Introduction

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In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “hen/cock/rooster”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. It is also known by the names Caraṇāyudha and Dakṣa. The animal Kukkuṭa is part of the group of birds named Vartakādi, which is a sub-group of Viṣkira, refering to “birds similar to common quail who eat while scattering the gains”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.

The meat of Cocks (caraṇāyudha) is unctuous, hot, aphrodisiac, bulk-promoting, voice-awakening and tonic. It excells at alleviating vāta. It is diaphorectic. The eggs of the Hen (dakṣa) are useful in diminished semen, cough, heart disease and injuries. They are sweet, bot cauising burning sensation and immediately strength-promoting.

Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume I

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट)—Sanskrit word for a bird corresponding to “cock” (Galloperdix sp.). This animal is from the group called Viṣkira (which scatter). Viṣkira itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Jāṅghala (living in high ground and in a jungle).

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट) refers to the “hen”, according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—The dravyaguṇāguṇa section contains the discussions on different food articles and their dietetic effects according to the prominent Ayurvedic treatises. The meat like Kukkuṭa (hen) is mutually incompatible (viruddhāhāra) with Dadhi (curds).

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट) is another name for Śitāvarī, an unidentified medicinal plant, according to verse 4.50-52 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Note: Dr. J.K. Ojhā identifies Śitāvarī as Celosia argentea Linn (“plumed cockscomb”; of the Amaranthaceae family) while the commentator of the Rājanighaṇṭu identifies it with Blepharis edulis Pers (“uttanjan”; from the Acanthaceae family); both are quite apart from each other. Together with the names Kukkuṭa and Śitāvarī, there are a total of fifteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

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.

Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Kukkuṭā (कुक्कुटा):—One of the sixty-eight Rasauṣadhi, very powerful drugs known to be useful in alchemical processes related to mercury (rasa), according to Rasaprakāśa-sudhākara (chapter 9).

context information

Rasashastra (रसशास्त्र, rasaśāstra) is an important branch of Ayurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasashastra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-purana

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट) is the name of a gaṇa (attendant of Śiva), mentioned in the Skandapurāṇa 4.2.53. In this chapter, Śiva (Giriśa) summons his attendants (gaṇas) and ask them to venture towards the city Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) in order to find out what the yoginīs, the sun-god, Vidhi (Brahmā) were doing there.

While the gaṇas such as Kukkuṭa were staying at Kāśī, they were desirous but unable of finding a weakness in king Divodaśa who was ruling there. Kāśī is described as a fascinating place beyond the range of Giriśa’s vision, and as a place where yoginīs become ayoginīs, after having come in contact with it. Kāśī is described as having both the power to destroy great delusion, as well as creating it.

The Skandapurāṇa narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is the largest Mahāpurāṇa composed of over 81,000 metrical verses, with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट).—The banner of Skanda, presented to him by Vāyu: the standard of Kumāra;¹ śrāddha piṇḍa;² killer of, goes to hell.³ Cock crying in pradoṣa time is bad to the place.⁴

• 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 72. 45. a cock not to be fed with.
• 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 455; 10. 47; 12. 34; 14. 48; 19. 44; Matsya-purāṇa 260. 50.
• 3) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 2. 165; 24. 50; Vāyu-purāṇa 101. 163.
• 4) Matsya-purāṇa 237. 5.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.74) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Kukkuṭa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट, “cock”) refers to one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—The śilpa texts have classified the various accessories under the broad heading of āyudha or karuvi (implement), including even flowers, animals, and musical instruments. The representations of certain animals and birds are generally found in the hands of images. They are, for example, Kukkuṭa.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Kukkuta - One of three bankers of Kosambi, the others being Ghosaka and Pavariya. Having heard from some ascetics, whom they had entertained, of the appearance of the Buddha, they went with these ascetics to Savatthi, each carrying offerings in five hundred carts. Having heard the Buddha preach, they became sotapannas. They gave alms to the Buddha for a fortnight, and then, with his permission, returned to Kosambi. They built monasteries in their gardens for the use of the Buddha and his monks, that built by Kukkuta being called the Kukkutarama. The Buddha stayed one day at a time in each monastery, and on that day accepted the hospitality of its founder. DA.i.318f; DhA.i.203ff; AA.i.234f; PsA.414.

