Kantaka, Kaṇṭaka, Kantakā, Kamtaka: 25 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Ayurveda
2. Purana
3. Kavya
4. Vastushastra
In Buddhism
1. Theravada
2. Mahayana
India history
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Kantaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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)

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक) is another name for Gokṣura, a medicinal plant identified with Tribulus terrestris Linn. (“puncture vine”) from the Zygophyllaceae or “caltrop” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.40-43 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Kaṇṭaka and Gokṣura, there are a total of ten Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक):—Spines of a plant

context information

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)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक) refers to “thorn-like protrusions”, representing a defining characteristic for deciding the quality of Rudrākṣa beads, according to the Śivapurāṇa 1.25, while explaining the greatness of Rudrākṣa:—“[...] O Parameśvarī, no other necklace or garland is observed in the world to be so auspicious and fruitful as the Rudrākṣa. O Goddess, Rudrākṣas of even size, glossy, firm, thick and having many thornlike protrusions [viz., Kaṇṭaka-saṃyuta] yield desires and bestow worldly pleasures and salvation for ever. [...] Six types of Rudrākṣas shall be discarded:—that which is defiled by worms, is cut and broken, has no thornlike protrusions [viz., Kaṇṭaka-hīna], has cracks and is not circular.”.

context information

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)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक) refers to “(iron) pins”, according to Bāṇa’s Kādambarī (p. 225).—Accordingly, while describing the shire of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, “[Then the portal to the sanctum sanctorum, a riot of colour and form:] She was being illuminated by the entrance, on which there were hanging cloths reddened by lamp-smoke, a row of bracelets made of peacock-throats festooned [over it], a garland of bells closely-set and pale with powdered flour-cakes, which supported two door-panels, [studded] with tin lion heads with thick, iron pins (thūla-loha-kaṇṭaka) in their centers, barricaded with an ivory-rod bolt, carrying [what seemed to be] a necklace of sparkling bubbles that were mirrors oozing yellow, blue and red [light]”.

context information

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’.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)

1) Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक) refers to “(iron) nails”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “[...] If [someone] touches his buttocks, there is [an extraneous thing] arising from the buttocks [, i.e. coccyx?] or an iron nail (loha-kaṇṭaka) at a depth of two cubits [underground]. [The officiant] should remove that extraneous thing from there. If [someone] scratches his thigh, there is an extraneous thing related to the thigh or piece of wood at a depth of one and a half cubits. [The officiant] should remove it carefully. [...]”.

2 Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक) refers to a “thorn”, according to the same section in the Devyāmata.—Accordingly, “[...] If [someone] scratches his foot, [the officiant] should prognosticate an extraneous thing related to an elephant [, i.e. a born of an elephant]. He should remove the extraneous thing, i.e. a thorn (kaṇṭaka) [at a depth of] twelve digits [underground]. [...]”.

context information

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

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A novice ordained by Upananda. Kantaka committed an offence with another novice, Mahaka. When this became known, a rule was passed that no monk should ordain two novices (Vin.i.79); this rule was, however, later rescinded (Vin.i.83). Elsewhere (Vin.i.85), Kantaka is mentioned as being expelled from the Order for having had sexual intercourse with a nun, Kantaka by name. According to the Pacittiya (Vin.iv.138f), Kantaka held the same false views as Arittha (q.v.), and for that reason he was expelled from the Sangha. The Chabbaggiya monks, however, received him into their ranks and gave him every encouragement. In the Samantapasadika (iv.874) Kantakasamanera is mentioned with Arittha and the Vajjiputtakas, as having been an enemy of the Buddhas religion.

-- or --

(v.l. Kandaka) - A nun who was guilty of unchastity with the novice Kantaka (Vin.i.85).

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक) refers to “spikes”, representing one of the various actions of Māra, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 10).—Accordingly, “[Question: What are the works of Māra?]—[Answer].—[...] Māra has three types of actions: (a) play, laughter, idle chatter, singing, dancing, and everything that provokes desire; (b) iron fetters, beating, whipping, wounds, spikes (kaṇṭaka), knives, slashing and everything that is caused by hatred; (c) [demented mortifications] such as being burned, being frozen, tearing out one’s hair, starving, jumping into the fire, throwing oneself into the water, falling onto spears and everything that results from stupidity”.

