Pravala, Pravāla: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Pravala means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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
Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstraPravāla (प्रवाल, “Coral”):—One of the nine gems (navaratna) according to the 13th century Rasaprakāśasudhākara. It is also known as Vidruma (विद्रुम).
The Ruby (pravāla) has the following Pharmaco-therapeutic properties:
- It pacifys pitta and rakta-doṣa,
- destroys svāsa, kāsa etc. diseases and durnivāra-viṣa (severe poison), bhūtonmāda (eye diseases).
- It is also claimed as dīpana (digestive stimulent) and pacana (digestive/appatizer)
Superior: The Coral is considered superior when the following properties can be described about the form of the gem: Snigdha (greasy), sthūla (thick), pakva-biṃbīphalābha (red like ripe biṃbīphalas), vṛtta (round), dīrgha (long), nirbraṇa (without fissures), nāti-dīrgha (not very long). The Coral which is free from the doṣas (bad qualities) is recommended for use in all purpose.
Inferior: When possessed of the following characteristics, the Ruby is considered inferior and is not considered good and not recommended for bhakṣaṇa (internal use) and dhāraṇa (bearing purpose): Rūkṣa (rough on surface), sveta (white in colour), savraṇa (associated with fissures), dhūsara (brownish), nirbhāra (having less weight), associated with doṣas (bad characteristics) and koṭarai-rāvṛta (full of holes/fissure).

Rasashastra (रसशास्त्र, rasaśāstra) is an important branch of Ayurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasashastra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraPravāla (प्रवाल) is a Sanskrit word referring to “coral”. When constructing the plinth of the stage (raṅgaśīrṣa), of a playhouse (nāṭyamaṇḍapa), there should be jewels and precious stones be placed underneath by expert builders, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra 2.72-74. Accordingly, coral (pravāla) is to be put in the north (uttarā).

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).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationPravāla (प्रवाल) or Pravālamaya refers to “coral”, representing the material of the liṅga of Śeṣanāga, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.12, where the Devas and Viṣṇu requested Viśvakarman for liṅgas for the achievement of the desires of all people:—“[...] at our bidding Viśvakarmā made liṅgas and gave them to the devas according to their status. [...] Great Brahmins and their wives chose liṅgas of earth. Maya took a liṅga of sandalwood and Śeṣanāga took a coral-made liṅga (Pravāla-liṅga). [...] Thus different kinds of liṅgas were given to them by Viśvakarmā which the devas and the celestial sages worship regularly. After giving the devas the various liṅgas from a desire for their benefit, Viṣṇu explained the mode of worship of Śiva to me, Brahmā”.

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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāPravāla (प्रवाल) (also, Pravāḍa, Vidruma) (Tibetan: byi ru or byu ru) refers to “red coral” (a type of jewel or precious stone, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “[...] Then the Bodhisattva Ratnavyūha said to the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja: ‘Son of good family, please pour down rain of all kinds of jewels from the sky’. Immediately after his words, the great rain of immeasurable, incalculable amount of jewels, equal to Mount Sumeru in size, with various kinds of names and colors, poured down from ten directions. To wit, [...] conch shell, crystal, red coral (pravāla), sapphire, Guṇākara gem, calm light gem, water-light gem, water-like gem, transparent gem, earthy light gem, indestructible gem, blinding gem, Śakra-holding gem, victor’s gem, the great victor’s gem, [...]”.

