Mushika, Mūsika, Musika, Mūṣika, Muṣika, Mūsīkā, Mūṣikā, Mūṣīka, Mūṣīkā: 28 definitions

Introduction:

Mushika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. 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.

The Sanskrit terms Mūṣika and Muṣika and Mūṣikā and Mūṣīka and Mūṣīkā can be transliterated into English as Musika or Mushika, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)

Source: Asian Agri-History: Paśu Āyurvēda (Veterinary Medicine) in Garuḍapurāṇa

Mūṣika (मूषिक) refers to a “mouse” representing one of various desirable characteristics in horses (haya/aśva), according to Āyurveda sections in the Garuḍapurāṇa.—The treatment pertains to horses was described in detail in Garuḍapuraāṇa Ācārakhaṇḍa the chapter entitled Gajāśvāyurveda. In general the horses which are having dirghapāda (long-limbed), hrasvakarṇa (short ears) and mūṣika-varṇa (mouse-coloured) will live long and are best ones.

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Mūṣika (मूषिक) or Ākhu refers to “rats” (and bandicoots) , according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).— The mūṣika-cikitsā-vidhi of prescribes medication for varieties of rat-bites, instructions regarding antidotes for the rat-bites and the medicines and mantras to be used in each case. The Kāśyapasaṃhitā seems to consider rat poison as the next powerful one, seriously affecting human beings. Kāśyapa uses only two names of the rat—Ākhu and Mūṣika. He gives antidotes for the 16 varieties of rats. The author follows this up with certain general instructions in tackling poisons.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Mūṣika (मूषिक) is a Sanskrit word referring to the animal “rat” or “mouse”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Mūṣika is part of the sub-group named prasaha, refering to animals “who take their food by snatching”. 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.

Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume I

Mūṣika (मूषिक)—Sanskrit word for an animal corresponding to “tree rat” (Vandeleuria oleracea). This animal is from the group called Parṇa-mṛga (‘tree dwellers’ or ‘tree-dwelling arboreal animals’). Parṇa-mṛga itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Jāṅghala (living in high ground and in a jungle).

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Snake bite treatment in Prayoga samuccayam

Mūṣika (मूषिक) refers to “rats”, whose poison is dealt with in the 20th century Prayogasamuccaya (one of the most popular and widely practised book in toxicology in Malayalam).—Poisoning due to Mūṣika (rat), its 16 types, symptoms and treatment are dealt with in the chapter six. Five stage wise symptoms and treatment are explained. Application of certain single drugs over vertex along with many internal medications which helps in quick elimination of rat poison have been mentioned. Nasya (nasal administration) using egg of fire ants, external medicines for severe swelling and many internal medications have also been mentioned.

Ayurveda book cover
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.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Google Books: The Purana Index

Muṣika (मुषिक):—A country under Kanakas (Wilson’s suggested identification with the pirate coast of the Konkan).

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mūṣika (मूषिक).—An ancient merchant. In the Kathāpīṭhalambaka of Kathāsaritsāgara a story is told to demonstrate that even without any capital an ingenious and industrious man can earn money.

A merchant got this name by means of his industry. Once a poor man of no resources went to the house of a great merchant named Viśākhila. He was then admonishing a young man of his own caste. The merchant was saying, "See, here is a dead rat on the ground. A clever man would earn money by using this as a capital. To you I have given money for business on several occasions. Not only that you have not increased it but also you have lost it."

The poor man who went to him requested the merchant to give him the dead rat. Viśākhila greatly amused at the request gave him the rat. A rich man bought it for his cat to eat and gave him instead two measures of Bengal gram. He roasted it and made it palatable and then with a pot of water went outside the city gates and sat under a tree on the road-side. Wood-cutters were passing that way carrying loads and he sold the roasted gram and water to them who purchased it with eagerness to ease their weariness. They gave him in exchange firewood and in the evening he took it to the market and sold it. With the money he purchased more Bengal gram and continued the trade as before and after a few days he purchased from them a great stock of firewood. Suddenly there were heavy rains and there was a scarcity of firewood in the market and he sold his stock for good price. With the money thus received he purchased some goods and started a grocery shop. Gradually his business increased and he became a big merchant. Because he started the business from a Mūṣika (rat) he got the nick-name Mūṣika.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1) Muṣika (मुषिक).—(c)—a country under Kanakas (Wilson's suggested identification with the pirate coast of the Konkan).*

  • * Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 24. 67.

