Rasatala, aka: Rasātala; 6 Definition(s)
Introduction
Rasatala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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
Nāṭyaśāstra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Rasātala (रसातल) refers to the “nether world”; it is a Sanskrit technical term defined in the Nāṭyaśāstra.
(Source): Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraOne of the Hands of The Seven Lower Worlds.—Rasātala: the Patāka hand twisted downwards is applicable.
(Source): archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)
Nāṭyaśāstra (नाट्यशास्त्र, natya-shastra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition of performing arts, (e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nāṭya) and poetic works (kāvya).
Purāṇa
Rasātala (रसातल):—It is 10,000 (square?) yojanas in area. Its seven (sub-divisions) are:
- Atala,
- Sutala,
- Vitala,
- Gabhastala,
- Mahātala,
- Śrītala
- and Pātāla.
The first has a black soil, the second white, the third red, the fourth yellow, the fifth like that of sugar, the sixth rocky and the seventh golden. In the first are the abodes of Namuci, the lord of Asuras, of Mahānāda and Kabandha. Here are also cities of Śaṅkukarṇa, Niṣkulāda, Dhanaṃjaya, Kālīya, Nāga and of Kalasa.
In the second are the cities of Daityas such as Mahājambha, Hayagrīva Kṛṣṇa, Nikumbha, Saṅkha, Gomukha, Nīla, Megh, Krathana, etc. and of Nāgas such as Kambala, Takṣaka, etc.
In the third are the cities of Prahlāda, Anuhlāda, Tāraka, Śiśumāra, Cyavana, Khara, etc.
In the fourth are the cities of Kālanemi, Gajakarṇa, Sumālin, Vainateya, etc.
In the fifth are the cities of Virocana, Hiraṇyākṣa, Mahāmegha, etc. In the sixth are the cities of Kesarin, Puloman, Mahiṣa, Nāga Vāsuki, etc.
In the seventh are the cities of Bali, Mucukunda, etc.
(Source): Google Books: Cultural History from the Vāyu PurānaRasātala (रसातल).—(also Pātālam) the underworld of rocky soil. Here live Paṇis, Nāgas, Nivātakavacas and Kāleyas; all dānavas of great strength and enterprising spirit and afraid of Hari and Sarama, the messenger of Indra.1 Visited by Arjuna in search of the dead child of the Dvārakā Brahmana;2 burnt by Pralaya;3 the Asuras entered it helpless;4 Vasu, cursed by the sages to live there, for his decision against the killing of Paśu in sacrifices;5 of 10,000 Yojanas in extent; other talams are Atala, Sutala, Vitala, Gabhastala, Mahātala, Sritala, and Patāla with the characteristics of black, white, pīta, chunam, rocky and gold they are in groups of earth, water and space.6
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 24. 7 and 30; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 171; 20. 10 and 12, 39-40; 30. 31; Matsya-purāṇa 47. 63; Vāyu-purāṇa 49. 163; 97. 95; 100. 157; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 3. 4 and 8; V. 1. 28.
- 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 89. 44.
- 3) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 53. 1; 72. 96. 73. 46 and 48; IV. 1. 153.
- 4) Matsya-purāṇa 47. 212-13, 233.
- 5) Ib. 143. 24-25; 166. 3; 248, 4, 11, 53, 67ff; Vāyu-purāṇa 57. 110.
- 6) Ib. 6. 25; 50. 9-14.
The Purāṇas (पुराण, purana) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahāpurāṇas total over 400,000 ślokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
rasātala (रसातल).—n (S) pop. rasātaḷa n The lowest of the seven divisions of pātāḷa. rasātaḷāsa jāṇēṃ To be spoiled, marred, blasted, ruined--a business. rasātaḷāsa nēṇēṃ To spoil or marr (a business).
(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryrasātala (रसातल) [-ḷa, -ळ].—n The lowest of the seven divisions of pātāḷa. rasātaḷāsa jāṇēṃ Be spoiled, blasted-a business. rasātaḷāsa nēṇēṃ Spoil (a business).
(Source): DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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.
Relevant definitions
Search found 24 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Loka | lōka (लोक).—m People. In comp. A class, an order, a body. Ex. gavaīlōka, śipāīlōka.
The world; ... | |
| Bharata | Bharata (भरत) or Bhāratavarṣa refers to a region of Jambūdvīpa: the first continent of the... | |
| Patala | Patala is the name of a flower (pushpa) mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva (10th cen... | |
| Gandharva | Gandharva (गन्धर्व) refers to the “musician” class of “peripatetic celestial beings” (vyantara)... | |
| Narmada | narmadā (नर्मदा).—f The river Narmada. | |
| Vasu | vasu (वसु).—m A kind of demi-god. n Wealth.--- OR --- vasū (वसू).—m A bull branded and set at l... | |
| Pani | pāṇi (पाणि).—m The hand.--- OR --- pāṇī (पाणी).—n Water. Rain. Temper (of metals). Spirit, mett... | |
| Akshamala | akṣamālā (अक्षमाला).—f A string of beads, a rosary. | |
| Vasava | vasavā (वसवा).—m Shadedness, shadiness, screened state from the sun. Ex. divyācyā vasavyānta ba... | |
| Bhu | bhū (भू).—f The earth a Produced from. In Comp. | |
| Durdarsha | durdarśa (दुर्दर्श).—a Difficult to be seen; invisible, obscure, dim. | |
| Danava | Dānava (दानव).—Description of a women of demon (dānava) type;—A woman who transgresses laws and... | |
| Hayagriva | Hayagrīva (हयग्रीव) refers to one of the many varieties of the Śālagrāma (ammonite fossil stone... | |
| Kavya | kavya (कव्य).—n An oblation to deceased ancestors.--- OR --- kāvya (काव्य).—n A poem or piece o... | |
| Purukutsa | Purukutsa (पुरुकुत्स).—A Rājaṛṣi and a son of Māndhāta and Bindumatī; An Angīrasa and Man... |
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Rasatala or Rasātala. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Gautami Mahatmya (by G. P. Bhatt)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 11: Slaying of Sagara’s sons < [Chapter V - Life and death of the sons of Sagara]
Part 5: Unfavorable omens < [Chapter V - Life and death of the sons of Sagara]
Part 8: Leading of the Gaṅga to the Eastern Ocean < [Chapter VI - Emancipation of Ajita Svāmin and Sagara]
Subala Upanishad of Shukla-yajurveda (by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar)
The Mirror of Gesture (abhinaya-darpana) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)
The Bhagavata Purana (by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Chapter 24 - The Subterranean Heavenly Planets < [Canto V - The Creative Impetus]
Chapter 7 - The Descendants of King Mandhata < [Canto IX - Liberation]
Chapter 18 - The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiranyaksa < [Canto III - The Status Quo]
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
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