Koshtha, Koṣṭha: 27 definitions
Introduction:
Koshtha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, 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.
The Sanskrit term Koṣṭha can be transliterated into English as Kostha or Koshtha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Koshth.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Gandha-Shastra (science of cosmetics, skin care, etc.)
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) (identified with Kustha costus) is an ingredient in the recipe of unguents used for massages and baths, according to the 12th century Mānasollasa, an encyclopedic Sanskrit text of which certain chapters deal with bhogas (enjoyoments of life) such as perfumery, massage and bathing.—In India the importance of daily bath for persons of all classes has been emphasised by Hindu religion. Indian medical texts contain detailed instructions about the daily bath both for bodily comfort and cleanliness. King Someśvara lays down detailed instructions about the royal bath in his work. Accordingly, athletes (mallas) well versed in the art of massaging should massage the king’s person freely with the tender palms of their hands by the use of fragrant and medicinal oil. After massaging the king’s person with perfumed oil an unguent should be applied to it [including for example, koṣṭha].
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) refers to “the bowel” or “the viscera”. The term is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Suśruta-saṃhitā and the Caraka-saṃhitā. Koṣṭha is said to be one of the three “pathways of diseases” (rogamārga).
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ):—1. A closed space or area, typically indicative of organs in the abdominal, thoracic and pelvic cavities 2. Physiologically, koṣṭha is also indicative of gastro intestinal tract. Dependending on the dominance of Doṣa, depending on the ability to digest the food, and depending on the bowel movements, the koṣṭha of an individual can be classified as Krūra (hard bowel movements) Mṛdu (soft bowel movements) and Madhya (normal bowel movements).
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)
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) is a Sanskrit technical term denoting a “residence” in general, according to the lists of synonyms given in the Mānasāra XIX.108-12, which is a populair treatise on Vāstuśāstra literature.
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) refers to “decorative aedicule (elongated) §§ 3.43; 4.10.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) or Koṣṭhāgāra refers to “store houses”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 10), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If the course of Saturn should lie through the constellation of Āśleṣā, the creatures of water and serpents will suffer; if through the constellation of Maghā, the Bāhlīkas, the Cīna (Chinese), the people of Gāndhāra, of Śūlika, of Pārata, the Vaiáyas, store houses [i.e., koṣṭha-āgāra] and merchants will suffer. If his course should lie through the constellation of Pūrvaphālguni, juice-sellers, prostitutes, virgins and the people of Mahāraṣṭras will suffer miseries; if through Uttaraphālguni, kings, ascetics, jaggery, salt, water and the town of Takṣaśilā will suffer”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) represents the number 4 (four) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 4—koṣṭha] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.
Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) refers to “abdomen” and represents a synonym for Udara (stomach/abdomen), according to the Hemacandra’s Yogaśāstra (verse 5.6); Cf. Pātañjalayogaśāstra (verse 1.31).—Accordingly, “That external emission of the breath, [which is performed] with intense effort [and flows] from the abdomen (koṣṭha) through the nose, the crown of the head and mouth, is considered to be the exhalation”.
Note: In his auto-commentary (the Svopajñavṛtti) on Yogaśāstra 5.6, Hemacandra glosses koṣṭhāt as udarāt (i.e., the stomach/abdomen). The term koṣṭha also occurs in Yogayajñavalkya 4.62: and Gheraṇḍasaṃhitā 1.49a-b. [...]
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ, “search”) refers to “search-intellect” and represents one of the eighteen types of extraordinary intellect (buddhi), which itself is a subclass of the eight ṛddhis (extraordinary powers). These powers can be obtained by the Ārya (civilized people) in order to produce worldly miracles. The Āryas represent one of the two classes of human beings according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.46, the other being Mleccha (barbarians).
What is meant by extraordinary store intellect (koṣṭha-buddhi-riddhi)? The intellect which can extract any quotes /aphorism from different scriptures when required is called super natural search-intellect. To understand this it is like the capability to take out something from the storehouse having a vast variety of goods.
