Rakshana, Rakṣaṇa: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Rakshana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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 Rakṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Raksana or Rakshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Rakshan.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण) refers to the “ways of keeping elephants”, according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 10, the ways of keeping them and the differences in their daily and seasonal regimen and the like] [rakṣaṇadinartvācārabhedādikaṃ].
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण) or Aśvarakṣaṇa refers to “horse protection rites”, according to Āyurveda sections in the Garuḍapurāṇa.—For the Rakṣa (protection) Revanta-pūjā, (worship of God Revanta) homa (sacrificial offerings) and dvija-bhojana (feeding of Brahmins) should be performed in favor of the horse.
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण) refers to the “protection” (of humanity), according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā, which represents the Ayurvedic study on Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Kāśyapa posits that the collection or gathering of medicinal herbs must be done in a specified manner, accompanied by japa or prayer. If plucked without the relevant prayers or mantras, the medicines are liable to lose their potency which is paramount for effective treatment and complete remedy of any ailment. The Creator created people and also the medicines to safeguard and protect (rakṣaṇa) humanity. He also created the moon to protect the medicinal potency of the flora.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
1) Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण) refers to the “protection” (of standing crop), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “Hunting on horseback (āśvina) represents one of the eight subdivisions of Hunting (mṛgayā). [...] It leads to the acquisition of religious merit, by killing ferocious animals such as wolves and tigers, by the protection (rakṣaṇa) of standing crop, by the slaughter of stags and other animals, by an inspection of the forest, which serves so many useful purposes, by frightening the thieves, and by conciliating forest tribes. [...]”.
2) Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण) refers to “protecting (the people)” (as a king), according to the Śyainika-śāstra.—Accordingly, [while discussing the importance of hawks]: “[...] To please and protect (rakṣaṇa) the people and to test their loyalty or otherwise by keen observation, to take into, and inspire them with confidence or to distrust them, as the case may be, to know their mind by the movement of their eyes and their actions, [...] and such other qualities, which have been highly spoken of in politics [are considered also essential in the art of hawking]”.
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण) refers to “one who protects (the three worlds)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.3 (“The virtues of the three cities—Tripura).—Accordingly, after Viṣṇu thought of ways to destroy the Asuras in the Three Cities.—“[...] Deciding thus, Viṣṇu started ridiculing the Vedas for putting up obstacles in the virtuous activities of the Asuras. At the bidding of Śiva, Viṣṇu who was commanded to protect the three worlds (trailokya-rakṣaṇa), and who renders help to the gods spoke to them”.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण, “protection”) refers to one of the defining characteristics of the Adhiṣṭhānas (or “basements” of temples), as discussed in chapter 7 (Kriyāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [adhiṣṭhāna-vidhi]:— The purpose of the basement-elements of a temple are threefold, beauty [śobhā], protection [rakṣaṇa] and added height [samucchrāya]. The component parts, proportionate measurements and decorative motifs of upapīṭhas are first discussed (2-24); [...]
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
India history and geography
Rakṣaṇa.—cf. doṣa-vināś-āvaṣṭabdhi-rakṣaṇāya (LP), ‘for keeping it safe from the three faults, viz. doṣa, vināśa and avaṣṭabdhi’. Note: rakṣaṇa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
rakṣaṇa (रक्षण).—n (S) Preserving, keeping, protecting. 2 A person set to keep or guard.
rakṣaṇa (रक्षण).—n Preserving. A person set to guard.
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
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण).—[rakṣ-lyuṭ] Protecting, protection, preservation, watching, guarding &c. (Also rakṣṇam).
-ṇī A rein, bridle.
-ṇaḥ 1 A protector.
2) Name of Viṣṇu.
-ṇā Protecting.
Derivable forms: rakṣaṇam (रक्षणम्).
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण).—n.
(-ṇaṃ) Preserving, defending. f. (-ṇī) Rein, bridle. E. rakṣa to preserve, aff. lyuṭ .
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण).—i. e. rakṣ + ana, n. Preserving, protecting, [Hitopadeśa] 114, 7; [Pañcatantra] iv. [distich] 29.
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण).—[masculine] = [preceding] [masculine]; [feminine] ā & [neuter] rakṣaṇa protecting, guarding, saving, preserving.
1) Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण):—[from rakṣ] m. ‘protector’, Name of Viṣṇu, [Mahābhārata]
2) Rakṣaṇā (रक्षणा):—[from rakṣaṇa > rakṣ] f. guarding, protection, [Śakuntalā] ([varia lectio]), [Pañcarātra]
3) Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण):—[from rakṣ] n. the act of guarding, watching, protecting, tending (of cattle), preservation (‘of’ [genitive case] [locative case] or [compound]), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
4) [v.s. ...] a ceremony performed for protection or preservation, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण):—(ṇaṃ) 1. n. Protecting.
