Haritala, Hari-tala, Haritāla: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Haritala means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Haritāla (हरिताल):—Another name for Tālaka (‘orpiment’), which is one of the eight uparasa (a group of eight minerals), according to the Rasaprakāśasudhākara.
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Haritāla (हरिताल) refers to “yellow orpiment” (the smell of which is said to resemble the odor of certain elephants), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 8, “on marks of character”]: “10. Who is similar in odor to sandalwood, butter, yellow orpiment (haritāla), red arsenic, or bdellium [e.g., yaścandanājyaharitālamanaḥśilānāṃ gandhena tulya iha], skilled in warlike operations and fearless in battle, heroic under the fire of many sorts of weapons, he is a Kṣatriya (warrior)”.
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Haritāla (हरिताल) or Haritālaśuddhi refers to one of the topics discussed in the Madhumatī, a Sanskrit manuscript ascribed to Nṛsiṃha Kavirāja collected in volume 12 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (second series)” by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri.—The Madhumatī manuscript, consisting of 5,586 ślokas (metrical verses), is housed in Dhaka with Babu Bhagavancandra Dasa Kaviraja. It seemingly addresses topics related to Medicinal, Herbal, and Iatrochemical preparations. The catalogue includes the term—Haritāla-śuddhi in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads—haritālaśuddhividhānam.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Haritāla (हरिताल) is a Sanskrit technical term translating to “orpiment”, which is an orange-yellow colored mineral found in volcanic fumaroles. It is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā and Suśruta-saṃhitā. It is also known by the name Tālaka.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Haritāla (हरिताल).—(Ṃ) A mineral (yellow orpiment) got from mountains, which is red like the clouds at dusk. (Vana Parva, Chapter 158, 94).
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)
Haritāla (हरिताल) refers to a “dark-brown” substance, according to the Brahmayāmala verse 32.52-54.—Accordingly, “I will explain the lower form of Māyā, which is Mālinī. She possesses countless cavities and is (dark brown) like haritāla, a cloud or mud [i.e., haritāla-abhra-paṅkavat]. She is the supreme Vidyā and her form is like a beehive. She is the colour of a red lotus and is beautiful in all the directions of space. She pervades with (her) great vitality all that is made of Speech”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Haritāla (हरिताल) refers to “yellow orpiment”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 10.7cd-17ab, while describing the worship of Bhairavī and Bhairava]—“[...] One meditates on [Bhairava] as having equal radiance to snow, jasmine, the moon, or pearls. [...] He is] equal in radiance to yellow orpiment (haritāla-samadyuti). The Sādhaka remembers Deva, who has the form of icchā, with whatever beautiful [form of the deity the Sādhaka chooses]. [Thus, the Deva] gives [the Sādhaka] the fruits of icchāsiddhi. Any one [of the deity's] forms bestows, any one beautiful [form] grants siddhis. [...]”.
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.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Haritāla (हरिताल) or “orpiment” refers to one of the materials used to make Colours in the ancient Indian tradition of Painting (citra), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, five colours are regarded as the primary ones, (viz., white, yellow, colour of vilomata, black, dark blue.). Various materials are seen to be used to make colours. e.g., haritāla (“orpiment”). A painter can create hundreds or thousands of colours by amalgamating the primary colours
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Haritāla (हरिताल) refers to “orpiment”, according to the twelfth-century Vivekamārtaṇḍa 158.—Accordingly, “Having become absorbed in the earth element, which is bright like orpiment (haritāla) and gold [i.e., haritālahemarucirā], yellow, endowed with the syllable la, presided over by Brahmā, square [in shape] and located in the heart, [the Yogin] should hold his breath and mind in it for two hours. This dhāraṇā on the earth [element] makes [the Yogin] constantly steady and a master of the earth [element]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Vastushastra (architecture)
Haritāla (हरिताल) (=Orpiment) is the name of an object which is to be deposited at the building-plot presided over by Bhṛśa, as discussed in the thesis entitled “concept of ritual deposit of Khmer temples in northeastern Thailand from 10th-13th century A.D.” by Naiyana Munparn.—(Also see: Acharya, Architecture of Mānasāra, 111).—Note: Haritāla is denoted in the Thai language as หรดาลกลีบทอง (hondanklipthong).
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Haritāla (हरिताल) refers to “orpiment” (suitable for an offering ceremony), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly [as the Bhagavān taught the detailed offering-manual], “The wise one should prepare a pill having mixed padmaka, arka, blue lotus, orpiment (haritāla), mixed copper powder, mustard seed, indrahasta and palāśa with sugar juice. Having enchanted with the mantra eighty times, pills measuring a jujube fruit should be made. [...]”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Haritāla (हरिताल) refers to “orpiment”: a mineral that was typically mined, extracted and used (both domestic and industrial) in ancient India. Mining was an important industry at that time as well. The Jaina canonical texts mention about the extraction of various kinds of minerals, metals and precious stones. The term ‘āgara’ occurring intire texts denotes the mines which provided many kinds of mineral products (e.g., haritāla). The references in the texts of various professions and trade in metallic commodities clearly show a highly developed industry of mining and metallurgy in that period.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
haritāla : (nt.) yellow orpiment.
Haritāla refers to: yellow orpiment Th.2, 393; DhA.III, 29; IV, 113;
Note: haritāla is a Pali compound consisting of the words hari and tāla.
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
haritāla (हरिताल).—m n (S) Yellow orpiment.
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
Haritāla (हरिताल).—&c. See under हरि (hari).
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Haritāla (हरिताल).—(by some regarded as derived from harita) a kind of yellow-coloured pigeon.
