Rucaka; 9 Definition(s)

Introduction

Rucaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Ruchaka.

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Rucaka: One of the Pañca-puruṣa (‘five stereotypes of men’).—As the Viṣṇudharmottara Purāṇa (III.36.5) says, a rucaka type is reddish brown like the autumn, he has a conch-like neck and is highly intelligent, courageous, laborious, strong and endowed with great taste. The Bṛhat Saṃhitā (69.27) explains that a person belonging to the rucaka type, influenced by Mars, has fine brows and hair, dark and red complexion, conch-like neck and an oblong face. He is heroic, cruel, a leader among men, a minister, the leader of a gang of thieves and hard working. The Sārāvalī (37.5–7) adds that he has attractive eyebrows, blue hair, thin shanks and he knows the mantras.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Rucaka (रुचक) refers to a type of temple (prāsāda) classified under the group named Vairāja, according to Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 49. The Vairāja group contains twenty-four out of a sixty-four total prāsādas (temples) classified under five prime vimānas (aerial car/palace), which were created by Brahmā for as many gods (including himself). The group represents temples (eg. Rucaka) that are to be square shaped. The prāsādas, or ‘temples’, represent the dwelling place of God and are to be built in towns. The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra is an 11th-century encyclopedia dealing with various topics from the Vāstuśāstra.

Rucaka is mentioned in another list from the Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 56, being part of the group named Lalita, containing 25 unique temple varieties.

Rucaka is also listed in the Agnipurāṇa which features a list of 45 temple types. It is listed under the group named Vairāja, featuring square-shaped temples. This list represents a classification of temples in Nort-India.

Rucaka (रुचक).—A type of stambha mentioned in the Texts on architecture (Bṛhatsaṃhitā 5.28) is called by the name rucaka-stambha. It is the simplest form of a pillar. Rucaka, in Sanskrit, literally means “agreeable” or “acceptable”. That means the pillar that is according to physical laws. It should be basically fimctional in character and decorations are optional. A fimctional pillar should possess a pedestal, a shaft and a corbel. Therefore, rucaka, according to the Text, should have a pedestal, a shaft and a corbel above. All the other additions in the form of capital, abacus and other decorations of the shaft are optional in nature.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Purana

1a) Rucaka (रुचक).—A mountain at the base of Meru;¹ south of Meru (Viṣṇu-purāṇa);² East of Aruṇoda.³

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 16. 26.
• 2) Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 2. 28.
• 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 36. 19; 42. 29.

1b) A son of Uśanas and father of Purujit and four other sons.^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 23. 34-35.

1c) A Yakṣa—son of Puṇyajanī and Maṇibhadra.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 123.

context information

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)

Rucaka (रुचक) is the name of a tree found in maṇidvīpa (Śakti’s abode), according to the Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa 12.10. Accordingly, these trees always bear flowers, fruits and new leaves, and the sweet fragrance of their scent is spread across all the quarters in this place. The trees (eg. Rucaka) attract bees and birds of various species and rivers are seen flowing through their forests carrying many juicy liquids. Maṇidvīpa is defined as the home of Devī, built according to her will. It is compared with Sarvaloka, as it is superior to all other lokas.

The Devī-bhāgavata-purāṇa, or Śrīmad-devī-bhāgavatam, is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, a type of Sanskrit literature containing cultural information on ancient India, religious/spiritual prescriptions and a range of topics concerning the various arts and sciences. The whole text is composed of 18,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 6th century.

context information

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.

In Buddhism

(Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Rucaka (रुचक) refers to “armlets” and represents one of the five mudrās (tantric ornaments) of Vajravārāhī, according to the Abhisamayamañjarī. These mudrās are depicted upon Vajravārāhī’s body and are all made of human bone. They are made to represent the five signs of kāpālika observance.

context information

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)

Rucaka (रुचक) is the shorter name of Rucakadvīpa, one of the continents (dvīpa) of the middle-world (madhyaloka) which is encircled by the ocean named Rucakasamudra (or simply Rucaka), according to Jain cosmology. The middle-world contains innumerable concentric dvīpas and, as opposed to the upper-world (adhaloka) and the lower-world (ūrdhvaloka), is the only world where humans can be born.

Rucaka is recorded in ancient Jaina canonical texts dealing with cosmology and geography of the universe. Examples of such texts are the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapannatti and the Trilokasāra in the Digambara tradition.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Rucaka, (nt.) (cp. Sk. rucaka a golden ornament) (gold) sand Vv 35¹; VvA. 160 (=suvaṇṇa-vālikā). (Page 572)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

rucaka (रुचक).—n S rucakāsthi f n In Hindu osteology. That kind of bone of which the teeth are composed. See asthi.

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