2a) Mūṣika (मूषिक).—(c)—a southern country.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 16. 56.

2b) A tribe of the Dakṣiṇāpatha.*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 125.
Purana book cover
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.

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Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Inner Circle IV

Muṣika refers to the “mouse vehicle of Gaṇeśa”.—The mouse is the master of the inner part of every building, and as such it represents the Ātman or the Self. The Self lives in the innermost recesses of the intellect, within the heart of every being.

Muṣika is derived the word muṣ which means to steal. The Inner Ruler (Ātman) steals everything that we enjoy, hidden from our view it enjoys all the pleasures and remains unaffected by virtue or vice. The inner ruler is the real enjoyer of everything yet the ego in ignorance thinks that it is the enjoyer!

The Mouse (muṣika) also represents the uncontrolled and negative mind that lives in the dark hidden places and destroys for the sake of destroying. Gaṇeśa, representing wisdom can control the mind by riding on it but the mind can never be completely crushed.

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

Mūṣika (मूषिक, “rat”) refers to a type of animal form, representing 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 animals and birds found as vehicles for the deities or held as attributes or weapons in the hands of the deities are, for example, Mūṣika.

Shilpashastra book cover
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.

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Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)

Mūṣikā (मूषिका) refers to a “mouse”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “[...] If a cat [intrudes into the site] stepping over [a cord] while a cord is being cast, it should be understood that there is the bone of an ass beneath that spot of the site. If a dog steps over a cord, [the officiant] should prognosticate the bone of a dog [beneath] the [spot of the site]. If a mouse passes [over a cord] (mūṣikā-laṅghana), [the officiant] should prognosticate bones of goats and sheep [beneath the site] [...]”.

Vastushastra book cover
context information

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.

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Kavya (poetry)

[«previous next»] — Mushika in Kavya glossary
Source: academia.edu: Gleanings from Atula’s Musikavamsa

Mūṣika (मूषिक) or Mūṣikavaṃśa is the name of an historical poem by Atula.—Mūṣikavaṃśa is an interesting historical poem about the dynastical lineage of a royal family of North Kerala known by that name. It is now generally maintained that the kings of the dynasty ruled over the territory comprising Kolattunādu of later times. [...] The published version consists of about 1000 verses arranged in 15 cantos. [...]

There have been attempts to trace the word mūṣika to the plant śirīṣa, called Vāka (Acacia sirissa) in Malayalam which grew abundantly on the hill and which was something like a totem of the royalty. It is reported by Balakrishnan Nair that a golden medal belonging to the Cirakkal royal family has a bunch of śirīṣa flowers between what he calls two nandakas (possibly a type of swords) and five stars under the tree. In another medal, there is brass lamp with a chain above a boat, and over the chain a perpendicular nandaka and on the two sides of the pillar, two branches of śirīṣa flowers. These two were the royal emblems of the rulers of the Kolattunādu territory of north Kerala later times who seem to have inherited the royal lineage of the Mūṣikavamśa. Possibly, the rat myth was invented quite at early times due to the confusion of the meaning of the word mūṣika which means both a rat and the vāka plant in Sanskrit

Kavya book cover
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’.

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In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A slave woman of King Yava (see the Musika Jataka). One day, on going to prepare the kings bath, she saw his son, sword in hand, waiting to kill him. When the prince found he was discovered, he cut Musika in two and threw her into the lake. J.iii.217.

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).

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Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Mūsika (मूसिक) refers to “mice”, according to the Dhammapadaṭṭha (Cf. Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra, chapter 4).—Accordingly, “[...] At the same moment, Indra appeared accompanied by four Devaputras. The latter transformed themselves into four mice (mūsika) and gnawed the cords that held up the wooden disc. The dropping down of the disc uncovered Ciñcā’s trick who fled in shame, pursued by the crowd. The earth opened up under her steps, fire enveloped her completely and she fell into the depths of hell. [...]”.

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Mūṣika (मूषिक) refers to “mice” (causing crop destruction), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [As the Bhagavān teaches an offering manual]: “[...] All crops, all flowers and fruits will be well protected. [...] All pests will be destroyed. Snakes, mice (mūṣika), mongooses, porcupines, goats, frogs, stinging insects, mosquitos, locusts and so on, flocks of birds will perish. All worms will be destroyed. Furthermore, flying insects and so on do not occur. They are never able to destroy. [...]”.