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1963

Kaṇtaka or Kaṇḍaka or Khandhaka is the name of a cetiya that formed a principal part of the Cetiyapabbata Vihāra: a locality that once existed in the ancient kingdom of Anurādhapura, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).—Kaṇtaka or Kaṇḍaka Cetiya, built during or soon after thereign of Devānaṃpiya Tissa (B.C. 247-207). Round the Kaṇtaka Cetiya were 68 rock-caves and 32 mālakas constructed by Devānaṃpiya Tissa. Lañjatissa (B.C. 119-110) made a stone mantling for the Khandhaka or Kaṇṭaka Cetiya. In a 2nd century inscription in situ, it is called Kaṭaka-ceta. Mahādāṭhikamahānāga (7-19) held a great festival which became known as the Giribhaṇḍa festival. Udaya I (797-801) restored Giribhaṇḍa Vihāra. In the Mihintale tablets of Mahinda IV (956-972) it is called Kiribaṇḍpavu dāgāba. Its modern name is Kiribat Vehera.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Kaṇṭaka.—cf. catuṣ-kaṇṭaka-viśuddha (EI 23), same as catur-āghāṭa-viśuddha; probably, ‘the boundary demarcated by planting thorny shrubs’. Note: kaṇṭaka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kaṇtaka : (nt.) a thorn; a bone; any instrument with a sharp point.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Kaṇṭaka, (From kantati² to cut. Brh. kaṇṭaka. Spelt also kaṇṭhaka) 1. a thorn Sn. 845; Vin. I, 188; J. V, 102; VI, 105 (in description of the Vetaraṇī); cp. kusa°.—2. any instrument with a sharp point Sdhp. 201. ‹-› 3. a bone, fish-bone J. I, 222; in piṭṭhi° a bone of the spine D. II, 297≈ (see kaṭaṭṭhi); M. I, 80=245; Vism. 271; Sdhp. 102.—4. (fig.) an obstacle, hindrance, nuisance (“thorn in my side”); Kvu 572; enemy, infestor; a dacoit, thief, robber D. I, 135 (sa° and a°, of the country as infested with dacoits or free from them, cp. DA. I, 296); J. I, 186 (paṭikaṇṭaka, enemy); V, 450; Th. 1, 946; DhA. I, 177 (akkhimhi); VvA. 301.—5. (fig.) anything sharp, thorny, causing pain: of kāmā (passions) S. IV, 189, 195, 198; Ud. 24; Kvu 202; cp. sa°.—Thus grouped, like saṃyojanāni, into 10 obstacles to perfection (dasa k.) A. V, 134; as “bringing much trouble” J. IV, 117. Often in standing phrase khāṇu-kaṇṭaka stumbling and obstruction A. I, 35; SnA 334. As abstr. kaṇṭakattaṃ hindrance at Vism. 269 (sadda°).—akaṇṭaka 1. free from thorns J. II, 118; V, 260.—2. (fig.) free from thieves, quiet, peaceful D. I, 135; also not difficult, easy, happy, bringing blessings (of the right path) A. V, 135; Vv 18⁷; VvA. 96.—sakaṇṭaka 1. having bones (of food) J. IV, 192, 193.—2. (fig.) beset with thieves, dangerous D. I, 135; thorny, i.e. painful, miserable (of duggati and kāmā) S. IV, 195; Th. 2, 352; J. V, 260.—Cp. also kaṇḍaka and nikkaṇṭaka.

context information

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

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kaṇṭaka (कंटक).—m (S) A thorn. 2 A fishbone. 3 fig. A pest, a plague, a vile hateful fellow. 4 fig. A merciless or savage fellow: also a miserly fellow.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

kaṇṭaka (कंटक).—m A thorn; fig. a pest. A merci- less fellow.

context information

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

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक).—1 A thorn; पादलग्नं करस्थेन कण्टकेनैव कण्टकं (pādalagnaṃ karasthena kaṇṭakenaiva kaṇṭakaṃ) (uddharet) Chāṇ.22; कण्टकेनैव कण्टकम् (kaṇṭakenaiva kaṇṭakam) (unmūlayet) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 4.18

2) A prickle, a sting; यः कण्टकैर्वितुदति (yaḥ kaṇṭakairvitudati) Y.3.53.

