Golaka, Golakā: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Golaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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 Golak.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Golaka (गोलक) refers to the “globe (which is the universe)” [?], according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.6 (“The miraculous feat of Kārttikeya”).—Accordingly, after the Brahmin named Nārada spoke to Kumāra (Kārttikeya): “On hearing his words, Śiva’s son, the emperor of the gods, sent his attendant Vīrabāhu on that mission. At his bidding, the great hero Vīrabāhu who bowed to his master with devotion started in search of it. He searched throughout the universe (sarvabrahmāṇḍa-golaka) but nowhere did he find the goat (although) he heard about the havoc done by it. [...]”.
Golaka (गोलक).—A disciple of Śākalya.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 60. 64.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Golaka (गोलक) refers to “one who is a widow’s bastard”, representing an undesirable characteristic of an Ācārya, according to the 9th-century Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra Ādikāṇḍa chapter 3.—The Lord said:—“I will tell you about the Sthāpakas endowed with perverse qualities. He should not construct a temple with those who are avoided in this Tantra. [...] He should not be a Punarbhū, a Svayambhū, a widow’s bastard (golaka), or a non-believer, nor irrational, pale, bald or crippled or fat. [...] A god enshrined by any of these named above (viz., golaka), is in no manner a giver of fruit. If a building for Viṣṇu is made anywhere by these excluded types (viz., golaka) then that temple will not give rise to enjoyment and liberation and will yield no reward, of this there is no doubt”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Golaka (गोलक) (Cf. Vyavasthā) refers to a “widow’s bastard”.—[...] According to Appaya, there is no conflict if one understands that a limited reference (vyavasthā) is implicit: the Pāñcarātra is authoritative for certain groups of people only and it is for their sake that praising statements are made in smṛti. In fact, says Appaya, the ‘valid’ teachings of the Pāñcarātra concern only non-Vedic adhikārins such as kuṇḍas (son of a woman by another man than her husband), golakas (widow’s bastard), women, śūdras, and so on; other teachings for which Vedic eligibility is required have no authority whatsoever. The important point here is that the Pāñcarātra is authoritative only to a certain extent and outside the Vedic realm.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Golaka (गोलक) refers to a “bud”, according to the Tantrasadbhāva, an important Trika Tantra and a major authority for Kashmiri Trika Śaivites.—Accordingly, “O goddess Umā! one should think of it in the heart. It has the form of a Kadamba bud [i.e., kadamba-golaka-ākāra] and is like a fine spray of snow. Once seen that supreme radiant energy (tejas), the knowledge of time arises”.
Golakā (गोलका) refers to one of the “thousand names of Kumārī”, as mentioned in the Kumārīsahasranāma, which is included in the 10th chapter of the first part (prathamabhāga) of the Rudrayāmala-Uttaratantra: an ancient Tantric work primarily dealing with the practice of Kuṇḍalinī-yoga, the worship of Kumārī and discussions regarding the Cakras. This edition is said to be derived of the Rudrayāmalatantra and consists of 6000 verses in 90 chapters (paṭalas) together with the Saralā-Hindīvyākhyopetam (i.e., the Rudrayamalam Uttaratantram with Sarala Hindi translation).—Golakā is mentioned in śloka 1.10.35.—The chapter notes that one is granted the rewards obtained by reciting the text even without the performance of pūjā (worship), japa, snāna (bathing) and puraścaryā.
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.
Nirukta (Sanskrit etymology)
Golaka (गोलक) refers to a “lizard” (Cf. Godhā).—Lüders (1942: 43-50) argues at length that godhā should be parsed as go-dhā- (with the meaning 'cow-sucker'). He takes the word to be of Indo-European origin, approving of Fick's etymology that links it to Latin būfō 'toad'. This hypothesis is fully endorsed by Paul Thieme (1965: 211-212). Turner takes 'cow-sucker' to be a popular etymology, with the more original form preserved in Sanskrit golaka- m. 'lizard' (cf. gṛhagolaka- m. 'house lizard', attested in Mārkaṇḍeya-Purāṇa 15,24), golikā- f. 'lizard' (which appears as a variant reading for godhikā- in Bāṇa's Kādambarī, as well as in the compound gṛhagolikā-, gṛhagaulikā-, gṛhakolikā-, etc.; see Lüders 1942: 36 n.1), and gaulī- f. 'lizard' (in the Pañcatantra).