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण):—(von 1. rakṣ)
1) nom. ag. Beschützer, Hüter: Viṣṇu [Mahābhārata 13, 7048.] —
2) f. ā das Beschützen, Hüten: prīyase rakṣaṇābhiḥ [Śākuntala 105, v. l.] ātma [PAÑCAR. 1, 14, 107.] —
3) f. ī Zügel [Vaijayantī] bei [Mallinātha] zu [Śiśupālavadha 5, 56.] —
4) n. proparox. das Bewachen, Schützen, Behüten, Bewahren, Schutz: rakṣā ṇo agne.tava.rakṣaṇebhiḥ [Ṛgveda 4, 3, 14.] sg. [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 8, 39. 305. 10, 80. 11, 235.] [Yājñavalkya’s Gesetzbuch 3, 297.] [Mahābhārata 5, 5433.] [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 30, 28.] [Śākuntala 105.] [Spr. 1828.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 5, 24, 3.] [PAÑCAR. 1, 2, 34.] [Hitopadeśa 114, 7.] prajānām [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 1, 89.] [Rāmāyaṇa] [Gorresio 2, 43, 28.] [Raghuvaṃśa 1, 24.] [Spr. 1830.] durbalānām [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 8, 172.] āryavṛttānām [9, 253.] bhāryāyāḥ [Mahābhārata 1, 1870. 6150.] [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 46, 9.] trailokyasya [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 1, 5.] [Raghuvaṃśa 11, 5.] [Śākuntala 27, 5.] [PAÑCAR. 1, 7, 72.] [Hitopadeśa 15, 13.] paśūnām das Hüten des Viehes [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 1, 90. 8, 410. 9, 326.] yoṣitām [16.] kumārāṇām [7, 152.] svasthasya [Suśruta 1, 3, 6. 122, 4.] vājinām Pflege der Pferde [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 86, 33.] das obj. im loc.: vaśāputrāsu caiva syādrakṣaṇaṃ niṣkulāsu ca . pativratāsu ca strīṣu [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 8, 28.] im comp. vorangehend: akhilaloka [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 4, 20, 13.] kula [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 68, 22.] varṇāśrama [Raghuvaṃśa 14, 67.] [Lassen’s Anthologie (III) 88, 9.] vyādhita [Suśruta 1, 124, 4.] govipra [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 7, 11, 24.] homaturaṃga [Raghuvaṃśa 3, 38.] jīvita [Kathāsaritsāgara 61, 75.] — upārjitānāmarthānāṃ tyāga eva hi rakṣaṇam [Spr. 499.] etadeva hi pāṇḍityaṃ yatsvalpādbhūrirakṣaṇam [1503.] māna [Rāmāyaṇa 6, 100, 13.] eine prophylaktische Cerimonie [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 51, 38.] — Vgl. agni, aṅga, garbha, pāda, pṛṣṭha .
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण):——
1) m. Beschützer , Hüter (Viṣṇu). —
2) f. ā das Beschützen , Hüten. —
3) f. ī — a) Zügel. — b) Ficus heterophylla [Rājan 5,56.] —
4) n. rakṣaṇa — a) das Bewachen , Schützen , Hüten (auch des Viehes) , Behüten , Bewahren , Pflegen , Schutz , Das Object im Gen. oder im Comp. vorangehend , ausnahmsweise auch im Loc. — b) eine prophylaktische Ceremonie.
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Rakkhaṇa, Rakkhaṇā.
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
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण) [Also spelled rakshan]:—(nm) protection, guarding; reservation, custody; maintaining/safe-keeping; ~[kartā] see [rakṣaka]; hence [rakṣaṇīya] (a).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Rakṣaṇa (ರಕ್ಷಣ):—
1) [noun] = ರಕ್ಷಣೆ - [rakshane -] 1.
2) [noun] (dance.) a kind of hand gesture in giving protection.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Rakṣaṇa (रक्षण):—n. 1. defense; protection; security; safety; reservation; 2. nurture; nourishment; 3. guarding; preserving; watching;
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: Rakshanadala, Rakshanakhate, Rakshanam, Rakshanaraka, Rakshanartha, Rakshanartham, Rakshanata, Rakshanavyavasthe.
Full-text (+57): Samrakshana, Parirakshana, Surakshana, Uparakshana, Padarakshana, Agnirakshana, Prarakshana, Anurakshana, Pratirakshana, Gorakshana, Garbharakshana, Pashurakshana, Vedarakshana, Abhirakshana, Shesharakshana, Prishtharakshana, Pranarakshana, Shirsharakshana, Sarvarakshana, Atmarakshana.
Relevant text
Search found 65 books and stories containing Rakshana, Rakṣaṇa, Raksana, Rakṣaṇā; (plurals include: Rakshanas, Rakṣaṇas, Raksanas, Rakṣaṇās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
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A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 2 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
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