Udumbara, Uḍumbara, Uduṃbara, Udumbarā: 50 definitions
Introduction:
Udumbara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
1) Udumbara (उदुम्बर) or Uduṃbara (उदुंबर) refers to a type of fruit-bearing plant, according to the Mahābhārata Anuśāsanaparva 53.19 , and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—We can see the description of flowering and fruit bearing plants in Ṛgveda. But we come across the specific names of them only in the later Saṃhita and Brāhmaṇa literature. [...] From the epics, we know that the hermits generally lived on fruits, roots and tubers. [...] Mahābhārata prohibits the usage of certain fruits like the fruits of plakṣa, aśvattha, pippala and uduṃbara trees for the persons who are desirous of glory.
Udumbara or “custard apple” is mentioned in a list of potential causes for indigestion in the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana).—A complete section in Bhojanakutūhala is devoted for the description of agents that cause indigestion [viz., udumbara (custard apple)]. These agents consumed on a large scale can cause indigestion for certain people. The remedies [viz., paryuṣitodaka] for these types of indigestions are also explained therewith.
2) Uduṃbara (उदुंबर) refers to a sweet food-preparation, according to the Mānasollāsa III.1386-87.—It mentions sweets such as kāsāra, uduṃbara and varṣopalagolaka prepared with wheat flour and rice flour. Kṣīraprakāra which is similar to rasgulla according to Om Prakash is referred to in Mānasollāsa. Svapnavāsavadatta describes modaka as a sweet ball. Naiṣadhīyacarita refers to the sweet laḍḍuka which is a very common sweet even today.
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Ficus racemosa Linn.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning udumbara] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) is the name of an ingredient used in the treatment of snake-bites such as those caused by the Bhūmamaṇḍalī-snakes, according to the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā, which represents the Ayurvedic study on Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Accordingly, one of the treatments is mentioned as follows: “A paste of the bark of Sarīdala (?) and Udumbara must be applied in the nose of the victim and inhaled by him. This can also be used for fumigation”.
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to a type of fig, which is given to domesticated elephants (as part of routine care-taking), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 11, “On the keeping of elephants and their daily and seasonal regimen”]: “9. (One shall feed them) stalks and bulbs of lotuses and (other) water lilies, plantains (bananas), edible lotus roots, Trapa bispinosa, dūrvā grass, udumbara (kind of fig), Boswellia thurifera, sugar cane, spikenard, banyan (leaves or fruits), bamboos, etc. And the sprouts (or buds) and fruits of (two kinds of) figs (Ficus infectoria and Ficus religiosa), and wood-apples are always to be given to elephants, King of Aṅga, to ease their distress; also other sweet delicacies which they love”.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
1) Udumbara (उदुम्बर):—One of the eighteen types of Kuṣṭha (“skin disease”), according to the Caraka-saṃhitā (cikitsāsthāna), which is an important Sanskrit work dealing with Āyurveda. This condition of the skin (kuṣṭha) is caused by the corruption of the three doṣas (tridoṣa: vāta, pitta and kapha) which in turn corrupts the skin, blood, muscle and lymph. Udumbara-kuṣṭha is characterized by buring sensations, itching and pain, red colors with brown hair and resemble the udumbara fruit. Udumbara is caused by a preponderance of Kapha-doṣa (‘bodily phlegm’).
2) Udumbara (उदुम्बर) is a Sanskrit word [probably] referring to Ficus racemosa (Indian fig tree), in the Moraceae family. Certain plant parts of Udumbara are eaten as a vegetable (śāka), according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. The plant is therefore part of the Śākavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic value of the plant. It is a deciduous tree with few aerial roots. The bark has a soft surface. The flowers bear pleasantly fragrant orange to crimson fruits. It grows all over India.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर).—The Sanskrit name for an important Ayurvedic drug.—Udumbara is regarded as the best one among the milky trees. It is astringent, cold, pacifies kapha and pitta and checks diarrhoea.
Udumbara (or Uduṃbara) in the Marathi language refers to the medicinal tree “Ficus racemosa Linn. Syn. Ficus glomerata Roxb.”, and is used for ethnomedicine treatment of Fever in Ahmednagar district, India. The parts used are: “Latex”. Instructions for using the tree named Udumbara: The milky latex that is obtained early in themorning— 8-10 drops along with rock sugar.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर):—1. A unit of Measurement; Synonym of one karsha = 12 g of metric units 2. Ficus glomerata 3. copper
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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) is a Sanskrit word, identified with Ficus glomerata by various scholars in their translation of the Śukranīti. This tree is mentioned as bearing good fruits. The King should plant such domestic plants in and near villages. He should nourish them by stoole of goats, sheep and cows, water as well as meat.
