Kapikacchu, Kapi-kacchu, Kapikacchū: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Kapikacchu means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Kapikachchhu.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyKapikacchu (कपिकच्छु) is a Sanskrit word referring to Mucuna pruriens (“velvet bean”). It is a type of legume (śamīdhānya), according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. It is also known as Ātmaguptā. The plant Kapikacchu is part of the Śamīdhānyavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of legumes”. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic value of the plant. The fruits of Kapikacchu are similar in properties to those of Māṣa, which is aphrodisisac, excellent vāta-alleviating, unctuous, hot, weet, heavy and strength-promoting in character. Māṣa also causes an abundance of faeces and gives sexual potency.
According to the Mādhavacikitsā (7th century Ayurvedic work), this plant (Kapikacchu) is possibly identified with Vānarī, a medicinal used for the treatment of all major fevers (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) chapter.
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭuKapikacchu (कपिकच्छु) is the Sanskrit name for a medicinal plant identified with Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean or cowhage or cowitch) from the Fabaceae or “bean family” of flowering plants, according to verse 3.50-53 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. Kapikacchu is commonly known in Hindi as Kewānch or Kounch; in Marathi as Khāj-kabilī; in Gujarati as Kauch; in Kannada as Vāsgunnī; in Telugu as Pilliadugū or Dulagondī; and in Tamil as Punnaikkalī.
Kapikacchu is mentioned as having twenty-six synonyms: Ātmaguptā, Svayaṃguptā, Maharṣabhī, Lāṅgulī, Kuṇḍalī, Caṇḍā, Markaṭī, Durabhigrahā, Kapiromaphalā, Guptā, Dusparśā, Kacchurā, Jayā, Prāvṛṣeṇyā, Śūkaśimbī, Badarī, Guru, Ārṣabhī, Śimbī, Varāhikā, Tīkṣṇā, Romālu, Vanaśūkarī, Kīśaromā and Romavallī.
Properties and characteristics: “Kapikacchu is sweet, aphrodisiac and useful in vāta, kṣaya (tuberculosis), urticaria, bleeding disorders, and complicated wounds”.
Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgrahaKapikacchu (कपिकच्छु) is another name for “Ātmaguptā” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning kapikacchu] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
Source: eJournal of Indian Medicine: Jajjaṭa’s Nirantarapadavyākhyā and Other Commentaries on the CarakasaṃhitāKapikacchu (कपिकच्छु) refers to Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) DC. and is a medicinal plant mentioned in the 7th-century Nirantarapadavyākhyā by Jejjaṭa (or Jajjaṭa): one of the earliest extant and, therefore, one of the most important commentaries on the Carakasaṃhitā.—Note: Ātmaguptā is a synonym of Kapikacchu.—(Cf. Indian Medicinal Plants 4:68, Arya Vaidya Sala, 1993-96.).—(Cf. The Plant List, A Working List of All Plant Species 34, 461, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden).

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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraKapikacchū (कपिकच्छू) is the name of a fruit (Mucuna pruriens) causing great irritation, as mentioned in chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.—(cf. The Commercial Products of India p. 400)
Accordingly, as Muni Yugandhara said to Nirnāmikā (daughter of Nāgaśrī and Nāgila):
“[...] What pain is yours, lady, thinking yourself afflicted? Hear the afflictions of others. From the modifications of their karma souls are born in hell, doomed to be cut apart, doomed to mutilation, and to have their heads cut off. [...] One should not take an object that has not been given, since certainly there is no comfort from the taking of a thing not given, just as from the touch of kapikacchū fruit. [...]”.

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
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarykapikacchu : (m.) the plant Mucana prutitus.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryKapikacchu refers to: the plant Mucuna pruritus Pv. II, 310; °phala its fruit PvA. 86;
Note: kapikacchu is a Pali compound consisting of the words kapi and kacchu.

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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryKapikacchu (कपिकच्छु).—f. Name of a plant.
Derivable forms: kapikacchuḥ (कपिकच्छुः).
Kapikacchu is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kapi and kacchu (कच्छु).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryKapikacchu (कपिकच्छु).—f.
(-cchuḥ) Cowach, (Dolichos carpopogon.) E. kapi a monkey, and kacchu itching; also with final vowel long kapikacchū.
--- OR ---
Kapīkacchu (कपीकच्छु).—f.
(-cchuḥ) Cowach: aee kapikaccha.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kapikacchu (कपिकच्छु):—[=kapi-kacchu] [from kapi] f. us and ūs Mucuna Pruritus, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
2) Kapīkacchu (कपीकच्छु):—[=kapī-kacchu] [from kapi] m. = kapi-ka above.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kapikacchu (कपिकच्छु):—[kapi-kacchu] (cchuḥ) 2. f. Cowach.
2) Kapīkacchu (कपीकच्छु):—(cchuḥ) 2. f. Cowach.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Kapikacchu (कपिकच्छु) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Khaikacchu.
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Kacchu, Kapi.
Starts with: Kapikacchuphalopama, Kapikacchura.
Full-text (+44): Ajada, Kapikacchuphalopama, Kapiprabha, Vanashukari, Kundali, Atmagupta, Kapikacchura, Gupta, Khaikacchu, Adhyanda, Arshabhi, Guru, Svayamgupta, Romavalli, Maharshabhi, Kapiromaphala, Kisharoma, Shukashimbi, Romalu, Mucuna pruriens.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Kapikacchu, Kapi-kacchu, Kapikacchū, Kapīkacchu, Kapī-kacchu, Kapi-kacchū; (plurals include: Kapikacchus, kacchus, Kapikacchūs, Kapīkacchus, kacchūs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Chapter 76 - Erotic remedies, Spermatic drugs and Medicines (kāndarpika)
Appendix 8 - Glossary of Medical and Botanical terms
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 12: Attainment of disgust with existence < [Chapter II]
Part 1: Grief of the people at their death < [Chapter VI - Emancipation of Ajita Svāmin and Sagara]
Part 13: Fifth incarnation as the Īśāna god < [Chapter I]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita (by Nayana Sharma)
Practice of Therapeutics < [Chapter 4]
Related products