Kesara, Keśara, Keshara: 28 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Kesara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi. 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.
The Sanskrit term Keśara can be transliterated into English as Kesara or Keshara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Google Books: Cultural History from the Vāyu PurānaKesara (केसर):—This Kesara-droṇi is situated between the Kumuda and Añjana mountains. Here is also the Śabala forest in which is a mansion of Viṣṇu, the guru of the Suras.
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaKesara (केसर).—A Mountain in Śākadvīpa (Śāka island). The air on this mountain was always filled with fragrance. (Mahābhārata Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 11, Stanza 23).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationKeśara (केशर) refers to one of the various flowers conjured by Vasanta (spring) in an attempt to charm Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.9. Accordingly as Kāma related to Brahmā:—“[...] Spring (Vasanta) too did the needful in enchanting Him. O, listen to it, O fortunate Being. I tell you the truth, the truth alone. He caused the various kinds of flowers to bloom in the place where Śiva was stationed—flowers such as Campakas, Keśaras, Punnāgas, Ketakas, Mallikās, Kurabakas etc. etc.”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexKesara (केसर).—The mountain from whose summits the Sītā descends.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 17. 6.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany1) Keśara (केशर, “hair”) is a Sanskrit word referring to Ochrocarpus longifolius (fragrant poon), a plant in the Calophyllaceae family, and is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā. The literal translation of Keśara is “hair”, and commonly refers to the hair of the brow. The plant is found throughout the Western Ghats (sahyadri), a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of India.
2) Kesara (केसर) is another name (synonym) for Kampillaka, which is the Sanskrit word for Mallotus philippensis (kamala tree), a plant from the Cleomaceae family. This synonym was identified by Narahari in his 13th-century Rājanighaṇṭu (verse 13.99), which is an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus.
Source: Wisdom Library: Raj NighantuKesara (केसर) is the name of a tree (Maulśrī) that is associated with the Nakṣatra (celestial star) named Anurādhā, according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). Accordingly, “these [trees] are propounded in Śāstras, the secret scriptures (śāstrāgama). These pious trees [viz, Kesara], if grown and protected, promote long life”. These twenty-seven trees related to the twenty-seven Nakṣatras are supposed to be Deva-vṛkṣas or Nakṣatra-vṛkṣas.
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Physicochemical Screening and Shelf Life Evaluation of Kuṅkumādi GhṛtaKesara (केसर) refers to the medicinal plant known as Crocus sativus Linn., the stigma of which is employed in the medicinal formulation called kuṅkumādi-ghṛta.—Kesara (stigma of Crocus sativus Linn.) is a prime ingredient in the formulation. However, due to high cost and increased adulteration in Kesara, ‘Nāgakesara’ (Mesua ferrea Linn.) is suggested by Ayurvedic experts as a substitute. Nāgakesara is relatively lower in cost and possesses similar therapeutic attributes to that of Kesara.
Source: eJournal of Indian Medicine: Jajjaṭa’s Nirantarapadavyākhyā and Other Commentaries on the CarakasaṃhitāKeśara (केशर) refers to Crocus sativus Linn., and is the name of 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.—(Cf. Indian Medicinal Plants 2:212, Arya Vaidya Sala, 1993-96.). Synonyms of Keśara: Keśarāhvaya, Kesara, or Nāgakesara.—(Cf. Glossary of Vegetable Drugs in Bṛhattrayī 117-118, Singh and Chunekar, 1999)
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraKesara (केसर) refers to a variety of prāsāda (‘superstructure’, or, upper storey of any building), according to the Mayamata (5th-century guidebook on Dravidian architecture). It is part of the Ekatala (one-storey) group of prāsādas.
The Kesara variety has the following specifications and decorative motif components:
Number of talas (levels): 1;
Shape of grīva (neck) and śikhara (head): Circular or Square;
Number of śālas: 4;
Number of kūṭas: 4;
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 Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Economic Life In Ancient India (as depicted in Jain canonical literature)Kesara (केसर) refers to “saffron”: a product of flowers (puṣpa) commonly used in for personal and commercial purposes in ancient India. It is also known as Kuṃkuma. People were fond of flowers. The groves and gardens were maintained for recreational purpose. The Jain canonical texts frequently mention different horticulture products viz. fruits, vegetables and flowers which depict that horticulture was a popular pursuit of the people at that time. Gardens and parks (ārāma, ujjāṇa or nijjaṇa) were full of fruits and flowers of various kinds which besides yielding their products provided a calm andquiet place where people could enjoy the natural surroundings.