Mahayana book cover
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.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Musika in Southern Africa is the name of a plant defined with Tamarindus indica in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Tamarindus erythraeus Mattei (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Regnum Vegetabile, or ‘a Series of Handbooks for the Use of Plant Taxonomists and Plant Geographers’ (1993)
· De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum (1791)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1987)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1982)
· Prodromus Stirpium in Horto ad Chapel Allerton vigentium (1796)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2002)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Musika, for example health benefits, extract dosage, side effects, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Mushika in Pali glossary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

mūsika : (m.) a rat; mouse. || mūsikā (f.) a rat; mouse.

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

Mūsika, (m.) & mūsikā (f.) (Vedic mūṣikā, fr. mūṣ) a mouse D. II, 107=Pug. 43 (f.); Vism. 109 (m.), 252= KhA 46 (m.); Mhvs 5, 30 (m.); VbhA. 235.

Pali book cover
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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mūṣikā (मूषिका).—

1) A female rat.

2) A crucible.

3) An air-hole.

See also (synonyms): mūṣā.

--- OR ---

Mūṣika (मूषिक).—

1) A rat; पश्य मूषिकमात्रेण कपोता मुक्तबन्धनाः (paśya mūṣikamātreṇa kapotā muktabandhanāḥ) H.

2) A thief.

3) The Śirīṣa tree.

4) Name of a country.

Derivable forms: mūṣikaḥ (मूषिकः).

--- OR ---

Mūṣīka (मूषीक) or Mūṣīkā (मूषीका).—A rat, mouse; मद्गेहे (madgehe) ...... मूषीब मार्जारिका (mūṣība mārjārikā) Sūkti.5.19.

Derivable forms: mūṣīkaḥ (मूषीकः).

See also (synonyms): mūṣī.

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

Mūṣika (मूषिक).—mf.

(-kaḥ-kā) A rat, a mouse. m.

(-kaḥ) 1. A tree, commonly Sirisha, (Mimosa sirisha.) 2. A thief, a plunderer. 3. A country, the part of the Malabar coast between Quilon and Cape Comorin. f.

(-kā) A plant, (Salvinia cucullata.) 2. A crucible. E. mūṣ to steal, Unadi aff. kinan and the vowel made long; also mūṣikā, mūṣā, and mūṣī.

--- OR ---

Mūṣīka (मूषीक).—mf.

(-kaḥ-kā) A rat, a mouse. E. mūṣ to steal, kīkan aff.

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

Mūṣika (मूषिक).—i. e. mūṣa + ika, I. m., f. , A mouse, a rat, [Pañcatantra] 190, 19; 22. Ii. m. 1. A thief. 2. A tree, Mimosa śirīṣa. 3. The name of a country.

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

Mūṣika (मूषिक).—[masculine] mouse, rat; [feminine] mūṣikā the same, a kind of leech.

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

1) Mūṣikā (मूषिका):—[from mūṣaka > mūṣ] a f. See below.

2) Mūṣika (मूषिक):—[from mūṣ] m. a rat, mouse, [Gautama-dharma-śāstra; Mahābhārata] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] Acacia Sirissa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a people inhabiting the Malabar coast between Quilon and Cape Comorin, [Mahābhārata] ([Bombay edition] bhūṣika)

5) Mūṣikā (मूषिका):—[from mūṣika > mūṣ] b f. See below.

6) [from mūṣ] c f. a rat, mouse, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] etc. etc.

7) [v.s. ...] a kind of leech, [Suśruta]

8) [v.s. ...] a spider, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) [v.s. ...] Salvinia Cucullata or Anthericum Tuberosum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) [v.s. ...] a crucible, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) Mūṣīka (मूषीक):—[from mūṣ] mf. = mūṣika, a rat, mouse, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

1) Mūṣika (मूषिक):—[(kaḥ-kaṃ)] 1. m. f. A rat. m. A mimosa tree; a country, part of Malabar. f. A plant (Salvinia cucullata); a curcible.

2) Mūṣīka (मूषीक):—[(kaḥ-kā)] 1. m. f. A rat, a mouse.

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

Mūṣika (मूषिक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Mūsaga, Mūsaya.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mushika 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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mūṣika (ಮೂಷಿಕ):—

1) [noun] the common rodent mousem Mus musculus that infests building; a mouse.

2) [noun] any of numberous long-tailed rodents, resembling, but larger than, the mouse, which are very destructive and carriers of various diseases.

context information

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

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