Pravala, Pravāla: 20 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.
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In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Pravāla (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).
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Pravāla (प्रवाल) refers to the “filaments” (of a herb or plant), according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā, which represents the Ayurvedic study on Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Kāśyapa prescribes various antidotes to quell the poison by administering them through nasal drugs, collyrium, ointment, herbal drinks and diet. According to Kāśyapasaṃhitā (verse VIII.13)—“The root of white variety of Arka, the inner filaments (gṛha-pravāla) of Girikarṇikā (śyāmādi gaṇa) and a pod of garlic, if given as nasal snuff or powder can even revive a person all but killed by the poison of Vāsuki’s bite”.
Agriculture (Krishi) and Vrikshayurveda (study of Plant life)
Pravāla (प्रवाल) refers to “coral”, and is used in a recipe for producing fragrance (gandha-samutpatti), according to the Vṛkṣāyurveda by Sūrapāla (1000 CE): an encyclopedic work dealing with the study of trees and the principles of ancient Indian agriculture.—Accordingly: “An ordinary mango tree gets the good quality of a high class mango tree and puts forth fragrant blossom attracting the bees if it is smeared with the thick paste of Syzygium cumini, coral [e.g., Pravāla], Cyperus hexastachys communis and the roots of Vetiveria zizanioides and then sprinkled with the water from the same paste”.
Pravāla (प्रवाल) (or, pallava, kiśalaya) refers to “new leaves (of a plant)”, and represents a technical term related to the morphology branch of “plant science”, which ultimately involves the study of life history of plants, including its origin and development, their external and internal structures and the relation of the members of the plant body with one another.— The vṛkṣāṅga-sūtrīya-adhyāya, i.e., the chapter of the bījotpatti-kāṇḍa of Parāśara’s Vṛkṣāyurveda deals with various parts of plants, e.g., Leaf (parṇa or patra). [...] The leaf is called patra, because it falls soon, it is also called parṇa because of its green colour. New leaves are called pallava, kiśalaya. Branches with undeveloped leaves (pallava) are called vistāra as the plant spreads by it. It is synonymous with modern bud. The leaf or the parṇa may be either possessing one blade or more than one blade.
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Pravāla (प्रवाल) refers to “(mango) shoots”, 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 2, “on favorable marks”]: “6. With very glossy, shining eyes, and reddish trunk ends, with rod-like penis handsome with the beauty of mango shoots (cūta-pravāla-ruci), radiant as red lotuses, with voice like the koil’s; such elephants, assuredly, are auspicious for kings”.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Pravāla (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)
Pravāla (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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Pravāla (प्रवाल) (=Coral) is the name of an object which is to be deposited at the building-plot presided over by (1) Āraya or (2) Marīci, as discussed in the thesis entitled “concept of ritual deposit of Khmer temples in northeastern Thailand from 10th-13th century A.D.” by Naiyana Munparn.—(Also see: Acharya, Architecture of Mānasāra, 111).—Note: Pravāla is denoted in the Thai language as ปะการัง (pakarang).
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Pravāla (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)
Pravāla (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
pravāla (प्रवाल).—n S Coral. pravālabhasma n S Calx of coral.
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pravāḷa (प्रवाळ).—n (pravāla S) Coral.
pravāla (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
Pravāla (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).
Pravāla (प्रवाल).—[masculine] [neuter] shoot, sprout, coral.
1) 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.]
Pravāla (प्रवाल):—(die richtigere Schreibart) s. prabāla .
Pravāla (प्रवाल):—Koralle.
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Pravāla (प्रवाल):——
1) m. n. (adj. Comp. f. ā) — a) Schoss , Trieb , junger Zweig Füsse und Lippen werden mit ihnen verglichen. — b) Koralle [Rājan 13,159.] — c) *der Hals der indischen Laute. —
2) *m. — a) Thier. — b) Schüler.
Pravāla (प्रवाल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pavāla.
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
Pravaḷa (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.
Nepali dictionary
Pravāla (प्रवाल):—n. → प्रबाल [prabāla]
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)
Partial matches (+0): Pra, Lupa, Vala.
Starts with (+0): Pravalabhadrishtimandala, Pravalabhasman, Pravaladalanicayaprakasha, Pravalaka, Pravalakin, Pravalalinga, Pravalamani, Pravalamanishringa, Pravalamaya, Pravalamayalinga, Pravalapadma, Pravalaphala, Pravalaruci, Pravalashmantaka, Pravalavant, Pravalavarna, Pravalavat.
Full-text (+37): Manipravala, Pravalashmantaka, Pravalaphala, Pravalabhasman, Utpravala, Pravalapadma, Pravalavat, Pravalavarna, Pravalamani, Prabala, Kulapravala, Rudharagapravala, Prakrishtakeshakhya, Angarakamani, Cutapravala, Shodhitapravala, Pravalaruci, Pracala, Pavala, Pravalamanishringa.
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