The flowers and their products (e.g., Kesara ) fulfilled the aesthetic needs of the people. At the same time they had an economic importance in as much as some people depended on its trade. It is mentioned that people of Koṅkaṇa maintained themselves by selling fruits and flowers. (see Bṛhatkalpasūtra) Flower garlands and bouquet of various designs were prepared and sold. Saffron (kuṃkuma or kesara) was an important flower product. It yielded a good income to the producers. The flower attracted the bees who yielded honey (mahu, sanskrit: madhu) of different varieties, e. g. macchiya, kuṭṭiya, bhāmara, etc.
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraKesarā (केसरा) is an incarnation of the merchant Dhaneśvara, according to chapter 5.4 [śāntinātha-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.
Accordingly, as Śānti-nātha narrated to king Kurucandra:—“In this very Jambūdvīpa in this same zone Bhārata in the country Kosala in the city Śrīpura there were four merchants’ sons of the same age, like full brothers, Sudhana, Dhanapati, Dhanada, Dhaneśvara. [...] In course of time Dhanapati and Dhaneśvara died. Both of them became merchants’ daughters, Madirā and Kesarā, one in Śaṅkhapura and the other in Jayantī. [...]”.
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 Dictionarykesara : (nt.) hairy structures of flowers; name (of animal.).
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary1) Kesara, 2 (fr. kesa) filament of flowers, hairy structures of plants esp. of the lotus; usually of kiñjakkha PvA. 77; VvA. 12; 111;— sa-kesarehi padumapattehi lotusleaves with their hairs VvA. 32; nicula-k° fibres of the Nicula tree VvA. 134.
2) Kesara, 1 a mane, in —sīha a maned lion J. II, 244; SnA 127. (Page 227)
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 Dictionarykēśara (केशर).—n (S) Saffron. 2 A shrub used in dyeing, Rottleria tinctoria.
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kēśarā (केशरा).—m (kēśara) A yellow garment put on (by a warrior &c.) in indication of his determination to conquer or die. v kara, ghē.
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kēsara (केसर).—m (S) pop. kēṃsara n A capillament or filament (of flowers &c.) 2 A lion's mane.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishkēśara (केशर).—n Saffron. Fibre–esp. in mangoes.
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kēsara (केसर).—m kēmmara n Filament of flowers, &c. A lion's mane.
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 dictionaryKesara (केसर).—1 The mane (as of a lion); न हन्त्यदूरेऽपि गजान्मृगेश्वरो विलोलजिह्वश्चलिताग्रकेसरः (na hantyadūre'pi gajānmṛgeśvaro vilolajihvaścalitāgrakesaraḥ) Ṛs.1.14; Ś.7.14.
2) The filament of a flower; नीपं दृष्ट्वा हरितक- पिशं केसरैरर्धरूढैः (nīpaṃ dṛṣṭvā haritaka- piśaṃ kesarairardharūḍhaiḥ) Me.21; Ś.6.18; M.2.11; R.4.67; Śi.9.47.
3) The Bakula tree; रक्ताशोकश्चलकिसलयः केसर- श्चात्र कान्तः (raktāśokaścalakisalayaḥ kesara- ścātra kāntaḥ) Me.8; Ku.3.55.
4) The Punnāga tree.
5) The fibre (as of a mango fruit).
6) Saffron.
7) The hair.
-ram 1 A flower of the Bakula tree; सुरभि- गन्धपराजितकेसरम् (surabhi- gandhaparājitakesaram) R.9.36.
2) Gold.
3) Sulphate of iron.
Derivable forms: kesaraḥ (केसरः), kesaram (केसरम्).