Nirukta (निरुक्त) or “etymology” refers to the linguistic analysis of the Sanskrit language. This branch studies the interpretation of common and ancient words and explains them in their proper context. Nirukta is one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas.
India history and geography
Golakā.—(SITI), also called gulikā, goḻakkai, koḻakkai, kuḻigai; name of a coin, probably circular in shape. Note: golakā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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Golakā.—same as gulikā, etc. Note: golakā 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
goḷaka : (m.; nt.) a ball.
Goḷaka, a ball ThA.255 (kīḷā°). (Page 256)
1) golaka (ဂေါလက) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[guṭi+ṇvu]
[ဂုဋိ+ဏွု]
2) goḷaka (ဂေါဠက) [(pu,na) (ပု၊န)]—
[goḷa+ka]
[ဂေါဠ+က]
[Pali to Burmese]
1) golaka—
(Burmese text): လင်ငယ်ကြောင့်လင်ကြီးသေပြီးမှ မွေးသောသား၊ ဂေါလကသား။
(Auto-Translation): Born after the elder brother's death due to youth, a pallid child.
2) goḷaka—
(Burmese text): မုရည်းလုံး၊ ဂေါလီလုံး။
(Auto-Translation): Mackerel, fish balls.
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
gōlaka (गोलक).—(S) A caste or an individual of it. It is composed of the descendents from illegitimate offspring of Brahman-widows. There are two distinctions--kuṇḍagōlaka Illegitimate offspring of a (esp. Brahman) woman having a husband, and raṇḍagōlaka Illegitimate offspring of a (Brahman) widow. 2 Any thing globular, a ball, an orb, a sphere. 3 In the sense Ball with some accommodation gōlaka is attached severally to the names of the organs of the senses; as karṇagōlaka the auricle of the ear, nāsāgōlaka the body of the nose, nētragōlaka the ball of the eye, mukhagōlaka the mouth: also indriyagōlaka an organ of sense, or indriyagōlaka pl the organs of sense. Ex. dēvatāśakti asalyāvāṃ- cūna kēvala indriyagōlakānnī kārya hōta nāhīṃ. See adhidēvata, adhibhūta, & adhyātmā.
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gōlaka (गोलक).—n ( P) A closed box with a slit to receive money, a money-box, a till.
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gōḷaka (गोळक).—m A caste. See gōlaka.
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
Golaka (गोलक).—[guḍ ṇvula ḍasya laḥ]
1) A ball, globe; भूगोलकविशेषं नामरूपमानलक्षणतो व्याख्यास्यामः (bhūgolakaviśeṣaṃ nāmarūpamānalakṣaṇato vyākhyāsyāmaḥ) Bhāgavata 5.16.4.
2) A wooden ball for playing with.
3) A globular waterjar.
4) A widow's bastard; परदारेषु जायेते द्वौ सुतौ कुण्ड- गोलकौ । पत्यौ जीवति कुण्डः स्यान्मृते भर्तरि गोलकः (paradāreṣu jāyete dvau sutau kuṇḍa- golakau | patyau jīvati kuṇḍaḥ syānmṛte bhartari golakaḥ) || Manusmṛti 3.174.
5) A conjunction of six or more planets in one sign.
6) Glans penis.
7) Molasses.
8) Gum myrrh.
Derivable forms: golakaḥ (गोलकः).
Golaka (गोलक).—(m. or nt.; compare prec.; Sanskrit Lex. bottle), a bottle- [Page217-b+ 71] shaped (or ball-shaped ?) ornament on a building (this is a meaning of Tibetan bum pa, see under prec.): (nagaraṃ…) aṭṭāla-(mss aṭṭala-)-golaka-(v.l. goraka)-toraṇaṃ Mahāvastu iii.160.13 (prose).
Golaka (गोलक).—m.
(-kaḥ) 1. A wooden ball for playing with, or any thing globular, a sphere, a globe, &c. 2. A widow’s bastard. 3. A water jar. 4. Gum myrrh, 5. Pease. n.
(-kaṃ) The heaven of Krishna. E. kan added to the preceding. guḍa-ṇvul ḍasya laḥ .
