Saketa, Sāketa: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Saketa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Sāketa (साकेत).—Is Ayodhyā; sometime ruled by the Nāgas.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 54. 54; 74. 195.
1b) A Janapada over which the Guptas ruled.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 383.

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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraSāketa (साकेत) refers to a country belonging to “Madhyadeśa (central division)” classified under the constellations of Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī and Mṛgaśīrṣa, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī and Mṛgaśīrṣa represent the Madhyadeśa or central division consisting of the countries of [i.e., Sāketa] [...]”.

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA town in Kosala. It was regarded in the Buddhas time as one of the six great cities of India, the others being Campa, Rajagaha, Savatthi, Kosambi and Benares (D.ii.146). It was probably the older capital of Kosala, and is mentioned as such in the Nandiyamiga Jataka. J.iii.270; cf. Mtu.i.348, 349, 350, where it is called the capital of King Sujata of the Sakyan race. See also the Kumbha Jataka (J.ii.13), where Saketa is mentioned as one of the places into which alcohol was introduced quite soon after its discovery by Sura and Varuna. According to the Mahanarada Kassapa Jataka (J.vi.228), it was the birthplace of Bijaka, aeons ago. In this context it is called Saketa. According to a tradition, recorded in the Mahavastu, Saketa was the city from which Sakyan princes were exiled when they founded Kapilavatthu. E. J. Thomas accepts this view (op. cit., 16f.).
The Dhammapada Commentary (DhA.i.386), however, states that the city was founded in the Buddhas time by Dhananjaya, father of Visakha, when, at the special invitation of Pasenadi, he went from Rajagaha to live in Kosala. On the way to Savatthi with Pasenadi, Dhananjaya pitched his camp for the night, and learning from the king that the site of the camp was in Kosalan territory and seven leagues from Savatthi, Dhananjaya obtained the kings permission to found a city there. And because the site was first inhabited in the evening (sayam), the city came to be called Saketa. The Divyavadana (211) has another explanation of the name, in connection with the coronation of Mandhata (Svayam agatam svayam agatam Saketa Saketam iti sanjna samvrtta).
The reference is probably to a new settlement established by Dhananjaya in the old city.
We also learn from the Visuddhimagga (p.390; but see below) that the distance from Saketa to Savatthi was seven leagues (yojanas), and there we are told that when the Buddha, at the invitation of Cula subhadda, went from Savatthi to Saketa, he resolved that the citizens of the two cities should be able to see each other. In the older books (E.g., Vin.i.253) however, the distance is given as six leagues. The town lay on the direct route between Savatthi and Patitthana, and is mentioned (SN.vss.1011 1013) as the first stopping place out of Savatthi. The distance between the two places could be covered in one day, with seven relays of horses (M.i.149), but the books contain several references (E.g., Vin.i.88, 89, 270; iii.212; iv. 63, 120) to the dangers of the journey when undertaken on foot. The road was infested with robbers, and the king had to maintain soldiers to protect travellers.
Midway between Saketa and Savatthi was Toranavatthu, and it is said (S.iv.374 ff) that, when Pasenadi went from the capital to Saketa, he spent a night in Toranavatthu, where be visited Khema Theri who lived there.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraSāketa (साकेत), a city in Kośala, near Ayodhyā with which it may be confused. Its site has been identified with the ruins of Sukān Koy on the Sai, in the district of Unao of the present province of Aoude. It is the Sageda of Ptolemy.
Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Saketa (सकेत) [or Vaketa ?] (in Chinese: P'o-ki-to or So-kit-to) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Āśleṣā or Āśleṣānakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Āśleṣā] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Saketa] for the sake of protection and prosperity.

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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraSāketa (साकेत) or Sāketapura is the name of a city associated with Kosala, which refers to one of the 25½ countries of the Kṣetrāryas, situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3 [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:—“In these 35 zones on this side of Mānuṣottara and in the Antaradvīpas, men arise by birth; [...]. From the division into Āryas and Mlecchas they are two-fold. The Āryas have sub-divisions [e.g., kṣetra (country)]. [...] The kṣetrāryas are born in the 15 Karmabhumis. Here in Bharata they have 25½ places of origin (e.g., Kosala), distinguishable by cities (e.g., Sāketa) in which the birth of Tīrthakṛts, Cakrabhṛts, Kṛṣṇas, and Balas takes place”.
Source: HereNow4u: Lord Śrī MahāvīraSāketa (साकेत) is the name of a village visited by Mahāvīra during his 19th Year as Kevalī.—After completing the rainy season, wandering through Sāketa, Sāvatthī, etc in Kauśala country, the Lord arrived at Pāñcāla and stayed at Sahasrāmravana of Kampilapura.
Sāketa was also visited by Mahāvīra during his 24th Year as Kevalī.—After the cāturmāsa at Vaiśālī, the Lord moved to Sāketa in Kauśala land. Leaving Sāketa the Lord went to Kampilapura in Pāṃcāla region.

