Taru: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Taru means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Hindi, 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.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Raj Nighantu1) Taru (तरु) refers to a “tree”, as mentioned in a list of twenty-five synonyms in the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands, soil, mountains, jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees [viz., Taru] and plants and substances, with their various kinds.
2) Taru (तरु) is the name of a tree (Nārikela) that is associated with the Nakṣatra (celestial star) named Kṛttika, according to the same chapter. Accordingly, “these [trees] are propounded in Śāstras, the secret scriptures (śāstrāgama). These pious trees [viz, Viṣadru], if grown and protected, promote long life”. These twenty-seven trees related to the twenty-seven Nakṣatras are supposed to be Deva-vṛkṣas or Nakṣatra-vṛkṣas.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraTaru (तरु) refers to “trees”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 3), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The dark spots, also known as ketus, the sons of Rāhu are Tāmasa, Kīlaka and the like, and are 33 in number. How they affect the earth depends upon their color, position and shape. [...] When the spots appear on the solar disc the waters will get disturbed; the sky will be filled with dust; high winds capable of breaking down the tops of mountains and of trees [i.e., taru], will carry pebbles and sand along their course”.

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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraTaru (तरु) refers to “(climbing) a tree” (in a dream), according to the Svacchanda-tantra.—Accordingly, [verse 4.8-13, while describing auspicious dreams]—“[The dreamer] crosses over the ocean and river. Likewise sunrise and indeed blazing fire [are auspicious. Also auspicious is when the dreamer] sees planets, constellations, stars and the disk of the moon. [When the dreamer] ascends the palace or a turret of the palace, climbs a mountain top, tree (taru), elephant, young animal, bull, horse, or man. [In auspicious dreams one] sees a chariot and also sees the siddhamantra, obtains the perfected oblation and sees the gods, etc. [...]”

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections1) Taru (तरु) refers to a “tree”, according to Pūjyapāda’s Sarvārthasiddhi.—Accordingly, “[...] And even among the five-sensed beings, many belong to the animal world such as the cow, the deer, the bird, the serpent, etc. Hence human birth is as difficult of attainment as a heap of jewels at the crossing of the roads. And if one loses the condition of a human being by negligence, it is as difficult to attain it once again, as it is difficult for a burnt tree (dagdha-taru) to regain its old freshness. Even if human birth is attained, a good country, a good family, keen senses, health, etc. are more and more difficult of attainment. [...]”.
2) Taru (तरु) refers to a “tree”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Having abandoned the tree (taru), as the birds go in the early morning, in like manner the embodied souls continually go somewhere depending on their own karma”.

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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Taru in India is the name of a plant defined with Areca catechu in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Areca cathechu Burm.f. (among others).
2) Taru is also identified with Cedrus deodara It has the synonym Cedrus libani var. deodara (Roxburgh) J.D. Hooker (etc.).
3) Taru is also identified with Erythroxylum emarginatum It has the synonym Sethia indica DC. (etc.).
4) Taru in Nepal is also identified with Hippophae rhamnoides It has the synonym Rhamnoides hippophae Moench (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· American Journal of Botany (1935)
· Étude Fl., ed. 8 (1889)
· Illustrations of the Botany of the Himalayan Mountains (1833)
· Beskrivelse af Guineeiske planter (1827)
· Flora andhrica (1859)
· Himalayan journals (1854)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Taru, for example pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, health benefits, extract dosage, side effects, chemical composition, 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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarytaru : (m.) a tree.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryTaru, (Perhaps dialect. for dāru) tree, PvA. 154 (°gaṇā), 251. (Page 298)