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
Koṣṭha.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘four’. Cf. koṣṭhaka. Note: koṣṭha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
Kostha refers to: “Viscera or the body, surrounding wall, in architectural usage a niche or aedicule”.—It is included in the glossary section of the study dealing with the Temples and Cult of Shri Rama in Tamil-Nadu, with reference to the traditional lore, embodied in, for example the Nalayirativvaiyappirapantam (i.e., Nalayira Divyaprabandham).
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)
Koshtha in India is the name of a plant defined with Saussurea costus in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Aucklandia lappa Decne. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Botanicheskii Zhurnal (1964)
· Iconographia Cormophytorum Sinicorum (6700)
· Fl. Yunnan. (2003)
· Compositae Indicae (1876)
· Dict. Sci. Nat. (1827)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Koshtha, for example side effects, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, health benefits, extract dosage, chemical composition, 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
Marathi-English dictionary
kōṣṭha (कोष्ठ).—m S The stomach. 2 A granary. 3 An apartment.
kōṣṭha (कोष्ठ).—m The stomach. A granary. An apartment.
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
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ).—a. [kuṣ-than Uṇādi-sūtra 2.4] Own.
-ṣṭhaḥ 1 Any one of the viscera of the body, such as the heart, lungs &c.
2) The belly, abdomen; आकोष्ठं ज्यां समुत्कृष्य (ākoṣṭhaṃ jyāṃ samutkṛṣya) Bhāgavata 1. 83.22.
3) An inner apartment.
4) A granary, storeroom; कन्दुः कोष्ठः कुशूलः (kanduḥ koṣṭhaḥ kuśūlaḥ) Mahābhārata on P.I.2.45. etc.
-ṣṭham 1 A surrounding wall; Bhāgavata 4.28.56.
2) The shell of anything.
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ).—(ka) , see caraṇa-, dvāra-k°.
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ).—mfn.
(-ṣṭhaḥ-ṣṭhā-ṣṭhaṃ) Own. m.
(-ṣṭhaḥ) 1. A granary, a place in which grain is kept. 2. A treasury. 3. An apartment. 4. Any viscus, as the heart, lungs, stomach, bowels, &c. E. kuṣ to issue, than Unadi aff.
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ).—I. m. The stomach, Mahābhārata 14, 570. Ii. m. and n. 1. A granary. 2. A store-room, Mahābhārata 2, 201. Iii. n. A wall, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 4, 28, 56.
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ).—[masculine] the bowels or the belly (also [neuter]), a kind of vessel or pot; [neuter] store-room, surrounding wall.
1) Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ):—m. (√kuṣ?; probably related to kukṣi and kośa), any one of the viscera of the body (particularly the stomach, abdomen), [Mahābhārata; Suśruta] etc.
2) mn. (as, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]; am) a granary, store-room, [Mahābhārata; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] (ifc. f(ā). )
3) a treasury, [Horace H. Wilson]
4) m. an inner apartment, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) the shell of anything, [Horace H. Wilson]
6) a kind of pan, pot, [Kauśika-sūtra; Patañjali; Caraka; Bhāvaprakāśa]
7) m. property (or mfn. ‘own’), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) m. night, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) n. a surrounding wall, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa iv, 28, 57]
10) any enclosed space or area, chess square, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā liii, 42; Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi; Tithyāditya; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra [Scholiast or Commentator]]
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ):—(ṣṭhaṃ) 1. m. A granary.
