Rucaka: 15 definitions
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.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Google Books: The Theory of Citrasutras in Indian PaintingRucaka: 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.
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraRucaka (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.
Source: Shodhganga: Temples of Salem region Up to 1336 ADRucaka (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.
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 and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Rucaka (रुचक).—A mountain at the base of Meru;1 south of Meru (Viṣṇu-purāṇa);2 East of Aruṇoda.3
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.
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: Wisdom Library: Śrīmad Devī BhāgavatamRucaka (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.
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
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Google Books: VajrayoginiRucaka (रुचक) refers to “armlets” and represents one of the five mudrās (tantric ornaments) of Vajravārāhī, according to the 12th-century 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.
Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist IconographyRucaka (रुचक) refers to “bracelets” and represents one of the five auspicious symbols of Nairātmā.—The Indian Museum image is the only image of this goddess [Nairātmā] which conforms to the description given in the sādhana. Here the goddess, in accordance with the Dhyāna, has a terrible appearance with canine teeth, garland of heads and three eyes rolling in anger. She stands on the corpse lying on its back, and dances in the ardhaparyaṅka attitude. Burning flames radiate from her person, and her hair rise upwards in the shape of a flame. She is decked in the five auspicious symbols, the kaṇṭhikā (torque), rucaka (bracelets), ratna (jewels), mekhalā (girdle), and bhasma (ashes) or the sūtra (sacred thread) in the form of a garland of heads. She bears the image of her sire Akṣobhya on her crown and carries the menacing kartri in the right hand. The left hand holding the kapāla is broken. The khaṭvāṅga, as usual, hangs from her left shoulder.
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismRucaka (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.
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
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryRucaka, (nt.) (cp. Sk. rucaka a golden ornament) (gold) sand Vv 351; VvA. 160 (=suvaṇṇa-vālikā). (Page 572)
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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryrucaka (रुचक).—n S rucakāsthi f n In Hindu osteology. That kind of bone of which the teeth are composed. See asthi.
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.
Sanskrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryRucaka (रुचक).—a. [ruc-kvun Uṇ.2.36.]
1) Agreeable, pleasing.
2) Stomachic.
3) Sharp, acrid.
-kaḥ 1 The citron; पूर्णान्यक्षतपात्राणि रुचकं रोचनास्तथा (pūrṇānyakṣatapātrāṇi rucakaṃ rocanāstathā) Mb.7.82.21.
2) A pigeon.
3) A type of column with four rectangular sides; समचतुरस्रो रुचकः (samacaturasro rucakaḥ) Bṛ. S.5.28.
-kam 1 A tooth.
2) A golden ornament especially for the neck.
3) A tonic, stomachic.
4) A wreath, garland.
5) Sochal salt.
6) A curl on a horse's neck.
7) A lucky object.
8) A building having terraces on three sides and closed on the north only.
9) Alkali.
1) A stone for grinding sandalwood; L. D. B.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryRucaka (रुचक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) 1. Agreeable, pleasing. 2. Sharp, acrid. 3. Tonic, stomachic. m.
(-kaḥ) 1. The citron, (Citrus medica.) 2. A pigeon. n.
(-kaṃ) 1. Salt. 2. Natron, alkali. 3. Borax. 4. A garland, a chaplet. 5. A curl on a horse’s neck. 6. The woody Cassia. 7. Any auspicious or fortunate object. 8. A perfume, commonly Rochana. 9. An anthelmintic medicine, commonly Biranga, (Embelia ribes.) 10. A sort of temple. 11. A stomachic. 12. An ornament of the neck or breast. 13. A tooth. E. ruc to shine, &c., in the causal form, kvun aff.; the embellisher, the polisher, &c.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryRucaka (रुचक).—[neuter] tooth; a cert. golden ornament, necklace; a kind of building.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Rucakadvipa, Rucakagiri, Rucakamalini, Rucakaparvata, Rucakara, Rucakasamudra, Rucakavara, Rucakavaradvipa, Rucakavarasamudra, Rucakavaravabhasa, Rucakavaravabhasadvipa, Rucakavaravabhasasamudra, Rucakavitthi.
Ends with: Adhararucaka.
Full-text (+19): Ruyyaka, Rukma, Rucika, Purujit, Rucakaparvata, Adhararucaka, Sahridayalila, Shrikanthastava, Vidruta, Lavanatraya, Carudhi, Rucakadvipa, Rucakasamudra, Svasti, Loka, Rukmeshu, Kalanjaragiri, Pancamudra, Hindira, Lalita.
Relevant text
Search found 18 books and stories containing Rucaka, Rūcaka; (plurals include: Rucakas, Rūcakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 5: Birth rites of Sambhava < [Chapter I - Sambhavajinacaritra]
Part 4: Birth-rites of Śānti < [Chapter V - Twelfth incarnation as Śānti]
Part 16: The eight karmas < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Chapter 69 - Signs of the five great men (pañca-puruṣa or pañca-mahāpuruṣa)
The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa (by Dhrubajit Sarma)
Part 7 - Works of Maṅkhaka < [Chapter I - Introduction]
The Tattvasangraha [with commentary] (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 1777-1778 < [Chapter 20 - Examination of Syādvāda (doctrine)]
Sushruta Samhita, Volume 6: Uttara-tantra (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
Chapter XXXI - Theraputics Of An Attack By Revati-Graha < [Canto II - Kaumarabhritya-tantra (pediatrics, gynecology and pregnancy)]
The Indian Buddhist Iconography (by Benoytosh Bhattachacharyya)