-lam yellow orpiment; अचल एष भवानिव राजते स हरितालसमान नवांशुकः (acala eṣa bhavāniva rājate sa haritālasamāna navāṃśukaḥ) Śiśupālavadha 4.21; Kumārasambhava 7.23,33; पारदं हारतालं च (pāradaṃ hāratālaṃ ca) ...... Siva B.3.19; H. D.1. (-lī) 1 the Dūrvā grass.
Derivable forms: haritālaḥ (हरितालः).
Haritāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms hari and tāla (ताल).
Haritāla (हरिताल).—n.
(-laṃ) Yellow orpiment. f. (-lī) 1. Bent grass, (Panicum dactylon.) 2. A streak or line in the sky, the milky way. 3. A sort of creeper. 4. A kind of pigeon. E. harita green, al to possess or adorn, aff. aṇ, fem. aff. ṅīṣ .
Haritāla (हरिताल).—i. e. harita + āla, I. n. Yellow orpiment. Ii. f. lī. 1. Bent grass. 2. A line in the sky. 3. A sort of creeper.
Haritāla (हरिताल).—[neuter] auripigment; maya, [feminine] ī made of it.
1) Haritāla (हरिताल):—[from hari] m. a kind of pigeon of a yellowish green colour, Columba Hurriyala, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [from hari] n. yellow orpiment or sulphuret of arsenic (described as the seed or seminal energy of Viṣṇu = harer vīryam), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa etc.]
Haritāla (हरिताल):—(laṃ) 1. n. Yellow orpiment. f. (ī) Bent grass; streak in the sky (milky way); a creeper.
Haritāla (हरिताल):—(von harita)
1) m. eine Taubenart, Columba Hurriyala (s. [Haughton] unter hariyāla) [RĀJAVALLABHA im Śabdakalpadruma] —
2) f. ī a) = dūrvā Panicum Dactylon [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1193.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 4, 300.] [Medinīkoṣa l. 167.] [Hārāvalī 240.] [Halāyudha 2, 36.] — b) Schwertklinge [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [VIŚVA im Śabdakalpadruma] — c) Bez. des 4ten (3ten) Tages in der lichten Hälfte des Bhādrapada [RĀJAMĀRTAṆḌA im Śabdakalpadruma] — d) eine best. Linie am Himmel [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] der Luftraum (chāyāpatha) [Hārāvalī] —
3) n. [Amarakoṣa 3, 6, 3, 32.] Auripigment, Arsenicum flavum [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 9, 35.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1058.] [Medinīkoṣa] [Ratnamālā 287.] [Rājanirghaṇṭa 13, 67.] dhātavo haritālasya [Mahābhārata 3, 11617.] haritālārdrapīta [Harivaṃśa 4083.] darī [Rāmāyaṇa 4, 37, 7. 5, 5, 12.] [Suśruta 1, 132, 17. 133, 5. 2, 66, 2. 252, 5. 536, 16.] ārdra [Kumārasaṃbhava.7,23.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 44,9. 54,30. 110. 81,7.] [Hemacandra’s Yogaśāstra 3,108.] Inschr. in [Journ. of the Am. Or. S. 6 ,505, Śloka 16.] [Oxforder Handschriften 320,b, No. 760.] — Vgl. āla und tāla .
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
Haritāla (ಹರಿತಾಲ):—
1) [noun] arsenic trisulfide, As2S3, having a lemon-yellow colour and a resinous lustre which is used as a pigment; orpiment.
2) [noun] the pigeon Columbia hurriyala.
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Haritāḷa (ಹರಿತಾಳ):—[noun] = ಹರಿತಾಲ [haritala].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Haritāla (हरिताल):—n. yellow orpiment;
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): Hari, Tala.
Starts with (+0): Haritalagandha, Haritalajanaka, Haritalaka, Haritalakanaka, Haritalakta, Haritalam, Haritalamaya, Haritalashuddhi, Haritalata, Haritalavrata.
Full-text (+33): Haritalamaya, Vamshapattraharitala, Thapitaharitalavatti, Pindaharitala, Vattitaharitalavattisadisa, Haritalaka, Haritalam, Haritalajanaka, Haribija, Haridranga, Haritalakanaka, Aritaram, Orpiment, Haritalashuddhi, Lila, Aritarakkattu, Haritalagandha, Aritalam, Haridala, Uparasa.
Relevant text
Search found 58 books and stories containing Haritala, Hari-tala, Hari-tāla, Haritāla, Haritāḷa; (plurals include: Haritalas, talas, tālas, Haritālas, Haritāḷas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Earth and its aspects < [Chapter 5 - Aspects of Nature]
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
6. Materials for Colours Used in Painting < [Chapter 5 - Painting and Image Making]
5. The Viṣṇudharmottara-purāṇa and the Modern Paintings < [Chapter 6 - Modern Relevance of Different Art Forms and Architecture]
Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter CCIV - Various other medicinal Recipes (continued) < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Chapter CCII - Various other medicinal Recipes (continued) < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Chapter CCXIV - Medical treatment of snake-bite, etc. < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 135 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Page 678 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 682 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
An Ayurvedic review on Hartala (yellow orpiment) : A Dhatuja Visha < [Vol. 5 No. 04 (2020)]
Comparative pharmaceutical and analytical study of Kasisadi Ghrita prepared... < [Vol. 7 No. 10 (2022)]
Role of Lekhana Karma in the management of Dushta Vrana - A Review < [Vol. 6 No. 02 (2021)]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 1.50.12 < [Sukta 50]