Ratnakara, Ratnākara, Ratna-akara, Ratna-kara: 25 definitions

Introduction:

Ratnakara means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Ratnakar.

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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—A Vaiśya. He was killed by an ox, but he attained Vaikuṇṭha as a brahmin called Dharmāśva sprinkled Gaṅgā water on him. (Padma Purāṇa, Kriyākhaṇḍa).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) refers to the “storehouse of (great) gems and jewels”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.31 (“Description of Śiva’s magic”).—Accordingly, as Śiva (in disguise of a Brahmin) said to the Lord of Mountains: “[...] For the marriage of Pārvatī, He is not at all a deserving person. On hearing of this, the general public will smile in derision. O lord of mountains, see for yourself. He has not a single kinsman. You are the storehouse of great gems and jewels (mahā-ratnākara). He has no assets at all. O lord of mountains, you shall consult your kinsmen, sons, wife and wise counsellors, except Pārvatī. O lord of mountains, the medicine does not appeal at all to the patient. Wrong diet that brings about great defects always appeals to him”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—Ocean personified.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 15. 21.
Purana book cover
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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.

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Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Chandas glossary
Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) is the name of an author of works dealing with prosodoy (chandas or chandaśśāstra) quoted by Kṣemendra (11th century) in his Suvṛttatilaka. The Suvṛttatilaka is a monumental work of Sanskrit prosody in which the author discusses 27 popular metres which were used frequently by the poets (e.g., Ratnākara).

Chandas book cover
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Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.

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Kavya (poetry)

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Kavya glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

1) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) is the name of an ancient city, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 58. Accordingly, as Pulastya said in his hermitage: “... there lived in the city of Ratnākara a king named Jyotiṣprabha, who ruled the earth with supreme authority, as far as the sea, the mine of jewels. There was born to him, by his queen named Harṣavatī, a son, whose birth was due to the favour of Śiva propitiated by severe asceticism”.

2) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) is the name of a horse, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 123. Accordingly, “... and when he saw that wonderful boar, he came to the conclusion that some being had assumed that form with an object, and he ascended his horse called Ratnākara, the progeny of Ucchaiḥśravas”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Ratnākara, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

Kavya book cover
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Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Yoga (school of philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Yoga glossary
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) is the author of the Harivijaya.—The compound amanaskayoga is found in Rājānaka Ratnākara’s Haravijaya. This poet, who lived in Kashmir in the first half of the ninth century, wrote a hymn (stotra) to Śiva which is the sixth chapter (sarga) of the Haravijaya. The hymn praises Śiva in the terms of every soteriological system known to the poet, so it is possible that he saw the term amanaska in one of the Saiddhāntika sources.

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Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

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In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

1) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) is one of the Bodhisattvas accompanying the Buddha at Rājagṛha on the Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata, mentioned in a list of twenty-two in to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 13.—They were at the head of countless thousands of koṭinayuta of Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas who were all still awaiting succession and will still accede to Buddhahood. He is also known as La na kie lo or Pai tsi.

Ratnākara is one of the sixteen classified as a lay (gṛhastha) Bodhisattva: Ratnākara, a young prince (kumāra), lives in Vaiśālī.

2) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) is the name of the Buddha presiding over the Ratnāvatī universe according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XV).—Accordingly, “Then in the east, beyond universes as numerous as the sands of the Ganges and at the limit of these universes, there is a universe called To pao (Ratnāvatī) where there is a Buddha called Pao tse (Ratnākara) who is now teaching the Prajñāpāramitā to the Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas”.

