Puccha, Pucchā: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Puccha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Puchchha.
In Hinduism
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraPuccha (पुच्छ) refers to the “tail” (of Rāhu), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Some say that Rāhu, the asura, though his head was cut, dies not but lives in the shape of a planet having tasted of ambrosia. That he has a disc like the sun and moon and as that disc is black it is invisible when in the sky except on the occasion of eclipses in virtue of a boon from Brahmā. Others say that he resembles a serpent in shape with his head severed from his tail [i.e., puccha]; a few that he is bodiless, that he is mere darkness and that he is the son of Siṃhikā. [...]”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha ChikitsaPuccha (पुच्छ) or “tail” refers to one of the thirteen sources of Jaṅgama (mobile) poison, as described in the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Kaśyapa states in the fourth Adhyāya that Śiva taught him that poisons are of five kinds viz. immobile, mobile, artificial, caused by planets and (arising out of) doubt. The sources of these five kinds of viṣa, Kaśyapasaṃhitā deals mainly with the sthāvara (immobile), jaṅgama (mobile) poison according to Kaśyapa are thirteen in number [viz., tail (puccha)].
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: archive.org: The Elephant Lore of the HindusPuccha (पुच्छ) refers to the “tail” (of an elephant), 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 6, “on determination of measurements”]: “12. Below the flanks are the two hindquarters to be recognized; the niṣkośa at (between?) flank and back; the belly after these two; (after or behind?) these two (niṣkośas) are the two parts named the utkṛṣṭas (‘elevated parts’). 13. But the region of the tail root (puccha-mūla-samīpa) shall be (called) the pecaka. Below the throat, upon the breast, one shall recognize the antarmaṇi, fastened at the joint of the neck”
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.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)Puccha (पुच्छ) refers to the “tail (of a bird)”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the yellow-eyed division of hawks]: “The Vājas are of five kinds. Their descriptions are given separately. [...] Mahārāvaṇa, the king of Vājas, is that in whose tail and feathers (puccha-chada) are to be found marks like the Aśvatha or pipal leaf. Only one who has heaped up much religious merit becomes the possessor of such a pleasure-giving bird. It is called Mahārāvaṇa because it makes other birds cry in fear on its approach”.
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgriculturePuccha (पुच्छ) refers to the “tails (of Nāgas)”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [as the Bhagavān teaches the offering manual of the root-heart] “[...] If Nāgas are desirous of destroying that province, hot sand will fall on their heads. As many heads, tails (puccha) and trunks they have, that many sword-rain showers fall on their bodies. Then all Nāgas will roam terrified and frightened. Then they send forth rain showers in Jambudvīpa duly at the proper time. All hostile Nāgas will be subdued. [...]”
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarypuccha : (nt.) tail. || pucchā (f.) a question.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryPuccha, (nt.) (cp. Vedic puccha (belonging with punar to Lat. puppis) & P. piccha) a tail DhsA. 365 (dog’s tail). See puñcikata. (Page 463)
— or —
Pucchā, (f.) (cp. Class. Sk. pṛcchā=Ohg. forsca question) a question Sn. 1023; SnA 46, 200, 230. A system of questions (“questionnaire”) is given in the Niddesa (and Commentaries), consisting of 12 groups of three questions each. In full at Nd1 339, 340=Nd2 under pucchā (p. 208). The first group comprises the three adiṭṭha-jotanā pucchā, diṭṭha-sa ‘sandanā p. , vimaticchedanā p. These three with addition of anumati p. and kathetu-kamyatā p. also at DA. I, 68=DhsA. 55. The complete list is referred to at SnA 159.—apuccha (adj.) that which is not a question, i.e. that which should not be asked Miln. 316.—puccha-vissajjanā question and answer PvA. 2.—At Nett 18 p. occurs as quâsi synonym of icchā and patthanā. (Page 463)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypuccha (पुच्छ).—n (S) A tail. puccha phuṭaṇēṃ-vāḍhaṇēṃ-lāmbaṇēṃ To be extended or enlarged beyond the original computation--a business, expenses, labor.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishpuccha (पुच्छ).—n A tail. puccha phuṭaṇēṃ-vāḍhaṇēṃ-lāmbaṇēṃ To be extended beyond the original computation-business, expenses, labour.