The following is an ancient Indian recipe for such nourishment of trees:
According to Śukranīti 4.4.105-109: “The trees (such as udumbara) are to be watered in the morning and evening in summer, every alternate day in winter, in the fifth part of the day (i.e., afternoon) in spring, never in the rainy season. If trees have their fruits destroyed, the pouring of cold water after being cooked together with Kulutha, Māṣa (seeds), Mudga (pulse), Yava (barley) and Tila (oil seed) would lead to the growth of flowers and fruits. Growth of trees can be helped by the application of water with which fishes are washed and cleansed.”
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1a) Udumbara (उदुम्बर).—A Trayārṣeya.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 198. 20.
1b) Belong to Kauśikagotra.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 66. 70; Vāyu-purāṇa 91. 98.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIII.4.27, XIII.4) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Udumbara) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
1) Udumbara (उदुम्बर) wood is used for brushing the teeth in the months Caitra and Vaiśākha for the Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī-Vrata, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, the Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī-vrata is observed in honour of Śiva. [...] It starts from the month of Mārgaśira. It is observed on the eighth tithi of the dark fortnight and for a year.—In Caitra, the tooth-brush is udumbara, no food, deity is Sthāṇu and the result is that of aśvamedha. In Vaiśākha, food is kuśodaka, deity is Śiva and the result is that of naramedha sacrifice.
2) Udumbara (उदुम्बर) wood is also used for brushing the teeth in the month Vaiśākha for the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-Vrata.—Accordingly, the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-vrata is observed in honour of Śiva for acquiring virtue, great fortune, wealth and for destruction of sins [...] This vrata is to be performed for a year from Mārgaśīra.—In Vaiśākha, the tooth-brush is that of udumbara-wood. The food taken is jātīphala. The deity to be worshipped is Mahārūpa. The flowers used in worship are mandāra. The naivedya offerings is yavaka. The result accrued equals the gift of thousand cows.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to the family name of the ancestors of Bhavabhūti.—Bhavabhūti’s ancestors were Brāḥmaṇas of the Taittirīya branch of the Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda. They belonged to the kāśyapa-gotra. They were very pious Brāḥmaṇas who observed vratas, performed Vedic sacrifices like the vājapeya and maintained the sacred fires. They were so venerated for their Vedic learning and piety that they came to be regarded as paṅktipāvana. They were known by the family name of Udumbara and they were expounders of the philosophy of Braḥman.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to “lintel of a door § 3.38.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to an ancient kingdom or tribe of people, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If the sun and moon should begin to be eclipsed when only half risen, deceitful men will suffer as well as sacrificial rites. [...] If they should be eclipsed when in the sign of Libra (Tulā), the people of the extreme border lands on the west, the people of Sindha, the trading classes and the people of Kaccha will be afflicted with miseries. If when in the sign of Scorpio (Vṛścika), the people of Udambara, of Madra, of Colā and of Yaudheya will all suffer miseries along with soldiers armed with poisoned weapons”.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to one of the items offered to the nine planets (navagraha), according to the grahaśānti (cf. grahayajña) section of the Yājñavalkyasmṛti (1.295-309), preceded by the section called vināyakakalpa (1.271-294), prescribing a rite to be offered to Vināyaka.—[verse 302-303: Faggots to be burned]—These two verses prescribe different faggots to be burned for grahas with offerings of honey, ghee, dadhi, and milk. It is interesting to note that some of the faggots (i.e. parāśa, khadira, pippala, and śamī) mentioned here are also used in the Suśrutasaṃhitā in the context (Uttaratantra chapters 27-37) of curing the diseases caused by grahas, which, in this case, are not planetary. [verse 304-305: Cooked rice (odana) to be offered to grahas]
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)
Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर) (identified with Ficus glomerata) refers to one of the nine kulavṛkṣas (Kula trees ) in which the Kula Yoginīs reside, according to the Kulārṇava-tantra verse 11.66-68.— Accordingly, “Kula Yoginīs always live in kulavṛkṣas (Kula trees). Therefore, one should not eat on the leaves of such trees [i.e., Uḍumbara—Ficus glomerata] and they should be especially worshiped. One should neither sleep under the Kula Vṛkṣas nor create any disturbance under them. Otherwise, seeing or hearing about such trees, one should greet them with devotion and never cut them down. [...]”.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) or Audumbara refers to a type of wood (used for oblation), according to the Mataṅgapārameśvara (with Rāmakaṇṭha’s commentary).—Accordingly, “Having worshipped the Lord, he should oblate into the fire at the three junctures of the day a thousand pieces of Udumbara-wood (audumbara-samidh) smeared with the three [sweet substances]. Consuming [only] milk, he should make oblations [in this manner] for seven days. He will become one who has accomplished the vidyāvrata”.
Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर) is identified with Ficus glomerata and represents one of the four types of Kṣīravṛkṣa (“milk-tree”), according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—[Cf. verse 6.9-15ab]—The mṛtyuvañcana rite begins with a preparatory fire oblation. It consists of standard ritual offerings such as honey, milk, and ghee. The fire is fueled by the wood of milk trees (kṣīravṛkṣa). Milk trees come in four types, Uḍumbara (Ficus glomerata), Aśvattha (Ficus religiosa), Nyagrodha (Ficus indica), and Madhūka (Bassia latifolia or Jonesia asoka). All have white sap. They are used in rites of pacification and prosperity.
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.
Shyanika-shastra (the science of Hawking and Hunting)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to the “common fig tree” (and is used in the treatment of Hawks), 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, [while discussing the treatment of hawks]: “Gardabhī is the name of inilammation of the legs accompanied by boils, caused by tight tying [in a ‘sock’], fear, or frequent flight. If long neglected, the same disease is called Cāndi. To cure Gardabhī the legs hould be plastered over daily for seven days, with the exudation of the common fig tree (udumbara) and of Fiscus religiosa; or, it can be cured by plastering them over with black salt. [...]”
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) is the name of a Mantra discussed in chapter 29 (Caryāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [śryādiparivāra-mantravarṇana]: [...] The remainder of the chapter deals with mantras addressed to the doorway deities, Caṇḍa and Pracaṇḍa (174b-178), and to the deities found in the second prākāra-courtyard. Those named here are the udumbara-mantra (179-184a), kṣetreśa-mantra (184b-1892), diṅmūrti-mantra (189b-199) as well as those addressed to deities found beyond the second courtyard (201-210a). The final point made is concerning the procedure for offering bali at the balipīṭha-pedestal in daily routine worship (210b-219).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
1. Udumbara - A thera of Makuva, author of a tika on the Petakopadesa. Gv.75, 65.
2. Udumbara - A village. Revata went there from Kannakujja and stopped there before proceeding to Aggalapura and Sahajati. Thither the Elders followed him to ask his opinion on the Vajjian heresy. Vin.ii.299.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to one of the eight trees (vṛkṣa) of the Kāyacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the kāyacakra refers to one of the four divisions of the nirmāṇa-puṭa (‘emanation layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. Udumbara is associated with the charnel ground (śmaśāna) named Akhaṇḍita and with the hell-guardian (narakapāla) named Udumbarī.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) is the name of a flower, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “[...] Immediately after those two sons (Siṃha and Siṃhavikrāntagāmin) were born, in one voice they spoke the following verses to their father, the kind Puṇyālaṃkāra: ‘[...] (169) The victorious one in the east, the Vaidyarāja, the well-gone one (sugata) who has the highest knowledge that is unattached to the three times, for the sake of learning his dharma, we are coming from the nearness of Vimalaprabha. (170) Just like the flower of the Udumbara, it is difficult to obtain the coming of the Tathāgata. In order to see and pay respect to him, father should go to the well-gone one. [...]’”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Udumbara:—A mythical flower that is said to bloom once every three thousand years.
In Jainism
Jain philosophy
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to a kind of fig-tree, as occurring in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. I, P. 278, l. 9]—‘Udumbara’ is a homonym. It means here a kind of fig-tree, Ficus Glomerata. Its Pāiya (Prakrit) equivalent ‘umbara’ occurs in Paṇhāvāgaraṇa. (I), and Viāhapaṇṇatti (XI, 33). Eating of its fruits is prohibited in Jainism.
