonished Rāma: ‘Master, you are my guest. I am a Yakṣa, Gokarṇa, and I made the city [Rāmapurī] for you. Remain here comfortably, served day and night by my attendants and myself, as long as you like, master’. [...]”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
1) Gokarna is a village located on the coast of the south Indian state Karnataka. It lies at the distance of 579 Kms, from Bangalore and 60 Kms, from Karwar. Go-Karna stands for "cows ears" in Sanskrit.
2) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण)—One of the several gaṭhas (bathing places) in the twelve forests on the banks of the Yamunā.
Gokarna is one of the places visited by Chaitanya during his pilgrimage in Southern India between April 1510 and January 1512.—Gokarna.—On the west coast, about 20 miles s. e. of Karwar, famous for its temple of Mahabaleshwar and a very popular place of pilgrimage. (Bombay Gazetteer, Kanara, xv. pt. 2, pp. 289-301).
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) lit. ‘cow’s ear’ is the name of a sacred place mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa-māhātmya chapter 3.—It is a place of pilgrimage sacred to Śiva, on the west coast, near Mangalore. It has the temple of Mahādeva, supposed to have been established by Rāvaṇa.
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is the name of a South-Indian Tirtha (sacred place) mentioned in the Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī authored by Varadarāja (A.D. 1600-1650), a pupil of Bhaṭṭoji Dīkṣita.—Varadarāja in his Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī refers to several works which ought to be studied by a Pandit. In the same text are listed some Ghats of Benares (Varanasi). We also find in this work a list of holy places or tīrthas on folio 6 of the manuscript [e.g., gokarṇa-kṣetra] which appears to have been composed say between A.D. 1600 and 1650.—[Cf. the manuscript of the Gīrvāṇapadamañjarī at the Government Manuscripts Library, B.O.R. = Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona]
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) is the name of a Brāhmaṇa mentioned in the “Ṭhāṇā plates of Nāgārjuna”. Accordingly, “... the great Brāhmaṇa Mādhava Paṇḍita, son of Gokarṇa Paṇḍita, of the Pārāsara-gotra and the Yajurveda-śākhā, who has emigrated from Hasti-grāma situated in the Madhyadeśa”.
These copper plates (mentioning Gokarṇa) were discovered in a tank in the locality called Pancha Pākhādī outside the town of Ṭhāṇā in 1965. The object of the present plates is to record the grant, by Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Nāgārjuna, of a plot of land in the village Muñjavalī to Mādhava Paṇḍita, son of Gokarṇa Paṇḍita, of the Pārāśara gotra and Yajurveda-śakhā. The grant is dated in śaka 961, on the fifteenth tithi of the dark fortnight of Śrāvaṇa, Wednesday, the cyclic year being Pramāthin, with a solar eclipse.
Gokarṇa.—(EI 9), gokarṇa-kuśa-kusuma-karatal-odaka-pūrṇa (EI 23), gokarṇa-kuśalatā-pūta-hasta-udakena (Ind. Ant., Vol. XV, p. 10, note 57), referring to an elaborate form of the ritual relating to donation generally indicated by the expression udaka-atisargeṇa; same as gaṇḍūṣa (in Bengali); palm hollowed to hold water and resembling a cow's ear. Note: gokarṇa 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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Gokarna [गोकर्ण] in the Nepali language is the name of a plant identified with Clitoria ternatea L. from the Fabaceae (pea) family. For the possible medicinal usage of gokarna, 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.
Gokarna [गोकर्ण] in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Barleria cristata L. from the Acanthaceae (Acanthus) family having the following synonyms: Barleria alba, Barleria indica, Barleria napalensis.
Gokarna [गोकर्ण] in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Barleria cristata var. albida Haines from the Acanthaceae (Acanthus) family.
