Pitavarna, Pita-varna, Pītavarṇa, Pītavarṇā: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Pitavarna 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Pītavarṇa (पीतवर्ण) refers to the “yellow color” (of certain elephants), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 8, “on marks of character”]: “15. The colors of elephants are fourfold: tawny, yellow (pītavarṇa), black, and white [haripītakāladhavalā varṇāścaturdhā]; respectively from blood mingled with gall, from blood mingled with phlegm, from gall, and from phlegm they are produced, be it known, like unto (a peacock’s) tail feathers, to gold, to a cloud, and to moonlight. But among these that black one alone exists here on earth; the other three are in the heavenly world”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Pītavarṇa (पीतवर्ण):—Yellow colour
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Pītavarṇa (पीतवर्ण) or simply Pīta refers to the “yellow colour” (of the disc of Jupiter), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 8), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If the disc of Jupiter should appear of the colour of fire, there will be fear from fire; if yellow [i.e., pītavarṇa—analavarṇe ... pīte], there will be disease in the land; if dark-blue, there will be wars; if green, suffering from thieves, and if of blood color, suffering from weapons. If the disc of Jupiter should appear of the colour of smoke, there will be drought; if it should be visible during day, rulers will perish and if it should appear large and clear at night, mankind will be happy”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Pītavarṇa (पीतवर्ण) refers to “yellow-colored” and is used to describe Viṣṇu, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 13.1-9, while describing the appearance and worship of Viṣṇu]—“Or, [the Mantrin] worships a very handsome, eight-armed, yellow (pītavarṇa) Deva. He is naked, sits on a ram, and is unadorned He rests on one horn [of a sheep and] offer up a pile of wheel spokes, the hand... having the shape of a boy. [He is] constantly at play with a flock of beautiful, naked women. [...]”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Pītavarṇā (पीतवर्णा) refers to “she who is yellow” and is used to describe Goddess Kulālikā, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “(Now) I will tell (you) about the arising (of the tradition) that gives bliss and accomplishment in the Kṛta Age [...] (There) the (goddess) Kulālikā has five faces. She has ten beautiful, a divine (beautiful) form and is very powerful. Mounted on a ghost as (her) seat, she is yellow (pītavarṇā) and possesses a beautiful, radiant power. Bearing the form (she assumes when engaged in Kaula) practice, she is profound; (her) form is tranquil and sports with great (delight). Mighty with her strength, twelve princes accompany her. [...]”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Pītavarṇa (पीतवर्ण) refers to a “yellow (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]. [...] There are east, north, west, and south divisions in all [four layers]. He should make [the four divisions] blackish-dark blue, green, red, and yellow (pītavarṇa) in color, [respectively] [kṛṣṇanīlaharidraktā pītavarṇā tu kārayet]. The Innate maṇḍala (viz., the Innate Layer) is thus [described]. As [the whole maṇḍala is] a fourfold circle (viz., comprises four layers), he should subsequently make the Dharma, Enjoyment, and Emanation Layers in order. [...]”.
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)
Pitavarna in India is the name of a plant defined with Haldina cordifolia in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Nauclea sterculiifolia A. Rich. ex DC.) (Adina Salisb., from the Greek adinos ‘clustered, plentiful, crowded’, referring to the clustered flowers. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· The Paradisus Londinensis (1807)
· Plants of the Coast of Coromandel (1795)
· Forest Fl. N.W. India (1874)
· Blumea (1978)
· Genera Plantarum (1873)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Pitavarna, for example chemical composition, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, extract dosage, side effects, health benefits, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Pītavarṇa (पीतवर्ण):—[=pīta-varṇa] [from pīta] m. ‘y°-coloured’, a species of parrot, [Demetrius Galanos’s Lexiko: sanskritikes, anglikes, hellenikes]
[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)
Partial matches: Varna, Pitha.
Starts with: Pitavarnaka.
Full-text: Pitavannam, Haridra, Nilavarna, Krishnavarna, Haridvarna, Krishnanilavarna, Krishnanila, Abhicara.
Relevant text
Search found 26 books and stories containing Pitavarna, Pīta-varṇā, Pīta-varṇa, Pita-varna, Pītavarṇa, Pītavarṇā; (plurals include: Pitavarnas, varṇās, varṇas, varnas, Pītavarṇas, Pītavarṇās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 368 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 3]
Page 265 < [Hindi-Kannada-English Volume 2]
Page 338 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.2.167 < [Chapter 2 - The Lord’s Appearance]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
1.8. Use of Aguru (Agallochum) < [Chapter 1 - Cosmetics]
Svalpa Matsya-purana (part 5) < [Purana, Volume 10, Part 2 (1968)]
Svalpa Matsya-purana (part 3) < [Purana, Volume 9, Part 2 (1967)]
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
34. Description of Candesvara (rites and rituals) < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
32. Description of Surya (rites and rituals) < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]