Ketaka: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Ketaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi, biology. 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Ketaka (केतक) is the name of a plant, whose flowers (kusuma) should not used in the worship of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.14:—“[...] excepting the Campaka and the Ketaka there is no flower (kusuma) which does not appeal to Śiva. All other flowers can be used for worshipping Him”.
2) Ketaka (केतक) is mentioned as 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.”.
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.
Ganapatya (worship of Ganesha)
Ketaka (केतक) refers to certain Flowers (used in the worship of Gaṇeśa), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.18 (“Gaṇeśa crowned as the chief of Gaṇas”).—Accordingly, as Śiva said to Gaṇeśa: “[...] After prostrations, various routines shall be carried on. He who performs Vratas like this can secure the desired fruits. O Gaṇeśa, he who performs your worship upto his ability, with faith, shall derive the fruit of all desires. The devotee shall worship you, the lord of Gaṇas with vermillion, sandal paste, raw rice grains and Ketaka flowers as well as with other services. [...]”.
Ganapatya (गाणपत्य, gāṇapatya) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Ganesha is revered and worshipped as the prime deity (ishta-devata). Being a minor though influential movement, Ganapatya evovled, llike Shaktism and Shaivism, as a separate movement leaving behind a large body of literature.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Ketaka (केतक) refers to “Pandanus odoratissimus” ( the smell of whose flowers is said to resemble the odor of certain elephants ), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 8, “on marks of character”]: “11. Who has the odor of Pentapetes phoenicea, rice, sesame, keketaka-flowers (Pandanus odoratissimus) [e.g., kaitaka], or mālatī (a jasmine), whose uvula is adorned (with spots), patient of pain, flesh-eating, fond of kind words, who even if angered is quickly appeased, he is (like) the Vaiśya (artisan) caste”.
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)
Ketaka (केतक) (distinguished by the city Śvetambī) refers to one of the 25½ countries of the Kṣetrāryas, situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“In these 35 zones on this side of Mānuṣottara and in the Antaradvīpas, men arise by birth; [...]. From the division into Āryas and Mlecchas they are two-fold. The Āryas have sub-divisions [e.g., kṣetra (country)]. [...] The kṣetrāryas are born in the 15 Karmabhumis. Here in Bharata they have 25½ places of origin (e.g., ½ of the Ketaka), distinguishable by cities (e.g., Śvetambī) in which the birth of Tīrthakṛts, Cakrabhṛts, Kṛṣṇas, and Balas takes place”.
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.
India history and geography
Ketaka (ཀེ་ཏ་ཀ་) refers to a type of gemstone.—The Bhutanese astrologers, like other Himalayan astrologers, explain that the star Rishi is formed from crystal (ཆུ་ཤེལ་) and ketaka (ཀེ་ཏ་ཀ་) gemstone which has the power to purify water. Thus, it is called the medicinal star. The rays emitting from the star is said to have the power to cleanse the impurities of water and disinfect the water of any pathogen and toxicity. Water touched by the light of Rishi is considered to be endowed with healing power and to posses the eight qualities of being a cool, clear, clean, light, sweet, soothing and harmless to the throat and stomach.
In the sacred mountains around Mt Meru, the gods, divinities and saints of yore are said to have created a statue of Buddha Vairocana with the numerous precious stones. The crown of the Buddha Vairocana is said to have been made of the same materials of crystal and ketaka gem which form the star Rishi. When the star Rishi shines above the Buddha for a week, drops of divine nectar are said to dribble down due to the prayers of the gods, divinities and saints of the past. These drops of celestial nectar then imbue the streams and rivers of the world with healing power and blessings. Thus, people drink and bath in the waters during the week.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Biology (plants and animals)
1) Ketaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Pandanus odorifer in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Keura odora Thunb. (among others).
2) Ketaka is also identified with Pandanus tectorius It has the synonym Pandanus futunaensis H. St. John (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Flora (1842)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)
· Pacific Sci. (1961)
· Fieldiana, Botany (1958)
· Sandakania (1993)
· Pacific Sci. (1963)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Ketaka, for example side effects, diet and recipes, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, health benefits, extract dosage, have a look at these references.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Ketaka, (etym. uncertain) N. of a flower J. IV, 482. (Page 225)
ketaka (ကေတက) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[kita+ṇvu．keta+ṇvu]
[ကိတ+ဏွု။ ကေတ+ဏွု]
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
kētaka (केतक).—n (S) The flower of Pandanus odoratissimus. 2 Applied also to a single petal plucked off. 3 or kētakapāna n A golden ornament for the hair (of women).
kētaka (केतक).—n The flower of Pandanus odora- tissimus. kētaka or kētakapāna n A golden ornament.
