Pumshcali, Puṃścalī: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Pumshcali 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.
The Sanskrit term Puṃścalī can be transliterated into English as Pumscali or Pumshcali, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Pumshchali.
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstraPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली) is a Sanskrit word referring to an “unchaste woman”. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (also see the Manubhāṣya verse 4.211)
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली).—A class of women who came from the mouth of Asura Bala when he yawned*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 24. 16.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली) or “the Courtesan” is the name of a Yoginī concerned with Kāma, according to the Jayadrathayāmala.—As Nityās are not mentioned in the first ṣaṭka of the Jayadrathayāmala, it is not surprising that Nityaklinnā does not appear there. However, she appears in the second ṣaṭka in a group of 32 Nāyakīs of the Śvetā Kula. Although not expressly said to be a Nityā, she is amongst other Yoginīs who, judging by their names are, like her, concerned with Kāma. These include [i.e., Puṃścalī (the Courtesan), ...]. Nityās are most apparent in the fourth ṣaṭka of the Jayadrathayāmala, which is also the last in chronological order. There we find several that become well known Yoginīs later.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Wisdom Library: HinduismPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली) is a Sanskrit word referring to a harlot, or unchaste woman.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypuṃścalī (पुंश्चली).—f S A harlot. puṃścalīcaritra n S Harlotry.
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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली).—f. (-lī) A harlot, an unchaste woman. E. puṃs a man, and cal to go, affs. ac and ṅīṣ.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली).—i. e. puṃś-cal + a + ī, adj. and sbst., f. A harlot, an unchaste woman, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 211.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली).—[feminine] harlot (lit. running after men).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली):—[=puṃś-calī] [from puṃś > puṃs] f. ‘running after men’, a harlot, courtezan, [Atharva-veda] etc. etc. (-cala m. a fornicator, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā xxiii, 5])
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली):—[puṃ-ścalī] (lī) 3. f. A harlot.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Puṃścalī (पुंश्चली) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Puṃsalī.
[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 dictionaryPuṃścalī (पुंश्चली):—(nf) lit. 'running after men'—a harlot, an adulteress, a woman of easy virtue.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPuṃścali (ಪುಂಶ್ಚಲಿ):—[noun] a woman who is sexually unrestrained; an unchaste woman; a harlot.
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Puṃścaḷi (ಪುಂಶ್ಚಳಿ):—[noun] = ಪುಂಶ್ಚಲಿ [pumshcali].
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)
Partial matches: Pums, Pum, Cali.
Starts with: Pumshcalicala, Pumshcaliputra, Pumshcaliya.
Full-text: Pumshcaliya, Pumshcaliputra, Pumshcalicala, Paumshcaliya, Cali, Pumscalu, Paumshcalya, Pumsali, Paushcalya, Pumgi, Apavada, Cala, Jalma, Veshya, Atala, Anunasika, Bala, Capala.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Pumshcali, Puṃścalī, Pumscali, Pumsh-cali, Puṃś-calī, Pum-shcali, Puṃ-ścalī, Pum-scali, Puṃścali, Pumścali, Puṃścaḷi, Pumścaḷi; (plurals include: Pumshcalis, Puṃścalīs, Pumscalis, calis, calīs, shcalis, ścalīs, scalis, Puṃścalis, Pumścalis, Puṃścaḷis, Pumścaḷis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 35 - On the description of the various hells for the various sinners < [Book 9]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.211 < [Section XIV - Other Duties]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
The Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 24 - Rāhu’s Position and the Subterranean Regions < [Book 5 - Fifth Skandha]
Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kāṇḍa XIII, adhyāya 6, brāhmaṇa 2 < [Thirteenth Kāṇḍa]