Rakkha, Rakkhā: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Rakkha means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Rakkha
A general of Parakkamabahu I. He was originally the Dandadhinayaka (? general) of Gajabahu, but Parakkamabahu won him over and put him in charge of the conquest of the Malaya country. He accomplished this with the help of his younger brother, after fighting many battles and subduing the chiefs of the various districts (Cv.lxx.5ff). The king thereupon conferred on him the rank of Kesadhatu. Later, he subdued the district of Merukandara and was sent against the Mahalekha Mahinda, whom he defeated at Sarogamatittha. He was associated with Nagaragiri Natha in the fight against Manabharana near Badaravalli. After this he is referred to as Adhikari Rakkha, and the war against Manabharana seems to have been chiefly in his charge. He was in command of the army at Mangalabegama and Mihiranabibbila, and decisively defeated Manabharanas general, Buddhanayaka at Rajatakedara. Later, when Queen Sugala raised a revolt in Rohana, it was Rakkha who was sent to crush it. He was by now commander in chief, and was helped in the subjugation of Rohana by the general Bhuta. They fought a battle at Lokagalla and advanced to Majjhimagama and occupied Uddhanadvara, where Rakkha was helped by the two Kittis, the Adhikari and the Jivapotthaki. From there they marched to Maharivara, and at Badaguna crushed Sugalas forces, thus gaining possession of the Sacred Bowl and the Sacred Tooth which these forces were carrying. In a last onslaught at Dematavala, Rakkha put the enemy to flight and marched on to Sappanarukokilla, where he died of an attack of dysentery. Cv.lxx. 5, 15, 19, 282, 295; lxxii.2ff., 107, 160, 207, 232, 265ff.; lxxiv. 41ff. 55, 72ff., 111ff., 136ff.
2. Rakkhacalled Lankadhinatha. A general of Parakkamabahu I. He helped Lokajitvana to defeat Hukitti, and was later sent to Janapada to fight against Gajabahus forces. He was successful, and occupied Yagalla and Talatthala. Gajabahu tried to win him over with bribes, but Rakkha mutilated the envoys and sent the presents to Parakkamabahu. He fought at Aligama against Gajabahus general, Sika, and, proving victorious, held a great celebration. Later he was in charge of the successful attack on Pulatthipura, when the city was captured and Gajabahu taken prisoner. He was then sent to Mangalabegama against Manabharana, and fought so fiercely that the latter was forced to flee to Rohana. Rakkha was placed in charge of the ford at Nigundivaluka. He was, however, greatly offended by the favour shown by Parakkamabahu to his rival, the Senapati Deva, and no longer showed himself zealous in war. An officer of Gajabahu who was with Rakkha, noticing this, sent word to Manabharana to come at once and take advantage of Rakkhas lethargy. Manabharana followed this advice and advanced against Rakkha, whom he killed in the course of a fierce battle. Cv.lxx. 24, 98ff.,
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vihara. Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismRakkha (रक्ख) is the Prakrit name of a Yakṣa chief, obiedient to Vaiśramaṇa (god of wealth, also known as Kubera), according to the Bhagavatī-sūtra, also known as The Vyākhyāprajñapti (“Exposition of Explanations”). The Bhagavatī-sūtra is the largest of twelve Jain āgamas and was composed by Sudharmāsvāmī in the 6th century.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryrakkhā : (f.) protection; safety; shelter.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryRakkhā, (f.) (verb-noun fr. rakkh) shelter, protection, care A. II, 73 (+parittā); Mhvs 25, 3; J. I, 140 (bahūhi rakkhāhi rakkhiyamāna); PvA. 198 (°ṃ saṃvidahati). Often in combination rakkhā+āvaraṇa (+gutti) shelter & defence, e.g. at Vin. II, 194; D. I, 61 (dhammikaṃ r. -v. ‹-› guttiṃ saṃvidaheyyāma); M. II, 101; J. IV, 292.—Cp. gorakkhā.—Note. rakkhā at J. III, 144 is an old misreading for rukkhā. (Page 561)
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Rakkha, (adj.) (-°) (fr. base rakkh) guarding or to be guarded;— (a) act. : dhamma° guardian of righteousness or truth Miln. 344.—(b) pass. : in cpd. dū°, v. l. du° hard to guard DhA. I, 295. °kathā, s. l. rukkha-°, warding talk ThA. 1, in Brethren, 185, cp. note 416. (Page 560)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Rakkha (रक्ख) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Rakṣ.
2) Rakkha (रक्ख) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Rakṣasa.
3) Rakkha (रक्ख) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Rakṣa.
4) Rakkhā (रक्खा) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Rakṣā.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Rakkhaa, Rakkhacetiyapabbata, Rakkhadivana, Rakkhaga, Rakkhaka, Rakkhamana, Rakkhana, Rakkhanaka, Rakkhanga, Rakkhanta, Rakkhapasanakantha, Rakkhasa, Rakkhasadvara, Rakkhasemda, Rakkhasi, Rakkhasimda, Rakkhati.
Ends with (+3): Abhirakkha, Anurakkha, Arakkha, Caturakkha, Caturarakkha, Dhumarakkha, Durakkha, Ekarakkha, Gorakkha, Khamdarakkha, Kittharakkha, Kosarakkha, Nirakkha, Padhanarakkha, Parakkha, Parirakkha, Parirakkha, Puṇṇarakkha, Sarakkha, Sasarakkha.
Full-text (+15): Raksha, Durakkha, Rukkha, Kuravakagalla, Raksh, Rakshasa, Sahodaragama, Kantakavana, Otturamallaka, Rakkhacetiyapabbata, Ambalala, Kumbugama, Sarakkha, Kimsukavatthu, Rajakamatasambadha, Talakatthali, Buddhanayaka, Lankadhinayaka, Lankadhikari, Oṇi.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Rakkha, Rakkhā; (plurals include: Rakkhas, Rakkhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vinaya Pitaka (2): Bhikkhuni-vibhanga (the analysis of Nun’ rules) (by I. B. Horner)
The Great Buddhist Emperors of Asia (by Shibani Dutta)
The Catu-Bhanavara-Pali (critical study) (by Moumita Dutta Banik)
Importance of Atanatiya sutta < [Chapter 5 - Subject Matter of the Fourth Bhanavara]
A Historical Study of Kaushambi (by Nirja Sharma)
Kaushambi in Ancient Literature < [Chapter 2]
Folk Tradition of Bengal (and Rabindranath Tagore) (by Joydeep Mukherjee)
Mahavamsa (by Wilhelm Geiger)