Nagakesara, Nagakeshara, Nāgakeśara, Nāgakesara, Naga-kesara: 22 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Ayurveda
2. Purana
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Biology
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
4. Pali
See also
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Introduction:

Nagakesara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, 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 term Nāgakeśara can be transliterated into English as Nagakesara or Nagakeshara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Evaluation of Cyavanaprāśa on Health and Immunity related Parameters in Healthy Children

Nāgakesara (नागकेसर) refers to the medicinal plant known as Mesua ferrea, Stmn., and is used in the Ayurvedic formulation known as Cyavanaprāśa: an Ayurvedic health product that helps in boosting immunity.—Cyavanaprāśa has been found to be effective as an immunity booster, vitalizer and a preventer of day to day infections and allergies such as common cold and cough etc. It is a classical Ayurvedic formulation comprising ingredients such as Nāgakesara. [...] Cyavanaprāśa can be consumed in all seasons as it contains weather friendly ingredients which nullify unpleasant effects due to extreme environmental and climatic conditions.

Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Nāgakesara (नागकेसर) is the name of an ingredient used in the treatment of snake-bites such as those caused by the Hemamaṇḍalī-snakes, 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).—Accordingly, one of the treatments is mentioned as follows: “Lepa and Pāna of the saturated paste of the Bile of peacock, salt, Uśīra and Girikarṇika, with milk. So also the combination of paste made of Nīlī, Pāṭhā and Aśvāri [nīlīpāṭhāśvavairiṇām]. Also recommended is the paste/drink made of Radish, Trikaṭu and oil. Another Lepa cum drink made from one khārī of Śiriṣapañcaka, Asafoetida, salt, Dvimuka, Uraga or Nāgakesara, root of Nirguṇḍi is also prescribed”.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Nāgakeśara (नागकेशर) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “Assam ironwood”, a species of tree from the Calophyllaceae family of flowering plants. It is also known as Nāgakesara or Nāgapuṣpa. It is used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā and the Suśruta-saṃhitā. The official botanical name is Mesua ferre and is commonly known in English as “Sri Lankan ironwood” or “Indian rose chestnut” among others. It is an evergreen tree up to 30m high, leaves red when young, white fragrant flowers with yellow stamens, grows all over India up to 1500m elevation. The word Nāgakeśara is composed of the words Nāga (‘snake, lead’) and Keśara or Kesara (‘hair, saffron’).

Source: Google Books: Essentials of Ayurveda

Nāgakeśara (नागकेशर).—The Sanskrit name for an important Ayurvedic drug.—The plant bears golden and fragrant flowers. It is useful in bleeding piles, thirst, burning sensation, fever and toxic concditions.

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Physicochemical Screening and Shelf Life Evaluation of Kuṅkumādi Ghṛta

Nāgakesara (नागकेसर) refers to the medicinal plant known as Mesua ferrea Linn., which can serve as a replacement for Kesara in the medicinal formulation called kuṅkumādi-ghṛta.—Kesara (stigma of Crocus sativus Linn.) is a prime ingredient in the formulation. However, due to high cost and increased adulteration in Kesara, ‘Nāgakesara’ (Mesua ferrea Linn.) is suggested by Ayurvedic experts as a substitute. Nāgakesara is relatively lower in cost and possesses similar therapeutic attributes to that of Kesara.

Source: eJournal of Indian Medicine: Jajjaṭa’s Nirantarapadavyākhyā and Other Commentaries on the Carakasaṃhitā

Nāgakesara (नागकेसर) is a synonym of Keśara, which refers to Crocus sativus Linn., and is the name of a medicinal plant mentioned in the 7th-century Nirantarapadavyākhyā by Jejjaṭa (or Jajjaṭa): one of the earliest extant and, therefore, one of the most important commentaries on the Carakasaṃhitā.—(Cf. Indian Medicinal Plants 2:212, Arya Vaidya Sala, 1993-96.). Synonyms of Keśara: Keśarāhvaya, Kesara, or Nāgakesara.—(Cf. Glossary of Vegetable Drugs in Bṛhattrayī 117-118, Singh and Chunekar, 1999)

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Nāgakeśara (नागकेशर) is the name of a mountain where Kāma followed Śiva in order to charm him, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.9. Accordingly as Kāma related to Brahmā:—“[...] O Brahmā, when Śiva went to the Himālayan ridge, Rati, Spring and I reached the place. Wherever He went whether on Meru, Nāgakeśara or Kailāsa, I too went there immediately. Whenever Śiva was out of Samādhi I used to place a pair of Cakravāka birds in front of Him”.

Note: Nāgakeśara refes to the Nāga mountain which can be identified with the Farghana Valley on the basis of the produce of this region, the account of which is given by Huen-Tsang. Ibid. Ch. V. PP. 80-81.

