Rakshaka, Rakṣaka: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Rakshaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Rakṣaka can be transliterated into English as Raksaka or Rakshaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Rakshak.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Rakṣaka (रक्षक) refers to the “watchmen” (during a Vedic ritual), as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.27. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] once a great sacrifice was started by Dakṣa, [...] The guardians of the quarters (dikpāla) became the gatekeepers and watchmen (rakṣaka). They were well-equipped in arms and had many attendants to assist them. They were very enthusiastic”.
2) Rakṣaka (रक्षक) refers to a “Vīrabhadra’s body-guards”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.33. Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] Receiving his command, with his head bowed down in reverence, Vīrabhadra set off immediately to the place of sacrifice. [...] Many strong lions, tigers, crocodiles, huge fishes and thousands of elephants constituted his body-guard (Rakṣaka)”.
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)
Rakṣaka (रक्षक) refers to the “protector (of the buddhaśāsana—Dharma)”, according to the Kalaśa Pūjā [i.e., Kalasha Worship] ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “Dark-blue colored, mounted on a corpse, a dharma protector (buddhaśāsana-rakṣaka), A lord bearing a knife and skull bowl, Mahākāla, I give homage”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Rakṣaka (रक्षक) refers to one of the ten divisions of Gods, situated in the “upper World” (ūrdhvaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [ajitanātha-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:—“[...] The 10 divisions of the gods are: Indras, Sāmānikas, Trāyastriṃśas, Pārṣadyas, Rakṣakas, Lokapālas, Anīkas, Prakīrṇas, Ābhiyogikas, Kilbiṣikas. [....] The Rakṣakas are bodyguards (i.e., of Hari). [...]”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
rakṣaka (रक्षक).—a (S) That preserves, keeps, protects. 2 fig. A miser.
rakṣaka (रक्षक).—a That preserves, keeps. Fig. A miser.
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
Rakṣaka (रक्षक).—a. (-kṣikā f.) [रक्ष्-ण्वुल् (rakṣ-ṇvul)] Guarding, protecting.
-kaḥ A protector, guardian, guard, watchman.
Rakṣaka (रक्षक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kṣikā-kaṃ) Who or what protects, &c. m.
(-kaḥ) 1. A guardian, a protector. 2. A watch, a guard. E. rakṣa to preserve, vun aff.
Rakṣaka (रक्षक).—[rakṣ + aka], I. adj. Who or what protects, who tends, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 102. Ii. m. A protector, a guardian, [Hitopadeśa] 91, 1, M.M.
Rakṣaka (रक्षक).—[masculine] rakṣikā [feminine] guardian, protector.
Rakṣaka (रक्षक):—[from rakṣ] mf(ikā)n. = rakṣa1 [Kathāsaritsāgara; Pañcatantra; Hitopadeśa] (cf. aṅga-, go-, dhana-r etc.)
Rakṣaka (रक्षक):—[(kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) a.] Preserving. m. A guardian, a guard.
Rakṣaka (रक्षक):—(von 1. rakṣ)
1) nom. ag. Wächter, Hüter [Kathāsaritsāgara 43, 32. fg. 46, 144. 208. 63, 146.] adhunāhaṃ te sarvacchidreṣu rakṣakaḥ [66, 126.] [PAÑCAR. 1, 7, 58.] [Pañcatantra 8, 25.] [Hitopadeśa 42, 5.] bālānām [PAÑCAR. 4, 8, 62.] [Hitopadeśa 128, 9.] gavādirakṣakāḥ [Kathāsaritsāgara 30, 95.] loka [Harivaṃśa 14940.] kīcakavana [Kathāsaritsāgara 46, 106.] śaspa [Hitopadeśa 81, 15.] rakṣikā Wächterin, Hüterin [Kathāsaritsāgara 74, 167.] antaḥpura [105, 14.] amṛtasya yat . rakṣakaṃ cakrayantram [29, 47.] Vgl. aṅga, go, dhana, pañca, bhūmi, mārga, rātri . —
2) rakṣikā f. = rakṣa (2) c): anena vidhinā yastu rakṣikāvandhamācaret . sa sarvadoṣarahitaḥ sukhaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ vaset .. [HARIBHAKTIVILĀSA 51 im Śabdakalpadruma]
Rakṣaka (रक्षक):——
1) Nom.ag. (f. rakṣikā) Wächter , Hüter. —
2) f. rakṣikā = rakṣa 2)c).
Rakṣaka (रक्षक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Rakkhaa, Rakkhaga.
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
Rakṣaka (रक्षक) [Also spelled rakshak]:—(a and nm) protectant/protector; saviour/defender; guard; keeper; custodian; -[dala] guard.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Rakṣaka (ರಕ್ಷಕ):—[adjective] protecting, tending to protect; guarding.
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Rakṣaka (ರಕ್ಷಕ):—[noun] a man who protects; a protector; a guard.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Rakṣaka (रक्षक):—adj. protective; defensive; guarding; preserving; n. 1. defender; protector; guard; watchman; keeper;
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: Rakshakamba, Rakshakan, Rakshakara, Rakshakaranda, Rakshakarandaka, Rakshakavaca, Rakshakavaj, Rakshakavaja.
Full-text (+66): Arakshaka, Parirakshaka, Samrakshaka, Gorakshaka, Angarakshaka, Shasyarakshaka, Bhumirakshaka, Ratrirakshaka, Margarakshaka, Sharirarakshaka, Aranyarakshaka, Atmarakshaka, Pancarakshaka, Dhanarakshaka, Vanarakshaka, Dvararakshaka, Mudrarakshaka, Purarakshaka, Udyanarakshaka, Griharakshaka.
Relevant text
Search found 39 books and stories containing Rakshaka, Rakṣaka, Raksaka, Rakshakas; (plurals include: Rakshakas, Rakṣakas, Raksakas, Rakshakases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
108 Tirupathi Anthathi (English translation) (by Sri Varadachari Sadagopan)
Verse 82: Thiruvekka (Divya Desam)
Verse 104: Mathura (or, Thiruvadamadurai Divya Desam)
Yavanajataka by Sphujidhvaja [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 8.3 < [Chapter 8 - The Birth of Sovereigns]
Kathasaritsagara (cultural study) (by S. W. Chitale)
The Chief Treasurer (Bhandagarika) < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
The Palace and Personal Staff < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
The other sections and surroundings in the Palace < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 32: Description of the Upper World (ūrdhvaloka) < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)