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ):—n. [Die Uṇādi-Affixe 2, 4.] [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 7. 2. 9,] [Scholiast]
1) m. Eingeweide. namentlich die Behälter von Speise, Flüssigkeiten u.s.w., der Unterleib [Amarakoṣa 3, 4, 10, 43.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha 2, 105.] [Medinīkoṣa ṭh. 4.] sthānānyāmāgnipakvānāṃ mūtramya rudhirasya ca . hṛduṇḍukaḥ phuṣphusaśca koṣṭha ityabhidhīyate .. [Suśruta 2, 18, 7. 1, 117, 5. 146. 16. 275, 8. 10. 277, 15. 2, 21, 19. 177, 8.] laghukoṣṭha 1. bhinnakoṣṭha [1. 36, 16.] stabdhapūrṇakoṣṭhatā [79, 14. 350, 9.] koṣṭhagata [84, 15. 97. 10. 2, 102, 12.] bhuktaṃ bhuktamidaṃ koṣṭhe kathamannaṃ vipacyate [Mahābhārata 14, 570.] koṣṭheṣu [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 4, 23, 14.] patiṃ cārcyopatiṣṭheta dhyāyetkoṣṭhagataṃ ca tam [6, 18, 52.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 2, 38. 10. 5. 19.] neutr.: keṣāṃcitpāṭayāmāsa nakhaiḥ koṣṭhāni kesarī [Devīmāhātmya 6, 13.] koṣṭhāgni das Feuer im Unterleib, das Feuer der Verdauung [Weber’s Indische Studien 2, 70.] —
2) m. ein inneres Gemach. —
3) Vorrathskammer, m. [Amarakoṣa] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] n.: kaccitkoṣaśca koṣṭhaṃ ca vāhanaṃ dvāramāyudham . āyaśca kṛtakalyāṇaistava bhaktairanuṣṭhitaḥ .. [Mahābhārata 2, 201.] vihārakoṣṭhaśrīdvāragopurasadovalabhīviṭaṅka [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 10, 17.] Auch Schatzkammer nach [Wilson’s Wörterbuch] —
4) n. Ringmauer: (padam) pañcārāmaṃ navadvāramekapālaṃ trikoṣṭhakam u.s.w. pañcendriyārthā ārāmā dvārāḥ prāṇā nava prabho . tejobannāni koṣṭhāni [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 4, 28, 56. 57.] —
5) eine Art Gefäss: jaratkoṣṭhādvrīhīṃ charkarāmiśrānāvapati [Kauśika’s Sūtra zum Atuarvaveda 18.] jaratkoṣṭhe śītaṃ bhasma viharati [71.] —
6) the shell of any thing [WILKINS Ms.] [HAUGHT.] —
7) eigen, m. [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 106.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] adj. [Śabdakalpadruma] und [Wilson’s Wörterbuch] — Wohl desselben Ursprungs wie kukṣi und kośa .
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Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ):—
1) ākoṣṭhaṃ jyāṃ samutkṛṣya [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 83, 22.] —
3) [Mahābhārata 12, 8793] (nach dem Schol. = hṛdayapuṇḍarīka; vgl. u. bhāṇḍa
3) a) am Ende). [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 10, 41, 20] (am Ende eines adj. comp. f. ā). [50, 53.] —
7) = ātmīya [VIŚVA] bei [UJJVAL.] zu [Uṇādisūtra 2, 4.] —
8) eine umschlossene Fläche, Feld (z. B. auf einem Schachbrette) [Tithyāditattva im Śabdakalpadruma] u. caturaṅga . [Weber’s Indische Studien 8, 453. fg.] [Scholiast] zu [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 697, 5.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 53, 42.] Vgl. koṣṭhāgāra . —
9) = antargṛha [VIŚVA a. a. O.] (die Genetive kukṣerantargṛhasya befremden). —
10) Nacht [AJAYAPĀLA] bei [AUFRECHT,] [Uṇādisūtra] [Ind.] — Vgl. praśnakoṣṭhī .
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Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ):—m. = kandu eine eiserne Pfanne [Patañjali] [?a. a. O.1,202,b. 231,a.]