Golaka (गोलक).—[gola + ka], m. 1. A ball, as the Kadamba's round flower, Bhāṣāp. p. 165 (v. r.); ū-, m. The earth, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 5, 16, 4. 2. A widow’s bastard, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 156; 174.
Golaka (गोलक).—[masculine] ball, globe; a widow’s bastard.
1) Golaka (गोलक):—[from gola] m. a ball or globe, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa v, 16, 4; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xxxi, 22 [Scholiast or Commentator]] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] a ball for playing with, [Harivaṃśa 15549]
3) [v.s. ...] glans penis, [Sāyaṇa on Aitareya-brāhmaṇa i, 20]
4) [v.s. ...] a kind of pease (= palāśa), [Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa iv, 4, 26; Śāṅkhāyana-gṛhya-sūtra iv, 19, 4]
5) [v.s. ...] myrrh, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] a globular water-jar, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] a kind of dish, [Demetrius Galanos’s Lexiko: sanskritikes, anglikes, hellenikes]
8) [v.s. ...] a widow’s bastard, [Manu-smṛti iii, 156 and 174; Mahābhārata iii, 13366]
9) [v.s. ...] the conjunction of all the planets in one sign, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhajjātaka xii, 3 and 19]
10) [v.s. ...] Name of a pupil of Deva-mitra, [Vāyu-purāṇa i, 60, 64]
11) [v.s. ...] n. a ball or globe, [Nyāyamālā-vistara [Scholiast or Commentator]]
12) [v.s. ...] = go-loka, Tantr.
Golaka (गोलक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A wooden play ball, a globe; pease; water-jar; myrrh. n. Krishna's heaven.
Golaka (गोलक):—(von gola)
1) m. a) Kugel [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha 3, 38.] [Medinīkoṣa k. 84.] ṛṇe prajñāyamāne golakānāṃ madhyamaparṇena juhuyāt [GOBH. 4, 4, 20.] raudrā golakāḥ [Śāṅkhāyana’s Gṛhyasūtrāṇi 4, 19.] ayogolaka [morgenländischen Gesellschaft 7, 292.] vṛkkau kukṣisthau golakau [Scholiast] zu [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 6, 7, 6.] kadamba v.l. für kadambakoraka [Bhāṣāpariccheda 165.] bhūgolaka [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 5, 16, 4.] — b) eine Erbsenart (kalāya) [Śabdacandrikā im Śabdakalpadruma] — c) Myrrhe, = gandharasa [Ratnamālā 145.] = piṇḍa (viell. in der ganghareren Bed. aufzufassen) [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] — d) ein kugelförmiger Wassertopf [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 17.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] (lies: maṇika st. malika). — e) Bastard einer Wittwe [Amarakoṣa 2, 6, 1, 36.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 550.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 3, 156. 174.] [Mahābhārata 3, 13366.] Vgl. kuṇḍa . — f) = gola [5.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka 12, 3.] — g) Nomen proprium eines Schülers Vedamitra's [Vāyupurāṇa] in [Viṣṇupurāṇa 277, Nalopākhyāna 8.] —
2) n. = goloka und auch daraus entstanden, [Śabdakalpadruma] nach einem Tantra. — Vgl. kuṇḍagolaka. gṛha, ghana, hala .
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Golaka (गोलक):—
1) a) zum Spielen [Harivaṃśa 15549.] tejasāṃ golakaḥ sūryo nakṣatrāṇyambugolakāḥ Cit. bei [Mahīdhara] zu [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 31, 22]; vgl. Pref. zu [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 44. fg.], wo besser graharkṣāṇi st. nakṣatrāṇi gelesen wird. — e) [Spr. 631.] — g) lies Devamitra's und vgl. [Oxforder Handschriften 55,a,34.] — h) glans penis [Sāyaṇa] zu [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 1, 20.]
Golaka (गोलक):——
1) m. — a) Kugel , Ball. — b) glans penis. — c) *eine Erbsenart. — d) *Myrrhe. — e) *ein kugelförmiger Wassertopf. — f) *eine Art Gebäck [Galano's Wörterbuch] — g) Bastard einer Wittwe. — h) das Zusammentreffen aller Planeten in einem Sternbilde. — i) Nomen proprium verschiedener Lehrer [VP.².3,46.] —
2) f. likā — a) Kügelchen , Ball. krīḍā f. [Hemacandra's Pariśiṣṭaparvan 2,364.] — b) *Brustbeere. [Galano's Wörterbuch] —
3) n. — a) Kugel , Ball Comm. zu [Jaiminiyanyāyamālāvistara 9,3,12.] — b) = goloka
Golaka (गोलक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Golaga, Golaya.
