Kumari, aka: Kumārī, Kumāri; 18 Definition(s)

Introduction

Kumari 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.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Kumārī (कुमारी) is another name for Mallikā (Jasminum sambac “Sambac jasmine”), from the Oleaceae family of flowering plants. The term is used throughout Āyurvedic literature such as the Carakasaṃhitā.

Kumārī (कुमारी) is another name for Vandhyākarkoṭakī, a medicinal plant identified with Momordica dioica (spiny gourd) from the Cucurbitaceae or “gourd family” of flowering plants, according to verse 3.61-63 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The third chapter (guḍūcyādi-varga) of this book contains climbers and creepers (vīrudh). Together with the names Kumārī and Vandhyākarkoṭakī, there are a total of nineteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

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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.

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Kumārī (कुमारी) is a Sanskrit technical term referring an “unmarried daughter ”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (See the Manubhāṣya, verse 9.131)

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Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Kumārī (कुमारी).—One of the seven major rivers in Śākadvīpa, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 86. Śākadvīpa is one of the seven islands (dvīpa), ruled over by Medhātithi, one of the ten sons of Priyavrata, son of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century. It is composed of two parts and Sūta is the main narrator.

Kumārī (कुमारी) is the name of a mind-born ‘divine mother’ (mātṛ), created for the purpose of drinking the blood of the Andhaka demons, according to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.8. The Andhaka demons spawned out of every drop of blood spilled from the original Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon). According to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.35, “Most terrible they (eg., Kumārī) all drank the blood of those Andhakas and become exceedingly satiated.”

The Matsyapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 20,000 metrical verses, dating from the 1st-millennium BCE. The narrator is Matsya, one of the ten major avatars of Viṣṇu.

1) Kumārī (कुमारी).—A princess of the Kekaya kingdom. She was the mother of Pratiśravas, and wife of Bhīmasena, a King of the Puru dynasty. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 95, Verse 43).

2) Kumārī (कुमारी).—In verse 31, Chapter 23 of the Vana Parva, it is stated that certain maidens were born from the body of Skanda. They were called Kumārīs and they used to eat unborn children in the womb of their mothers.

3) Kumārī (कुमारी).—Wife of the serpent called Dhanañjaya. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 117, Verse 17).

4) Kumārī (कुमारी).—A river in ancient India. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 36).

5) Kumārī (कुमारी).—A river in the Śāka island. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 11, Verse 32).

1a) Kumārī (कुमारी).—A daughter of Lalitā aged nine, and trained in military art. Attacked and slew all the sons of Bhaṇḍa to the joy of the Śakti troops;¹ goddess enshrined at Māyāpurī.²

• 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 26. 73-117.
• 2) Matsya-purāṇa 13. 34.

1b) A R. from the Śuktimat hill.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 16. 38; Matsya-purāṇa 163. 86.

1c) (siddhā)—A river of Śākadvīpa.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 96; Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 81; 49. 92; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 65.

1d) Noted for Candratīrtha.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 77. 28.

2) Kumāri (कुमारि).—Cape Comorin, fit for śrāddha offerings.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 16. 11; III. 13. 28.

Kumārī (कुमारी) refers to the name of a River mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.10.34). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Kumārī) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Kumārī also refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. III.86.11).

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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.

Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)

Kumārī (कुमारी).—The name of a plant, possibly identified with Aloe indica. It is used in various alchemical processess related to mercury (rasa or liṅga), according to the Rasārṇavakalpa (11th-century work dealing with Rasaśāstra).

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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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Kumari or Kaumari refers to one of the seven mother-like goddesses (Matrika).—The Matrikas emerge as shaktis from out of the bodies of the gods: Kaumari from Skanda. The order of the Saptamatrka usually begins with Brahmi symbolizing creation. Then, Vaishnavi and Maheshvari. Then, Kaumari, Guru-guha, the intimate guide in the cave of one’s heart, inspires aspirations to develop and evolve.

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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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Kumārī (कुमारी, “maidens”) refers to one of the classes of “women” (strī) who have dealings with the king, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 34. Accordingly, “girls who have no experience of love’s enjoyment (rati-saṃbhoga), and are quiet, devoid of rashness, modest, and bashful, are said to be maidens (kumārī)”.

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Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Kumārī (कुमारी) in both Sanskrit and Prakrit refers to the plant Elettaria cardamomum Maton. This plant is classifed as ananta-kāya, or “plants that are inhabited by an infinite number of living organisms”, and therefore are abhakṣya (forbidden to consume) according to both Nemicandra (in his Pravacana-sāroddhāra v245-246) and Hemacandra (in his Yogaśāstra 3.44-46). Those plants which are classifiedas ananta-kāyas (eg., kumārī) seem to be chosen because of certain morphological peculiarities such as the possession of bulbs or rhizomes orthe habit of periodically shedding their leaves; and in general theyare characterized by possibilities of vegetative reproduction.

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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

kumārī : (f.) a girl; virgin.

Kumārī, (f.) a young girl Vin. II, 10; V, 129 (thulla°); A. III, 76; J. III, 395 (daharī k°); Pug. 66 (itthī vā k° vā).

—pañha obtaining oracular answers from a girl supposed to be possessed by a spirit D. I, 11 (cp. DA. I, 97). (Page 221)

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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

kumarī (कुमरी).—f See kumbarī.

kumārī (कुमारी).—f An unmarried girl, a young virgin. Aloe plant.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kumārī (कुमारी).—

1) A young girl, one from 1 to 12 years old.

2) A maiden, virgin; त्रीणि वर्षाण्युदीक्षेत कुमार्यृतुमती सती (trīṇi varṣāṇyudīkṣeta kumāryṛtumatī satī) Ms.9.9;11.59; व्यावर्ततान्योपगमात्कुमारी (vyāvartatānyopagamātkumārī) R.6.69.

3) A girl or daughter in general.

4) Name of Durgā.

5) Name of several plants (Mar. koraphaḍa, karṭaulī, kāṃṭeśevaṃtī, baṭamogarā i.)

6) Name of Sītā.

7) Large cardamoms.

8) The southern extremity of the Indian peninsula (cf. the modern name Cape Comorin).

See also (synonyms): kumārikā.

Kumārī (कुमारी).—(1) , n. of four female deities (mahāyakṣiṇyaḥ Mmk 575.10), also called Bhaginī, q.v., and noted only in Mmk; they have a brother called Kumāra (but ap- parently not = Kārttikeya), 45.17; 518.14; but his real name seems to have been Tumburu (otherwise known in Sanskrit as a gandharva), 537.7; 538.1, et alibi; 575.10; in 538.1; 542.9 he is called sārthavāha; otherwise they may be simply bhrātṛ-pañcamāḥ, 44.25; they are to be por- trayed standing on ships and living in the ocean, 44.25; 45.17; 575.11; they are called Kumārī 45.17; 518.14; 575.10, but Bhaginī 17.4; 44.25; 519.8 ff. The last begins a long passage dealing with them, extending to p. 546, in which repeatedly their names appear as Jayā, Vijayā, Ajitā, and Aparājitā (523.6 ff.; 528.2, 9 ff.; 537.7 ff.; 539.7, 25; 540.5; 543.3 ff.); (2) n. of one specific yakṣiṇī (hardly one of the above-mentioned four): Mmk 567.11; 569.5; also called (yakṣa-) Kumārikā Mmk 569.4.

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Kumārī (कुमारी) or Bhaginī.—(1), q.v.

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