Gokarna in India is the name of a plant defined with Clitoria ternatea in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Lathyrus spectabilis Forssk. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society (1857)
· Mémoires de la Société Linnéenne de Paris (1826)
· Encyclopédie Méthodique. Botanique (1811)
· Inst. Rei Herb. (1766)
· Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis (DC.) (1825)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1898)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Gokarna, for example health benefits, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, side effects, extract dosage, diet and recipes, 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
Marathi-English dictionary
gōkarṇa (गोकर्ण).—f (S) A flower, Aletris hyacinthoides. 2 n The flower of it. 3 m A cow's ear; and thence fig. a metal vessel of that form used in feeding infants. 4 The name of a lingam, and of the place in Malabar where it lies. See bārā jyōtiliṅga. gōkarṇānta yēṇēṃ See the commoner phrases sampuṣṭānta yēṇēṃ & gōkuḷānta yēṇēṃ.
gōkarṇa (गोकर्ण).—f A flower. m A cow's ear. Fig. A metal vessel of that form used in feeding infants.
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
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—a. having cow's ears. (-rṇaḥ) 1 a cow's ear; गोकर्णसदृशौ कृत्वा करावाबद्धसारणौ (gokarṇasadṛśau kṛtvā karāvābaddhasāraṇau) Kathāsaritsāgara 6.57.
2) a mule.
3) a snake; Mahābhārata (Bombay) 8.9.42.
4) a span (from the tip of the thumb to that of the ring-finger); गोकर्णशिथिल- श्चरन् (gokarṇaśithila- ścaran) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 2.68.75; तालः स्मृतो मध्यमया गोकर्णश्चाप्यनामया (tālaḥ smṛto madhyamayā gokarṇaścāpyanāmayā) Brahmāṇḍa P.
5) Name of a place of pilgrimage in the south, sacred to Śiva. श्रितगोकर्णनिकेतमीश्वरम् (śritagokarṇaniketamīśvaram) R.8.33.
6) a kind of deer.
7) a kind of arrow; Mahābhārata (Bombay) 8.9.42.
Gokarṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and karṇa (कर्ण).
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—name of a mountain: Mahā-Māyūrī 254.5.
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—m.
(-rṇaḥ) 1. A span from the tip of the thumb to that of the little finger. 2. A kind of deer, (the Nilgau) 3. A mule. 4. A class of demigods. 5. A kind of snake. 6. A snake in general. 7. A place of pilgrimage on the Malabar coast. f. (-rṇī) A plant, (Aletris hyacinthoides:) see mūrvā. E. go a cow, and karṇa an ear, having ears like a cow, &c. gauḥ netraṃ karṇau yasya .
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—m. 1. a kind of deer, Antelope picta, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 103, 41. 2. a kind of arrow, Mahābhārata 8, 4668. 3. a span from the tip of the thumb to that of the little finger, Mahābhārata 2, 2324. 4. the name of a holy place, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 42, 13. 5. a name of Śiva, [Kathāsaritsāgara, (ed. Brockhaus.)] 22, 218. Catuṣkarṇa, i. e.
Gokarṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and karṇa (कर्ण).
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—1. [masculine] cow-ear.
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Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण).—2. [adjective] cow-eared; [masculine] a kind of antelope, [Name] of a place of pilgrimage sacred to Śiva, of Śiva himself, & of [several] men.
1) Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण):—[=go-karṇa] [from go] mfn. cow-eared (as men or demons), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] m. ‘cow-eared’, Śiva, [Mahābhārata xii, 10351]
3) [v.s. ...] a cow’s ear, [Kathāsaritsāgara vi, 57]
4) [v.s. ...] the deer Antilope picta, [Rāmāyaṇa ii, 103, 41; Caraka i, 27; Suśruta]
5) [v.s. ...] a mule, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] a serpent, [Mahābhārata viii, 90, 42] (perhaps a kind of arrow)
7) [v.s. ...] the span from the tip of the thumb to that of the ring finger, [Mahābhārata ii, 2324; Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]
8) [v.s. ...] a place of pilgrimage on the Malabar coast (sacred to Śiva), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
9) [v.s. ...] Śiva as worshipped in Gokarṇa, [Kathāsaritsāgara xxii, xc]
10) [v.s. ...] Name of one of Śiva’s attendants, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) [v.s. ...] of a Muni, [Vāyu-purāṇa i, 23, 161]
12) [v.s. ...] of a king of Kaśmīr (who erected a statue of Śiva called after him Gokarṇeśvara), [Rājataraṅgiṇī i, 348]
13) Gokarṇā (गोकर्णा):—[=go-karṇā] [from go-karṇa > go] f. a female serpent, [Mahābhārata viii, 90, 42]
14) [v.s. ...] Name of one of the mothers attending on Skanda, ix, 2643
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण):—(rṇaḥ) 1. m. A span; kind of deer; snake; a place of pilgrimage. f. Aletris hyacinthoides.