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.
India history and geography
Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptionsSāketa (साकेत) and Ayodhyā have been treated by many writers as being identical. Csoma de koros calls this place as “Sāketan or Ayodhyā” and H. H. Wilson in his dictionary, refers to Sāketa as “the city of Ayodhyā”. Several passages in the Raghuvaṃśa (8.5.79) confirm it.The Vividhatīrthakalpa (p. 24) mentions Sākeyam (Sāketa) as asynonym for Ayodhyā, but in the Buddhist literature we find separate references to Ayodhyā and Sāketa which creates doubt about their identity and suggests that the two existed separately.

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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Saketa in Indonesia is the name of a plant defined with Aleurites moluccana in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Camirium oleosum Reinw. ex Blume (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Flora de Filipinas, ed. 2 (1845)
· Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France (1913)
· Institutiones Rei Herbariae (1766)
· Nomenclator Botanicus, ed. 2 (1840)
· Flora de Filipinas (1837)
· Numer. List (7959)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Saketa, for example extract dosage, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, side effects, health benefits, 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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySāketa (साकेत).—Name of the city of Ayodhyā; साकेतनार्योऽञ्जलिभिः प्रणेमुः (sāketanāryo'ñjalibhiḥ praṇemuḥ) R.14.13;13.79;18.36; अरुणद्यवनः साकेतम् (aruṇadyavanaḥ sāketam) Mahābhārata
-tāḥ (m. pl.) The inhabitants of Ayodhyā.
Derivable forms: sāketam (साकेतम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySāketā (साकेता).—(= Sanskrit and Pali °ta, nt.), name of a city (Oudh): Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.66.3; 67.4 ff. (°tām, °tāyām).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySāketa (साकेत).—n.
(-taṃ) The city Ayodhya, or ancient Oudh.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionarySāketa (साकेत).—n. A name of Ayodhya, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 13, 79.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionarySaketa (सकेत).—[adjective] having one intention.
--- OR ---
Sāketa (साकेत).—[neuter] [Epithet] of the city Ayodhyā; [masculine] [plural] its inhabitants.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Saketa (सकेत):—[=sa-keta] [from sa > sa-kaṅkaṭa] mfn. (sa-) having the same intention, [Ṛg-veda]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of an Āditya, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā]
3) Sāketa (साकेत):—n. Name of the city Ayodhyā or Oude ([probably] also of other cities), [Patañjali; Kāvya literature; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] etc.
4) m. [plural] the inhabitants of Sāketa, [Catalogue(s)]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionarySāketa (साकेत):—(taṃ) 1. n. Ayodhya or Oude.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Sāketa (साकेत) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sāeya, Sāeyā, Sākeya.
[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 corpusSākēta (ಸಾಕೇತ):—
1) [noun] that which consists of or is having houses.
2) [noun] the capital city of Ayōdhye, the kingdom of Śrī Ramachandra, situated on the banks of the river Sarayū.
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)
Partial matches: Keta, Sha, Ca.
Starts with: Saketa Jataka, Saketa Panha, Saketa Tissa, Saketabrahmana Vatthu, Saketaka, Saketamahatmya, Saketana, Saketapura, Saketapurana.
Full-text (+86): Saketaka, Saketapurana, Saketana, Ayodhya, Saketamahatmya, Saketapura, Saeya, Saketa Panha, Saketabrahmana Vatthu, Koshala, Caketam, Tikantakivana, Vasubhadra, Saketa Jataka, Setika, Ashvaghosha, Samketikar, Uposatha, Kanikaravalikasamudda Vihara, Toranavatthu.
Relevant text
Search found 65 books and stories containing Saketa, Sa-keta, Sāketa, Sāketā, Sākēta; (plurals include: Saketas, ketas, Sāketas, Sāketās, Sākētas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Town Planning (1): City < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Maha Buddhavamsa—The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 1 - Story of Brahmin Sāketa and his wife < [Chapter 38 - Buddha’s Brahmin Parents in His Previous Existence]
Biography (2): Visākhā, Donor of Pubbārāma Monastery < [Chapter 45b - Life Stories of Female Lay Disciples]
Part 44 - The Buddha discoursed on the Mahāsudassana Sutta < [Chapter 40 - The Buddha Declared the Seven Factors of Non-Decline for Rulers]
Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 237: Sāketa-jātaka < [Book II - Dukanipāta]
Jataka 68: Sāketa-jātaka < [Book I - Ekanipāta]
Jataka 385: Nandiyamiga-jātaka < [Volume 3]
Paumacariya (critical study) (by K. R. Chandra)
Chapter 2 - Summary of the Paumacariya
57. The previous births of Madhu and Kaitabha < [Chapter 4 - Intervening Stories]
35. The previous birth of Bhamandala < [Chapter 4 - Intervening Stories]
Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)
Chapter 6 - Country of Pi-so-kia (Vaishaka) < [Book V - Six Countries]
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