Rishta, Riṣṭā, Riṣṭa: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Rishta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi, biology. 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 terms Riṣṭā and Riṣṭa can be transliterated into English as Rista or Rishta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट).—A king. He worships Yama in his assembly. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 8).
Riṣṭā (रिष्टा).—An apsaras; mother of the Vegavatī group.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 12 and 21.
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)
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट) is the name of a Pratyekabuddha mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Riṣṭa).
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)
1) Riṣṭa (रिष्ट) refers to one of the nine divisions of the Lokāntika-gods, according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-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, “[...] while in this way the Supreme Lord’s mind was woven with the threads of continuity of disgust with saṃsāra, then the Lokāntika-gods who have nine sub-divisions—Sārasvatas, Ādityas, Vahnis, Aruṇas, Gardatoyas, Tuṣitas, Avyābādhas, Maruts, and Riṣṭas, living at the end of Brahmaloka, having additional ornaments made by folded hands like lotus-buds on their heads, came to the feet of the Lord of the World”.
2) Riṣṭa (रिष्ट) refers to a kind of (dark) jewel, according to chapter 1.6 [ādīśvara-caritra].—Accordingly, “[...] In the broad central part of the great caitya Siṃhaniṣadyā was a large jeweled platform. [...] On the dais were shining jeweled statues of the twenty-four Arhats, beginning with Ṛṣabha Svāmin. [...] The navel, scalp, tongue, palate, śrīvatsa, nipple, soles, and palms were gold. Eyelashes, pupils, beard, eyebrows, hair of the body, and hair of the head, were made of riṣṭa, and the lips of coral. [...] The statues shone, made of various jewels as described”.
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट) refers to “death-signs”, according to the Riṣṭasamuccaya by Durgadevācārya (Ācārya Durgadeva): a Jain work from the 11th century devoted to the study of death signs.—The Riṣṭasamuccaya mentions three types of death-signs (riṣṭa), namely:
- piṇḍastha-riṣṭa (bodily death-signs),
- padastha-riṣṭa (environmental death-signs such),
- rūpastha-riṣṭa (visual or virtual death-signs).
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
1) Rishta in India is the name of a plant defined with Sapindus emarginatus in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Sapindus trifoliatus Turcz. (among others).
2) Rishta is also identified with Sapindus laurifolius It has the synonym Sapindus laurifolius Balb. ex DC..
3) Rishta is also identified with Sapindus saponaria It has the synonym Cupania saponarioides Sw. (etc.).
4) Rishta is also identified with Sapindus trifoliatus It has the synonym Sapindus emarginatus Hort. Alger. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Botanica Acta (1990)
· Flora Cochinchinensis (1790)
· Taxon (1982)
· Investigatio et Studium Naturae (1992)
· Symbolae Botanicae (Vahl) (1794)
· Catalogue des Plantes de Madagascar, Sapind. (1931)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Rishta, for example health benefits, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, extract dosage, side effects, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट).—p. p.
1) Injured, hurt.
2) Unlucky.
-ṣṭam 1 Mischief, injury, harm.
2) Misfortune, ill-luck.
3) Destruction, loss.
4) Sin.
5) Good luck, prosperity.
6) Welfare (kṣema); शान्तिरिष्टेन पोषयेत् (śāntiriṣṭena poṣayet) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 13.9.23.
-ṣṭaḥ 1 A sword.
2) The soap plant.
Ṛṣṭa (ऋष्ट).—(?) , name of a pratyekabuddha: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 111.10; in a list, followed by Upāriṣṭa; this suggests that Ṛṣṭa may be a corruption for Ariṣṭa = Pali Ariṭṭha, preceding Upariṭṭha in a list, of paccekabuddhas Majjhimanikāya (Pali) iii.69.29.
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट).—mfn.
(-ṣṭaḥ-ṣṭā-ṣṭaṃ) 1. Hurt, injured. 2. Unlucky. 3. Lucky. n.
(-ṣṭaṃ) 1. Happiness, prosperity. 2. Good-luck, fortune. 3. Bad-luck, illfortune. 4. Destruction, loss, privation. 5. Mischief, harm. 6. Sin. m.
(-ṣṭaḥ) 1. A sword. 2. The soap-nut-tree. 3. A demon, destroyed by Vishnu. E. riṣ to hurt or injure, aff. kta .
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट).—[adjective] torn, rent asunder, broken, hurt, destroyed, missed, failed; [neuter] = seq.
1) Ṛṣṭa (ऋष्ट):—[from ṛṣ] mfn. pushed, thrust.
