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-śāstra

Puṃścalī (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 book cover
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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.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Pumshcali in Purana glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Puṃścalī (पुंश्चली).—A class of women who came from the mouth of Asura Bala when he yawned*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 24. 16.
Purana book cover
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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.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Pumshcali in Shaktism glossary
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Puṃścalī (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.

Shaktism book cover
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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.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Pumshcali in Hinduism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Puṃścalī (पुंश्चली) is a Sanskrit word referring to a harlot, or unchaste woman.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Pumshcali in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

puṃścalī (पुंश्चली).—f S A harlot. puṃścalīcaritra n S Harlotry.

context information

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Pumshcali in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Puṃścalī (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 Dictionary

Puṃścalī (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 Dictionary

Puṃścalī (पुंश्चली).—[feminine] harlot (lit. running after men).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Puṃścalī (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 Dictionary

Puṃścalī (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]

Pumshcali in German

context information

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.

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Hindi dictionary

[«previous next»] — Pumshcali in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Puṃścalī (पुंश्चली):—(nf) lit. 'running after men'—a harlot, an adulteress, a woman of easy virtue.

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Pumshcali in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Puṃścali (ಪುಂಶ್ಚಲಿ):—[noun] a woman who is sexually unrestrained; an unchaste woman; a harlot.

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Puṃścaḷi (ಪುಂಶ್ಚಳಿ):—[noun] = ಪುಂಶ್ಚಲಿ [pumshcali].

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Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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