In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक):—One of the two variations of Rasaka (‘zinc ore, calamine’), which is part of the mahārasa group of minerals, according to the Rasaprakāśasudhākara: a 13th century Sanskrit book on Indian alchemy, or, Rasaśāstra. Kāravellaka is used for satvapātana purposes. It is considered as sarvamehahare (that which destroys all types of meha (urinary) rogas) and also pitta-śleṣma-vināśana (that which pacifies pitta-doṣa and kapha-doṣa).

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Vaidyavallabha: An Authoritative Work on Ayurveda Therapeutics

Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक) or Kareli Momordica charantia, and is the name of a medicinal plant dealt with in the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha written by Hastiruci.—The Vaidyavallabha is a work which deals with the treatment and useful for all 8 branches of Ayurveda. The text Vaidyavallabha has been designed based on the need of the period of the author, availability of drugs (viz., Kāravellaka) during that time, disease manifesting in that era, socio-economical-cultural-familial-spiritual-aspects of that period Vaidyavallabha.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक) refers to a type of vegetable (śāka), according to The Vyākhyāprajñapti 7.3.276. It is also known by the name Kāravella or Susavi in Sanskrit or Karela in Hindi. Different kinds of vegetables were grown in the vegetable gardens (kaccha / kakṣa). The consumption of vegetables was considered essential for digesting food according to the Niśīthacūrṇi. The Jaina texts forbid the consumption of certain vegetables as it leads to killing of insects.

The Vyākhyāprajñapti, also known as the Bhagavatīsūtra contains a compilation of 36,000 questions answered by Mahāvīra and dates to at least the 1st century A.D. The Niśīthacūrṇi by Jinadāsa is a 7th century commentary on the Niśthasūtra and deals with Jain medical knowledge.

context information

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.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Karavellaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Momordica charantia in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Sicyos fauriei H. Lév. (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Tribuna Farmacêutica. (1939)
· Ceylon Journal of Science, Biological Sciences (1995)
· Fl. Trop. E. Afr., Cucurbit. (1967)
· Herbarium Amboinense (Linn.) (1754)
· Flore des Mascareignes: la Réunion, Maurice, Rodrigues (1990)
· Museo Nacional de Historia Natural (Bolivia) Comunicación (1990)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Karavellaka, for example side effects, diet and recipes, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, health benefits, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

context information

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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक).—

1) Name of a bitter vegetable (Mar. kāraleṃ ?)

2) A missile of the shape of कारवेल्ल (kāravella), covered all over with sharp edges; गण्डशैलैः कारवेल्लैः लोहकण्टकवेष्टितैः (gaṇḍaśailaiḥ kāravellaiḥ lohakaṇṭakaveṣṭitaiḥ) Parṇal 4.75.

Derivable forms: kāravellakaḥ (कारवेल्लकः).

See also (synonyms): kāravella.

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

Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक).—m.

(-kaḥ) See the preceding.

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

Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक):—[from kāravella] m. idem, [Suśruta]

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

Kāravellaka (कारवेल्लक):—[kāra-vellaka] (kaḥ) 1. m. Idem.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Vellaka, Kara.

Full-text: Karavella, Karamihika, Krishnavarga, Rasaka, Kareli, Dardura.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Karavellaka, Kara-vellaka, Kāra-vellaka, Kāravellaka; (plurals include: Karavellakas, vellakas, Kāravellakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Sushruta Samhita, volume 1: Sutrasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)

Chapter XLII - Knowledge of tastes of drugs

Chapter XLVI - Diet articles and regimen of diet

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Sushruta Samhita, volume 4: Cikitsasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)

Chapter V - The diseases affecting the nervous system

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