Kalamegha, Kālamegha: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Kalamegha 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.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Cikitsa (natural therapy and treatment for medical conditions)
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Botanical identification of plants described in Mādhava CikitsāKālamegha (कालमेघ) refers to the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata Nees., and is used as Kirātatikta (Swertia chirata (Roxb. Ex. Flem.) Kar.), which is used in the treatment of atisāra (diarrhoea), according to the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (as well as the Pharmacopoeia).—Atisāra refers to a condition where there are three or more loose or liquid stools (bowel movements) per day or more stool than normal. The second chapter of the Mādhavacikitsā explains several preparations [including Kālamegha/Kirātatikta] through 60 Sanskrit verses about treating this problem.
Note: Kālamegha (Andrographis paniculata Nees) is also used as Kirātatikta but there is not mention of it in the ‘Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India’. It is better known as Kālamegha.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyKālamegha (कालमेघ, “black cloud”) is a synonym for Bhūnimba, an herbaceous plant from the Acanthaceae family. It is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā.
Source: Namah Journal: An overview of certain Āyurvedic herbs in the management of viral hepatitisKālamegha (कालमेघ) or Bhūnimba refers to the medicinal plant known as Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.), Wall ex Nees., and is employed in the treatment of Kāmala.—Among the single and compound preparations described in Āyurveda for the treatment of kāmala, some of the drugs have been found to be effective. A scientific study of the drugs [viz., Kālamegha] was carried out and significant response observed.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraKālamegha (कालमेघ) is the name of an elephant (gaja) in the army of king Vikramāditya from Ujjayinī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 121. Accordingly, “... and the following speeches of the military officers, assigning elephants and horses, were heard in the neighbourhood of the city [Ujjayinī] when the kings started, and within the city itself when the sovereign started: ‘[...] and Raṇabhaṭa [must take] the furious elephant Kālamegha...’”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Kālamegha, 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’.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationKālamegha (कालमेघ) refers to “dark clouds”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.1 (“Description of Tripura—the three cities”).—Accordingly, as the sons of Tāraka-Asura said to Brahmā: “[...] We will join together during midday at the time of Abhijit when the moon shall be in the constellation Puṣya, when the dark clouds (kālamegha) Puṣkara and Āvarta shower in plenty without being visible in the firmament with sporting clouds, at the end of a thousand years. These cities shall never join otherwise. [...]”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsKalamegha [कालमेघ] in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Andrographis paniculata (Burm. fil.) Nees from the Acanthaceae (Acanthus) family having the following synonyms: Justicia paniculata . For the possible medicinal usage of kalamegha, 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.
Kalamegha [कालमेघ] in the Nepali language, ibid. previous identification.
Kalamegha [कालमेघ] in the Sanskrit language, ibid. previous identification.
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Kalamegha in India is the name of a plant defined with Andrographis paniculata in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Justicia paniculata Sessé & Moc. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Cytologia (1988)
· Natural Product Research (2005)
· Journal of the Indian Botanical Society (1986)
· Flora Indica (1768)
· Cytologia (1983)
· Index Linn. Herb. (1912)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Kalamegha, for example pregnancy safety, health benefits, side effects, diet and recipes, chemical composition, extract dosage, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kālamegha (कालमेघ):—[=kāla-megha] [from kāla] m. a black cloud, [Rāmāyaṇa; Kādambarī]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of an elephant, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusKālamēgha (ಕಾಲಮೇಘ):—
1) [noun] the cloud that causes final dissolution of the universe.
2) [noun] the plant Andrographis paniculata (= Justicia paniculata) of Acanthaceae family.
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Kāḷamēgha (ಕಾಳಮೇಘ):—
1) [noun] the cloud that causes final dissolution of the universe.
2) [noun] the plant Andrographis paniculata (= Justicia paniculata) of Acanthaceae family.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Ends with: Akalamegha, Tridoshadavanalakalamegha.
Full-text: Unnad, Bhunimba, Kimshuka, Kiratatikta, Ekibhava, Tridoshadavanalakalamegha, Ranabhata, Kala.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Kalamegha, Kālamegha, Kala-megha, Kāla-megha, Kālamēgha, Kāḷamēgha; (plurals include: Kalameghas, Kālameghas, meghas, Kālamēghas, Kāḷamēghas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 4.10.6 < [Chapter 10 - The Story of the Pulindā Women]
Verse 6.2.24 < [Chapter 2 - Residence in Śrī Dvārakā]
Verse 2.23.12 < [Chapter 23 - The Killing of Śaṅkhacūḍa During the Rāsa-dance Pastime]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 331 - Greatness of Kālamegha < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 3 - Principal Holy Places in Vastrāpatha < [Section 2 - Vastrāpatha-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 332 - Greatness of Rukmiṇī < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Treatment for fever (93): Tridosha-davanala-kalamegha rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Tamils and the Andhras < [July-September, 1928]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter CXXI < [Book XVIII - Viṣamaśīla]