There is a Buddha there called Ratnākara (“jewel mine”). He is so called because he includes the pure faculties, the powers (bala), the path of bodhi and the other jewels of the Dharma (dharmaratna). Question—If that is so, all the Buddhas should be called Ratnākara. Why reserve the name Ratnākara for this Buddha alone? Answer—All the Buddhas have these jewels, but this Buddha is the only one to take his name from them. In the same way, Mi lö (Maitreya) is called “loving-kindness” (maitreya) although all the Buddhas have the same loving-kindness (maitrī), but Maitreya is the only one to have this as his name.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) is the name of a Bodhisattva, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja said this to the congregation of Bodhisattvas: ‘Sons of good family, may all of you elucidate the gates into the dharma of transcending the path of the works of Māra’ [...] The Bodhisattva Ratnākara said: ‘Happiness is a latent tendency; unhappiness is an obstruction. One who is without happiness or unhappiness does not have any affection or hostility. One who is without affection or hostility is established in sameness. One who is established in sameness does not differentiate any dharma. One who is established in the absence of differentiation does not think about sameness or non-sameness. When you obtain this inconceivable dharma, the māra cannot find your weak point’”.

Mahayana book cover
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Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Jainism glossary
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) refers to the “ocean”, according to chapter 2.2 [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, as the Dikkumārikās said to Jinendra and the Jina’s mother: “Hail! Long live! Rejoice, you whose son is for the delight of the world. O Mother of the World, this is a fortunate moment for us to-day because of the sight of you. The ocean (Ratnākara), Ratnaśaila (mountain of jewels), and the earth (Ratnagarbhā)—these are useless. You alone are the source of jewels, since you have borne this jewel of a son. We Dikkumārikās, living in the center of Rucaka, have come here to perform the Arhat’s birth-ceremonies. You must not be afraid”.

2) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) is the name of an ancient king from Ratnākara, according to chapter 6.2 [aranātha-caritra]. Accordingly, as Sāgaradatta said to Kumbha:—“[...]. One day Vīrabhadra went in his wandering to the city Ratnapura, ruled over by King Ratnākara, in Siṃhaladvīpa. He sat down in the shop of Sheth Śaṅkha, who had a wealth of virtues fair as a conch, and was asked, ‘Where are you from, sir?’ Vīrabhadra replied, ‘I left my own home in Tāmralipti in anger and came here in the course of wandering, father.’ [...]”.

General definition book cover
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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.

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India history and geography

Source: academia.edu: The Yona or Yavana Kings of the time of the Legendary King Ashoka

Pandit Ratnakara lived much later than Kalhana and probably wrote the history of Kashmir from 449 CE. The work of Ratnakara contained a list of 35 unknown kings and also 7 unknown kings who ruled over Kashmir. It is unbelievable that Kalhana was unaware of the Rajatarangini of Ratnakara (if it was written prior to Kalhana) as claimed by some historians. Ratnakara wrote the history of Kashmir after 449 CE but unfortunately no manuscript is available today.

Source: What is India: Epigraphia Indica volume XXXI (1955-56)

Ratnākara is one of the Brāhmaṇa donees mentioned in the “Asankhali plates of Narasiṃha II” (1302 A.D.). When a grant was made to a large number of Brāhmaṇas, the chief amongst the donees seems to have been called Pānīyagrāhin especially. In the present record, though all the donees (e.g., Ratnākara) are referred to as Pāṇigrāhi-mahājana, their list is headed by a Brāhmaṇa with Pāṇigrahī as his surname.

These copper plates (mentioning Ratnākara) were discovered from the house of a Santal inhabitant of Pargana Asankhali in the Mayurbhanj State (Orissa). It was made when king Vīra-Narasiṃhadeva was staying at the Bhairavapura-kaṭaka (city, camp or residence).

India history book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—m (S) A jewel-mine. 2 A descriptive term for the ocean (as the great repository of jewels). ra0 āḷaviṇēṃ (To soothe the sea.) To fall to blubbering or weeping, and give up weakly (a work commanded or undertaken). Ex. hā raḍatōṇḍyā kharā jēthēṃ kāmāsa pāṭhavāvā tēthūna ratnākara āḷavīta yētō.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—m A jewel-mine; the ocean.

context information

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—

1) a mine of jewels.