See also (synonyms): keśara.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryKeśara (केशर).—m. or nt., or oftener keśara-cūrṇa, nt. (compare AMg. kesara, pollen), a fragrant powder: keśara, bought of perfumers, Mahāvastu i.38.4, 6, 9; presumably prepared from pollen (rather than from the flowers called kesara or keś°, with Senart); otherwise always keśara- (mss. sometimes °la)-cūrṇāni, mentioned with candana-, tamāla(pattra)-, and aguru-cūrṇāni, Mahāvastu i.211.20; 212.8, 12; 230.17; 267.2; ii.15.20; 160.16 (mss. °la); 162.6 (mss. °la); 286.15 (here Senart keśala, but v.l. °ra!).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryKeśara (केशर).—mn.
(-raḥ-raṃ) The filament of a lotus or of any vegetable. m.
(-raḥ) 1. A plant, commonly Nageswar, (Mesua ferrea.) 2. A tree bearing a white strong smelling flower, (Mimusops elengi:) see vakula. 3. A shrub used in dying, (Rottleria tinctoria;) also punnāga. 4. A lion’s mane. n.
(-raṃ) Asafœtida. E. ka water, &c. in the seventh case ke, śṛ to go, ap affix; also with sṛ to go kesara.
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Kesara (केसर).—mn.
(-raḥ-raṃ) A filament. m.
(-raḥ) 1. A lion. 2. A horse. 3. The name of a horse or lion, &c., see keśara. 4. A plant, (Mimusops elengi.) 5. A tree used in dying, (Rottleria Tinctoria.) nf. (-raṃ-rī) Asafœtida. n.
(-raṃ) 1. Gold. 2. Sulphate of iron. 3. The flower of the Nageswar. E. ke on the head, sṛ to go, ṭa aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryKeśara (केशर).—[keśa + ra], also kesara kesara, I. n. A lion’s or horse’s mane, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 207. Ii. m. and n. The filament of a lotus, or of any vegetable, [Śiśupālavadha] 9, 47. (with s). Iii. m. The name of several plants, Mesua ferrea, Mimusops elengi, Bottleria tinctoria; their flower, n., [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 96, 6.
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Kesara (केसर).—and kesarin kesarin; see keśara keśara, keśarin keśarin.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryKesara (केसर).—[neuter] (ā [feminine]) = keśa; also filament, [especially] of a lotus; [masculine] [Name] of a plant = bakula.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Keśara (केशर):—[from keśa] etc. See kesara.
2) Kesara (केसर):—n. the hair (of the brow), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xix, 91]
3) (in classical literature usually keśara) m. or n. (?), the mane (of a horse or lion), [Rāmāyaṇa; Śakuntalā; Pañcatantra] etc.
4) Kesarā (केसरा):—[from kesara] f. idem, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra] (kes)
5) Kesara (केसर):—n. the tail of the Bos grunniens (used as a fan for driving away flies), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) mn. (as, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; am) the filament of a lotus or of any vegetable, [Rāmāyaṇa; Suśruta; Śakuntalā] etc.
7) n. a fibre (as of a Mango fruit), [Suśruta]
8) m. the plants Rottleria tinctoria, Mimusops Elengi, and Mesua ferrea, [Mahābhārata xiii, 5042; Rāmāyaṇa; Lalita-vistara; Kumāra-sambhava; Meghadūta]
9) n. the flower of those plants, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) mfn. (as, ā, am) Asa foetida, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) n. gold, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) sulphate of iron, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
13) Name of a metre (of 4 x 18 syllables)
14) m. Name of a mountain, [Mahābhārata vi, 11, 23;]
15) cf. [Latin] eoesaries; [Anglo-Saxon] haer; [English] hair; [German] Haar.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Keśara (केशर):—[(raḥ-raṃ)] 1. m. n. The filament of a lotus; lion’s mane. m. Mesua ferrea or Mimusops elengi or Rottleria tinctoria. n. Asafoetida.
2) Kesara (केसर):—[(raḥ-raṃ)] 1. m. n. A filament of a lotus. m. A lion; a horse, or its mane; Mimusops or Rottleria tinctoria. (rī-raṃ) f. n. Asafoetida. n. Gold; sulphate of iron; flower of the Nāgesar.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Kesara (केसर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kesara, Kesarā.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryKesara (केसर):—(nf) saffron; ~[riyā] saffron (coloured); •[bānā] donning of saffron robes (for sacrifice).
