Punjikasthala, Puñjikasthalā: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Punjikasthala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaPuñjikasthalā (पुञ्जिकस्थला).—A nymph. She was the servant-maid of Bṛhaspati. One day she was collecting flowers for her Guru in a garden when a set of young men and women came to the garden for amorous sports. They were roaming about in the garden in pairs doing all sorts of erotic acts and Puñjikasthalā stood watching them for some time with passion aroused in her. She returned to the āśrama thinking all the way about her miserable lot of having no husband to enjoy a similar life. She was full of lust when she returned to the āśrama and on seeing Bṛhaspati she caught hold of him by the hand and pleaded to satisfy her passion. Bṛhaspati was angry at this improper request and cursed her "You have become rotten. You have become lustful by seeing the amorous sports of others. May you be born as a monkey. Get out of this āśrama." Puñjikasthalā came to her senses and regretting her hasty act begged her Guru to grant her release from the curse. Bṛhaspati felt pity on her and said "Go and enjoy to your full sexual life with a lover whom you like best. Then you will get a son from the vitality of Śiva. When that son is born you will be released from the curse and you will go to heaven."
She became immediately a monkey girl named Añjanā and started living in a forest of that name itself. She fell in love with a monkey boy named Kesarī there and lived for many years enjoying an amorous life. She did not get a child even after several years and then she prayed to Śiva for a child. (See full article at Story of Puñjikasthalā from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
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 Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraPuñjikāsthalā (पुञ्जिकास्थला) is the name of an Apsaras, instructed by Śakra to help in the preparations of Ṛṣabha’s wedding-preparations, according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly,
“[...] Then having ascertained the Lord’s purpose, Purandara at once summoned gods for the tasks of the wedding-preparations.—‘[...] Put the groom’s chair in the proper place, Amlocā. Bring the brides’ and groom’s shoes, Haṃsapādī; quickly smear the pavilion-ground with cow-dung, Puñjikāsthalā. [...]’. From the bustling of the Apsarases instructing each other in this way, and frequently calling names, a mighty tumult arose”.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Puñjikasthalā (पुञ्जिकस्थला):—[=puñjika-sthalā] [from puñjika > puñja] ([Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] etc.) f. Name of an Apsaras.
2) Puñjikāsthalā (पुञ्जिकास्थला):—[=puñjikā-sthalā] [from puñjika > puñja] ([cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]), Name of an Apsaras.
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Sthala, Punjika.
Full-text: Punjikastana, Asthala, Parnini, Karnika, Apsaras, Anumloca, Amloca, Hamsapadi, Abhisheka.
Relevant text
Search found 13 books and stories containing Punjikasthala, Puñjikasthalā, Punjika-sthala, Puñjika-sthalā, Puñjikāsthalā, Puñjikā-sthalā; (plurals include: Punjikasthalas, Puñjikasthalās, sthalas, sthalās, Puñjikāsthalās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Ramayana of Valmiki (by Hari Prasad Shastri)
Chapter 13 - Ravana tells the Story of the Nymph Punjikasthala < [Book 6 - Yuddha-kanda]
Chapter 60 - The Titans rouse Kumbhakarna < [Book 6 - Yuddha-kanda]
Animal Kingdom (Tiryak) in Epics (by Saranya P.S)
Chapter 3.9 - The story of Kesari (Monkey characters, part 3)
Chapter 3.14 - The story of Anjana (Women characters, part 1)
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter LVIII - Positions and dimensions of the sun and other planets < [Agastya Samhita]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)