Udra, Uḍra: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Udra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Udra (उद्र) is a Sanskrit word referring to the animal “catfish”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Udra is part of the sub-group named Vāriśaya, refering to animals “living in waters”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.
Udra (उद्र)—Sanskrit word for an animal called “otter” (Lutra lutra). This animal is from the group called Kūlacara (‘shore-dwellers’). Kūlacara itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Ānupa (those that frequent marshy places).
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Udra (उद्र) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.28.48) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Udra) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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)
Uḍra (उड्र) refers to a country identified with Odra, belonging to “Pūrvā or Pūrvadeśa (eastern division)” classified under the constellations of Ārdrā, Punarvasu and Puṣya, 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 Ārdrā, Punarvasu and Puṣya represent the eastern division consisting of [i.e., Uḍra] [...]”.
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.
Shyanika-shastra (the science of Hawking and Hunting)
Udra (उद्र) refers to “otters” (which were commonly the victim of hunting), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “That is called hunting by snares in which animals are killed by tricking, and in which men capture fish, conches, otters (udra), and oysters. Infinite are the means resorted to in this sort of hunting. It is used by low people, by the Niṣādas and others. [...]”.
Shyanika-shastra (श्यैनिकशास्त्र, śyainikaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian skill of hawking/falconry (one of the ways of hunting) which were laid down in a systematic manner in various Sanskrit treatises. It also explains the philosophy behind how the pleasures derived from sense-experience could lead the way to liberation.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Uḍra (उड्र) refers to a sub-division of the Mlecchas: one of the two-fold division of men born in Mānuṣottara and in the Antaradvīpas, 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; on the mountains, Meru, etc., by kidnapping and power of learning, in the 2½ continents and in 2 oceans. [...]. From the division into Āryas and Mlecchas they are two-fold. [...] The Mlecchas—[e.g., the Uḍras, ...] and other non-Āryas also are people who do not know even the word ‘dharma’”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Uḍra (उड्र).—Name of a country; the modern Orissa; see ओड्र (oḍra).
Derivable forms: uḍraḥ (उड्रः).
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Udra (उद्र).—A kind of aquatic animal. (Mar. jalamāṃjara).
-dram Water.
Derivable forms: udraḥ (उद्रः).
Udra (उद्र).—m.
(-draḥ) An otter. E. undī to wet, and rak Unadi aff.
Udra (उद्र).—[masculine] a kind of aquatic animal.
1) Uḍra (उड्र):—m. [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā etc.]
2) Udra (उद्र):—m. (√ud, [Uṇādi-sūtra ii, 13]), a kind of aquatic animal (a crab [commentator or commentary] on [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]; an otter, [Uṇādi-sūtra] and, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xxiv, 37]
3) n. water
4) See anudra and udrin.
Udra (उद्र):—(draḥ) 1. m. An otter.
Uḍra (उड्र):—m. pl. Nomen proprium eines Volkes [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 961] (= kerālāḥ). [Anekārthasaṃgraha 2, 398.] sahitāṃścoḍrakerālaiḥ [Mahābhārata 2, 1174.] sapauṇḍroḍrān [?3, 1988. Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. in Weber’s Verzeichniss 240 (14, 6). 242 (16).] Vgl. oḍra .
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Udra (उद्र):—(von 2. ud)
1) Wasser, s. anudra und udrin . —
2) m. ein best. Wasserthier [?Die Uṇādi-Affixe. 2, 13. Amarakoṣa 1, 2, 3, 20. Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 24, 37. nach Mahīdhara] eine Krabbe, nach [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 1, 2, 24.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1350] und [Hārāvalī 76] Fischotter (jalamārjāra).
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Udra (उद्र):—angeblich = rudra in der ved. Stelle śivā udrasya bheṣajī [Patañjali] [?a. a. O.6,11,a.8,36,a.] rutasya st. udrasya [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 16, 49.] Vgl. [Weber’s Indische Studien 13, 437.]
Uḍra (उड्र):—m. Pl. Nomen proprium eines Volkes.
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Udra (उद्र):——
1) m. — a) ein best. Wasserthier (Krabbe und Fischotter die Erklärer). — b) in einer unbekannten ved. Schule angeblich = rudra. ruta [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā] —
2) n. Wasser , in anudra und udrin.
Uḍra (उड्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Uḍḍa.
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
Udra (ಉದ್ರ):—
1) [noun] water.
2) [noun] any of sea carnivores of either Otariidae or Phocidae family, with a doglike head, a torpedo-shaped body, and four webbed feet or flippers that live in cold or temperate waters and usu. eat fish; seal.
3) [noun] any of various furry carnivores of Mustelidae family, with webbed feet used in swimming and a long, slightly flattened tail; otter.
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 (+6): Udra kampa, Udrabhati, Udradesha, Udraga, Udraka, Udrakaramaputra, Udrala, Udram, Udramita, Udranga, Udrangikritya, Udranj, Udranka, Udranu, Udraparaga, Udraparaka, Udrara, Udraracudaka, Udrasa, Udrashmi.
Full-text (+102): Samudra, Udradesha, Udraparaka, Anudra, Urdra, Udda, Udrin, Udram, Odra, Udra kampa, Samudratata, Samudravasana, Samudrakara, Samudravarman, Samudratas, Samudrasthali, Samudravakya, Samudradatta, Samudrasnana, Samudrayatra.
Relevant text
Search found 35 books and stories containing Udra, Uḍra, Udras; (plurals include: Udras, Uḍras, Udrases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Pratiloma Paranoia < [Volume 15, Issue 7 (2024)]
Was Swami Vivekananda a Hindu Supremacist? Revisiting a Long-Standing Debate < [Volume 11, Issue 7 (2020)]
Good Queen, Bad Queen < [Volume 14, Issue 8 (2023)]
Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)
Chapter 9 - Country of U-ch’a (Udra) < [Book X - Seventeen Countries]
Chapter 2 - Country of Mo-kie-t’o (Magadha), part 2 < [Book VIII and IX]
Chapter 1 - Country of P’o-lo-ni-sse (Varanasi) < [Book VII - Five Countries]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 30: Mlecchas < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Sidelights on History and Culture Of Orissa (by Manmath Nath Das)
Chapter 65 - Orissi as a form of Indian classical music < [Part 5 - Music, Dance and Drama]
Chapter 18 - The princely states of Orissa in retrospect < [Part 1 - Land, People and History]
Chapter 52 - Orissa as known to the Puranas < [Part 4 - Language, Literature and Education]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
Yogic Intervention in Sexual Dysfunction - A Review < [Vol. 2 No. 04 (2017)]
Clinical Importance of the knowledge of Ṣadkriyākāla w.s.r. to Kuṣṭha Samprāpti < [Vol. 7 No. 10 (2022)]
Study of Ayurvedic management and Pathyapathya of Kushtha (skin diseases) < [Vol. 4 No. 05 (2019)]
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)