3) The point of anything.

4) (Fig.) Any troublesome fellow who is, as it were, a thorn to the state and an enemy of order and good government; उत्खातलोकत्रयकण्टकेऽपि (utkhātalokatrayakaṇṭake'pi) R.14.73; त्रिदिवमुद्धृतदानवकण्टकम् (tridivamuddhṛtadānavakaṇṭakam) Ś.7.3; Manusmṛti 9.26; Mv.7.8.

5) (Hence) Any source of vexation or annoyance, nuisance; कण्टकानां च शोधनात् (kaṇṭakānāṃ ca śodhanāt) Manusmṛti 9.253.

6) Horripilation, erection of hair, thrill.

7) A finger-nail.

8) A vexing speech.

9) A fish-bone; अन्धो मत्स्या- निवाश्नाति स नरः कण्टकैः सह (andho matsyā- nivāśnāti sa naraḥ kaṇṭakaiḥ saha) Manusmṛti 8.95.

1) A sharp stinging pain, symptom of a disease.

11) (In Nyāya philosophy) Refutation of arguments, detection of error.

12) Impediment, obstacle.

13) The first, fourth, seventh, and tenth lunar mansions.

14) A vexing or injurious speech; Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.

-kaḥ A bamboo; some other tree (Mar. bela, bābhaḷa, hiṃgaṇabeṭa) फलकं परिधानश्च तथा कण्टक- वस्त्रधृक् (phalakaṃ paridhānaśca tathā kaṇṭaka- vastradhṛk) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.33.14; see कण्टकद्रुम (kaṇṭakadruma).

2) A work-shop, manufactory.

3) Fault, defect; निर्धूतवाक्यकण्टकाम् (nirdhūtavākyakaṇṭakām) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.167.5.

4) Name of Makara or the marine monster, the symbol of the god of love.

-kī A kind of वार्ताकी (vārtākī).

-phalaḥ See कण्टकफल (kaṇṭakaphala).

Derivable forms: kaṇṭakaḥ (कण्टकः), kaṇṭakam (कण्टकम्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक).—(1) see pṛṣṭha- (°ṭhi-, °ṭhī-)kaṇṭaka; (2) (nt.? = kāṭaka, q.v.), ring on which the alms-bowl is hung: Divyāvadāna 227.29 (mudgāś) catvāraḥ pātre patitā ekaḥ kaṇṭakam āhatya bhūmau patitaḥ; 228.10 mudgaḥ pātra-kaṇṭakam āhatya bhūmau patitas; (3) in prākāra-k° Divyāvadāna 578.18, perhaps point, projection (of a wall), i.e. a jutting battlement occupied by a guard: sā anyatamena puruṣeṇa prākārakaṇṭake sthitena…gacchantī dṛṣṭā. (So Index.) See kaṇṭhakāpāśraya.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक).—mn.

(-kaḥ-kaṃ) 1. A thorn. 2. A paltry foe. 3. A fish bone. 4. Horripilation, or the erection of the hair of the body. 5. Any annoyance or source of vexation. 6. A term in the Nyaya philosophy, implying refutation of argument, detection of error, &c. m.

(-kaḥ) 1. A work-shop, a manufactory. 2. Fault, defect. 3. The point of a pin or needle. 4. A fish or marine monster, the symbol of Kamadeva: see makara. 5. A bamboo. E. kaṭi to divide, vun aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक).— (the base kaṇṭ is a dialect. form of kṛnt (originally karnt), the base of the present, etc. of kṛt), m. 1. A thorn, Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 183. 2. A sharp bone, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 95. 3. An enemy, [Pañcatantra] 176, 8; a wicked person, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 252; 253. 4. Stinging pain, [Suśruta] 1, 93, 4. 5. Obstacle, [Hitopadeśa] iii. [distich] 76.