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
Golaka (गोलक) [Also spelled golak]:—(nm) see [gullaka]; ball (as eye-ball [netra]~).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Gōlaka (ಗೋಲಕ):—
1) [noun] any round body or figure having the surface equally distant from the centre at all points; a globe; a ball.
2) [noun] any of the openings (as of sensory organs such as the eye, ear, nose, etc.) 3) the round, pigmented membrane surrounding the pupil of the eye, having muscles that adjust the size of the pupil to regulate the amount of light entering the eye; the iris.
3) [noun] an electric light bulb.
4) [noun] a closed box or a round container with a slit at the top for inserting monetary coins, used as a money box.
5) [noun] an illegitimate son of a widow.
6) [noun] a small ball, tablet, capsule, etc. of medicine usu. to be swallowed whole; a pill.
7) [noun] the churned curd.
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Gōḷaka (ಗೋಳಕ):—
1) [noun] any round body or figure having the surface equally distant from the centre at all points; a globe; a ball.
2) [noun] any of the openings (as of sensory organs such as the eye, ear, nose, etc.) 3) the round, pigmented membrane surrounding the pupil of the eye, having muscles that adjust the size of the pupil to regulate the amount of light entering the eye; the iris.
3) [noun] an electric light bulb.
4) [noun] a closed box or a round container with a slit at the top for inserting monetary coins, used as a money box.
5) [noun] an illegitimate son of a widow.
6) [noun] a small ball, tablet, capsule, etc. of medicine usu. to be swallowed whole; a pill.
7) [noun] the churned curd.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Golaka (गोलक):—n. 1. spherical or cylindrical object; 2. piggy bank;
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)
Starts with (+0): Golakaar-koshika, Golakadi, Golakadisthapana, Golakakara, Golakamkri, Golakapamcaka, Golakar, Golakara, Golakara-koshika, Golakarmi, Golakatraya, Golakayi.
Full-text (+42): Kundagolaka, Kilagolaka, Ghanagolaka, Nabhigolaka, Grihagolaka, Kakakshigolakanyaya, Bhugolaka, Brahmandagolaka, Halagolaka, Akshigolaka, Lakhagolaka, Kilanagolaka, Madhugolaka, Kundigolaka, Golak, Golakatraya, Golakapamcaka, Kridagolaka, Kundagola, Kundigola.
Relevant text
Search found 35 books and stories containing Golaka, Goḷa-ka, Goḷaka, Gōlaka, Gōḷaka, Golakā, Golakas, Guṭi-ṇvu, Guti-nvu; (plurals include: Golakas, kas, Goḷakas, Gōlakas, Gōḷakas, Golakās, Golakases, ṇvus, nvus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.174 < [Section VIII - Śrāddhas]
Verse 9.191 < [Section XXIV - Inheritance]
Verse 4.141 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
SEM EDX Analysis of Swayamagni Loha Bhasma < [Vol. 4 No. 04 (2019)]
A comparative SEM- EDX Analysis of Swayamagni Rasa by Dhanyarashi and... < [Vol. 4 No. 05 (2019)]
A Critical review about Haratala (Orpiment) < [Vol. 2 No. 02 (2017)]
Gobhila-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
Narada Purana (English translation) (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 12 - A dialogue between god Dharma and King Bhagīratha < [Part 1 - Pūrva-bhāga: Prathama-pāda]
Chapter 25 - Vedic Studies and other Religious Duties Defined < [Part 1 - Pūrva-bhāga: Prathama-pāda]
Chapter 42 - Cosmogony: The Origin of the Universe < [Part 2 - Pūrva-bhāga: Dvitīya-pāda]
History of Science in South Asia
Three Purāṇic Statements on the Shape of the Earth < [Vol. 9 (2021)]
Manasollasa (study of Arts and Sciences) (by Mahadev Narayanrao Joshi)
4. Use, aim and Function of Art < [Chapter 4 - Fine arts in Manasollassa]