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
Ketaka (केतक).—[kit nivāse ṇvul]
1) Name of a plant; प्रतिभान्त्यद्य वनानि केतकानाम् (pratibhāntyadya vanāni ketakānām) Ghaṭ.15.
2) A banner.
-kam A flower of the Ketaka plant; केतकैः सूचिभिन्नैः (ketakaiḥ sūcibhinnaiḥ) Meghadūta 23; R.6.17; 13.16.
-kī 1 Name of a plant (= ketaka); हसितमिव विधत्ते सूचिभिः केतकीनाम् (hasitamiva vidhatte sūcibhiḥ ketakīnām) Ṛtusaṃhāra 2.23.
2) A flower of that plant; मालाः कदम्बनवकेसरकेतकीभिरायोजिताः शिरसि बिभ्रति योषितोऽद्य (mālāḥ kadambanavakesaraketakībhirāyojitāḥ śirasi bibhrati yoṣito'dya) Ṛtusaṃhāra 2.2.
Derivable forms: ketakaḥ (केतकः).
Ketaka (केतक).—pl., name of a people or region: Mahā-Māyūrī 96.
Ketaka (केतक).—mf. (-kaḥ-kī) A fragrant plant, (Pandanus odoratissimus.) E. kiti to abide, ṇvul aff.
Ketaka (केतक).—[keta + ka], m. The name of a tree, Pandanus odoratissimus, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 94, 6.
Ketaka (केतक).—[masculine] (ki &) kī [feminine] [Name] of a tree.
Ketaka (केतक):—m. the tree Pandanus odoratissimus, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Meghadūta] etc.
Ketaka (केतक):—[(kaḥ-kī)] 1. m. 3. f. A plant (Pandanus odoratissimus).
[Sanskrit to German]
Ketaka (केतक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Keaga, Keaya.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Kēṭaka (ಕೇಟಕ):—[noun] a broad piece of defensive armour carried on the arm; a shield.
--- OR ---
Kētaka (ಕೇತಕ):—[noun] = ಕೇದಗೆ [kedage].
--- OR ---
Kētaka (ಕೇತಕ):—[noun] = ಕೇತನ - [ketana -] 2.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Ketaka (केतक):—n. Bot. the screw pine; and its fragrant flower; pandamus;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Ketakacari, Ketakacem Kanisa, Ketakai, Ketakaishta, Ketakakanda, Ketakakandaka, Ketakam, Ketakaparoha, Ketakapuppha, Ketakapupphanetta, Ketakapupphapatta, Ketakapupphiya, Ketakarajadhani, Ketakariyam, Ketakarukkha, Ketakata, Ketakavana, Kitaka.
Full-text (+51): Kitaka, Ketaki, Kitika, Ketakavana, Ketakam, Kaitaka, Niketaka, Ketakaparoha, Pancavidhaketaka, Ketakapuppha, Camarapushpa, Krakacacchada, Kevada, Sucipushpa, Ketakarajadhani, Amarapushpa, Jambula, Jambala, Ketakakanda, Ketakarukkha.
Relevant text
Search found 47 books and stories containing Ketaka, Kētaka, Kēṭaka, Kita-nvu, Kita-ṇvu; (plurals include: Ketakas, Kētakas, Kēṭakas, nvus, ṇvus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Ramayana of Valmiki (Shastri) (by Hari Prasad Shastri)
Chapter 28 - Rama describes the Rainy Season < [Book 4 - Kishkindha-kanda]
Chapter 42 - Other Monkeys are sent to explore the Western Region < [Book 4 - Kishkindha-kanda]
Chapter 15 - Rama takes up his Abode in Pancavati < [Book 3 - Aranya-kanda]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 1392: Gaum Sakti's Form < [Tantra Four (nankam tantiram) (verses 884-1418)]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 13 - Brahmā Requests the Ketaka Bunch to Perjure < [Section 3b - Arunācala-khaṇḍa (Uttarārdha)]
Chapter 12 - Brahmā’s Exploration of the Top of the Column of Splendour < [Section 3b - Arunācala-khaṇḍa (Uttarārdha)]
Chapter 4 - Śveta-Dvīpa < [Section 9 - Vāsudeva-māhātmya]
The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa (by Dhrubajit Sarma)
Part 5k - Alaṃkāra (11): Kāvyaliṅga or poetical cause < [Chapter III - Literary Assessment Of The Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]
Part 7 - Flora and fauna (found in the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita) < [Chapter IV - Socio-cultural study of the Śrīkaṇṭhacarita]