Raka, Rākā: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Raka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Hindi, biology. 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)
1) Rākā (राका).—The presiding Devī of the full moon. She too was present at the birth of Subrahmaṇya. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 14).
Rākādevī was the daughter of Aṅgiras, who had by his wife Smṛti four daughters called Sinīvālī, Kuhū, Rākā and Anumati. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa. Part 1, Chapter 1).
2) Rākā (राका).—A Rākṣasa girl. She served, at the instance of Kubera, Maharṣi Viśravas, and a son called Khara and a daughter, Śūrpaṇakhā, were born to her by the maharṣi. (Vana Parva, Chapter 275, Verse 3).
1a) Rākā (राका).—A daughter of Angiras and Smrtī; wife of Dhātri, and mother of Prātas;1 a Śakti.2
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IV. 1. 34; VI. 18. 3; Vāyu-purāṇa 28. 15; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 10. 7.
- 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 32. 12.
1b) A river in Śālmalidvīpa.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 20. 10.
1c) (Ekā?)—the full moon shining resplendent and much pleasing to the eye;1 a day fit for giving gifts;2 ety. of.3
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 11. 18; 28. 38, 46 and 60; Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 201; 56. 35, 41 and 55.
- 2) Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 8. 80.
- 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 56. 41.
1d) Two lavas of the afternoon of Pratipada.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 133. 36; 141. 33, 41, 51.
Rākā (राका) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.12) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Rākā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Rākā (राका) refers to one of the four daughters of Aṅgiras and Smṛti: one of the twenty-four daughters of Dakṣa and Prasūti, according to the Vaṃśa (‘genealogical description’) of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, Ākūti was married to Ruci and Prasūti to Dakṣa. Dakṣa produced in Prasūti twenty-four daughters. [...] [Smṛti was given to Aṅgiras.] Smṛti and Aṅgiras had four daughters—Sinivalī, Kuhū, Rākā and Anumati.
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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Rākā (राका) refers to the “full moon on the first day of the lunar phase”.—Purastād may mean before the second day, on which the real sacrifice takes place, and the commentator mentions purastāt-paurṇamāsī as a name of the caturdaśī-yuktā, i.e. the full moon beginning on the fourteenth day. The same kind of full moon is also called Anumati, Pūrvā-paurṇamāsī, and Sandhyā-paurṇamāsī, while that which takes place on the pratipad, the first day of the lunar phase, is called Rākā, Uttarā-paurṇamāsī, Astamitoditā, and Śvaḥpūritā.
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.
Shaktism
Rākā (राका) refers to one of the 54 rays of the Anāhata-Cakra which (together with the 62 rays of the Maṇipūra) are associated with the solar plane called Viṣṇugranthi, according to Śaṅkarācārya’s Saudaryalaharī.—Accordingly, the Goddess is visualised (by Sādhaka) as dwelling above the six Ādhāracakras ruling over the 360 rays which emanate in them [e.g., Rākā]. These 360 rays represent 360 syllables (i.e., a consummation of the śabdaprapañca or 50 alphabets) as well as the principles of nature. For the 360 syllables, together with haṃ and saḥ, Nyāsa should be performed for Śrīcakrapūjā.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Raka in India is the name of a plant defined with Carum carvi in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Carum gracile Lindley (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Regnum Vegetabile, or ‘a Series of Handbooks for the Use of Plant Taxonomists and Plant Geographers’ (1993)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· of the Himalayan Mountains (1835)
· Enumeratio Plantarum Horti Regii Berolinensis Altera (1821)
· Acta Horti Gothoburgensis (1926)
· Das Pflanzenreich (1927)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Raka, for example diet and recipes, extract dosage, side effects, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, health benefits, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Raka (रक).—
1) The sun-stone.
2) Crystal.
3) A hard shower.
Derivable forms: rakaḥ (रकः).
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Rākā (राका).—[rā-ka tasya netvam Uṇādi-sūtra 3.4]
1) The full-moon day, particularly the night; दारिद्र्यं भजते कलानिधिरयं राका- धुना म्लायति (dāridryaṃ bhajate kalānidhirayaṃ rākā- dhunā mlāyati) Bv.2.72,94,165,175;3.11; राकायामकलङ्कं चेदमृतांशोर्भवेद्वपुः (rākāyāmakalaṅkaṃ cedamṛtāṃśorbhavedvapuḥ) K. P.