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण):—(go + karṇa)
1) adj. Kuhohren habend, von Menschen [Vyutpatti oder Mahāvyutpatti 205.] von Dämonen [WOLLHEIM, Myth. 138.] —
2) m. a) Kuhohr: gokarṇasadṛśau kṛtvā karau [Kathāsaritsāgara 6, 57.] — b) eine Hirschart (Antilope picta nach [HAUGHT.]) [Amarakoṣa 2, 5, 10.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 126.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1293.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 3, 203.] [Medinīkoṣa ṇ. 47.] vyāghragokarṇagavayāḥ [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 103, 41.] in Sumpfgegenden sich aufhaltend [Suśruta 1, 204, 11. 205, 10.] — c) Maulthier [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — d) Schlange [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1303,] [Scholiast] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [Hārāvalī 15.] — e) eine Art Pfeil [Mahābhārata 8, 4668. fg.] — f) Spanne des Daumens und Ringfingers [Amarakoṣa 2, 6, 2, 34.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 595.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] sākṣī vā vibruvaṃsākṣyaṃ gokarṇaśithilaścaran . sahasraṃ vāruṇānpāśānātmani pratimuñcati .. [Mahābhārata 2, 2324.] — g) Nomen proprium eines dem Śiva geheiligten Wallfahrtsortes [Lassen’s Indische Alterthumskunde I, 571.] [Mahābhārata 1, 1567. 7884. 3, 8166. 8341. 15999. 6, 246. 7, 2098. 13, 1301. 14, 2478.] [Harivaṃśa 8493. fg.] [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 43, 13. 3, 36, 18. 5, 32, 40.] [Raghuvaṃśa 8, 33.] [Vārāhapurāṇa] in [Weber’s Verzeichniss No. 485.] — h) der in Gokarṇa verehrte Śiva: yayau tatra vāridhestīravartinam . antakāle namaskartuṃ gokarṇākhyamumāpatim [Kathāsaritsāgara 22, 218.] gokarṇa kuhorig neben śaṅkukarṇa. mahā, kumbha und gajendra als Beiname von Śiva [Mahābhārata 12,10351.] — i) Nomen proprium eines Wesens im Gefolge von Śiva [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — k) Nomen proprium eines Königs der Kaśmīra, der eine nach ihm benannte Statue des Śiva (gokarṇeśvara) errichtet, [Rājataraṅgiṇī 1, 348.] —
3) f. ā Nomen proprium einer der Mütter im Gefolge von Skanda [Mahābhārata 9, 2643.] —
4) f. ī Name einer Pflanze. Sanseviera zeylanica Willd. [Amarakoṣa 2, 4, 3, 2.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — Einige von den substantivischen Bedd. sind aus der urspr. subst. Bed. Kuhohr, die meisten aus der adj. kuhorig hervorgegangen. Bei einigen Bedd. sind beide Auffassungen möglich.
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Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण):—
2) g) [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10,79,19.] [Oxforder Handschriften 39,b,2. 74,a,22. 257,a,23. 258,a,35.] n. ein Wald [53,a,1.] — h) [Kathāsaritsāgara 90, 144.] vielleicht hierher auch [WILSON, Sel. Works 2, 16.] — l) Nomen proprium eines Muni [Oxforder Handschriften 52,b,1 v. u.]
