Kulakara, Kula-kara: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Kulakara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramKulakara (कुलकर) refers to “those who create (many kinds of) Kulas”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “Sādākhya is the Principle of Space. Anantadeva is all-pervasive, and is adorned with a pure mind. Well known as the Fire Principle, he is Piṅganātha by name who generates many kinds of qualities. Śrīkaṇṭha is the Water Principle. Śaṅkara (also called) Balīśa is the lord whose body is nectar. I bow to (these) famous Siddhas who create many kinds of Kulas (vividha-kulakara)”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Google Books: Jaina IconographyKulakara (कुलकर) represent the first law-givers in Jainism;—In course of time, the Wishing Trees (kalpa-vṛkṣa) failed to give proper service and man was obliged to protect himself against wild animals etc., and quarrels over properties arose. In difficulties such as these, man could approach the Kulakaras of his times for proper guidance, protection and dispensation of justice. Kulakaras were thus the first law-givers in Jainism.
Śvetāmbara list of Kulakaras and names of their wives (Bhagavatī-sūtra, Sthānāṅga-sūtra, Samavāyāṅga-sūtra, Āvaśyaka-niryukti):
- Vimalavāhana (wife Candrayaśā),
- Cakṣuṣmān (wife Candrakāntā),
- Yaśomān or Yaśasvin (wife Surūpā),
- Abhicandra (wife Pratirūpā),
- Prasenajit (wife Cakṣuḥkāntā),
- Marudeva (wife Śrīkāntā),
- Nābhi (wife Marudevī)
But the Jambūdvīpaprajñapti (another Śvetāmbara text) differs from other Āgama texts:
- Sumati,
- Pratiśruti,
- Sīmaṅkara,
- Sīmandhara,
- Kṣemaṅkara,
- Kṣemandhara,
- Vimalavāhana,
- Cakṣuṣmān,
- Yaśasvin,
- Abhicandra,
- Candrābha,
- Prasenajit,
- Marudeva,
- Nābhi,
- Ṛṣabha.
The Tiloyapaṇṇatti (a Digambara text) gives the following details:
- Pratiśruti (wife Svayamprabhā),
- Sanmati (wife Yaśasvatī),
- Kṣemaṅkara (wife Sunandā),
- Kṣemandhara (wife Vimalā),
- Sīmaṅkara (wife Manohārī),
- Sīmandhara (wife Yaśodharā)
- Vimalavāhana (wife Sumati),
- Cakṣuṣmān (wife Dhāriṇī),
- Yaśasvin (wife Kāntamālā),
- Abhicandra (wife Śrīmati),
- Candrābha (wife Prabhāvati),
- Marudeva (wife Satyā),
- Prasenajit (wife Amitamati),
- Nābhirāja (wife Marudevi).
The Ādipurāṇa however adds that Ṛṣabha, the son of Nābhi, was both a Jina and a Kulakara, and that Bharata, the son of Ṛṣabhanātha, was both a Cakradhṛt and a Kuladhṛt. It would thus seem that the author wants to raise the number of Kulakaras from 14 to 16. Varāṅgacarita explicitly says that there were sixteen Manus, and gives a similar list. They are called Vaṃśakaras or propagators of race and Bhūmipālas or Kings and law-givers.
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraKulakara (कुलकर) refers to a sub-division of the Kulārya class of Āryas (one of the two types of human beings), taking birth 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.—(cf. Commentary to Tattvārthādhigamasūtra 3.15)
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: kṣetra (country), jāti (caste), kula (family), karma (work), śilpa (craft), and bhāṣā (language). [...] Kulāryas are the Kulakaras, Cakrins, Viṣṇus, and Balas, or those who are born in a pure family from the third, fifth, or seventh generation”.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryKulakara (कुलकर).—m. the founder of a family.
Derivable forms: kulakaraḥ (कुलकरः).
Kulakara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kula and kara (कर). See also (synonyms): kulakartṛ.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryKulakara (कुलकर):—[=kula-kara] [from kula] m. the founder of a family, ancestor, [Mahābhārata]
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryKulakara (कुलकर) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Kulaṅkara.
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 corpusKulakara (ಕುಲಕರ):—[noun] = ಕುಲಂಕರ [kulamkara].
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: Kulakarana, Kulakarani, Kulakaranike, Kulakaranta.
Ends with: Anukulakara, Vividhakulakara.
Full-text (+25): Kulakartar, Rishabha, Nabhi, Kulankara, Abhicandra, Kantamala, Amitamati, Sunanda, Nabhiraja, Yashasvati, Manohari, Sanmati, Yashodhara, Prasenajit, Candrakanta, Simankara, Simandhara, Pratishruti, Candrayasha, Marudevi.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Kulakara, Kula-kara, Kulakakara; (plurals include: Kulakaras, karas, Kulakakaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kalpa-sutra (Lives of the Jinas) (by Hermann Jacobi)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 8: Coronation as king < [Chapter II]
Part 29: The people in the Manuṣyaloka < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Part 3: The birth of Ṛṣabha (the thirteenth incarnation) < [Chapter II]
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Part 3 - On patriarchs < [Chapter 5]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Viṣṇu-sahasranāma (Garland of a Thousand Epithets of Viṣṇu) < [Section 1 - Avantīkṣetra-māhātmya]
Yogadrstisamuccaya of Haribhadra Suri (Study) (by Riddhi J. Shah)
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