Prahelika, Pra-helika, Prahelikā: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Prahelika means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका) refers to an “enigma”.—Abhinava explains that the prahelikā is an answer that is intended to perplex others, and hence when this is done with a dose of humor it is called nālikā, praṇālikā or vyājā. The helikā is a sport, like narma, etc., and the prahelikā is where these features are fully (pra-) developed. As example, he offers the scene from Act II.14 of Ratnāvalī that he will again cite as an instance of that he will again cite as an instance of narmasphoṭa based on the element of hāsa (see chap. VIII, p. ???, note 57 above). Through Susaṅgatā’s double-entendre (bhaṅgi) on the picture-board, the (vital) matter is both hidden and brought to the heart.
The prahelikā is intended to bewilder and perplex others and the hiding of the meaning in Abhinava’s example is given by some commentators as the essential meaning of the root pra+valh: “Prahelikās are useful in amusements of sportive assemblies for (secret) communication between those adept in their techniques in a place crowded with other (uninitiated) people who have to kept in a state of bewilderment (i.e., off-guard).”
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Kama-shastra (the science of Love-making)
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका) refers to “(the art of) telling jokes and riddles”, and represents one of the sixty-four arts (aṅgavidyā), according to the Vātsyāyana’s Kāmasūtra: a Sanskrit text from the 2nd century dealing with eroticism, sexuality and emotional fulfillment in life belonging to Kāmaśāstra (the ancient Indian science of love-making).—Accordingly, “[While defending the standpoint that women should be allowed to learn theoratical science] [...] A female should study alone in private the sixty-four practices, arts and sciences (such as telling jokes and riddles—prahelikā), together with the Kama Sutra. [...] A public woman, endowed with a good disposition, beauty and other winning qualities, and also versed in such arts (e.g., prahelikā), obtains the name of a Gaṇikā (i.e., “a public woman of high quality”), and receives a seat of honour in an assemblage of men. She is, moreover, always respected by the king, and praised by learned men, and her favour being sought for by all, she becomes an object of universal regard”.
Note: Prahelikā can be defined as follows: (1) “solution of riddles, enigmas, covert speeches, verbal puzzles and enigmatical questions” (2) “conundrums—presented as a game or as the subject for a discussion” (3) “the art of telling jokes and riddles”.
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका) refers to “composing and solving riddles and rhymes” and represents one of the “sixty four kinds of Art”, according to the Kāmasūtra of Vātsyāyaṇa.—Indian tradition, basically includes sixty four Art forms are acknowledged. The references of sixty four kinds of kalā are found in the Bhāgavatapurāṇa, Śaiva-Tantras, Kāmasūtra of Vātsyāyaṇa etc.
Kamashastra (कामशास्त्र, kāmaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian science of love-making, passion, emotions and other related topics dealing with the pleasures of the senses.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
prahēlikā (प्रहेलिका).—f S An enigma or a riddle; an enigmatical or a puzzling question.
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
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका).—f., [prahelikā] A riddle, an enigma, a conundrum. It is thus defined in the विदग्धमुखमण्डन (vidagdhamukhamaṇḍana) :-- व्यक्तीकृत्य कमप्यर्थं स्वरूपार्थस्य गोपनात् । यत्र बाह्यान्तरावर्थौ कथ्येते सा प्रहेलिका (vyaktīkṛtya kamapyarthaṃ svarūpārthasya gopanāt | yatra bāhyāntarāvarthau kathyete sā prahelikā). It is आर्थी (ārthī) or शाब्दी (śābdī); तरुण्यालिङ्गितः कण्ठे नितम्ब- स्थलमाश्रितः । गुरूणां सन्निधानेऽपि कः कूजति मुहुर्मुहुः (taruṇyāliṅgitaḥ kaṇṭhe nitamba- sthalamāśritaḥ | gurūṇāṃ sannidhāne'pi kaḥ kūjati muhurmuhuḥ) (where the answer is īṣadūnajalapūrṇakumbhaḥ) is an instance of the former kind; सदारिमध्यापि न वैरियुक्ता नितान्तरक्ताप्यसितैव नित्यम् । यथोक्तवादिन्यपि नैव दूती का नाम कान्तेति निवेदयाशु (sadārimadhyāpi na vairiyuktā nitāntaraktāpyasitaiva nityam | yathoktavādinyapi naiva dūtī kā nāma kānteti nivedayāśu) || (where the answer is sārikā), of the latter. Daṇḍin, however, mentions 16 different kinds of प्रहेलिका (prahelikā); see Kāv.3.96-124.
See also (synonyms): praheli.
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका).—f.
(-kā) An enigma, a riddle, a puzzling or enigmatical question. E. pra before, hil to play and in-saṃjñāyāṃ kan aff. It is thus defined in Vachaspatya. “vyaktīkṛtya kamapyarthaṃ svarūpārthasya gopanāt . yatra bāhyāntarāvarthau kathyate sā prahelikā ..”
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका):—[=pra-helikā] [from pra-helaka] ([Kāvyādarśa], 6 kinds) f. an enigma, riddle, puzzling question.
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका):—[pra-helikā] (kā) 1. f. An enigma, a riddle, a puzzling question.
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका):—f. Räthsel, räthselhafte Sprechweise [Amarakoṣa 1, 1, 5, 6.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 1, 1, 116] (grahe gedr.). [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 259.] [Halāyudha.1,152.] [kāvyādarśa.3,106.] [PRATĀPAR. 23,b,5.] [Sāhityadarpana.5,11. 529. 646.] [Oxforder Handschriften 208,a,41. 217,a,9.] — Vgl. pravalhikā .
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका):—f. Räthsel , räthselhafte Sprechweise [Hemādri’s Caturvargacintāmaṇi 1,516,18.]
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Paheliyā.
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.
Hindi dictionary
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका):—: (nf) a riddle; an enclave.
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Nepali dictionary
Prahelikā (प्रहेलिका):—n. riddle; enigma; charade;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+4): Gudhacaturthapadaprahelika, Grahelika, Prahvalika, Prahelaka, Praheli, Vyutkranta, Pirakelikai, Pirelikai, Sankhyata, Prabahlika, Pravahlika, Paheliya, Helika, Samanashabda, Pravahli, Samagata, Samanarupa, Composing, Solving, Riddle.
Relevant text
Search found 33 books and stories containing Prahelika, Pra-helika, Prahelikā, Prahēlikā, Pra-hēlikā, Pra-helikā; (plurals include: Prahelikas, helikas, Prahelikās, Prahēlikās, hēlikās, helikās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 11.4 [Bindu-cyutaka] < [Chapter 11 - Additional Ornaments]
Text 11.16 < [Chapter 11 - Additional Ornaments]
Text 10.190 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Arts in the Puranas (study) (by Meena Devadatta Jeste)
7. Alankaras (Embellishments or Ornaments) < [Chapter 6 - Literature in the Puranas]
Appendix: The Date of the Puranas
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Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Education (6): Literature < [Chapter 4 - Cultural Aspects]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Therapeutic effects of kalasakadi kashaya < [2022: Volume 11, October issue 13]
Kadambari Studies (on the basis of Bhanuchandra) (by Jayanti Tripathy)
Alamkaras mentioned by Vamana (by Pratim Bhattacharya)
1-2: The number of Alaṃkāras (poetic figures) mentioned < [Chapter 5 - A Comparative study of the different alaṃkāras mentioned by Vāmana]
2: Definition of Yamaka Alaṃkāra < [Chapter 3 - Śabdālaṃkāras mentioned by Vāmana]