Randhra, Ramdhra: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Randhra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantraRandhra (रन्ध्र, “opening”):—First seat of the Svādhiṣṭhāna (2nd chakra), according to the Kubjikāmata-tantra. It is identified with the first of the seven worlds, named bhūrloka. Together, these seven seats form the Brahmāṇḍa (cosmic egg). The Randhra seat points to the east.
The associated pura is called manas, at the head of which is the Siddha named Mitreśāna. These Siddhas are considered to have been the expounders of the kula doctrine in former times.
The associated dhātu (constituents of the physical body) is the Skin (tvac).
Randhra has the following twelve guṇas associated with it:
- Dhātrī,
- Dhāmā,
- Dhaumyā,
- Nīlā,
- Nīlāvatī,
- Śubhā,
- Dravaṇī,
- Drāvaṇī,
- Jayantī (Kampanī),
- Vamanī (Bhramiṇī),
- Prabhā (Samā),
- and Sutejā.
They are represented as female deities, according to tantric sources such as the Śrīmatottara-tantra and the Gorakṣasaṃhitā (Kādiprakaraṇa). According to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā however, they are explained as particular syllables.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraRandhra (रन्ध्र) refers to the “opening (of the channel)” (that which pierces the tube), according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 7.216cd-217, while describing the meditation on the kālahaṃsa]—“After [this, the Yogin] visualizes the heart lotus, with sixteen petals, situated in the opening of the channel that pierces the tube (nāḍibhinna-ala-randhra-stha) [i.e., the lotus stem. He imagines] a white, radiant, completely full moon, endowed with sixteen parts, and with his body in the shape of a lotus pericarp. [Then, he pictures] the self, It is to be imagined [as seated] in the middle of that [moon], and is as spotless as pure crystal. [The self is] pervaded with amṛta, [which washes over him] in a wave from the ocean of the milky nectar of immortality”.

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Randhra (रन्ध्र) refers to a “cavity”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “The subtle condition arises progressively by following the gross path. The gross is said to be the Transmission (krama), while the subtle is within the End of the Twelve. It is where mount Śrīśaila is located, that is, above the Cavity of Brahmā. O far-famed one, this is called the Division (bheda), Cavity (randhra) or Hole (chidra)”.
According to the later Kubjikā Tantras, the Liṅga from which the goddess comes forth is located in the centre of the triangular Yoni in the End of the Twelve. In this perspective, the ‘cavity’ (randhra) or ‘hole’ (chidra) to which these lines refer is that of the triangle, which is identified here with Śrīśaila. In other words, in terms of these symbolic associations, when Bhairava tells the goddess to go to mount Kaumāra / Śrīśaila, he is telling her to descend from the plane in which the god and the goddess are together to the one from which creation unfolds at the uppermost extreme of the subtle body.
2) Randhra (रन्ध्र) [=Randhraga?] (Cf. Brahmarandhra) refers to the “cavity of Brahmā”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā.—The Wick (varti) is the Command. So the End of the Sixteen, said to be at the end of the Wick of Smoke, is at the extremity of the Command which is in the End of the Twelve. According to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā and its commentary, mount Śrīparvata is the Cavity of Brahmā where Dhūmāgni—‘Smoky Fire’—is located. This fire generates a column of smoke that extends upwards to a distance of twelve fingers above the head, corresponding to the series of levels that constitute the End of the Twelve described above. Above this is mount Kaumāra, which is the path that leads to the Cavity of Brahmā [i.e., randhraga—randhragaṃ mārgaṃ].

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.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics1) Randhra (रन्ध्र) represents the number 0 (zero) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 0—randhra] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.
2) Randhra (रन्ध्र) also refers to the number 9 (nine) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā).

Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsRandhra (रन्ध्र) refers to the “holes” (of activity), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “It is declared, ‘Activity is the action of mind, body and speech’. It is said by those who are learned in the knowledge of reality, ‘Indeed, that is the cause of the influx of karma’. As a boat in the middle of the ocean takes in water through holes (chidra), so a living soul takes in karma through holes of activity (yoga-randhra) which are good and bad”.
Synonyms: Chidra, Vivara.