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Kesara (केसर) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kavīśvara.
2) Kesara (केसर) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kesara.
3) Kesara (केसर) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kesara.
4) Kesarā (केसरा) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Kesarā.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusKēśara (ಕೇಶರ):—[noun] the dried, aromatic stigmas of the plant Crocus sativus of Iridaceae family, used in flavouring and colouring foods, and formerly in medicine; saffron powder.
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Kēsara (ಕೇಸರ):—
1) [noun] (bot.) the stalk of a stamen bearing the anther; the filament of a flower.
2) [noun] the fine, dust like mass of grains that are produced in the anthers or microspore sacs of seed plants, containing the male sexual cells (gametophytes) of the plant; pollen.
3) [noun] the long hair growing from the top or sides of the neck of certain animals, as the horse or lion; the mane.
4) [noun] the tree Mimusops elengi of Sapotaceae family.
5) [noun] the tree Mesua ferrea of Guttiferae family; Iron wood of Ceylon.
6) [noun] the perennial plant Crocus sativus of Iridaceae family with funnel-shaped, purplish flowers having orange stigmas; saffron plant.
7) [noun] the tree Bixa orellana of Bixaceae family.
8) [noun] the tree Mammea suriga ( = Ochrocarpus longifolius) of Clusiaceae family.
9) [noun] its flowers.
10) [noun] gold.
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)
Starts with (+26): Kesarabhara, Kesarabhatu, Kesarabondi, Kesaracala, Kesarachala, Kesaradamda, Kesaradhara, Kesaradroni, Kesaradruma, Kesaragra, Kesaragrama, Kesaragunda, Kesaraka, Kesarakallu, Kesarakshetramahatmya, Kesaral, Kesarala, Kesarama, Kesaramahatmya, Kesaramala.
Ends with (+18): Ambujakesara, Ambukeshara, Amlakeshara, Atikeshara, Baddhakesara, Bhanukesara, Bhutakesara, Cakkesara, Carukesara, Dinakeshara, Gajakesara, Gamdakesara, Ibhakeshara, Karalakeshara, Kinjakesara, Kumkumakesara, Kunkumakeshara, Madhyamlakesara, Mamakesara, Mulakeshara.
Full-text (+93): Nagakesara, Kesaramla, Kesaravara, Padmakesara, Romakeshara, Amlakeshara, Rasakesara, Simhakeshara, Atikeshara, Phanikeshara, Mamakesara, Dinakeshara, Keshari, Kesaracala, Kesaramala, Bhutakesara, Varayonika, Phalakesara, Ibhakeshara, Ambukeshara.
Relevant text
Search found 30 books and stories containing Kesara, Keśara, Kēśara, Kēśarā, Keśarā, Kēsara, Kesarā, Kēsarā, Keshara; (plurals include: Kesaras, Keśaras, Kēśaras, Kēśarās, Keśarās, Kēsaras, Kesarās, Kēsarās, Kesharas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 14: Story of Kurucandra < [Chapter V - Twelfth incarnation as Śānti]
Part 6: Visit to Sūri Arindama < [Chapter I - Previous incarnation as Vimalavāhana]
Part 16: Resumption of Nala story < [Chapter III - Vasudeva’s Marriage with Kanakavatī and her Former Incarnations]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 27 - Procedure of Pūjā Maṇḍala Construction < [Section 9 - Vāsudeva-māhātmya]
Chapter 236 - Greatness of Gifting Desired Objects < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 43 - Establishment of Bhaṭṭāditya < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 9 - The power of Kāma and the birth of his attendants < [Section 2.2 - Rudra-saṃhitā (2): Satī-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 8 - The detailed description of the chariot etc. < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 17 - Description of the Jambūdvīpa (jambū-dvīpa) < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Introduction to Poisons (visha)
Part 18 - Tuber Poison (18): Keshara, Pradipana or Mahabisha (Mahavisha) < [Chapter XXX - Visha (poisons)]
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Treatment for fever (73): Pratapa-lankeshvara rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]