Menaka, Menakā, Menake: 21 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
3. Nepali
See also

Introduction:

Menaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: The Matsya-purāṇa

Menakā (मेनका) 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 (e.g., Menakā) 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.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Menakā (मेनका).—A nymph of extraordinary beauty. Taking instructions from Indra, Menakā used to entice many sages and destroy their power of penance. There are innumerable stories of this kind in Purāṇas. Some important events connected with Menakā are given below: Mother of Pramadvarā. Once Menakā became pregnant by a Gandharva named Viśvāvasu. On the day she delivered she threw the child on the banks of a river and went to Svarga. A sage named Sthūlakeśa who was doing penance nearby took the babe and brought it up. When she grew up she was named Pramadvarā and Ruru married her. (See under Pramadvarā). Birth of Śakuntalā. When Viśvāmitra was performing penance in the forests, Menakā, under instructions from Indra, went and enticed Viśvāmitra and broke the continuity of his penance. A girl was born to Menakā and became later the celebrated Śakuntalā. (See under Śakuntalā). Again with Viśvāmitra. Once again when Viśvāmitra was performing penance in Puṣkaratīrtha, Menakā approached him and again Viśvāmitra fell in love with her and they lived together for ten years. Then one day Viśvāmitra realised his folly and leaving her went again to the forests for penance. Maṅkaṇa was enticed See under Maṅkaṇa. Other details.

(i) When once Durvāsas visited Devaloka it was Menakā who presented him with a flower garland. This incident led to the churning of the milk ocean at a later period. (See under Amṛta).

(ii) Menakā was one among the six prominent celestial maidens. Urvaśī, Pūrvacitti, Sahajanyā, Menakā, Ghṛtācī and Viśvācī are the six. (Śloka 68, Chapter 74, Ādi Parva).

(iii) Menakā attended the Janmotsava of Arjuna and sang on the occasion. (Śloka 64, Chapter 122, Ādi Parva).

(iv) Menakā was a dancer in the court of Kubera (Śloka 10, Chapter 10, Sabhā Parva).

(v) Menakā once gave a music performance in the court of Indra in honour of Arjuna. (Śloka 29, Chapter 43, Vana Parva). (See full article at Story of Menakā from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Menakā (मेनका)or Menā is the wife of the “king of mountains” (Parvatarāja/Himavat), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22. Accordingly as Śiva said to Sitā:—“[...] O my beloved, beautiful woman, clouds will not reach the place where I have to make an abode for you. [...] Menakā, the wife of the king of mountains famous in the three worlds for her beauty and good qualities will delight you very much through words of entreaties”.

Note: Menakā or Menā is the wife of Himavat and mother of Pārvatī and Gaṅgā and of a son named Maināka.—Menakā was one of the three daughters of Svadhā, the wife of Kavi, a class of Pitṛs. Svadhā was one of the sixty daughters of Dakṣa and Prasūti who gave birth to Menā, Dhanyā and Kalāvatī.— (cf. Śivapurāṇa 2.3.1)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Menakā (मेनका).—The mother of Śakuntalā; she abandoned the child in the forest and went away.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 20. 13.

1b) The Apsaras presiding over the month of Śukra and Śuci; coupled with Sahajanyā;¹ with the sun in the summer.²

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 11. 35; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 23. 6; III. 7. 14; IV. 33. 18; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 49; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 10. 7.
2) Vāyu-purāṇa 52. 7.

1c) One, who was asked to dance along with Ūrvaśī and Rambhā;¹ in the sabhā of Hiraṇyakaśipu.²

1) Matsya-purāṇa 24. 28.
2) Ib. 126. 7; 161. 75.

1d) The Apsaras wife of Vindhyāśva Ahalyā.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 50. 7; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 200.

1e) A mind-born mother.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 179. 20.

Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (purāṇa)

Menakā (मेनका).—She was sent by Indra and other gods to disturb the penance of Sage Viśvāmitra who was engaged in such severe penitence that it was dangerous to the safety of gods. To put a spoke in his wheel the heavenly residents sent Menakā to seduce him. She is known for her beauty. She has come to charm Viśvāmitra and this story occurs not only in purāṇa but also in the Śākuntala famous drama of Kālidāsa.