-
General definition (in Jainism)
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to a kind of tree (vṛkṣa) commonly found in the forests (vaṇa) of ancient India, mentioned in the Jñātādharmakathāṅga-sūtra. Forests have been a significant part of the Indian economy since ancient days. They have been considered essential for economic development in as much as, besides bestowing many geographical advantages, they provide basic materials for building, furniture and various industries. The most important forest products are wood and timber which have been used by the mankind to fulfil his various needs—domestic, agricultural and industrial.
Different kinds of trees (e.g., the Udumbara tree) provided firewood and timber. The latter was used for furniture, building materials, enclosures, staircases, pillars, agricultural purposes, e. g. for making ploughs, transportation e. g. for making carts, chariots, boats, ships, and for various industrial needs. Vaṇa-kamma was an occupation dealing in wood and in various otherforest products. Iṅgāla-kamma was another occupation which was concerned with preparing charcoal from firewood.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) refers to five kinds of fruits that are forbidden to eat, listed under the khādima category of forbidden food (āhāra), according to Amitagati in his 11th century Śrāvakācāra (v6.96-97). For Amitagati, in the Subhāṣita-ratna-sandoha (v21.13), the common characteristic of meat (māṃsa), alcohol (madya), and honey (madhu) is their aphrodisiac quality. The udumbaras, perhaps because they live long and have nutritive fruits, perhaps because of their milky latex, have been identified with the source of all fertility, and possibly owing to the ceaseless rustling of their leaves have been regarded as homes of the spirits of the dead.
The udumbaras are the fruits of five trees of the genus Ficus:
- umbara, udumbara (Ficus glomerata Roxb.),
- vaṭa, nyagrodha (Ficus bengalensis),
- pippala, aśvattha (Ficus religiosa Linn.),
- plakṣa (Ficus infectoria Roxb.),
- kakombari, guphala (Ficus oppositifolia Willd.).
In the older texts the udumbaras are not ananta-kāyas though the sixteenth-century Digambara Rājamalla (Lāṭī-saṃhitā v2.79) says explicitly that the word udumbara is the symbolic representation (upalakṣaṇa) for the sādhāraṇa plants. The reason for not eating them is that they are full of innumerable tiny insects and of invisible living organisms, the epithet kṛmi-kulākula which is often applied to meat being used of them.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) is the name of a tree mentioned in chapter 1.4 [ādīśvara-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: “[...] the deodar trees growing on the bank of the Bhāgīrathī served as tying posts (ready) without effort for the king-elephants of the army. In a moment the elephant-keepers cut with axes sprouts of the pippal-tree, of śallakī, karṇikāra, and udumbara for the elephants”.
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
Udumbara is the name of a tree mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva (10th century A.D).—Its forest on the western sea shore is mentioned.
Somadeva mentions many rich forests, gardens, various trees (e.g., Udumbara), creepers medicinal and flowering plants and fruit-bearing trees in the Kathasaritsagara. Travel through the thick, high, impregnable and extensive Vindhya forest is a typical feature of many travel-stories. Somadeva’s writing more or less reflects the life of the people of Northern India during the 11th century. His Kathasaritsagara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Udumbara, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravahanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyadharas (celestial beings).
Udumbara.—(LP), ‘threshold’; cf. gṛh-odumbara-madhye, ‘into the house’; cf. umbara-bheda. Note: udumbara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Udumbara [उडुम्बर] in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Ficus racemosa L. from the Moraceae (Mulberry) family having the following synonyms: Ficus glomerata, Ficus lucescens, Ficus racemosa var. elongata. For the possible medicinal usage of udumbara, 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.
1) Udumbara in India is the name of a plant defined with Ficus carica in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Ficus ovata var. octomelifolia (Warb.) Mildbr. & Burret (among others).
2) Udumbara is also identified with Ficus racemosa It has the synonym Covellia glomerata Miq. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Biotropica (2006)
· Plants of the Coast of Coromandel (1798)
· Enumeratio Plantarum (1805)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1999)
· Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club (1946)
· Flora of Iran (1982)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Udumbara, for example chemical composition, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, health benefits, extract dosage, side effects, 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
udumbara : (m.) the glamorous fig tree.
