Shakunika, Śākunika, Sākuṇika, Sakunika, Śakunikā: 16 definitions
Introduction:
Shakunika means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.
The Sanskrit terms Śākunika and Śakunikā can be transliterated into English as Sakunika or Shakunika, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstraŚākunika (शाकुनिक) refers to a “bird catcher”. When disputes arise regarding the boundaries of villeges, and in the absence of original inhabitants of neighbouring villages, the King may choose these ‘hunters’ to act as witnesses. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (See the Manubhāṣya, verse 8.260)

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Arthashastra (politics and welfare)
Source: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his times (artha)Śākunika (शाकुनिक, “fowler”) is an official title designating one of the seventy-two officers (niyoga) of the Bāhattaraniyogādhipati circle, according to the Inscriptional glossary of Andhra Pradesh (Śāsana-śabdakośāmu). The bāhattaraniyoga-adhipati is the highest executive officer of this circle (including a Śākunika). For example: During the reign of Gaṇapatideva, the area extending between Pānagal to Mārjavāḍi was entrusted to Gaṇḍapeṇḍāru Gangayasāhiṇi as Bāhattaraniyogādhipati. Later on, this office was entrusted to Kāyastha Jannigadeva.

Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaŚakunikā (शकुनिका).—A female attendant of Subrahmaṇya. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 46, Verse 15).

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 VarahamihiraŚākunika (शाकुनिक) refers to “dealers in birds”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 15) (“On the nakṣatras—‘asterisms’”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Those who are born on the lunar day of Dhaniṣṭhā will be shameless, of weak friendship, haters of women, generous, rich and free from temptation. Those who are born on the lunar day of Śatabhiṣaj will be fishermen or dealers in fish and hogs; washermen; dealers in wine (śākunika) and birds”.

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarysākuṇika : (m.) a fowler; a bird-catcher.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionarySākuṇika, (fr. sakuṇa) a fowler S. II, 256; A. III, 303; Pug. 56; J. I, 208. combined with miga-bandhaka & macchaghātaka at SnA 289; with māgavika & maccha-ghātaka at Pug. 56. (Page 702)

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 Dictionaryśākunika (शाकुनिक).—n S Interpretation of omens, portents, prodigies, presages.
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śākunika (शाकुनिक).—a S Relating to omens or portents, ominous, portentous.
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 dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚākunika (शाकुनिक).—[śakunena pakṣivadhādinā jīvati ṭhañ] A fowler, bird-catcher; Mṛcchakaṭika 6; Manusmṛti 8.26.
-kam The interpretation of omens.
Derivable forms: śākunikaḥ (शाकुनिकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚākunika (शाकुनिक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) Of or relating to birds, omens, &c. m.
(-kaḥ) A fowler, a bird-catcher. n.
(-kaṃ) Interpretation of omens, dreams, &c. E. śakuna a bird, and ṭhañ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚākunika (शाकुनिक).—i. e. śakuna + ika, I. adj. Of or relating to birds. Ii. m. A fowler, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 260; [Pañcatantra] iii. [distich] 158.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚakunikā (शकुनिका).—[feminine] = [preceding] [feminine], a woman’s name.
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Śākunika (शाकुनिक).—[masculine] = [preceding] [masculine]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Śakunikā (शकुनिका):—[from śakunaka > śakuna] f. a female bird, [ib.]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of one of the Mātṛs attendant of Skanda, [ib.]
3) [v.s. ...] of various women, [Vāsavadattā]
4) Śākunika (शाकुनिक):—[from śākuna] mfn. relating to birds or omens, ominous, [Horace H. Wilson]
5) [v.s. ...] m. a fowler, bird-catcher, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
6) [v.s. ...] a fisherman, [Maitrī-upaniṣad]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryŚākunika (शाकुनिक):—[(kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) a. Idem. m.] A fowler, a bird-catcher.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Śakunikā (शकुनिका) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Sauṇia, Sauṇigā, Sauṇī, Sauliā, Saulī, Sāuṇia.
[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 corpusŚākunika (ಶಾಕುನಿಕ):—[adjective] = ಶಾಕುನ [shakuna]1.
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Śākunika (ಶಾಕುನಿಕ):—
1) [noun] a bird-catcher; a fowler.
2) [noun] a man who foretells based on or interprets, omens.
3) [noun] an interpretation of an omen or omens.
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: Shakunikalubdhaka, Shakunikaprashna, Shakunikarana, Shakunikayini.
Full-text: Saunia, Shakunikaprashna, Saulia, Sauniga, Sauli, Shakunikayini, Sauni, Khattika, Ludda, Vasa, Shankara, Shakuni.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Shakunika, Śākunika, Sākuṇika, Sakunika, Śakunikā, Śakunika; (plurals include: Shakunikas, Śākunikas, Sākuṇikas, Sakunikas, Śakunikās, Śakunikas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (early history) (by Prakash Narayan)
Jati (status on account of birth) < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
The Household Group < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
Empirical Relevance of Vanna, Jati and Kula < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2.34 < [Section XI - The Ceremony of ‘First Egress,’ (niṣkramaṇa) and that of ‘First Feeding,’ (annaprāśana)]
Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal (by Shubha Majumder)
The General Study of Jainism < [Chapter 1 - Introduction and Scope of the Present Study]