Nilaka, Nila-ka, Nīlaka: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Nilaka 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexNīlaka (नीलक).—The name of the Rākṣasas in the Vajraka hill.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 39. 31.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭuNīlaka (नीलक) is another name for Nīlabhṛṅgarāja, which is the blue/black variety of Mārkava, a medicinal plant identified with Eclipta nigra, according to verse 4.138-141 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Nīlaka and Mārkava, there are a total of twenty Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant. Note: R. P. T. claims he himself has seen its miraculous effect in normalising blood pressure and its rejuvenating effect.
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.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Source: archive.org: Hindu MathematicsNīlaka (नीलक) or Nīla refers to the “color blue” which were used as symbols for the unknowns, according to the principles of Bījagaṇita (“algebra” or ‘science of calculation’), according to Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—Āryabhaṭa I (499) very probably used coloured shots to represent unknowns. Brahmagupta (628) in the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta mentions varṇa as the symbols of unknowns. As he has not attempted in any way to explain this method of symbolism, it appears that the method was already very familiar. [...] In the case of more unknowns, it is usual to denote the first yāvattāvat and the remaining ones by alphabets or colours [e.g., nīlaka].—Cf. Pṛthūdakasvāmī (860) in his commentary on the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta by Brahmagupta (628) and Bhāskara II in the Bījagaṇita.
Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesNīlaka (नीलक) refers to a “dark-blue (color)”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, [while describing the Merit Circle (guṇacakra)]: “[...] He should make [mantras of all Yoginīs] on all circles [in this manner]. Outside that, he should give a circle, [on which there are] two lines [colored] black and dark blue (kṛṣṇa-nīlaka). Gates, arched doorways, and altars are [on the circle], adorned with garlands of pearls and half-garlands of pearls. [...] Two colors should be evenly assigned [to them] in accordance with the [directions they] face, respectively. [...]”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsNilaka [नीलक] in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Indigofera tinctoria L. from the Fabaceae (Pea) family having the following synonyms: Indigofera indica Lam., Indigofera sumatrana. For the possible medicinal usage of nilaka, 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.
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Nilaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Pisum sativum in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Lathyrus oleraceus Lam. (among others).
2) Nilaka is also identified with Pterocarpus marsupium It has the synonym Pterocarpus marsupium fo. acuta Prain (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Protoplasma (1979)
· Genetika
· Korean Journal of Botany (1974)
· Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
· Plants of the Coast of Coromandel (1799)
· Journal of Cytology and Genetics (1990)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Nilaka, for example side effects, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, extract dosage, health benefits, chemical composition, have a look at these references.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryNīlaka, (adj.) for nīla M. II, 201; see vi°. (Page 376)
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNīlaka (नीलक).—1 Black salt.
2) Blue steel.
3) Blue vitriol.
-kaḥ 1 A dark-coloured horse.
2) (In alg.) The third unknown quantity (corresponding to z of European Algebra).
Derivable forms: nīlakam (नीलकम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryNīlaka (नीलक).—name of a hunter (in the story of the deer Śiriprabha): Mahāvastu ii.234.19.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNīlaka (नीलक).—m.
(-kaḥ) 1. The Nil Gai or slate coloured antilope, (A. picta.) 2. A tree, (Pentaptera tomentosa.) n.
(-kaṃ) 1. Blue steel. 2. Blue vitriol. 3. Black salt. E. nīla, svārthe saṃjñāyām kan vā .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nīlaka (नीलक):—[from nīl] mfn. blue ([especially] as Name of the third unknown quantity or of its square), [Colebrooke]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Terminalia Tomentosa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] a male bee, [Varāha-mihira]
4) [v.s. ...] Antilope Picta, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] a dark-coloured horse, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [from nīl] n. blue steel, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNīlaka (नीलक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. Sort of antelope; or tree. n. Blue steel or vitriol.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+15): Nilakaca, Nilakadalai, Nilakalam, Nilakamala, Nilakamdhara, Nilakamti, Nilakana, Nilakanda, Nilakantakacceti, Nilakantha acarya, Nilakantha bhatta, Nilakantha dikshita, Nilakantha mishra, Nilakantha naganatha, Nilakantha shaiva, Nilakantha sharman, Nilakantha shastrin, Nilakantha suri, Nilakantha yatindra, Nilakanthabharati.
Full-text (+7): Kanthanilaka, Indranilaka, Sunilaka, Hamsanilaka, Vinilaka, Nilakattha, Nelaka, Nilika, Vajrakaparvata, Nilakana, Nilakamala, Sunila, Niliroga, Nilikakaca, Karbharanilaka, Hamsakilaka, Avyaktarashi, Nilakahapana, Pancaratna, Karbhara.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Nilaka, Nila-ka, Nīla-ka, Nīlaka; (plurals include: Nilakas, kas, Nīlakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Studies in Indian Literary History (by P. K. Gode)
20. Names of Horses recorded between A.D. 1000 and 1200 < [Volume 3 (1956)]
Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 50 - The abodes of Devas (bhuvanavinyāsa) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka (by I. B. Horner)
On rejection of all dark green < [8. Robes (Cīvara)]
Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 78 - Worship Prescribed for a Devotee of Viṣṇu < [Section 5 - Pātāla-Khaṇḍa (Section on the Nether World)]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 1 - The temptation of Anuruddha (visit of the Manāpakāyikā-devatās) < [Chapter XVII - The Virtue of Generosity]
Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)
Commentary on Biography of the thera Subhadda < [Chapter 5 - Upālivagga (section on Upāli)]