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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismPravāla (प्रवाल, “sprout”).—One of the ten kinds of “plant-bodies” (vanaspati) a soul (jīva) can be reborn as due to karma. Pravāla and other plant-bodies are within the animal world (tiryag-gati) which is one of the four divisions of saṃsāra where souls are reborn.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypravāla (प्रवाल).—n S Coral. pravālabhasma n S Calx of coral.
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pravāḷa (प्रवाळ).—n (pravāla S) Coral.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishpravāla (प्रवाल).—n Coral pravālabhasma n Calx of coral.
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pravāḷa (प्रवाळ).—n Coral.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPravāla (प्रवाल).—1 A sprout, shoot, new leaf; अपि (api)......प्रवालमासामनुबन्धि वीरुधाम् (pravālamāsāmanubandhi vīrudhām) Kumārasambhava 5.34;1.44;3.8; R.6.12;13.49.
2) Coral; शुद्धं दृढं घनं वृत्तं स्निग्धं पात्र- सुरङ्गकम् । समं गुरु सिराहीनं प्रबालं धारयेच्छुभम् (śuddhaṃ dṛḍhaṃ ghanaṃ vṛttaṃ snigdhaṃ pātra- suraṅgakam | samaṃ guru sirāhīnaṃ prabālaṃ dhārayecchubham) || Rājanighaṇṭu.
3) The neck of the Indian lute.
-laḥ 1 A pupil.
2) An animal.
Derivable forms: pravālaḥ (प्रवालः), pravālam (प्रवालम्).
See also (synonyms): prabāla.
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Pravāla (प्रवाल).—See प्रबाल (prabāla).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPravāla (प्रवाल).—[masculine] [neuter] shoot, sprout, coral.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Pravāla (प्रवाल):—[=pra-vāla] mn. ([probably] [from] √val, but also written pra-bāla; ifc. f(ā). ) a young shoot, sprout, new leaf or branch (to which feet and lips are often compared), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] coral, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc. (in this sense also written pra-vāḍa)
3) [v.s. ...] the neck of the Indian lute, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] m. an animal, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] a pupil, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] mfn. having shoots or sprouts, [Dharmaśarmābhyudaya]
7) [v.s. ...] having long or beautiful hair (= prakṛṣṭa-keśa yukta), [ib.]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Pravāla (प्रवाल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pavāla.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPravaḷa (ಪ್ರವಳ):—[adjective] flowing (as a liquid); moving forward and downward smoothly.
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Pravāla (ಪ್ರವಾಲ):—
1) [noun] a young shoot; a sprout.
2) [noun] a young leaf or bunch of young leaves.
3) [noun] a piece of red coral used in jewelry.
4) [noun] the neck of vīṇe, the indian lute.
5) [noun] hair.
6) [noun] the green colour.
7) [noun] the red colour.
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Pravāḷa (ಪ್ರವಾಳ):—[noun] = ಪ್ರವಾಲ [pravala].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Pravalabhadrishtimandala, Pravalabhasman, Pravaladalanicayaprakasha, Pravalaka, Pravalakin, Pravalalinga, Pravalamanishringa, Pravalamaya, Pravalamayalinga, Pravalapadma, Pravalaphala, Pravalashmantaka, Pravalavant, Pravalavarna, Pravalavat.
Ends with: Kulapravala, Manipravala, Nishpravala, Rudharagapravala, Utpravala.
Full-text (+16): Pravalapadma, Pravalabhasman, Pravalaphala, Pravalavat, Pravalashmantaka, Prakrishtakeshakhya, Prabala, Pravalavarna, Pravalamanishringa, Pavala, Pracala, Angarakamani, Pravalaka, Pamvalem, Manipravala, Utpravala, Povalim, Latayavaka, Pravada, Kulapravala.
Relevant text
Search found 21 books and stories containing Pravala, Pra-vala, Pra-vāla, Pravāla, Pravāḷa, Pravaḷa, Prvala, Prvāḷa; (plurals include: Pravalas, valas, vālas, Pravālas, Pravāḷas, Pravaḷas, Prvalas, Prvāḷas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verses 2.10.11-13 < [Chapter 10 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Herding the Cows]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 1 - Characteristics of Coral (pravala) < [Chapter XXII - Gems (12): Pravala (coral)]
Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā (by Sarasvati Thkura)
Text 7 < [Second Stabaka]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 4.5.28 < [Part 5 - Anger (raudra-rasa)]
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
1.2. Materials (j): Vidruma (Coral) < [Chapter 3 - Ornaments]
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
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