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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryRandhra.—(IE 7-1-2; EI 25), ‘nine’; used in the sense of ‘cypher’ in a few late works. Note: randhra 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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryrandhra (रंध्र).—n (S) A hole, esp. a bore or perforation. 2 fig. A flaw, defect, imperfection, a hole.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishrandhra (रंध्र).—n A hole. A bore. Fig. A flaw, defect.
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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryRandhra (रन्ध्र).—[Uṇādi-sūtra 2.28]
1) A hole, an aperture, a cavity, an opening, a chasm, fissure; रन्ध्रोष्विवालक्ष्यनभःप्रदेशा (randhroṣvivālakṣyanabhaḥpradeśā) R.13.56;15.82; नासाग्ररन्ध्रम् (nāsāgrarandhram) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.1; क्रौञ्चरन्ध्रम् (krauñcarandhram) Meghadūta 59.
2) (a) A weak or vulnerable point, assailable point; रन्ध्रोपनिपातिनोऽनर्थाः (randhropanipātino'narthāḥ) Ś.6; रन्ध्रान्वेषणदक्षाणां द्विषामामिषतां ययौ (randhrānveṣaṇadakṣāṇāṃ dviṣāmāmiṣatāṃ yayau) R.12.11;15.17;17.61; रन्ध्रं च प्रकृतीनाम् (randhraṃ ca prakṛtīnām) Kau. A.1.16. (b) A defect, fault, an imperfection.
3) A symbolical expression for the number 'nine'. (there being nine openings in the human body).
4) The vulva.
5) Name of the 8th astrological mansion; Bri. S.
6) A mischief; रन्ध्रदर्शनासहैः (randhradarśanāsahaiḥ) Daśakumāracarita 2.7.
Derivable forms: randhram (रन्ध्रम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryRandhra (रन्ध्र).—n.
(-ndhraṃ) 1. A hole, a fissure, a cavity, a chasm. 2. A fault, a defect. E. ram to sport, aff. kvip, dhṛ to have or hold, aff. ka .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryRandhra (रन्ध्र).—i. e. radh, [Causal.], + ra, n. 1. A hole, a fissure, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 42 (cf. also 3.). 2. A cavity, [Śiśupālavadha] 4, 61. 3. A fault, a defect, a weak point, [Pañcatantra] 182, 2.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryRandhra (रन्ध्र).—[neuter] ([masculine]) opening, cleft, hole, pit; defect, flaw, weak [particle]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Randhra (रन्ध्र):—n. rarely m. ([probably] [from] √rad) a slit, split, opening, aperture, hole, chasm, fissure, cavity, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc. (nine openings are reckoned in the human body cf. under kha; and sometimes a tenth in the skull, as in the fontanel of an infant)
2) the vulva, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
3) a [particular] part of a horse’s head, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Śiśupāla-vadha] (cf. upa-r)
4) a defect, fault, flaw, imperfection, weak part, [Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc. (cf. chidra)
5) Name of the 8th astrological mansion, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
6) of the number ‘nine’ (cf. above), [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
7) m. Name of a son of Manu Bhautya, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa] ([varia lectio] bradhna)
8) the off spring of a Brāhman and a Maitrī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryRandhra (रन्ध्र):—(ndhraṃ) 1. n. A hole; a defect.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Randhra (रन्ध्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Raṃdha.
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryRandhra in Hindi refers in English to:—(nm) foramen, hole, an orifice, aperture; stomata; pore; ~[dhraka] foramen; ~[dhrila] faveolate, foraminate, stomate, having holes; porous; ~[dhri] stomatal, foramenal, pertaining to a hole/orifice/aperture..—randhra (रंध्र) is alternatively transliterated as Raṃdhra.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusRaṃdhra (ರಂಧ್ರ):—
1) [noun] a hole; an opening.
2) [noun] a narrow opening, but which does not separate the whole into two; a crack; a crevice; a cleft.
3) [noun] any of the openings in the human body, as the mouth, ears, nostrils, etc.
4) [noun] a fault, imperfection or shortcoming; a defect.
5) [noun] (math.) a symbol for the number nine.
6) [noun] the eigth sign of the zodiac; Scorpio.
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 (+1): Ramdhrapatre, Randhrababhru, Randhraga, Randhragamarga, Randhragata, Randhragupti, Randhraka, Randhrakanta, Randhrakaraka, Randhramarga, Randhramukha, Randhranusarin, Randhranveshana, Randhranveshi, Randhranveshin, Randhrapekshin, Randhrapraharin, Randhrapuraka, Randhrastha, Randhravamsha.
Ends with (+38): Agrarandhra, Ajaramdhra, Alarandhra, Anekarandhra, Anyatahsitirandhra, Aparandhra, Arandhra, Aukshnorandhra, Bhirurandhra, Bhritarandhra, Brahmarandhra, Galarandhra, Griharandhra, Gudhapatraramdhra, Guptapatraramdhra, Kamdaramdhra, Karandhra, Karnarandhra, Kesharandhra, Krauncarandhra.
Full-text (+110): Randhrababhru, Kukshirandhra, Shailarandhra, Bhirurandhra, Griharandhra, Karnarandhra, Nasarandhra, Bhritarandhra, Randhrapraharin, Randhravamsha, Randhragupti, Randhragata, Shvasanarandhra, Nirandhra, Nagarandhrakara, Randhranveshin, Pranarandhra, Ramdhra, Romarandhra, Lomarandhra.
Relevant text
Search found 26 books and stories containing Randhra, Ramdhra, Raṃdhra; (plurals include: Randhras, Ramdhras, Raṃdhras). 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)
Rig Veda 8.7.26 < [Sukta 7]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.4.26 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]
Verse 2.1.369 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Verse 2.1.367 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.3.35 < [Chapter 3 - Description of the Yamunā’s Arrival]
Paduka-panchaka (the five-fold footstool) (by Arthur Avalon)
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Treatment for fever (137): Brahma-randhra rasa < [Chapter II - Fever (jvara)]