2) Nāgakeśara (नागकेशर) or Nāgakesara refers to a type of flower, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.21. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] When Kāma (God of Love) reached the vicinity of Śiva, Spring spread all his splendour in accord with the inclination of the lord. [...] With their flowers golden in hue (svarṇavarṇa), the Nāgakesara [Nāgakeśara] trees shone beautifully like the banners of Kāma”.

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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

Nāgakesara (नागकेसर) refers to one of the eight trees (vṛkṣa) of the Jñānacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the jñānacakra refers to one of the three divisions of the saṃbhoga-puṭa (‘enjoyment layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. Nāgakesara is associated with the charnel ground (śmaśāna) named Dhūmāndhakāra and with the direction-guardian (dikpāla) named Guru.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: The Jaina Iconography

Nāgakeśara (नागकेशर) or Nāga refers to the tree associated with Candraprabha: the eighth of twenty-four Tīrthaṃkaras or Jinas, commonly depicted in Jaina iconography.—The main iconographic details to be gleaned from the Jaina books distinguish the image of Candraprabha from all other Indian images. His Lāñchana or technical emblem is the moon or the crescent. His special tree is Nāga (Nāgakeśara). The goblins are Vijaya and Bhṛkuṭi (Jvālāmālinī). The chowri-bearer, who does him honour is called Dānavīrya.

context information

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.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Nagakesara [ನಾಗಕೇಸರ] in the Kannada language is the name of a plant identified with Mesua ferrea L. from the Clusiaceae (Garcinia) family. For the possible medicinal usage of nagakesara, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.

Nagakeshara [ନାଗକେଶର] in the Oriya language, ibid. previous identification.

Nagakesara [नागकेसर] in the Sanskrit language, ibid. previous identification.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

nāgakēśara (नागकेशर) [or नागकेसर, nāgakēsara].—n (S) A small tree, Mesua ferrea: also its flower (unexpanded), Cassia buds.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

nāgakēśara (नागकेशर).—n (Properly nāgakēśara.) A tree, Mesua ferrea.

--- OR ---

nāgakēśara (नागकेशर) [or nāgakēsara, or नागकेसर].—n A small tree, Mesua ferrea.

context information

Marathi 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 dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Nāgakesara (नागकेसर).—Name of a tree with fragrant flowers, Mesua Roxburghii; कतकं नक्रनखरं नलदं नागकेसरम् (katakaṃ nakranakharaṃ naladaṃ nāgakesaram) Śiva B.3.14.

Derivable forms: nāgakesaraḥ (नागकेसरः).

Nāgakesara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nāga and kesara (केसर).

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

Nāgakeśara (नागकेशर).—m.

(-raḥ) A small tree, commonly Nageshwar, (Mesua ferrea). E. nāga, and keśara synonymes of the same plant compounded; the word is also written nāgakesara.

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

Nāgakeśara (नागकेशर).—m. a tree, Mesua Roxburghii, Wight. [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 96, 7.

Nāgakeśara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nāga and keśara (केशर).

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

1) Nāgakesara (नागकेसर):—[=nāga-kesara] [from nāga] m. Mesua Roxburghii, [Vāsantikā]

2) [v.s. ...] n. its blossom, [Suśruta] (-cūrṇaka, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.])

3) [v.s. ...] a kind of steel, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Nāgakeśara (नागकेशर):—[nāga-keśara] (raḥ) 1. m. Messua ferrea.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nagakesara 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

Nāgakēśara (ನಾಗಕೇಶರ):—[noun] = ನಾಗಕೇಸರ [nagakesara].

--- OR ---

Nāgakēsara (ನಾಗಕೇಸರ):—

1) [noun] the tree Mammea suriga (= Ochrocarpus longifolius) of Clusiaceae family.

2) [noun] the plant Curcuma xanthorrhiza of Zingiberaceae family.

3) [noun] the powder of its rhizome.

4) [noun] the tree Mimusops elengi of Sapotaceae family.

5) [noun] its flower.

6) [noun] the large-sized, evergreen tree Mesua ferrea of Guttiferae family.

context information

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

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: Pali Word Grammar from Pali Myanmar Dictionary

nāgakesara (နာဂကေသရ) [(na) (န)]—
[nāga+kesara．(nākesara-sī)]
[နာဂ+ကေသရ။ (နာကေသရ-သီဟိုဠ်)]

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.

Relevant text

Search found 48 books and stories containing Nagakesara, Naga-kesara, Nāga-kesara, Nāga-keśara, Nāga-kēśara, Nāga-kēsara, Naga-keshara, Nāgakeśara, Nāgakesara, Nāgakēśara, Nāgakēsara, Nagakeshara; (plurals include: Nagakesaras, kesaras, keśaras, kēśaras, kēsaras, kesharas, Nāgakeśaras, Nāgakesaras, Nāgakēśaras, Nāgakēsaras, Nagakesharas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Significance of ashlesha nakshathra and nagakesara vriksha in ayurveda- review article < [2024, Issue 05, May]

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