--- OR ---

Kāntaka (कान्तक).—[kānta + ka] (see kam), m. A proper name, [Daśakumāracarita] in Chr. 195, 13.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक).—[masculine] thorn, prickle, point, sting, fish-bone; erection of the hair of the body; annoyance, vexation, pain; foe, enemy.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—vedānta. Oppert. Ii, 7863.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक):—[from kaṇṭa] m. (n., [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]) a thorn, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa v; Mahābhārata; Yājñavalkya] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] anything pointed, the point of a pin or needle, a prickle, sting, [Rāmāyaṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] a fish-bone, [Rāmāyaṇa iii, 76, 10; Manu-smṛti viii, 95]

4) [v.s. ...] a finger-nail (cf. karaka), [Naiṣadha-carita i, 94]

5) [v.s. ...] the erection of the hair of the body in thrilling emotions (cf. kaṇṭakita)

6) [v.s. ...] unevenness or roughness (as on the surface of the tongue), [Caraka]

7) [v.s. ...] any troublesome seditious person (who is, as it were, a thorn to the state and an enemy of order and good government), a paltry foe, enemy in general (cf. kṣudra-śatru), [Manu-smṛti ix, 253, etc.; Bhāgavata-purāṇa; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

8) [v.s. ...] a sharp stinging pain, symptom of disease, [Suśruta]

9) [v.s. ...] a vexing or injurious speech, [Mahābhārata i, 3559]

10) [v.s. ...] any annoyance or source of vexation, obstacle, impediment, [Rāmāyaṇa; Hitopadeśa]

11) [v.s. ...] the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth lunar mansions, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] and, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhajjātaka]

12) [v.s. ...] a term in the Nyāya philosophy implying refutation of argument, detection of error etc., [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

13) [v.s. ...] a bamboo, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

14) [v.s. ...] workshop, manufactory, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

15) [v.s. ...] boundary of a village, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

16) [v.s. ...] fault, defect, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

17) [v.s. ...] Name of Makara (or the marine monster, the symbol of Kāma-deva), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

18) [v.s. ...] of the horse of Śākya-muni, [Lalita-vistara] (wrong reading for kaṇṭhaka, [Boehtlingk & Roth’s Sanskrit-Woerterbuch])

19) [v.s. ...] of an Agrahāra, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]

20) [v.s. ...] of a barber, [Harivaṃśa] ([varia lectio] kaṇḍuka)

21) Kāṇṭaka (काण्टक):—mf(ī)n. ([from] kaṇṭaka) consisting of thorns, [Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra xv, 1.]

22) Kāntaka (कान्तक):—[from kānta] m. Name of a man, [Daśakumāra-carita]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक):—[(kaḥ-kaṃ)] 1. m. n. A thorn; a paltry foe, a fish-bone; horripilation; refutation. m. Workshop; defect; point of a needle; a marine monster.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Kaṇṭaka (कण्टक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kaṃṭaga, Kaṃṭaya.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kantaka in German

context information

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 corpus

Kaṃṭaka (ಕಂಟಕ):—

1) [noun] a stiff sharp-pointed projection on a plant; a thorn.

2) [noun] (fig.) a constant annoyance or the person causing it.

3) [noun] (fig.) a person or thing that obstructs progress; an obstacle.

4) [noun] erection of hair of the head or body, as from fear; goose flesh; horripilation.

5) [noun] a man who hunts animals for his living; a hunter; a fowler.

6) [noun] (astrol.) any of the first, fourth, seventh or tenth houses in the astrological diagram of a person.

7) [noun] the plant Solanum surattense (=S. xanthocarpum) of Solanaceae family; wild brinjal.

8) [noun] armed hostilities between two nations; conflict; a war.

--- OR ---

Kaṃtaka (ಕಂತಕ):—[noun] = ಕಂತು [kamtu]2 - 1.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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Search found 36 books and stories containing Kantaka, Kaṇṭaka, Kantakā, Kamtaka, Kāntaka, Kāṇṭaka, Kaṃṭaka, Kaṃtaka; (plurals include: Kantakas, Kaṇṭakas, Kantakās, Kamtakas, Kāntakas, Kāṇṭakas, Kaṃṭakas, Kaṃtakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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Part 6 - Treatment for indigestion (4): Ajirna-kantaka rasa < [Chapter IV - Irregularity of the digesting heat]

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Section XXXVI - Who are ‘Thorns’ (kaṇṭaka)? < [Discourse IX - Duties of the King (concluded)]