Prashakha, Praśākha, Praśakhā: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Prashakha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Hindi, 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 terms Praśākha and Praśakhā can be transliterated into English as Prasakha or Prashakha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraPraśakhā (प्रशखा) refers to one of the five embryonic stages found in texts such as the Saṃyutta, Milinda, Mahāvyutpatti, Tsa a han and Kośa, according to a footnote in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VII).—The Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra omits the praśakhā stage which is also omitted in Milinda and Visuddhimagga.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Prasakha in India is the name of a plant defined with Acacia catechu in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Mimosa catechuoides Roxb. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Flora of Taiwan (1993)
· Supplementum Plantarum (1782)
· Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany (1981)
· Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany (1996)
· Species Plantarum.
· The forest flora of North-West and Central India (1874)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Prasakha, for example diet and recipes, chemical composition, 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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPraśākha (प्रशाख).—a.
1) Having many or spreading branches.
2) Being in the 5th stage of formation (said of the embryo, when the hands and feet are formed).
-khā A small branch or twig.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPraśākha (प्रशाख).—f.
(-khā) 1. Having red branches. 2. In the fifth stage of formation. (as an embryo.)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPraśākhā (प्रशाखा).—[pra-śākhā], and praśāsvikā praśākhikā, i. e. praśākhā + ka, f. A small branch or twig, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 29, 21; [Nala] 20, 11.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPraśākhā (प्रशाखा).—[feminine] branch, limb (of the body).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Praśākha (प्रशाख):—[=pra-śākha] mfn. having great branches (as a tree), [Pāṇini 6-2, 177] [Scholiast or Commentator]
2) [v.s. ...] (also śaka) Name of the 5th stage in the formation of an embryo (in which the hands and feet are formed), [Buddhist literature]
3) Praśākhā (प्रशाखा):—[=pra-śākhā] [from pra-śākha] f. a branch or twig, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] ([probably]) extremity of the body, [Suśruta]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Praśākhā (प्रशाखा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pasāhā.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryPraśākhā (प्रशाखा):—(nf) an offshoot; a twing.
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See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Prashakhavant, Prashakhavat.
Ends with: Shakha-prashakha.
Full-text: Prashakhika, Avashakha, Pasaha, Prashaka, Prashakhavat, Pratishakham, Prashakhavant, Pasakha.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Prashakha, Pra-śākha, Pra-sakha, Pra-śākhā, Pra-shakha, Praśākha, Praśakhā, Prasakha, Praśākhā; (plurals include: Prashakhas, śākhas, sakhas, śākhās, shakhas, Praśākhas, Praśakhās, Prasakhas, Praśākhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
5. The four ‘vilokanas’ and the entry into the womb < [Part 4 - The Bodhisattva in the Abhidharma system]
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 5 - The Creation of the Universe < [Section 1 - Prakriyā-pāda (section on rites)]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)