Rajaki, Rājakī: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Rajaki means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Rajakī (रजकी) refers to a “washer woman” and is identified with the sacred site of Caritra and the Mātṛkā named Indrāṇī, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—According to the Kubjikā Tantras, the eight major Kaula sacred sites each have a house occupied by a woman of low caste who is identified with a Mother (Mātṛkā).—[...] Caritra is identified with (a) the class of washer woman (rajakī) [or liquor seller (dhvajinī)], (b) the Mātṛkā or ‘mother’ named Indrāṇī, and (c) with the location of ‘sound’.
2) Rajakī (रजकी) refers to one of the female servants associated with Pūrṇagiri, one of the sacred seats (pīṭha), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—Nine of the twelve female servants [i.e., Rajakī] (three in each of the first four seats), are low-caste women who we find, in other contexts, embody the Mothers (mātṛkā). The maids (cellakā) are Yoginīs and the servants their male counterparts. These replace the spiritual ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ the goddess generates and the guardians she appoints in the sacred seats listed in the ‘Kubjikāmatatantra’.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationRajakī (रजकी) refers to a “washer-woman”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.54 (“Description of the duties of the chaste wife”).—Accordingly, as a Brahmin lady said to Pārvatī: “[...] If a chaste lady wishes for the longevity of her husband she shall not forsake turmeric, vermilion, saffron, collyrium, a blouse, the betel, the necklace, ornaments, brushing and plaiting the hair bangles and earrings. A chaste woman shall never associate intimately with a washerwoman (rajakī), a harlot, a female ascetic or a fallen woman. [...]”.
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 Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: 84000: Sampuṭodbhava Tantra (Emergence from Sampuṭa)Rajakī (रजकी) refers to “dyeing/washing woman” (derived from the root rañj—‘to dye/to delight’) and is another name for Wisdom (prajñā), according to the Sampuṭodbhavatantra chapter 1.—Accordingly, “[...] Wisdom (prajñā) is called mother Because she gives birth to the people of the world. Wisdom is also called sister Because she betokens a dowry. Wisdom is called washer-woman Because she delights all beings. Accordingly, she is called rajakī. Wisdom is called daughter (duhitṛ) Because she suckles (duhana) the milk of qualities. Wisdom is called artiste On account of being moved by great compassion. [...]”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryrājakī (राजकी).—a (rājīka) Proceeding from or pertaining to the king or government. In use it particularly respects tyrannies or evil proceeding from the ruler or the state. It is contrad. from dēvakī q. v.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishrājakī (राजकी).—a Pertaining to the king or government.
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: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Rajakī (रजकी):—[from rajaka > raj] f. idem or the wife of a washerman, [ib.]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a woman on the third day of her impurity, [Bhāvaprakāśa]
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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusRajaki (ರಜಕಿ):—
1) [noun] a wife of a washerman.
2) [noun] a woman whose occupation is to clean the clothes, garments of others; washerwoman.
3) [noun] a woman in the third day of menses period.
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)
Starts with: Rajakilbishin, Rajakilpakkam, Rajakineya, Rajakinkara, Rajakira, Rajakiraka, Rajakire, Rajakirukam, Rajakishora, Rajakiya, Rajakiya Vyavahara, Rajakiya-mana, Rajakiya-parishad, Rajakiya-prabhiyokta, Rajakiya-sabha, Rajakiya-satta, Rajakiyam, Rajakiyanaman, Rajakiyasaras.
Full-text: Rajakineya, Rajaka, Rajasvala, Shvun, Kulanayika, Nekibadi, Devaki, Duhana, Prajna, Janani, Bhagini, Jagajjana, Ranjana, Duhitri, Indrani, Dhvajini, Antyaja, Caritra, Kapalin.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Rajaki, Rājakī, Rajakī; (plurals include: Rajakis, Rājakīs, Rajakīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kamashastra Discourse (Life in Ancient India) (by Nidheesh Kannan B.)
2. Works on Kāmaśāstra (g): Dūtīkarmaprakāśa < [Chapter 2 - An Appraisal of Kāmaśāstra Works in Sanskrit]
Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra (by T. S. Syamkumar)
5.2. Causes of Impurity in Dharmaśāstras < [Chapter 4 - Socio-Cultural aspects of Expiatory Rites]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 15 - Efficacy of the Holy Ash < [Section 3 - Brāhmottara-khaṇḍa]
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 89 - Characteristics of good conduct (sadācāra) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]