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 Dictionarytaru (तरु).—m S A tree, bush, or plant.
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tārū (तारू).—m (Poetry. tara) A ferryman.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishtarū (तरू).—m A tree, plant.
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tārū (तारू).—m A ferryman.
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 dictionaryTaru (तरु).—a. [tṝ-un Uṇādi-sūtra 1.7] Protecting.
-ruḥ 1 A tree; नवसंरोहणशिथिलस्तरुरिव सुकरः समुद्धर्तुम् (navasaṃrohaṇaśithilastaruriva sukaraḥ samuddhartum) M.1.8.
2) Ved. Velocity.
3) A wooden ladle for taking up Soma.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryTaru (तरु).—(?) , name of a legendary king: Mahāvastu i.188.12; 189.7; 191.12; one ms. in the first passage, three in the third, and all in the second, read Tanu; both occur as names of men in Sanskrit, but very rarely.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryTaru (तरु).—m.
(-ruḥ) A tree. E. tṝ to proceed, Unadi affix un, what goes or grows; or from what flowers and fruits arise, &c.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryTaru (तरु).—i. e. tṛ10 + u (for original tar + van), m. A tree, [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 82, 115.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryTaru (तरु).—1. [adjective] rash.
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Taru (तरु).—2. [masculine] tree.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Taru (तरु):—[from tara] 1. taru mfn. ‘quick’ or [substantive] ‘speediness’, ([plural]), [Ṛg-veda v, 44, 5] (cf. [ii, 39, 3]).
2) 2. taru m. ([gana] vyāghrādi [not in [Kāśikā-vṛtti]] cf. nabhas-) a tree, [Nalopākhyāna xii, 75; Rāmāyaṇa vi, 82, 115; Suśruta; Raghuvaṃśa] etc.
3) Name of a son of Manu Cākṣuṣa, [Matsya-purāṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryTaru (तरु):—(ruḥ) 2. m. A tree.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Taru (तरु) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Taru.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryTaru (तरु):—(nm) a tree.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryTaru (तरु) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Taru.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusṬāru (ಟಾರು):—
1) [noun] any of various dark-coloured, viscid products with pungent odour obtained from the destructive distillation of certain organic substances, as coal, peat, shale or wood, used for protecting and preserving surfaces; tar.
2) [noun] (fig.) the pitch-black colour.
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Taru (ತರು):—
1) [verb] to carry, convey, conduct or to come with, to or toward the speaker or to the place implied.
2) [verb] to cause (a person) come in or to bring along with oneself.
3) [verb] to give, offer (something) to.
4) [verb] to hold out or reach out.
5) [verb] to bring out or forth.
6) [verb] to cause to happen.
7) [verb] to decide or take a decision.
8) [verb] to cause to get married; to arrange to have close relationship as by a marriage.
9) [verb] to bring a girl or woman by marriage, as one’s wife, daughter-in-law, etc.
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Taru (ತರು):—[noun] a plant, that lives for several years, having a strong woody main stem or trunk ordinarily growing to a considerable height, and usu. developing branches at some distance from the ground; a tree.
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Tāru (ತಾರು):—
1) [verb] to become lean, thin.
2) [verb] to lose freshness, moisture; to fade; to wither.
3) [verb] to become sad; to be dejected.
4) [verb] to become reduced in quantity, number, strength, etc.; to wane.
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Tāru (ತಾರು):—[verb] to cross or pass from one side to the other.
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Tāru (ತಾರು):—[noun] a moveable bar or rod attached to the door, which fastens the door to its frame when closed.
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Tāru (ತಾರು):—
1) [noun] a message transmitted by telegraph; telegram.
2) [noun] ತಾರು ಕೊಡು [taru kodu] tāru koḍu = ತಾರು ಮಾಡು [taru madu]; ತಾರು ಮಾಡು [taru madu] tāru māḍu to send a message by telegraph; to telegraph.
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Tāru (ತಾರು):—[noun] a thick, sticky, brown to black liquid with a pungent odour, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood, coal, peat, shale, etc. used mainly in making road surfaces; tar.
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Tāṟu (ತಾಱು):—
1) [verb] to become lean, thin.
2) [verb] to lose freshness, moisture; to fade; to wither.
3) [verb] to become sad; to be dejected.
4) [verb] to become reduced in quantity, number, strength, etc.; to wane.
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Tāṟu (ತಾಱು):—[noun] that which is dry, withered, faded.
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Tāṟu (ತಾಱು):—
1) [noun] a bunch or cluster of coconuts or areca nuts.
2) [noun] a large number of persons collected at a place; a crowd.
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Tāṟu (ತಾಱು):—[noun] = ತಾಱ್ [tar]2.
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Tāṟu (ತಾಱು):—[noun] the condition that lacks order, system; derangement or which leads to confusion; disorder; jumble.
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 (+176): Tarua, Tarua kadam, Taruakadam, Tarubhuj, Tarubisu, Tarubu, Tarubullu, Taruca, Tarucakkirai, Tarucam, Tarucara, Tarucaya, Tarucchaya, Tarucini, Taruco yoco, Tarudhulika, Tarudu, Tarudulika, Tarugahana, Tarugu.
Ends with (+250): Abhrataru, Additaru, Adhyatmakalpataru, Aditaru, Aitaru, Amarataru, Amtaru, Anubhogakalpataru, Apteshtaru, Aremattaru, Arevattaru, Ashokataru, Astaru, Ataru, Attaru, Balataru, Bhaktikalpataru, Bhillataru, Bhitaru, Bishataru.
Full-text (+228): Tarus, Chayataru, Taruruha, Tarusara, Tarumriga, Tarujivana, Shukataru, Taruta, Uccataru, Dirghataru, Surataru, Tarutulika, Tarurohini, Taruraja, Tarushayin, Tarupankti, Virataru, Devataru, Bodhitaru, Lakshataru.
Relevant text
Search found 40 books and stories containing Taru, Tārū, Tarū, Ṭāru, Tāru, Tāṟu; (plurals include: Tarus, Tārūs, Tarūs, Ṭārus, Tārus, Tāṟus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)
Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation (by S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar)
Pasuram 3.10.11 < [Section 10 - Tenth Tiruvaymoli (Canmam Palapala)]
Pasuram 3.9.5 < [Section 9 - Ninth Tiruvaymoli (Connal Virotam)]
Pasuram 3.9.9 < [Section 9 - Ninth Tiruvaymoli (Connal Virotam)]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 8.13.77 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
Verse 2.25.11 < [Chapter 25 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Verses 4.15.6-8 < [Chapter 15 - The Story of the Women of Barhiṣmatī-pura, the Apsarās, and the Women of Sutala and Nāgendra]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.9.57 < [Chapter 9 - The Glories of Advaita]
Verse 2.1.53 < [Chapter 1 - The Beginning of the Lord’s Manifestation and His Instructions on Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana]
Verse 3.4.322 < [Chapter 4 - Descriptions of Śrī Acyutānanda’s Pastimes and the Worship of Śrī Mādhavendra]
Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika (by R. Balasubramanian)
Verse 2.201-202 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]