Kantakari, Kaṇṭakārī: 10 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Kantakari means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyKaṇṭakārī (कण्टकारी) is a Sanskrit word referring to Solanum xanthocarpum, a species of plant from the Solanaceae (nightshades) family of flowering plants. It is also known as Nidigdhikā. In English, the plant is known as the “yellow-berried nightshade” or the “Thai green eggplant” Among the botanical synonyms are: Solanum virginianum, Solanum Surattense, Solanum mairei. It is a suffrutescent perennial undershrub, growing in dry situations throughout India. It has zigzag branches spread close to the ground and covered with strong, broad, sharp yellowish white prickles. The leaves are armed with yellow sharp prickles. The flowers are blue and the fruits are yellow or white berries.
This plant (Kaṇṭakārī) is also mentioned as a medicine used for the treatment of all major fevers, as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which forms the first chapter of the Sanskrit work called Mādhavacikitsā. In this work, the plant is also known by the names Kṣudrā, Kaṇṭakārīkā, Vyāghrī, Nidigdhīkā, Kakṣmaṇā. In this work, the plant is mentioned being part of both the Daśamūla, the Pañcamūla, Bṛhatīdvaya and the Bṛhatyādigaṇa group of medicinal drugs.
Source: Google Books: Essentials of AyurvedaKaṇṭakāri (कण्टकारि).—The Sanskrit name for an important Ayurvedic drug.—Vyāghrī and Nidigdhikā are its synonyms. The plant is fully covered with thorns. Kaṇṭakārī is pungent, bitter, useful for throat and alleviates cough, bronchial asthma and fever.
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭuKaṇṭakārī (कण्टकारी) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Solanum xanthacarpum, a synonym of Solanum virginianum L. (“surattense nightshade” or “Thai eggplant”) from the Solanaceae or “nightshades” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.30-32 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. Kaṇṭakārī is commonly known in Hindi as Choṭīkaṭerī or Bhaṭkaṭaiyā; in Bengali as Kaṇṭakārī; in Telugu as Vankudā; in Tamil as Kandan-kaṭīrī; in Gujarati as Bhoya-riṅgaṇī; and in Marathi as Bhūiriṅgiṇī.
Śvetabṛhatī is mentioned as having fourteen synonyms: Kaṇṭakinī, Dusparśā, Duṣpradharṣiṇī, Kṣudrā, Vyāghrī, Nidigdhā, Dhāvinī, Kṣudrakaṇṭikā, Bahukaṇṭā, Kṣudrakaṇṭā, Kṣudraphalā, Kaṇṭārikā and Citraphalā.
Properties and characteristics: “the smaller Kaṇṭakārī is pungent and hot, increases appetite and is effective in asthma and cough. It cures rhinitis and its complications. It cures the fevers due to Kapha and Vāta doṣas”.
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Yogaśataka of Pandita VararuciKaṇṭakārī (कण्टकारी) refers to a medicinal plant known as Solanum surattense Burm., and is mentioned in the 10th century Yogaśataka written by Pandita Vararuci.—The Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci is an example of this category. This book attracts reader by its very easy language and formulations which can be easily prepared and have small number of herbs (viz., Kaṇṭakārī). It describes only those formulations which are the most common and can be used in majority conditions of diseases.
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Evaluation of Cyavanaprāśa on Health and Immunity related Parameters in Healthy ChildrenKaṇṭakārī (कण्टकारी) refers to the medicinal plant known as Solanum surattense, Pl., and is used in the Ayurvedic formulation known as Cyavanaprāśa: an Ayurvedic health product that helps in boosting immunity.—Cyavanaprāśa has been found to be effective as an immunity booster, vitalizer and a preventer of day to day infections and allergies such as common cold and cough etc. It is a classical Ayurvedic formulation comprising ingredients such as Kaṇṭakārī. [...] Cyavanaprāśa can be consumed in all seasons as it contains weather friendly ingredients which nullify unpleasant effects due to extreme environmental and climatic conditions.
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Botanical identification of plants described in Mādhava CikitsāKaṇṭakārī (कण्टकारी) (one of the pāñcamūlikā) refers to the medicinal plant Solanum xanthocarpum Schrad. & Wendl., and is used in the treatment of atisāra (diarrhoea), according to the 7th century Mādhavacikitsā chapter 2. 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 Kaṇṭakārī] through 60 Sanskrit verses about treating this problem.

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarykaṇṭakārī (कंटकारी).—f C A kind of prickly nightshade, Solanum Jacquini.
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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryKaṇṭakārī (कण्टकारी).—f. (-rī) 1. A prickly nightshade: see the preceding. 2. The silk cotton tree, (Bombax heptaphyllum.) 3. Another plant, commonly Buinchi'hi, (Flacourtia sapida, Rox.) E. As before.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kaṇṭakārī (कण्टकारी):—[=kaṇṭa-kārī] [from kaṇṭa-kāra > kaṇṭa] f. Solanum Jacquini, [Suśruta]
2) [v.s. ...] Bombax Heptaphyllum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] Flacourtia Sapida, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Kantakarika, Kantakarin, Kantakaritraya.
Ends with: Kshudrakantakari, Lokantakari, Shvetakantakari.
Full-text (+56): Kantakarika, Kantakaritraya, Citraphala, Kshudra, Sitakshudra, Sitasimhi, Sitakanta, Dashamula, Vyaghri, Shvetakantakari, Durlabha, Rasna, Dhavanika, Kshudrahingulika, Sitakantarika, Anakranta, Kshudrakantakari, Prapuraka, Kasaghna, Lakshmana.
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Search found 10 books and stories containing Kantakari, Kaṇṭakārī, Kaṇṭakāri, Kanta-kari, Kaṇṭa-kārī; (plurals include: Kantakaris, Kaṇṭakārīs, Kaṇṭakāris, karis, kārīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 2 - Purification of Diamonds < [Chapter XIII - Gems (1): Vajra or Hiraka (diamond)]
Part 7 - Incineration of iron (26) < [Chapter IV - Metals (4): Lauha (iron)]
Part 5 - Purification of iron < [Chapter IV - Metals (4): Lauha (iron)]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 6 - Treatment for indigestion (4): Ajirna-kantaka rasa < [Chapter IV - Irregularity of the digesting heat]
Treatment for fever (126): Vishveshvara rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]
Treatment for fever (163): Brihat-jvarantaka lauha < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter CXCVIII - Various medicinal compounds disclosed by Hari to Hara < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Chapter CXCVII - Preparations of medicinal oils and Ghritas < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Chapter CXCIII - Medical treatment of fever etc < [Dhanvantari Samhita]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Chapter 3 - Symptoms and treatment of Kasa (cough)
Chapter 7 - Symptoms and treatment of Urograha
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 2: Minerals (uparasa) (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 9 - Liquefaction of mica < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Part 4 - Process for creation of Dhanya-abhra (paddy mica) < [Chapter I - Uparasa (1): Abhra or Abhraka (mica)]
Sushruta Samhita, Volume 6: Uttara-tantra (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
Chapter IX - Treatment of Vataja Ophthalmia < [Canto I - Shalakya-tantra (ears, eyes, nose, mouth and throat)]
Chapter LIX - Symptoms and Treatment of the defects of Urine (Mutra-dosha) < [Canto III - Kaya-chikitsa-tantra (internal medicine)]
Chapter XXI - Medical Treatment of Ear-disease < [Canto I - Shalakya-tantra (ears, eyes, nose, mouth and throat)]