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण):—1. m. Kuhohr. Vgl. śithila.
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Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण):—2. —
1) Adj. kuhohrig. —
2) m. — a) Antilope picta — b) *Maulthier. — c) Schlange [Mahābhārata 8,90.42] *nach [Nīlakaṇṭha]). Vielleicht eine Art Pfeil. — d) Spanne des Daumens und Ringfingers [Hemādri’s Caturvargacintāmaṇi 1,121,7.370,1.2,51,20.] — e) Nomen proprium eines dem Śiva geheiligten Wallfahrtsortes. — f) der in Gokrṇa verehrte Śiva. — g) Nomen proprium — α) *eines Wesens im Gefolge Śiva's. — β) verschiedener Männer. —
3) f. ā — a) Schlangenweibchen [Mahābhārata 8,90,42] (nach [Nīlakaṇṭha]). — b) Nomen proprium einer der Mütter im Gefolge Skanda's. —
4) *f. ī Sanseviera zeylanica.
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Gokaṇṇa, Gokanna.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Gōkarṇa (ಗೋಕರ್ಣ):—
1) [noun] the deer Antilope picta (genus Connochaetes); with a fan-like tail.
2) [noun] a snake.
3) [noun] a unit of linear measure approx. equal to nine inches, based on the distance between the tips of the extended thumb and little finger; a span.
4) [noun] similar measure equal to the distance between the tips of the thumb and the ring-finger.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Gokarṇa (गोकर्ण):—n. a famous pilgrimage site at the north-east of Kathmandu;
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)
Partial matches (+0): Karna, Go.
Starts with (+0): Gokarna-mul, Gokarnakshetra, Gokarnalinga, Gokarnamahatmya, Gokarnamudra, Gokarnashithila, Gokarnasvamin, Gokarnasya, Gokarnatirtha, Gokarneshvara.
Full-text (+85): Gokarneshvara, Gokarnalinga, Gokarnashithila, Bhadrakarnika, Gokarnamahatmya, Shushka, Gokarnatirtha, Shrutasena, Kashmari, Gokarna-mul, Gokarnakshetra, Kerala, Gokarnasya, Pradesha, Gokarnamudra, Gokrana, Sadashiva, Dhundhuli, Uttaragokarna, Atmadeva.
Relevant text
Search found 94 books and stories containing Gokarna, Go-karna, Go-karṇa, Go-karṇā, Gokarṇā, Gokarṇa, Gōkarṇa; (plurals include: Gokarnas, karnas, karṇas, karṇās, Gokarṇās, Gokarṇas, Gōkarṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 26 - Greatness of Gokarṇa Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 2 - The Story of Kalmāṣapāda: Greatness of Gokarṇa < [Section 3 - Brāhmottara-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 3 - The Greatness of Gokarṇa and the Caturdaśī of Śiva < [Section 3 - Brāhmottara-khaṇḍa]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Sanskrit sources of Kerala history (by Suma Parappattoli)
1.2. The origin of Kerala < [Chapter 2 - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis]
1.4. The 64 Villages in Kerala Mahatmya < [Chapter 2 - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis]
1.6. The Origin of Dynasties < [Chapter 2 - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis]
Rivers in Ancient India (study) (by Archana Sarma)
11. Descriptions of the rivers in the Jambudvīpa < [Chapter 5 - Rivers in the Purāṇic Literature]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 5 - Gokarṇa attains to Goloka < [Bhāgavata-Māhātmya: The Glory of Bhāgavata Purāṇa]
Chapter 4 - Salvation to a Brāhmaṇa—Ātmadeva < [Bhāgavata-Māhātmya: The Glory of Bhāgavata Purāṇa]
Chapter 6 - The Procedure of Listening to the Bhāgavata < [Bhāgavata-Māhātmya: The Glory of Bhāgavata Purāṇa]