Udumbara, (Sk. udumbara) the glomerous fig tree, Ficus Glomerata D. II, 4; Vin. IV, 35; A. IV, 283 (°khādika), 283 (id.), 324 (id.); Sn. 5; DhA. I, 284; SnA 19; KhA 46, 56; VvA. 213. Cp. odumbara. (Page 135)
1) udumbara (ဥဒုမ္ဗရ) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[yādicchaka．udumbara+ṇa¿]
[ယာဒိစ္ဆကနာမ်။ ဥဒုမ္ဗရ+ဏ¿]
2) udumbara (ဥဒုမ္ဗရ) [(pu,na) (ပု၊န)]—
[u+dubbī+ara．niggalā,ba khye．,ṭī,551．(2) u+du+vara=a．vi,pi,]
[ဥ+ဒုဗ္ဗီ+အရ။ နိဂ္ဂဟိတ်လာ၊ ဗ တစ်လုံး ချေ။ ဓာန်၊ ဋီ၊ ၅၅၁။ (၂) ဥ+ဒု+ဝရ=အ။ ဝိ၊ပိ၊ဓာန်]
3) udumbarā (ဥဒုမ္ဗရာ) [(thī) (ထီ)]—
[udumbara+ṇa+ā(itthījotaka)]
[ဥဒုမ္ဗရ+ဏ+အာ(ဣတ္ထီဇောတက)]
[Pali to Burmese]
1) udumbara—
(Burmese text): (၁) ရေသဖန်းပင်။ (န) (၂) ရေသဖန်းသီး။
(Auto-Translation): (1) Watermelon plant. (a) (2) Watermelon fruit.
2) udumbara—
(Burmese text): ဥဒုမ္ဗရ မည်သောမြို့။
(Auto-Translation): The city of Udoumbra.
3) udumbarā—
(Burmese text): ဥဒုမ္ဗရာမည်သော မိဖုယား။
(Auto-Translation): A woman named Udombrara.
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
udumbara (उदुंबर).—m (S) Glomerous fig-tree, Ficus glomerata.
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
Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर).—1 Name of a tree; Ficus Glomearata (Mar. audumbara).
2) The threshold of a house. उच्छ्रायात् पादविस्तीर्णा शाखा तद्वदुदुम्बरः (ucchrāyāt pādavistīrṇā śākhā tadvadudumbaraḥ) Bṛ. S.53.26.
3) A eunuch.
4) A part of a sacrifice.
5) A kind of leprosy with copper spots (-ram also).
6) A kind of worm said to be produced in the blood and to cause leprosy.
-ram 1 The fruit of the उदुम्बर (udumbara) tree.
2) Copper.
3) A Karṣa, a measure of two tolās.
Derivable forms: uḍumbaraḥ (उडुम्बरः).
--- OR ---
Udumbara (उदुम्बर).—See उडुम्बर (uḍumbara). Threshold; विद्रुमोदुम्बरद्वारैर्वैदूर्यस्तम्भपङ्क्तिभिः (vidrumodumbaradvārairvaidūryastambhapaṅktibhiḥ) Bhāgavata 9.11.32. °मशक (maśaka) = कूपमण्डूक (kūpamaṇḍūka) q. v.
Derivable forms: udumbaraḥ (उदुम्बरः).
Udumbara (उदुम्बर).—(= Pali id., name of a village? compare also Lévi p. 94), name of a town: Mahā-Māyūrī 51 (°re, loc.).
Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर).—m.
(-raḥ) 1. Glomerous fig tree, (Ficus glomirata, Rox.) 2. The threshold of a house. 3. A eunuch. 4. A species of leprosy with coppery spots. 5. A kind of worm, supposed to be generated in the blood, and to produce leprosy. n. (-ra) 1. Copper. 2. A Karsha, a measure of two Tolas. E. uḍu a constellation in the second case, vṛ to screen, and ap affix; it is also written ūḍumbara and udumbara.
--- OR ---
Udumbara (उदुम्बर).—m.
(-raḥ) 1. The glomerous fig tree, (Ficus glomerata.) 2. A kind of leprosy. 3. A threshold. 4. A eunuch. n.
(-raṃ) Copper; see uḍumbara, it is also written ūḍumbara.
Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर).—see udumbara.
--- OR ---
Udumbara (उदुम्बर).—also uḍumbara uḍumbara, m. The glomerous fig tree, Ficus glomerata, [Nala] 12, 4.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर).—[masculine] the glomerous fig tree, its fruit (also [neuter]); [Name] of a race of priests.
1) Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर):—m. (in [Vedic or Veda] written with d, in Class. generally with ḍ), the tree Ficus Glomerata, [Atharva-veda; Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Suśruta] etc.
