The Sanskrit term Śāṅkhika can be transliterated into English as Sankhika or Shankhika, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Śaṅkhikā (शङ्खिका) is the wife of Rājyagupta from Saṅghapura, according to chapter 5.4 [śāntinātha-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, as Megharatha related:—“[...] In the East Bharata of the half of Puṣkara there is a great city, Saṅghapura by name. There was a son of a noble family, Rājyagupta, very poor, who always made his living by working for other people. He had a wife, Śaṅkhikā, devoted to him and devoted religiously, and both of them worked in other people’s houses. One day for the sake of fruit they went together to the big mountain Saṅghagiri covered with various trees. [...]”.

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.

India history and geography

Source: Google Books: Medieval Orissa: A Socio-economic Study

Śaṅkhika (शङ्खिक) refers to a “worker or dealer in conch shells” and represents one of the occupational groups commonly found in Townships or Urban centers (nagari) in ancient India (Medieval Orissa).—An example (of Township) is provided by the Nagari plates of Anangabhima III, dated A.D. 1230, which describe an assigned township which contained four large houses of the dimension of royal residences and thirty other houses. The occupational groups present in the settlement were [e.g., a worker or dealer in conch shells (śaṅkhika)]. The range of occupations is large, some of them being rural in character. The context in which the township (or Urban centres—nagari) is assigned suggest that nagaris in such cases were perhaps extended villages, formed out of a cluster of several contiguous villages and thus assuming physical and consequently, economic dimensions much larger than those of an ordinary village settlement.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Śaṅkhika or Śāṅkhika.—(EI 24, 28), same as Śaṅkhakāra (q. v.), worker on conch-shells. Note: śaṅkhika is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śāṅkhika (शाङ्खिक).—[śaṅkha-ṭhañ]

1) A shell-cutter, worker in shells.

2) Name of a mixed tribe.

3) A shell-blower; त्वरमाण- शाङ्खिकसवेगवदनपवनाभिपूरितः (tvaramāṇa- śāṅkhikasavegavadanapavanābhipūritaḥ) Śiśupālavadha 15.72.

Derivable forms: śāṅkhikaḥ (शाङ्खिकः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Śaṅkhika (शङ्खिक).—(Sanskrit Lex. śāṅkhika, compare Schmidt, Nach-träge), worker in conch-shells (not blower of them, the meaning attributed to AMg. saṅkhiya): (hairaṇyikā prāvārikā) °kā dantakārakā…Mahāvastu iii.113.7 (in list of artisans and tradesmen).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śaṅkhikā (शङ्खिका).—f.

(-kā) A kind of grass, (Andropogon aciculatum.) E. śaṅkha a shell, kan or ṭhan implying resemblance, fem. form. “corakācakā .”

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śāṅkhika (शाङ्खिक).—i. e. śaṅkha + ika, I. adj. Relating to a conch-shell. Ii. m. 1. A shell-cutter. 2. A shellblower.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śāṅkhika (शाङ्खिक).—[masculine] shell-blower.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śaṅkhikā (शङ्खिका):—[from śaṅkhaka > śaṅkha] f. Andropogon Aciculatus, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) Śaṅkhika (शङ्खिक):—[from śaṅkha] m. Name of a man, [Buddhist literature]

3) Śāṅkhika (शाङ्खिक):—[from śāṅkha] mf(ī)n. made from or relating to a conch-shell or to any shell, shelly, [Horace H. Wilson]

4) [v.s. ...] m. a shell-blower or player on the conch-shell, [Śiśupāla-vadha]

5) [v.s. ...] a shell-cutter, worker or dealer in shells (constituting a [particular] caste called Śāṅkhāri), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Śaṅkhikā (शङ्खिका):—(kā) 1. f. A kind of grass.

2) Śāṅkhika (शाङ्खिक):—[(kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) m.] A shell-cutter, or blower. a. Of a shell.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Śaṅkhikā (शङ्खिका) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Saṃkhiyā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shankhika in German

context information

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 corpus

Śāṃkhika (ಶಾಂಖಿಕ):—

1) [noun] a man who makes ornamental things from conchs and sells them.

2) [noun] a worker or dealer in shells.

context information

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)

Full-text: Sankhiya, Shankhakara, Shankhakaraka, Shankhavalayakara, Shankhaka, Sanghagiri, Sarvagupta, Sanghapura, Dealer, Rajyagupta, Dhritidhara, Shankha.

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Search found 2 books and stories containing Shankhika, Śāṃkhika, Samkhika, Śāṅkhika, Sankhika, Śaṅkhika, Śaṅkhikā, Śankhika, Shamkhika; (plurals include: Shankhikas, Śāṃkhikas, Samkhikas, Śāṅkhikas, Sankhikas, Śaṅkhikas, Śaṅkhikās, Śankhikas, Shamkhikas). 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 6: Story of Siṃharatha < [Chapter IV - Tenth incarnation as Megharatha]

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Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)

Professions, Servants and Employed persons < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]

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