Trikantaka, Tri-kantaka, Trikamtaka, Trikaṇṭaka: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Trikantaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexTrikaṇṭaka (त्रिकण्टक).—(Trikarṇaka ?) a commander of Bhaṇḍa to aid Viṣaṅga;1 was killed by Jvālā mālinikā.2

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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭuTrikaṇṭaka (त्रिकण्टक) is another name for Kṣudragokṣura, a medicinal plant related with Gokṣura (Tribulus terrestris Linn.), according to verse 4.40-43 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. Note: Gokṣura is of two kinds i.e. with smaller and bigger fruits. Both these species have more than three spikes. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Trikaṇṭaka and Kṣudragokṣura, there are a total of sixteen Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: eJournal of Indian Medicine: Jajjaṭa’s Nirantarapadavyākhyā and Other Commentaries on the CarakasaṃhitāTrikaṇṭaka (त्रिकण्टक) is a synonym of Gokṣuraka which refers to a medicinal plant mentioned in the 7th-century Nirantarapadavyākhyā by Jejjaṭa (or Jajjaṭa): one of the earliest extant and, therefore, one of the most important commentaries on the Carakasaṃhitā.—Synonyms of Gokṣuraka: Gokṣura, Gokharu, Gokaṇṭaka, Trikaṇṭaka, Śvadaṃṣṭrā; Tribulus terrestris Linn.—(Cf. Glossary of Vegetable Drugs in Bṛhattrayī 144, Singh and Chunekar, 1999).—(Cf. Indian Medicinal Plants, Arya Vaidya Sala 5:311, Arya Vaidya Sala, 1993-96.)

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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramTrikaṇṭaka (त्रिकण्टक) (Cf. Tadgraha) refers to “triple thorn”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—The three, Śāmbhava, Śākta and Āṇava, are the three aspects or parts of the mantra Tadgraha. The section of the Kubjikāmatatantra where this mantra is explained is drawn from the Tantrasadbhāva, a Trika Tantra. It is an example, therefore, of the application of this tripartite division in the original Trika sources adopted by the Kubjikā tradition. This mantra is considered to be so important that the texts refer to it as the ‘Root’. It called the ‘Triple Thorn’ (trikaṇṭaka) because it is divided into three parts. It consists of fifty groups of three syllables each, thus making one hundred and fifty syllables in all. [...]

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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsTrikantaka [त्रिकण्टक] in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Tribulus terrestris var. bicornutus (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Hadidi from the Zygophyllaceae (Caltrop) family having the following synonyms: Tribulus bicornutus, Tribulus hispidus. For the possible medicinal usage of trikantaka, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Trikantaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Euphorbia tirucalli in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Arthrothamnus ecklonii Klotzsch & Garcke (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· L’illustration horticole (1857)
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1979)
· Bulletin du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (1899)
· Calyx (1996)
· Flora of Tropical Africa (1911)
· Monatsberichte der Koniglich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin (1859)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Trikantaka, for example extract dosage, chemical composition, diet and recipes, side effects, pregnancy safety, health benefits, 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 dictionaryTrikaṇṭaka (त्रिकण्टक).—a kind of fish.
Derivable forms: trikaṇṭakaḥ (त्रिकण्टकः).
Trikaṇṭaka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms tri and kaṇṭaka (कण्टक). See also (synonyms): trikaṇṭa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryTrikaṇṭaka (त्रिकण्टक).—m.
(-kaḥ) A sort of fish, (Silurus.) 2. A plant: see the preceding. E. kan added to trikaṇṭa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Trikaṇṭaka (त्रिकण्टक):—[=tri-kaṇṭaka] [from tri] m. ([gana] rajatādi) ‘three-thorn’, = -kaṭa, [Suśruta]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a venomous insect, [v, 8]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a fish (Silurus), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] a kind of weapon, [Rāmāyaṇa iii, 28, 25.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryTrikaṇṭaka (त्रिकण्टक):—[tri-kaṇṭaka] (kaḥ) 1. n. A sort of fish; Ruellia longifolia.
[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 corpusTrikaṃṭaka (ತ್ರಿಕಂಟಕ):—
1) [noun] the thorny plant Tribulus cistoides (= T. languinosus) of Zygophyllaceae family; a variety of spurge (euphorbia) plant.
2) [noun] a kind of fish.
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: Tri, Kantaka.
Starts with: Trikantakah.
Full-text (+1): Traikantaka, Trikantakah, Dashamula, Tarakantikai, Kantakapancamula, Tirikantakam, Mukkantakam, Trikanta, Pancakantaka, Gokharu, Gokshuraka, Gokshura, Pancamula, Gokantaka, Svalpapancamula, Shvadamshtra, Laghupancamula, Kshudragokshura, Tadgraha, Tadgrahamantra.
Relevant text
Search found 22 books and stories containing Trikantaka, Tri-kantaka, Tri-kaṇṭaka, Trikamtaka, Trikaṃṭaka, Trikaṇṭaka; (plurals include: Trikantakas, kantakas, kaṇṭakas, Trikamtakas, Trikaṃṭakas, Trikaṇṭakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
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