2) a species of leprosy with coppery spots, [Caraka]
3) the threshold of a house, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
4) a eunuch, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) a kind of worm supposed to be generated in the blood and to produce leprosy, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) membrum virile, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) Name of a people, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
8) n. a forest of Uḍumbara trees, [Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa]
9) the fruit of the tree Ficus Glomerata, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
10) copper, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
11) a karsha (a measure of two tolas), [Śārṅgadhara-saṃhitā]
12) Udumbara (उदुम्बर):—mn. [Vedic or Veda] for uḍumbara q.v., the tree Ficus Glomerata.
13) a toothpick made of Udumbara wood, [Āpastamba-gṛhya-sūtra]
1) Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर):—[uḍumba+ra] (raḥ-raṃ) 1. m. Glomerous figtree; threshold. n. Copper.
2) Udumbara (उदुम्बर):—(raḥ) 1. m. The glomerous fig tree; leprosy; a threshold; a eunuch. n. Copper.
Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर):—und uḍumbaraparṇī s. udumbara und udumbaraparṇī .
--- OR ---
Udumbara (उदुम्बर):—und udumbara [Śāntanācārya’s Phiṭsūtrāṇi 3, 15.] (in der vedischen Literatur stets mit da, in der späteren meist mit i geschrieben)
1) m. a) Ficus glomerata, ein hochwachsender Baum. Die reifen Früchte sind orangenfarbig, halten viel milchigen Saft und werden genossen. [Amarakoṣa 2, 4, 2, 2.] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 321.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1132.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 4, 241.] [Medinīkoṣa r. 251.] [Taittirīyasaṃhitā 2, 1, 1, 6.] caranvai madhu vindati caraṃsvādumudumbaram [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 7, 15. 32.] udumbaraśākhā [8, 8.] [Kauśika’s Sūtra zum Atuarvaveda 8.] annaṃ vā ūrgudumbaraḥ [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 3, 2, 1, 33. 7, 4, 1, 38.] Etymologie von udañc [39.] von bhar mit ud [?5, 1, 22. - Yājñavalkya’s Gesetzbuch 1, 301. 3, 317. Nalopākhyāna 12, 3. Mahābhārata 3, 11059 (Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 571). 11570. 13, 226. Rāmāyaṇa 3, 79, 38. Suśruta 1, 6, 18. 141, 13. 376, 11. 18. 2, 322, 8. 434, 16. Burnouf 216. 388, Nalopākhyāna 1.] udumbarakṛmi und udumbaramaśaka eine Raupe, eine Mücke auf einem Feigenbaum, bildl. Redensart gaṇa pātresamitādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 2, 1, 48] und yuktārohyādi zu [6, 2, 81]; vgl. [Mahābhārata 14, 1345] : maśakoḍumbare caikyaṃ pṛthaktvamapi dṛśyate . — b) eine Art Hautausschlag (nach der Farbe der Frucht so benannt) [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — c) Schwelle (aus dem Holze der Ficus gemacht) [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1009.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — d) Eunuch [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — e) = meḍhra [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa] —
2) n. a) die Frucht der Ficus glomerata [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 14, 7, 1, 41.] — b) Kupfer (nach der Farbe der Frucht) [Amarakoṣa 2, 9, 98.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1039.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 4, 242.] [Medinīkoṣa] — c) ein Karṣa (Gewicht) [Śabdakalpadruma] u. uḍumbara . — Vgl. audumbara .
--- OR ---
Udumbara (उदुम्बर):—
1) a) triḥ pacyate (jährlich) [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 5, 24.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 43, 15. 44, 4. 53, 85.] brahmāṇḍodumbarāntarmaśakavadapare jantavo jātanaṣṭāḥ [Spr.956.] Vgl. u. maśaka [1]). — c) [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 53, 26. 56, 13.] — f) pl. Nomen proprium eines Volksstammes gaṇa rājanyādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 2, 53.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 5, 40. 16, 3]; vgl. audumbara . —
2) b) [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 51, 17.] — c) [Śārṅgadhara SAṂH. 1, 1, 17.] — d) ein Udumbara-Wald [Pañcaviṃśabrāhmaṇa 16, 6, 4.]
Uḍumbara (उडुम्बर):—schlechte Schreibart für udumbara.