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.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Menakā (मेनका) is the name of an apsara whose daughter Priṣaḍvarā (also named Pramadvarā), married the hermit named Ruru, according to Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 14. Their story is told by Vasantaka to queen Vāsavadattā after being released from prison.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Menakā, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Saudarya Lahari of Sri Sankara A Study

Menakā (मेनका) refers to one of the 54 rays of the Anāhata-Cakra which (together with the 62 rays of the Maṇipūra) are associated with the solar plane called Viṣṇugranthi, according to Śaṅkarācārya’s Saudaryalaharī.—Accordingly, the Goddess is visualised (by Sādhaka) as dwelling above the six Ādhāracakras ruling over the 360 rays which emanate in them [e.g., Menakā]. These 360 rays represent 360 syllables (i.e., a consummation of the śabdaprapañca or 50 alphabets) as well as the principles of nature. For the 360 syllables, together with haṃ and saḥ, Nyāsa should be performed for Śrīcakrapūjā.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Apam Napat: Indian Mythology

Menaka was one of the most beautiful of the Apsaras in Indra's court. She was often bidden by her king Indra to disrupt the penances of some sage or the other with her charm and divine beauty. Due to one such episode, where she seduced the sage Vishwamitra, she begot a daugter named Shakuntala, who married King Dushyanta of the Chandra dynasty. Shakuntala gave birth to Bharata from who India derives its ancient name.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Menaka (मेनका) is considered one of the most beautiful of the heavenly Apsaras.

She was sent by Indra, the king of the Devas, to break the severe penance undertaken by Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra was one of the most respected and revered sages in ancient India. Indra, frightened by his powers, sent a beautiful celestial nymph named Menaka from heaven to earth to lure him and break his meditation. Menaka successfully incited Vishwamitra's lust and passion when he saw her beauty. She succeeded in breaking the meditation of Vishwamitra and the two made love for many years. However, she fell in genuine love with him. When Vishwamitra realized that he had been tricked by Indra, he was enraged. But he merely cursed Menaka to be separated from him forever, for he loved her as well and knew that she had lost all devious intentions towards him long ago.

Later, Menaka is also said to have been the mother of Shakuntala, who was left at the hermitage of a Sage Kanva when she was a baby. Later Shakuntala became the love of King Dushyanta and gave birth to his son Bharata, after whom India was named "Bharat".

Source: GRETIL e-library: Epic Mythology

Menakā was wife of Ūrṇāyu and mother of Pramadvarā by the Gandharva Viśvāvasu. Being pitiless, she abandoned the child at birth, who grew up and married the son of the Apsaras Ghṛtācī by Pramati, son of Cyavana, whose son was Śunaka. Menakā also deserted her child Śakuntalā in the same way, except that here she was sent by Indra to seduce the father Viśvāmitra, which she does aided by Maruta and Manmatha, Wind and Love.

She is “most distinguished in the divine qualities of the Apsarasas” and is “born of Brahman”, best of Apsarasas, lewd and pitiless. Her daughter says that Menakā is “among the Thirty-three gods and superior to them”.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Menakā (मेनका).—

1) Name of an Apsaras (mother of Śakuntalā).

2) Name of the wife of Himālaya.

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

Menakā (मेनका).—f.

(-kā) 1. One of the courtezans of Swarga. 2. Name of the wife of Himalaya. E. me to me, kā any one, na not, (equal or comparable.); or mi-naka .

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

Menakā (मेनका).—i. e. menā + ka, f. One of the courtesans of heaven, and wife to Himālaya, [Śiśupālavadha] 9, 86; [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 14, 23 ([Prakrit]).

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

Menakā (मेनका).—[feminine] [Name] of an Apsaras etc.

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

1) Menakā (मेनका):—[from mena] f. Name of the daughter of Vṛṣaṇ-aśva, [ṢaḍvBr.]

2) [v.s. ...] of an Apsaras (wife of Hima-vat), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature etc.]

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

Menakā (मेनका):—(kā) 1. f. One of the courtezans of heaen, Menakā.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Menakā (मेनका) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Meṇaā, Meṇakkā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Menaka in German

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mēnake (ಮೇನಕೆ):—[noun] (myth.) name of one of the celestial damsels.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Menakā (मेनका):—n. Mythol. 1. the name of a heavenly courtesan or an Apsaras in Hindu philosophy; 2. name of the wife of Himalaya;

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 62 books and stories containing Menaka, Menakā, Mēnaka, Menake, Mēnake; (plurals include: Menakas, Menakās, Mēnakas, Menakes, Mēnakes). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 1.8.16 < [Chapter 8 - Description of Śrī Rādhikā’s Birth]

Verse 1.8.15 < [Chapter 8 - Description of Śrī Rādhikā’s Birth]

+ 18 more chapters / show preview

The Unknown Lover < [September-October 1934]

From Self-Alienation to Self-Adjustment < [October – December, 1995]

Is Ahalya Controversial? < [January – March, 2000]

+ 32 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 9 - Śiva appears before Pārvatī in dream < [Section 2.3 - Rudra-saṃhitā (3): Pārvatī-khaṇḍa]