2) the ocean; रत्नेषु लुप्तेषु बहुष्वमर्त्यैरद्यापि रत्नाकर एव सिन्धुः (ratneṣu lupteṣu bahuṣvamartyairadyāpi ratnākara eva sindhuḥ) Vikr. 1.12; रत्नाकरं वीक्ष्य (ratnākaraṃ vīkṣya) R.13.1.

Derivable forms: ratnākaraḥ (रत्नाकरः).

Ratnākara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ratna and ākara (आकर).

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Ratnakara (रत्नकर).—Name of Kubera.

Derivable forms: ratnakaraḥ (रत्नकरः).

Ratnakara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ratna and kara (कर).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Ratnakara (रत्नकर).—name of a Bodhisattva: Śatasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 6.5.

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Ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—(1) name of (probably) two Buddhas, both in the eastern direction: Sukhāvatīvyūha 70.3; Śatasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 29.6 ff.; (2) name of a Bodhisattva: Mahāvyutpatti 660; (3) name of a satpuruṣa, q.v.: Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 3.11; (4) name of a Bodhisattva-samādhi: Mahāvyutpatti 741; (5) name of a mountain: Mahā-Māyūrī 253.32.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—m.

(-raḥ) 1. The ocean. 2. A jewel mine. E. ratna jewel, ākara mine.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—m. 1. the ocean. 2. a proper name.

Ratnākara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ratna and ākara (आकर).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर).—[masculine] jewel-mine, the sea.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—See Alaṃkāraratnākara, Gopālaratnākara, Nirṇayaratnākara, Prastāvaratnākara, Rasaratnākara, Smṛtiratnākara.

2) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—Sārasvatasūtraṭīkā. K. 86.

3) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—alaṃk. Quoted by Mallinātha Oxf. 126^a. See Alaṃkāraratnākara.

4) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—music. Quoted by Mallinātha Oxf. 113^b. See Saṃgītaratnākara.

5) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—[dharma] by Gopāla. See Gopālaratnākara.

6) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—a lawbook in 7 chapters, by Caṇḍeśvara q. v.

7) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—[dharma] by Rāmaprasāda. H. 211. See Dānaratnākara.

8) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—med. Quoted in Ṭoḍarānanda W. p. 289. See Vaidyaratnākara.

9) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—father of Rāmabhakta, grandfather of Mahīdhara (Mantramahodadhi 1589). Oxf. 100^a.

10) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—Dravyaguṇavicara.

11) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—[dharma] by Rāmaprasāda. Stein 100 (Prāyaścittaratna).

12) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—father of Nārāyaṇa (Upaniṣaddīpikāḥ).

13) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—Jātakaratnākara. Yantracintāmaṇi.

14) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—(?): Viśvaprakāśa lex.

15) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—a mathematician. Quoted in Khaṇḍakhādyodāharaṇa, Catal. Io. p. 1052.

16) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—son of Śatāvadhāna Bhaṭṭācārya: Tājikaratnākara.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Ratnakara (रत्नकर):—[=ratna-kara] [from ratna] m. Name of Kubera, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—[from ratna] m. (ifc. f(ā). ) a jewel-mine (-tva n.), [Pañcarātra; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] the sea, ocean, [Kāvya literature] etc.

4) [v.s. ...] Name of a Buddha, [Buddhist literature]

5) [v.s. ...] of a Bodhi-sattva, [ib.]

6) [v.s. ...] of various other persons, [Rājataraṅgiṇī; Catalogue(s)] etc.

7) [v.s. ...] of a mythical horse, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

8) [v.s. ...] of various works.

9) [v.s. ...] of a town (in this sense perhaps n.), [Kathāsaritsāgara]

10) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर):—[ratnā+kara] (raḥ) 1. m. Sea; jewel mine.

[Sanskrit to German]

Ratnakara in German

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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.

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Hindi dictionary

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Ratnākara (रत्नाकर) [Also spelled ratnakar]:—(nm) the sea, ocean; ~[bhūṣaṇa] begemmed ornaments; gems and ornaments

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Ratnakara in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Ratnākara (ರತ್ನಾಕರ):—[noun] the ocean, which has gems, and pearls within.

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Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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