It is said (MA.i.540f) that the bankers built a monastery for each league on the road between Savatthi and Kosambi for the use of the Buddha during his journeys.

2. Kukkuta - A frontier town near Himava; the capital of a kingdom three hundred leagues in extent, where Maha Kappina once ruled. There were three rivers to cross on the way from Kukkuta to Savatthi (ThagA.i.507f; Ap.ii.469). See also Kukkutavati.

3. Kukkuta - A rock near Himava. Seven Pacceka Buddhas once lived there. ThagA.i.216; Ap.i.178.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Kukkuta (कुक्कुत, “cock”) represents an incarnation destination of the tiryaggati (animal realm) according to the “world of transmigration” section in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXVII).—The Bodhisattva sees the animals (tiryak) undergoing all the torments: they are made to gallop by blows of the whip or stick; they are made to make long journeys carrying burdens; their harness is damaged; they are branded with hot iron. If sensual desires (kāmarāga), passion and ignorance (avidyā) were predominant in them [people], they are reborn as [for example] cock (kukkuta); thus they become one of the hundred thousand kinds of birds. If they are guilty of lust, their body becomes covered with hairs and feathers; their plumage is fine and smooth; their beak, big and wide; thus they cannot distinguish touch (sparśa) and taste (rasa).

Also, if they have deceived honest people (sajjanāvamāna), they take the body of [for example], a rooster (kukkuṭa).

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kukkuṭa : (m.) a cock.

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

Kukkuṭa, (Sk. kurkuṭa & kukkuṭa; onomatopoetic=Lat. cucurio, Ger. kikeriki) a cock Miln. 363; J. IV, 58; VvA. 163; f. kukkuṭī a hen DhA. I, 48; ThA. 255; in simile M. I, 104=357=A. IV, 125 sq. , 176 sq. (cp. °potako).

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

kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट).—m S The farm or domestic cock. 2 A wild cock.

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 dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट).—1 A cock, wild cock.

2) A wisp of lighted straw, a firebrand.

3) A spark of fire.

-ṭī 1 A hen.

2) A small house-lizard.

3) The silk-cotton tree.

Derivable forms: kukkuṭaḥ (कुक्कुटः).

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

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट).—m.

(-ṭaḥ) 1. A cock. 2. A wild cock. 3. The offspring of a Sudra or man of the fourth caste, by a Chandala woman. 4. A whisp of of lighted straw, a firebrand. 5. A spark of fire. f. (-ṭiḥ or ṭī) Hypocrisy, interested observance of religious duties. f. (-ṭī) 1. A hen. 2. A small house lizard. 3. The silk cotton tree, (Bombax heptaphyllum.) E. kuk taking, from kuka with kvip affix, and kuṭ to cut or scratch, with ka affix; scratching up the earth, &c. or ku bad, kuṭ to cut, &c. and ka inserted.

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

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट).—onomatop. (cf. [Latin] cucurire), I. m. A cock, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 239 (a dog, [Cāṇakya] 98, in Monatsber. der Berliner Ak. Hist. Phil. 1864, p. 413, read kukkura). Ii. f. ṭī, The silk cotton tree, Bombax heptaphyllon, [Suśruta] 2, 387, 1.

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

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट).—[masculine] cock; [feminine] kukkuṭī hen.

