Kesara, Keśara, Keshara: 19 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
See also

Kesara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.

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 Purāna

Kesara (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 Encyclopedia

Kesara (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 Translation

Keśara (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 Index

Kesara (केसर).—The mountain from whose summits the Sītā descends.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 17. 6.

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.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

1) 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 Nighantu

Kesara (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 Ghṛta

Kesara (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.

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.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

Kesara (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;

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 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 (eg., 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.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kesara : (nt.) hairy structures of flowers; name (of animal.).

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

1) 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)

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

kēśara (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-English

kēśara (केशर).—n Saffron. Fibre–esp. in mangoes.

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kēsara (केसर).—m kēmmara n Filament of flowers, &c. A lion's mane.

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-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kesara (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 Dictionary

Keśara (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 Dictionary

Keśara (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 Dictionary

Keśara (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 Dictionary

Kesara (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 Dictionary

1) 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.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.

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Search found 27 books and stories containing Kesara, Keśara, Kēśara, Kēśarā, Keśarā, Kēsara, Kesarā, Keshara; (plurals include: Kesaras, Keśaras, Kēśaras, Kēśarās, Keśarās, Kēsaras, Kesarās, Kesharas). 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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Chapter 27 - Procedure of Pūjā Maṇḍala Construction < [Section 9 - Vāsudeva-māhātmya]

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Chapter 9 - The power of Kāma and the birth of his attendants < [Section 2.2 - Rudra-saṃhitā (2): Satī-khaṇḍa]

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