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 dictionaryPuccha (पुच्छ).—
1) A tail in general; पश्चात् पुच्छं वहति विपुलम् (paścāt pucchaṃ vahati vipulam) Uttararāmacarita 4.27.
2) A hairy tail.
3) A peacock's tail.
4) The hinder part.
5) The end of anything.
Derivable forms: pucchaḥ (पुच्छः), puccham (पुच्छम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuccha (पुच्छ).—mn.
(-cchaḥ-cchaṃ) 1. A tail, the tail, the hinder part. 2. A horse’s tail. 3. The tail of the peacock. 4. Any hairy tail. 5. The end of anything. E. puccha to be careless, ac aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuccha (पुच्छ).—m. and n. 1. A tail, [Draupadīpramātha] 5, 8. 2. The hinder part, Mahābhārata 7, 206.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuccha (पुच्छ).—[masculine] [neuter] tail; poss. vant†.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Puccha (पुच्छ):—mn. (ifc. f(ā or ī). cf. [Pāṇini 4-1, 55], [vArttika] 1-3) a tail, the hinder part, [Atharva-veda] etc. etc.
2) last or extreme end (as of a year), [Śāṅkhāyana-brāhmaṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuccha (पुच्छ):—[(cchaḥ-cchaṃ)] 1. m. n. A tail.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Puccha (पुच्छ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Puṃcha.
[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 dictionaryPuccha (पुच्छ) [Also spelled puchchh]:—(nm) a tail, tail-like structure; rear, hind part.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Puccha (पुच्छ) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Pracch.
2) Pucchā (पुच्छा) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Pṛcchā.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPuccha (ಪುಚ್ಛ):—
1) [noun] = ಪುಕ್ಕ [pukka]3.
2) [noun] the distinct flexible appendage to the rear end of the body of a few types of animals as dog, tiger, elephant; a tail.
3) [noun] the rear portion of anything.
4) [noun] the end or terminating portion (in the rear portion).
5) [noun] anything appended; adjunct.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryPuccha (पुच्छ):—n. 1. a tail (in general); 2. a hairy tail;
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)
Starts with (+1): Panha, Pucchaa, Pucchabandha, Pucchabrahmavada, Pucchabrahmavadakhandana, Pucchabrahmavadanirakarana, Pucchada, Pucchadhi, Pucchaga, Pucchaka, Pucchala, Pucchalakshana, Pucchalakshanadidhititika, Pucchalakshanakroda, Pucchalakshananugama, Pucchalakshanaprakasha, Pucchalakshanatika, Pucchalakshanavivecana, Pucchana, Pucchanana.
Full-text (+277): Apuccha, Gopuccha, Phalapuccha, Vyaghrapuccha, Kalapuccha, Shukapuccha, Kakapuccha, Kolapuccha, Hastapuccha, Camarapuccha, Shvapuccha, Vakrapuccha, Shikhipuccha, Pucchagra, Shunahpuccha, Pucchadhi, Dadhipuccha, Pucchamula, Vidhipuccha, Anusayapuccha.
Relevant text
Search found 45 books and stories containing Puccha, Pucchā; (plurals include: Pucchas, Pucchās). 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)
Verse 3.8.11 < [Chapter 8 - The Opulences of Śrī Girirāja]
Verse 5.13.17 < [Chapter 13 - The Arrival of Sri Uddhava]
Verse 5.2.2 < [Chapter 2 - The Killing of Keśī]
Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika (by R. Balasubramanian)
Verse 2.346 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]
Verse 3.37 < [Book 3 - Bhṛguvallī]
Verse 2.276-277 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]
Yuktimallika by Vadiraja (critical study) (by Gururaj K. Nippani)
2. Establishing Jivesvara-bheda < [Critical exposition (3) Bhedasaurabha]
6. Brahman is not Nirakara but is of Purnananda-deha < [Critical exposition (3) Bhedasaurabha]
Brahma Sutras (Govinda Bhashya) (by Kusakratha das Brahmacari)
Sūtra 3.3.15 < [Adhyaya 3, Pada 3]
Adhikarana 6: The Supreme Brahman is Full of Bliss < [Adhyaya 1, Pada 1]
Sūtra 1.1.12 < [Adhyaya 1, Pada 1]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 3.3 < [Chapter 3 - On the Manifold Births]