2) The goddess presiding over the full-moon day.
3) A girl in whom menstruation has just commenced.
4) Itch, scab.
5) Name of the mother of खर (khara) and शूर्पणखा (śūrpaṇakhā).
6) Name of a river; L. D. B.
Raka (रक).—m.
(-kaḥ) 1. The sum gem. 2. Crystal. 3. A hard shower. E. rak to get, ac aff.
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Rākā (राका).—f.
(-kā) 1. Full-moon, or the day of full-moon. 2. A girl in whom menstruation has commenced. 3. Scab, itch. 4. The name of a river. E. rā to give, (good fortune,) ka Unadi aff.
Rākā (राका).—f. 1. Full moon, or the day of full moon, Sah. D. p. 323, 19. 2. A girl in whom menstruation has commenced. 3. Itch. 4. The name of a river.
Rākā (राका).—[feminine] the goddess or the day of full moon; [Name] of a Rākṣasī & a river.
1) Raka (रक):—[from rak] m. the sun gem
2) [v.s. ...] crystal
3) [v.s. ...] a hard shower, [Horace H. Wilson]
4) Rākā (राका):—[from rās] f. ([Uṇādi-sūtra iii, 40]) the goddess presiding over the actual day of full moon (or regarded as the Full Moon’s consort; Anumati is supposed to preside over the previous day), [Jyotiṣa] (cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 158])
5) [v.s. ...] the day of full moon, full moon, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
6) [v.s. ...] Name of a daughter of Aṅgiras and Smṛti, [Purāṇa]
7) [v.s. ...] of a daughter of Aṅgiras and Śraddhā, [ib.]
8) [v.s. ...] of the wife of Dhātṛ and mother of Prātṛ, [ib.]
9) [v.s. ...] of a Rākṣasī (the mother of Khara and Śūrpa-ṇakhā), [Mahābhārata]
10) [v.s. ...] of a daughter of Su-mālin, [Rāmāyaṇa]
11) [v.s. ...] of a river, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
12) [v.s. ...] itch, scab, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
13) [v.s. ...] a girl in whom menstruation has begun, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
14) Rāka (राक):—m. a quiver, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
15) wealth, money, ibidem
16) the sun, ibidem
1) Raka (रक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. The sun-gem; crystal; a hard shower.
2) Rākā (राका):—(kā) 1. f. Full moon or the day of full moon; a girl arrived at puberty; itch, scab; a river.
Raka (रक):—gaṇa śaṇḍikādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 3, 92.] m. the sun gem; crystal; a hard shower [WILSON] nach [ŚABDĀRTHAK.]
--- OR ---
Rākā (राका):—f. [Uṇādisūtra 3, 40.] [Scholiast] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 7, 3, 44. 4, 13.]