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

1) Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट):—[from kukkuṭ] m. (ifc. f(ā). , [Pāṇini 4-1, 14; Kāśikā-vṛtti]) a cock, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā i, 16; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] a wild cock (Phasianus gallus)

3) [v.s. ...] (= kukuṭa) the plant Marsilea quadrifolia, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] a whisp of lighted straw or grass, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) [v.s. ...] a firebrand, spark of fire, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) [v.s. ...] the offspring of a Niṣāda by a Śūdra woman (cf. kukkura), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) [v.s. ...] (ī), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) [v.s. ...] ([Pāṇini 4-4, 46]) a hen, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā lxiii, 3]

9) [v.s. ...] a small house-lizard, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) [v.s. ...] the plant Dolichos pruriens, [Suśruta]

11) [v.s. ...] (= kukūṭī) the plant Salmalia malabarica (or the silk-cotton tree Bombax heptaphyllum), [Suśruta]

12) [v.s. ...] hypocrisy (cf. kaukkuṭika), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

13) [v.s. ...] n. = kukkuṭāsana, [Tantrasāra]

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

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट):—(ṭaḥ) 1. m. A cock; a Sūdra; a firebrand; a spark (ṭiḥ-ṭī). f. Hypocrisy; (ṭī) a hen; houselizard; silk-cotton-tree.

[Sanskrit to German] (Deutsch Wörterbuch)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Böhtlingk and Roth Grosses Petersburger Wörterbuch

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट):—[Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 1, 16.] kukkuṭa [Śāntanācārya’s Phiṭsūtrāṇi 2, 21.] m. n. gaṇa ardharcādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 2, 4, 31.] [Scholiast] zu [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1324.]

1) m. a) Hahn [Amarakoṣa 2, 5, 17.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 5, 18.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1324.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 3, 158.] [Medinīkoṣa ṭ. 38.] [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 1, 16.] [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 3, 239. 241. 11, 156.] [Mahābhārata 3, 14323. 14434. 13, 2836.] [Suśruta 1, 201, 1. 2, 49, 11.] yuddhaṃ ca prātarutthānaṃ bhojanaṃ saha bandhubhiḥ . striyamāpadgatāṃ rakṣeccatuḥ śikṣeta kukkuṭāt .. [Cāṇakya 72.] [Hitopadeśa 106, 17.] [Devīmāhātmya 11, 14.] grāmakukkuṭa [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 5, 12. 19.] gṛha [Suśruta 2, 67, 1.] jala [Mahābhārata 3, 9926. 11579.] [Rāmāyaṇa 4, 13, 8. 50, 13] (cala). [Vetālapañcaviṃśati 6, 10.] Am Ende eines adj. comp. f. ā [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 14,] [Scholiast] kukkuṭa = kukkubha ein wilder Hahn (vgl. kumbhakārakukkuṭa) [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1342,] [Scholiast] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [Hārāvalī 86.] — b) ein brennendes Bündel Gras (tṛṇolkā) [Medinīkoṣa] Feuerfunke (vahnikaṇa) [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] Vgl. agnikukkuṭa . — c) der Sohn eines Niṣāda und einer Śūdra-Frau (vgl. kukkuṭaka) [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] —

2) f. ī a) oxyt. [Scholiast] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 63] und [?14. 4, 4, 46. Scholiast zu 1, 2, 67. Vārttika von Kātyāyana. zu 6, 3, 42.] Henne. — b) Hauseidechse (jyeṣṭhī) [Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma] — c) der rothe Wollbaum, Salmalia malabarica Schott u. Endl., so genannt wohl wegen der Aehnlichkeit der rothen Blüthen mit dem Kamme der Hühner, [Jaṭādhara im Śabdakalpadruma] [Suśruta 2, 387, 1. 390, 17. 536, 13.] — d) Heuchelei (vgl. kaukkuṭika, woraus die Bed. gefolgert worden ist) [Medinīkoṣa] — Der Hahn ist nach seinem Geschrei benannt worden, vgl. lat. cucurire, illir. kukurikati [?(BERLIC], Gramm. der illir. Sprache, [S. 284]).

