Pittam, Piṭṭam, Pittham: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Pittam means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Tamil. 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.

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In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Kerala Ayurveda Resorts: Pittham

Pittham, made up of Fire and Water, expresses as the body's metabolic system. It governs digestion, absorption, assimilation, nutrition, metabolism and body temperature. In balance, Pittham promotes understanding and intelligence. Out of balance, Pittham arouses anger, hatred and jealousy.

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.

Discover the meaning of pittam in the context of Ayurveda from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: The Sushruta Samhita: Pittam

The function of the Pittam consists in metamorphosing the chyle, through a graduated series of organic principles, to a protoplasmic substance like sperm in men, and the ovum in women. Thus we see that the Pittam of the Ayurveda corresponds to metabolism of Western physiology. But by a confounding carelessness of terms the excreted portion of Rasa and blood though ultimately connected with those normal physiological processes has been respectively styled as the Doshas or defiling principles of Kaphah and Pittam.

The term Pittam, which, by its etymology, signifies the agent of metabolism, has been loosely used by our Ayurvedic physiolgists to denote two different organic principles from an observed similarity in their nature and functions. Pittam in Sanskrit means both bile and metabolism of tissues as well as the bodily heat which is the product of the latter.

Languages of India and abroad

Tamil dictionary

Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil Lexicon

Piṭṭam (பிட்டம்) noun < pṛṣṭha. See பிருட்டம். [piruttam.] (W.)

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Piṭṭam (பிட்டம்) noun < piṣṭa. Dough; பிசைந்த மா. (சூடாமணிநிகண்டு) [pisaintha ma. (sudamaninigandu)]

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Pittam (பித்தம்) noun < pitta.

1. Bile, gall; ஈரலினின்று தோன்றும் நீர்வகை. [iralininru thonrum nirvagai.]

2. Bilious humour; பித்தமென்னும் பிணிக்கூறு. வாதபித்தகப மென . . . வலித்தனர் [pithamennum pinikkuru. vathapithagapa mena . . . valithanar] (உத்தரரா. அரக்கர்பிற. [utharara. arakkarpira.] 31).

3. Bewilderment, delirium; மயக்கம். (சூடாமணிநிகண்டு). [mayakkam. (sudamaninigandu).]

4. Lunacy, madness; பைத்தியம். பெருந்துறையான் பித்த வடிவுகொண்டு [paithiyam. perunthuraiyan pitha vadivugondu] (திருவாசகம் [thiruvasagam] 13, 19).

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Pittam (பித்தம்) noun < bhitra. A variety of dance; கூத்தின்வகை. [kuthinvagai.] (W.)

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Pittam (பித்தம்) noun probably from pavita. Pepper; மிளகு. [milagu.] (பதார்த்தகுண சிந்தாமணிமேகலை [patharthaguna sindamani] 1309.)

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Pittam (பித்தம்) noun See பித்தல்¹ [pithal¹], 1. Tanjore usage

context information

Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

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