1) die Genie des wirklichen Vollmondstages (neben Anumati der Genie des vorangehenden Tages; s. Näheres [morgenländischen Gesellschaft 9, LVII.] [Weber’s Indische Studien 5, 229.] [WEBER, Jyotiṣa 60. fgg.] *) [?59, 13 ist, wie WEBER] später erkannt hat, vivakṣite na zu trennen; demnach sind [62, 4] die Worte «bei Somakāra und» zu streichen.; Vollmondstag, Vollmond [das 5, 5.] [Yāska’s Nirukta 11, 30.] [Amarakoṣa 1, 1, 3, 8.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 39.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 149.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 2, 14. fg.] [Medinīkoṣa k. 31.] [Halāyudha 1, 112.] [VIŚVA] bei [UJJVAL.] [Ṛgveda 2, 32, 4. 5, 42, 12.] [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 3, 37. 47. 7, 11.] [Taittirīyasaṃhitā 1, 8, 8, 1. 3, 4, 9, 1. 6.] [Taittirīyabrāhmaṇa 1, 7, 2, 1.] [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 9, 5, 1, 38.] [Ṣaḍviṃśabrāhmaṇa 4, 6.] [Kāṭhaka-Recension 12, 8.] [Śāṅkhāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 1, 15, 3.] [Mahābhārata 8, 1486.] [WEBER, KṚṢṆAJ. 250. 268.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa 225.] maghārākāsamāgame [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 7, 14, 22. 15, 54.] yajña [Pañcaviṃśabrāhmaṇa 16, 13, 1,] [Scholiast] eine Tochter des Aṅgiras (vgl. rāgā) und der Smṛti [Viṣṇupurāṇa 83.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 52, 21.] des Aṅgiras und der Śraddhā [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 4, 1, 34.] Gattin Dhātar’s und Mutter Prātar’s [6, 18, 3.] Die Brāhmaṇa und Comm. führen das Wort auf 1. rā zurück. —
2) Nomen proprium einer Rākṣasī, der Mutter Khara's und der Śūrpaṇakhā [Mahābhārata 3, 15893. 15896.] einer Tochter des Sumālin [Rāmāyaṇa 7, 5, 40.] —
3) Nomen proprium eines Flusses [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [VIŚVA a. a. O.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 5, 20, 10.] —
4) Krätze [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [VIŚVA.] —
5) ein eben mannbar gewordenes Mädchen [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 536.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [Hārāvalī 130.] [Halāyudha 2, 333.] [VIŚVA.]
Raka (रक):—m. —
1) the sun gem. —
2) crystal. —
3) a hard shower.
--- OR ---
Rākā (राका):—f. —
1) die Genie des wirklichen Vollmondstages (gilt später als Tochter des Aṅgiras) ; Vollmondstag , Vollmond. —
2) *ein eben mannbar gewordenes Mädchen. —
3) *Krätze. —
4) Nomen proprium — a) einer Rākhast. — b) eines Flusses.
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
Rākā (राका):—(nf) the night of the full moon; ~[pati] the moon.
...
Nepali dictionary
Rākā (राका):—n. 1. the full moon day (particularly the night); 2. a girl in whom menstruation has just commenced; 3. itch; scab;
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 (+17): Raka-shashanka, Raka-vita, Rakaalpata, Rakaar, Rakab, Rakaba, Rakabat, Rakabata, Rakabi, Rakabu, Rakacandra, Rakaciyam, Rakadi, Rakagama, Rakakkasa, Rakala-mul, Rakala-mula, Rakalai, Rakalaippatu, Rakam.
Full-text (+198): Madhura, Rakapati, Rakacandra, Raka-shashanka, Rakesha, Rakaramana, Rakanisha, Rakam, Vararaka, Rakashashin, Rakavibhavari, Rakasudhakara, Rakayajna, Shatavarakam, Ankarakam, Rakappirastaram, Rakya, Rakamalikai, Rakama, Anumati.
Relevant text
Search found 100 books and stories containing Raka, Raaka, Rākā, Rāka; (plurals include: Rakas, Raakas, Rākās, Rākas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 9.18 < [Chapter 9 - Ornaments of Sound]
Text 10.13 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Text 7.62 < [Chapter 7 - Literary Faults]
Sankhayana-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 359 < [Telugu-English-Malayalam (1 volume)]
Page 355 < [Telugu-English-Malayalam (1 volume)]
Page 486 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 1]
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 403: One Sadasiva Became Five < [Tantra Two (irantam tantiram) (verses 337-548)]
Verse 1411: Effect of Worship of Aum Sakti < [Tantra Four (nankam tantiram) (verses 884-1418)]
Verse 1535: The Six Faiths Sought not Freedom from Pasas < [Tantra Five (aintam tantiram) (verses 1419-1572)]
Aitareya Brahmana (a comprehensive analysis) (by Sanghamitra Mukherjee)
Goddesses (8): The Devīkās and the Devīs < [Chapter 2 - Gods and Goddesses]
Goddesses (9-10): The Sistersa and Wives of the Gods < [Chapter 2 - Gods and Goddesses]
Goddesses (2): Description of Uṣas < [Chapter 2 - Gods and Goddesses]