--- OR ---

Kukkuṭa (कुक्कुट):—

1) a) saṃpravadanti kukkuṭāḥ [Patañjali] in [Weber’s Indische Studien 8, 172.] śabdajñāna [Oxforder Handschriften 92,b,43. 93,a,1.] — d) fehlerhaft für kukkura Hund [Spr. 4009. 4485.] —

2) a) [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 63, 3.] — c) [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha 3, 658.] [Medinīkoṣa l. 100.] —

3) n. Bez. einer best. Art des Sitzens [Oxforder Handschriften 94,a, Nalopākhyāna 2.] vollständig kukkuṭāsana n. [234,a,17.]

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)

Starts with (+26): Kukkuta Jataka, Kukkutabha, Kukkutadhvaja, Kukkutadhvani, Kukkutagara, Kukkutagiri, Kukkutagiri Parivena, Kukkutahi, Kukkutaka, Kukkutakantha, Kukkutalakkhana, Kukkutamandapa, Kukkutamanjari, Kukkutamardaka, Kukkutamardana, Kukkutamardika, Kukkutamastaka, Kukkutamishra, Kukkutamitta, Kukkutanadiyantra.

Ends with: Agnikukkuta, Ambukukkuta, Aranyakukkuta, Gartakukkuta, Goshthakukkuta, Gramakukkuta, Gramyakukkuta, Grihakukkuta, Jalakukkuta, Kanakukkuta, Kulalakukkuta, Kumbhakarakakukkuta, Kumbhakarakukkuta, Prasadakukkuta, Salilakukkuta, Vadhri-kukkuta, Vanakukkuta, Vriddhi-kukkuta, Vrikshakukkuta, Yantrakukkuta.

Full-text (+96): Vanakukkuta, Kukkutasana, Kukkutabha, Kukkutagiri, Agnikukkuta, Kukkutashikha, Kukkutamastaka, Vrikshakukkuta, Prasadakukkuta, Gramakukkuta, Jalakukkuta, Kukkutanda, Kukkutavrata, Kukkutapakshaka, Kukkutandaka, Aranyakukkuta, Kukkutahi, Grihakukkuta, Kukkutamandapa, Kaukkutika.

Relevant text

Search found 28 books and stories containing Kukkuta, Kukkuṭā, Kukkuṭa; (plurals include: Kukkutas, Kukkuṭās, Kukkuṭas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

The beings of the threefold world (traidhātuka) < [The world of transmigration]

Part 11 - Why is the Buddha called Buddha < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]

The Dakṣiṇāvibhaṅgasūtra < [III. Recollection of the community (saṃgānusmṛti)]

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Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 4: Kamaṭha’s second incarnation < [Chapter II - Previous births of Pārśvanātha]

Part 7: Kamaṭha’s third incarnation < [Chapter II - Previous births of Pārśvanātha]

Part 9: Kamaṭha’s fourth incarnation < [Chapter II - Previous births of Pārśvanātha]

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Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)

Chapter 63 - On the features of the Cock (Kukkuṭa-lakṣaṇa)

Chapter 88 - Omens (3): On ominous cries (viruta) of Birds and Beasts

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Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)

Part 3 - Burning pits (puta or samputa) < [Chapter VI - Laboratory equipment]

Part 18 - Mercurial operations (16): Incineration of mercury (bhasmikarana) < [Chapter IV-V - Mercurial operations]

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Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)

Treatment for fever (70): Mahamrityunjaya rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]

Treatment for fever (65): Arogya-chintamani rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]

Part 3 - Unwholesome diet and deeds < [Chapter I - General health prescriptions]

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The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)

Part 14 - The Buddha’s Discourse at Nātika Village < [Chapter 40 - The Buddha Declared the Seven Factors of Non-Decline for Rulers]

Biography (3-4): Khujjuttarā and Sāmāvatī < [Chapter 45b - Life Stories of Female Lay Disciples]

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Click here for all 28 books