Manika, aka: Maṇīkā, Maṇika, Mānikā, Manikā, Manīka, Māṇika, Māṇikā; 11 Definition(s)
Introduction
Manika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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
Vastushastra (architecture)
Maṇika (मणिक):—The Sanskrit name for one of the five Vimānas created by Brahmā, the great Creator, in the hoary past for gods. They were for travelling in the air, beautiful to look at, colossal in shape, made of gold and studded with gems. Maṇika was to be used by Varuṇa, the noose-holder. Vimānas represent the ‘aerial chariots’ of the gods, but also refers to seven-storey palaces. It is described in the 11th-century Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra (49.3) by Bhojadeva. Accordingly, “Maṇika may be globular and oblong in structure”. It is from the self-same five shapes of Vimānas that later on, Brahmā created the Prāsāda.
The Maṇika type of Vimāna exhibits ten different temples:
- Āmoda,
- Raitika,
- Tuṅga,
- Cāru,
- Bhūti,
- Niṣevaka,
- Sadāniṣedha,
- Siṃhākhya,
- Suprabha,
- Locanotsava.
These are the names of 10 out of a total of 64 temples (prāsāda) mentioned in same chapter.
2) Maṇika (मणिक):—The name of a group of temple classifications, comprising 9 oval-shaped temple categories, according to the 8th-century Agnipurāṇa. The Maṇika group is one of the five groups mentioned in the purāṇa, and represents the North-Indian classification of temples.
- Gaja,
- Vṛṣabha,
- Haṃsa,
- Garuḍa,
- Ṛkṣanāyaka,
- Bhūṣaṇa,
- Bhūdhara,
- Śrījaya,
- Pṛthivīdhara.

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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Maṇika (मणिक).—A big water vessel into which Manu threw the growing fish.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 1. 20.

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.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
The name of a vijja, whereby thoughts can be read. DA.ii.389.
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesTheravāda 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).
India history and geogprahy
Māṇika is one of the Brāhmaṇa donees mentioned in the “Asankhali plates of Narasiṃha II” (1302 A.D.). When a grant was made to a large number of Brāhmaṇas, the chief amongst the donees seems to have been called Pānīyagrāhin especially. In the present record, though all the donees (eg., Māṇika) are referred to as Pāṇigrāhi-mahājana, their list is headed by a Brāhmaṇa with Pāṇigrahī as his surname.
These copper plates (mentioning Māṇika) were discovered from the house of a Santal inhabitant of Pargana Asankhali in the Mayurbhanj State (Orissa). It was made when king Vīra-Narasiṃhadeva was staying at the Bhairavapura-kaṭaka (city, camp or residence).
Source: What is India: Epigraphia Indica volume XXXI (1955-56)Māṇika.—(CITD), Telugu; a measure; (1/4) of a kuñcamu and (1/15) of a tūmu. Note: māṇika is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
maṇika : (m.) 1. a big jar; 2. a bracelet made of glass, etc.
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English DictionaryMaṇīkā, (f.) (f. of maṇika, adj. fr. maṇi) N. of a charm, the Jewel-charm, by means of which one can read other people’s minds D. I, 214 (m. iddhi-vijjā), cp. Dial. I. 278, n. 3.). (Page 516)
— or —
Maṇika, (cp. Class. Sk. maṇika) a waterpot M. II, 39. Usually in cpd. udaka° Vin. I, 277; M. I, 354; S. IV, 316; A. III, 27; Miln. 28; DhA. I, 79. Whether this is an original meaning of the word remains doubtful; the connection with maṇi jewel must have been prevalent at one time. (Page 516)
— or —
Mānikā, (f.) (cp. māna2 2) a weight, equal to 4 Doṇas SnA 476 (catudoṇaṃ mānikā). Cp. BSk. mānikā, e.g. Divy 293 sq. (Page 529)
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary
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
māṇīka (माणीक).—n A ruby.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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-English dictionary
Maṇika (मणिक).—1 A water-jar; विवृद्धमूषिका रथ्या विभिन्नमणिकास्तथा (vivṛddhamūṣikā rathyā vibhinnamaṇikāstathā) Mb.16.2.5; तस्माच्च शिल्पान्मणिकादिकारी प्रसिद्ध- नामाजनि कुम्भकारः (tasmācca śilpānmaṇikādikārī prasiddha- nāmājani kumbhakāraḥ) N.7.75.