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ):——
1) m. Eingeweide , namentlich die Behälter von Speise , Flüssigkeiten. u.s.w. , Unterleib. Einmal n. —
2) (*m.). n. Vorrathskammer. Am Ende eines adj. Comp. f. ā. —
3) n. Ringmauer —
4) eine umschlossene Fläche , Feld (z.B. auf einem Schachbrett) [Hemādri’s Caturvargacintāmaṇi 1,651.3.5.790,12.] —
5) m. eine Art Gefäss , Tegel , Topf [Bhāvaprakāśa 2,85.] [Carakasaṃhitā 1,14.] —
6) *m. ein inneres Gemach. —
7) *the shell of any thing. —
8) *n. Eigenthum. —
9) *Nacht.
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kuṭṭha, Koṭṭha.
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
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ) [Also spelled koshth]:—(nm) an apartment, a chamber; stomach; bracket; ~[baddhatā] constipation; ~[śuddhi] purgation.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Kōṣṭha (ಕೋಷ್ಠ):—[noun] = ಕೋಷ್ಟ - [koshta -]1, 3 & 4.
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Kōṣṭha (ಕೋಷ್ಠ):—
1) [noun] the internal organs of the body, esp. of the thorax and abdomen, as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, intestines, etc.; the viscera.
2) [noun] an inner apartment of a house.
3) [noun] a store-house for threshed grain; a granary.
4) [noun] the portion just below the anus of a horse.
5) [noun] a single thickness, coat, fold or stratum; a layer.
6) [noun] one of the squares, in a table of calculation.
7) [noun] a wall surrounding a building or a place.
8) [noun] a single thickness, coat, fold or stratum.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Koṣṭha (कोष्ठ):—n. 1. room; compartment; 2. storeroom; granary; 3. the inner part of the abdomen;
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 (+15): Koshtha-karana, Koshtha-vyapara, Koshthabandhaka, Koshthabhadra, Koshthabheda, Koshthadosha, Koshthagara, Koshthagara-karana, Koshthagaravatamsaka, Koshthagarika, Koshthagarin, Koshthagni, Koshthak, Koshthaka, Koshthakacihna, Koshthakacintamanitika, Koshthakasthi, Koshthaki, Koshthakigunakara, Koshthakikri.
Full-text (+94): Prakoshtha, Koshthagara, Krurakoshtha, Mridukoshtha, Koshthapala, Koshthagni, Koshthagarika, Navakoshtha, Koshtharoga, Koshthashuddhi, Koshthakoti, Koshthabheda, Annakoshtha, Koshthasamtapa, Udakoshtha, Koshthatapa, Konakoshtha, Shilikakoshtha, Laghukoshtha, Purnakoshtha.
Relevant text
Search found 51 books and stories containing Koshtha, Koṣṭha, Kōṣṭha; (plurals include: Koshthas, Koṣṭhas, Kōṣṭhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Town Planning (4): Other Constructions < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study) (by K. Vidyuta)
5. Measurement for the Storeys of the Gopuras < [Chapter 5 - Gopura Lakṣaṇa]
4 (b). Technical terms for the component parts of the temple < [Chapter 2 - Author and his Works]
8. Śālā, Sabhā and Mālikā-kāra Lakṣaṇas < [Chapter 5 - Gopura Lakṣaṇa]
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
A review on importance of upasthita doshatva in shodhana karma < [2018, Issue VI, June]
Role of viruddhāhāra in generation of aṣta-mahāgada with special reference to madhumeha (diabetes mellitus 2) < [2020, Issue 3, March]
A critical review on koshtha and its clinical significance < [2018, Issue XI, November]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
Importance of Poorvakarmas in Shodhana therapy - A Revi < [Vol. 1 No. 02 (2016)]
Assessment of Koshtha - A Review < [Vol. 6 No. 01 (2021)]
Concept of Koshtha in Kriya Sharir < [Vol. 8 No. 2 (2023)]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Role of poorvakarma prior to shodhana therapy- a review article < [2022: Volume 11, May issue 5]
A review study of raktashaya and its modern corelation < [2023: Volume 12, September special issue 16]
Concept of koshtha and its importance in panchkarma < [2022: Volume 11, March issue 3]
Sushruta Samhita, volume 4: Cikitsasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)