Indigo: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Indigo means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Indigo is denoted by the Sanskrit term Nīla and represents 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, various materials are seen to be used to make colours. e.g., Indigo (nīla). Also, five colours are regarded as the primary ones, (viz., white, yellow, colour of vilomata, black, dark blue.). 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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Indigo (Powder) (in Sanskrit: Nīlī-Cūrṇa) is used in various recipes for creating artificial gems (such as Sapphires), according to the Vādakhaṇḍa section of the Rasaratnākara (lit. “jewel mine of mercury”): a 13th century alchemical work in Sanskrit written by Nityanātha.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
1) Indigo in English is the name of a plant defined with Indigofera coerulea in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Indigofera articulata sensu Andrews (among others).
2) Indigo is also identified with Indigofera longiracemosa It has the synonym Indigofera longeracemosa Boiv. ex Baill..
3) Indigo is also identified with Indigofera spicata It has the synonym Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. var. major Baker f. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Bulletin Mensuel de la Société Linnéenne de Paris (1883)
· Collectanea (1788)
· Flora Indica (1832)
· Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany (1883)
· Cytologia (1984)
· Cytologia (1982)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Indigo, for example side effects, diet and recipes, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, health benefits, 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+26): Indigo bush, Indigo bush amorpha, Indigo cloth, Indigo plant, Indigo vine, Indigoberry, Indigofera angustifolia, Indigofera argentea, Indigofera arrecta, Indigofera articulata, Indigofera aspalathoides, Indigofera astragalina, Indigofera atriceps, Indigofera atropurpurea, Indigofera brevidens, Indigofera buchananii, Indigofera cassioides, Indigofera cinerascens, Indigofera coerulea, Indigofera colutea.
Full-text (+366): Nila, Nili, Kutsala, Nilini, Aklika, Niliya, Shiktha, Sthiraranga, Shriphala, Klitakika, Dronika, Tushita, Shyamika, Nilapushpika, Kshuma, Meghavarna, Gandhapushpa, Rajani, Triyama, Nilibhanda.
Relevant text
Search found 99 books and stories containing Indigo; (plurals include: Indigos). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Darkness < [July – Sept. & Oct. – Dec. 1992]
Fresco-Painting in ‘Sivatatvaratnakara’ < [July-August 1932]
Ancient South Indian Commerce < [October 1939]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Review of Sarivadyasava: An Ayurvedic Remedy for Skin Disorders < [2016: Volume 5, December issue 12]
Formulation and evaluation of herbal hair dye < [2021: Volume 10, May issue 5]
Sensitivity of AOAC and Folin's methods for tannin estimation. < [2019: Volume 8, July issue 8]
A Study on Sustainable Design for Indigo Dyeing Color in the Visual Aspect of... < [Volume 13, Issue 7 (2021)]
Application of Steel Waste as a Heterogenous Catalyst in Advanced Oxidation... < [Volume 17, Issue 3 (2025)]
The Optimization of Advanced Oxidation Processes for the Degradation of... < [Volume 17, Issue 5 (2025)]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
Tibetan pigments (14) Indigo (rams) < [A Survey of Tibetan Pigments]
Tibetan pigments (16) Charcoal < [A Survey of Tibetan Pigments]
Tibetan pigments (12) Organic dyes (thos)—Introduction < [A Survey of Tibetan Pigments]
Rural and Agricultural Glossary (by William Crooke)
Page 217 < [Rural and Architectural Glossary (pages)]
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI)
Evidence for Alteration in Chemical and Physical Properties of Water and... < [Volume 2, Issue 2 (2005)]
Requalification of a Brazilian Trichoderma Collection and Screening of Its... < [Volume 14, Issue 4 (2017)]
Creep Characteristics of Layered Rock Masses after Water Absorption Due to... < [Volume 20, Issue 5 (2023)]