Ritukala, Ṛtukāla, Ritu-kala: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Ritukala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Ṛtukāla can be transliterated into English as Rtukala or Ritukala, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaṚtukāla (ऋतुकाल).—The time that is most auspicious for sexual intercourse for a woman with her husband. In ancient India certain days were prescribed as the best period for women to become pregnant. This period is called Ṛtukāla. (Ṛtu—Menstruation. Kāla—time, period.)
The sixteen days following menstruation are supposed to be good; but the first three days are not very good and it is advisable not to have sexual intercourse during those days. The next even days beginning with the fourth day (4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th) are the best days for coitus if a male issue (a son) is desired. The odd days (5th, 7th, 9th, 11th 13th, 15th) are to be preferred if a female issue (daughter) is desired. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 151).
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Ṛtukāla (ऋतुकाल) refers to a “woman’s season”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “(The true teacher is dedicated to) truthfulness, ritual purity and cleanliness, compassion, and forbearance; he unites with his wife when it is her season [i.e., ṛtukāla], not out of passion, but for a son for the benefit of (his) clan and lineage. He practices the six magical rites, bathes (regularly) and worships at the three times of day. [...]”.
2) Ṛtukāla (ऋतुकाल) refers to the “Goddess’s fertile period”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “The energy you are, (O goddess) is the god Time who abides perpetually on the plane of the (ultimate) goal. Kula is Śrīnāthabhairava who is in the midst of the (the lunar energies of the Goddess’s) fertile period (ṛtukāla—ṛtukālasya madhye tu). [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryṚtukāla (ऋतुकाल).—
1) the time of menstruation, time favourable for conception, i. e. 16 nights from menstrual discharge; see ऋतु (ṛtu) above.
2) the duration of a season.
Derivable forms: ṛtukālaḥ (ऋतुकालः).
Ṛtukāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ṛtu and kāla (काल). See also (synonyms): ṛtusamaya, ṛtuvelā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryṚtukāla (ऋतुकाल).—m.
(-laḥ) 1. The duration of a season. 2. The period of menstruation. 3. The period favourable for procreation, sixteen days in each month. E. ṛtu and kāla time.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryṚtukāla (ऋतुकाल).—m. 1. seasonable time, Mahābhārata 3, 14763. 2. time approved for sexual intercourse, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 45. Eka-kāla + m, adv. once, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 6, 55.
Ṛtukāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ṛtu and kāla (काल).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryṚtukāla (ऋतुकाल).—[masculine] the time of the season or the time of menstruation.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ṛtukāla (ऋतुकाल):—[=ṛtu-kāla] [from ṛtu > ṛ] m. the fit or proper season, [Mahābhārata iii, 14763]
2) [v.s. ...] the time of a woman’s courses, the time after the courses (favourable for procreation See above), [Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Manu-smṛti iii, 45; v, 153; Mahābhārata; Pañcatantra]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryṚtukāla (ऋतुकाल):—[ṛtu-kāla] (laḥ) 1. m. Season.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusṚtukāla (ಋತುಕಾಲ):—
1) [noun] any of the six seasons, of two months each, of the year.
2) [noun] the period during which menstruation occurs.
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: Ritukalanirnaya, Ritukalaniyama, Ritukalativartini.
Full-text: Rituvela, Ritusamaya, Susamahita, Pratikshya, Shaishira, Kala.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ritukala, Ritu-kala, Ṛtu-kāla, Rtu-kala, Ṛtukāla, Rtukala; (plurals include: Ritukalas, kalas, kālas, Ṛtukālas, Rtukalas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 6 - Norms of Good Conduct for Householders < [Section 2 - Dharmāraṇya-khaṇḍa]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.45 < [Section V - Duties of Marital Life]
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 13 - The Real Nature of Kāla (time) < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita (by Nayana Sharma)
Gender in the Saṃhitās < [Chapter 5]