2) = अजागलस्तन (ajāgalastana) q. v.
3) The front part of the male organ of generation.
-kaḥ 1 A crystal palace.
2) A jewel, gem.
Derivable forms: maṇikaḥ (मणिकः), maṇikam (मणिकम्).
--- OR ---
Manīka (मनीक).—Collyrium, eye-salve.
Derivable forms: manīkam (मनीकम्).
--- OR ---
Māṇika (माणिक).—A jeweller.
Derivable forms: māṇikaḥ (माणिकः).
--- OR ---
Māṇikā (माणिका).—A particular weight (equal to eight palas).
--- OR ---
Mānikā (मानिका).—
1) A kind of spirituous liquor.
2) A kind of weight.
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMaṇika (मणिक).—m. (Sanskrit maṇi plus -ka, pejorative, see § 22.37), worthless (glass-) gem: Gv 500.5 (prose).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Search found 44 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
Kolashantila Manika | kōḷaśāntīla māṇīka (कोळशांतील माणीक).—n kōḷaśāntīla antarasāla f Terms for a person exceedingly... | |
Panditamanika | Paṇḍitamānika (पण्डितमानिक).—, also Paṇḍitamānika is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the term... | |
Jhankalem Manika | jhāṅkalēṃ māṇīka (झांकलें माणीक).—n (A hidden gem.) A term for a man of great knowledge or wort... | |
Naramanika | Naramānikā (नरमानिका).—'manlike woman', a woman with a beard, masculine woman or an amazon. Nar... | |
Kolashantila-manika | kōḷaśāntīla-māṇīka (कोळशांतील-माणीक).—n A term for a person exceedingly black. | |
Jhankalem-manika | jhāṅkalēṃ-māṇīka (झांकलें-माणीक).—n (A hidden gem.) A term for a man of great knowledge or
wort... | |
Gaya | Gayā (गया) is the name of an ancient locality situated in Majjhimadesa (Middle Country) of anci... | |
Hamsa | Haṃsa.—(EI 15), an ascetic; cf. Paramahaṃsa. Note: haṃsa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical... | |
Mana | Mana (मन).—(°-), apparently m.c. for māna, pride, in Laṅk 358.11 (verse, 2d half of anuṣṭubh) u... | |
Garuda | Garuḍa (गरुड) is one of the six divisions of sthānaka, one of the nine maṇḍala (postures of the... | |
Caru | Cāru (चारु).—n. of a cakravartin king: Mvy 3559. Seems to correspond to Pali Cara, or Caraka Ma... | |
Manikya | Māṇikya (माणिक्य).—n. (-kyaṃ) A ruby. f. (-kyā) A house-lizard. E. maṇi a gem, kai to call, yat... | |
Prasada | Prasāda (प्रसाद, “blessings”) refers to “spiritual food”: one infuses life into the image (prāṇ... | |
Tunga | Tuṅgā (तुङ्गा) refers to one of the 130 varṇavṛttas (syllabo-quantitative verse) dealt with in ... | |
Vimana | Vimāna (विमान) refers to a “chariot-like structure”, as explained in the Śivapurāṇa 1.11. Accor... |
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Manika, Maṇīkā, Maṇika, Mānikā, Manikā, Manīka, Māṇika or Māṇikā. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 2 - Measures of weight < [Chapter VII - Enumeration of technical terms]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 25 - Ar-Razi and the Indian knowledge of metallic chemistry < [A Brief History of Indian Chemistry and Medicine]