2) Riṣṭa (रिष्ट):—[from riś] 1. riṣṭa mfn. (for 2. See below) torn off, broken, injured, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda]
3) [from riṣ] 2. riṣṭa mfn. hurt, injured wounded (cf. ariṣṭa and 1. riṣṭa)
4) [v.s. ...] failed, miscarried, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] m. a sword, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (cf. riṣṭi)
6) [v.s. ...] Sapindus Detergens, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (cf. a-riṣṭa)
7) [v.s. ...] Name of a Daitya, [Harivaṃśa]
8) [v.s. ...] of a king, [Mahābhārata]
9) [v.s. ...] of a son of Manu, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
10) Riṣṭā (रिष्टा):—[from riṣṭa > riṣ] f. Name of the mother of the Apsarasas, [ib.] ([probably] [wrong reading] for a-riṣṭā)
11) Riṣṭa (रिष्ट):—[from riṣ] n. misfortune, calamity, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā [Scholiast or Commentator]]
12) [v.s. ...] a bad omen, [Suśruta]
13) [v.s. ...] good luck, fortune, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट):—[(ṣṭaḥ-ṣṭā-ṣṭaṃ) a.] Injured; lucky. n. Happiness; fortune; sin; loss. m. Sword; soap plant; demon.
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट):—
1) adj. und n. s. u. riś, 1. riṣ, ariṣṭa und mahā . —
2) m. a) = 2. riṣṭi Schwert [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha 2, 97.] [Medinīkoṣa ṭ. 26.] — b) Sapindus detergens Roxb. (phenila) [Medinīkoṣa] — c) Nomen proprium eines Fürsten [Mahābhārata 2, 326.] eines Daitya [Harivaṃśa 3112.] eines Sohnes eines Manu [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 111, 4.] —
3) f. ā Nomen proprium der Mutter der Apsaras [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 104, 7.]
Riṣṭa (रिष्ट):——
1) Adj. s.u. riś und 1. riṣ. —
2) m. — a) *Schwert. — b) *Sapindus detergens. Vgl. ariṣṭa. — c) Nomen proprium — α) eines Daitya. — β) eines Sohnes des 7ten Manu. —
3) f. riṣṭā Nomen proprium der Mutter der Apsaras. Richtig wohl ariṣṭā. —
4) n. — a) Unheil , Unglück [UTPALA] zu [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka 6,12.] — b) ein ungünstiges Vorzeichen. — c) *Glück , Heil.
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
Riśtā (रिश्ता):—(nm) relation, relationship; affinity; connection; [riśte-nāte] relations and connections.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Riṣṭa (ರಿಷ್ಟ):—
1) [noun] bad luck; ill fortune; trouble; adversity; misfortune; calamity.
2) [noun] the quality of being inauspicious; inauspiciousness.
3) [noun] a transgression of a divine law; the condition or state resulting from such transgression; sin.
4) [noun] good luck; success; prosperity; fortune.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Rishta is another spelling for रिङटा [riṅaṭā].—n. → रिँगटा [riṃgaṭā]
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 (+0): Rishtadeha, Rishtah, Rishtak, Rishtaka, Rishtanavanita, Rishtapura, Rishtasamuccaya, Rishtasamuccayashastra, Rishtatati, Rishtatil.
Full-text (+52): Arishta, Draksharishta, Maharishta, Drishtarishta, Rishtatati, Rishtasamuccaya, Rishtanavanita, Rish, Nyrishta, Rishtadeha, Virishta, Rishtapura, Arishtanemin, Rishti, Arishtanemi, Rishtah, Arishtaka, Durgadeva, Durgadevacarya, Rishtasamuccayashastra.
Relevant text
Search found 41 books and stories containing Rishta, Riṣṭā, Riṣṭa, Rista, Riśtā, Ṛṣṭa, Rsta; (plurals include: Rishtas, Riṣṭās, Riṣṭas, Ristas, Riśtās, Ṛṣṭas, Rstas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
[No title available] < [Volume 14 (issue 4), Jul-Aug 2023]
[No title available] < [Volume 14 (issue 4), Jul-Aug 2023]
Ayurvedic care quality in India: Insights on essential drug availability < [Volume 9 (issue 3), Jul-Sep 2018]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Part 3 - Lokāntika devas < [Chapter 5]
Part 2 - Kṛṣṇarāji or dark-formation < [Chapter 5]
Part 1 - Asurendra Camara < [Chapter 1]
Rural and Agricultural Glossary (by William Crooke)
Page 254 < [Rural and Architectural Glossary (pages)]
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
A review on the concept of rishta < [2020, Issue 3, March]
A comparative study between the sharira sthana of ashtanga sangraha and ashtanga hridaya < [2021, Issue 5, May]
Importance of traditionally used medicinal plants: emblica officinalis (l), curcuma longa (l) and syzygium cumini (l) in the management of diabetes mellitus < [2014, Issue III May-June]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
Role of Dhataki Pushpa in Sandhaan Kalpana < [Vol. 9 No. 4 (2024)]
Exploring the therapeutic potential of Panchakarma in Geriatrics < [Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025)]
Ayurvedic management of Ekkushtha w.s.r. to Psoriasis - A Case Study < [Vol. 8 No. 5 (2023)]