--- OR ---
Udumbara (उदुम्बर):——
1) m. — a) Ficus glomerata. Auch die Frucht [23,32.] — b) eine Art Aussatz [Carakasaṃhitā 6,7.] kuṣṭha dass. [2,5.] — c) Schwelle. — d) *Eunuch. — e) *penis. — f) Nomen proprium — α) *eines Mannes gaṇa naḍādi. — β) Pl. eines Volksstamms. —
2) f. ī in kākāhvānodumbarī Ficus oppositifolia [Suśruta (rotrh) 2,67,12.] —
3) n. — a) ein Udumbara-Wald. — b) die Frucht des Udumbara udumbara. [Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 14.] — c) Kupfer. — d) ein best. Gewicht , = karṣa.
Udumbara (उदुम्बर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Uṃbara.
Udumbara (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 優曇缽華 [yōu tán bō huá]: “the udumbara flower”.
2) 憂曇缽 [yōu tán bō]: “udumbara”..
2) Uḍumbara (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 優曇鉢羅 [yōu tán bō luó]: “fig tree”.
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
Uduṃbara (ಉದುಂಬರ):—
1) [noun] the tree Ficus racemosa ( = F. glomerata) of Moraceae family; cluster fig tree.
2) [noun] its fruit; cluster fig.
3) [noun] a reddish-brown, malleable, ductile, metallic element that is corrosion-resistant and an excellent conductor of electricity and heat; copper.
4) [noun] a length of wood, masonry, etc. along the bottom of a doorway; the threshold; the door-sill.
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 (+0): Dubbi, U, Udumbara, Ou, Ara, A, Na.
Starts with (+14): Udumbara Devi, Udumbara Flower, Udumbara Jataka, Udumbarabhaddapitha, Udumbarabhittipada, Udumbarabodhi, Udumbaracchada, Udumbaradala, Udumbaradanda, Udumbaradaru, Udumbaradi, Udumbaragiri, Udumbarah, Udumbaraka, Udumbarakattha, Udumbarakhadi, Udumbarakhandha, Udumbarakhanu, Udumbarakhanuka, Udumbaramantra.
Full-text (+238): Udumbaraparni, Audumbara, Udumbaradala, Umbara, Udumbaram, Udumbaravana, Kshiravriksha, Audumbaraka, Udumbaravati, Audumbari, You tan bo luo, Udumbara Jataka, You tan hua, Udumbara Devi, Udumbaraphala, Ling rui hua, Udumbhara, Audumbarayana, Pancavalkala, You tan bo.
Relevant text
Search found 162 books and stories containing Udumbara, U-dubbi-ara, U-dubbī-ara, Uḍumbara, Uduṃbara, Udumbarā, Udumbara-na-a, Udumbara-ṇa-ā, Udumbaras; (plurals include: Udumbaras, aras, Uḍumbaras, Uduṃbaras, Udumbarās, as, ās, Udumbarases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Note on the story of the Monkey and the Porpoise < [Notes]
Chapter LXIII < [Book X - Śaktiyaśas]
Introduction to the tradition of Betel-chewing < [Appendix 8.2 - The Romance of Betel-Chewing]
Vrikshayurveda (and environmental philosophy) (by Beenapani Mishra)
4. Navagraha-vatika as an example of arrangement of Gardens < [Chapter 6 - Aesthetic Value behind the arrangement of Trees and Gardens]
3. Philosophy behind the planting of Trees near the Abode < [Chapter 7 - Environmental Philosophy]
3. Vrksayurveda texts found in Brihatsamhita by Varahamihira < [Chapter 3 - Texts on Vrikshayurveda]
The Skanda-Purana On The Dharana Gotra < [Purana, Volume 7, Part 1 (1965)]
Svalpa Matsya-purana (part 5) < [Purana, Volume 10, Part 2 (1968)]
The Geographical Text of the Puranas: A Further Critical Study < [Purana, Volume 4, Part 1 (1962)]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Ficus racemosa lin- gooler a review < [2018: Volume 7, June special issue 12]
Comparative study of mahabhautika in pugaphala and udumbara twak. < [2019: Volume 8, December issue 13]
Pharmacognosy and chemistry of prithvi-dominant udumbara (Ficus glomerata) < [2018: Volume 7, June special issue 12]
Impact of Vedic Culture on Society (by Kaushik Acharya)
Sanskrit Inscriptions (B): The Maitrakas < [Chapter 3]
Mingling of Cultures (C): The Maitrakas < [Chapter 4]
Land donation < [Chapter 5]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 32 - Greatness of the Hermitage of Seven Sages < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 35 - Greatness of Agni Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 23 - Installation of Someśvara (Soma-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]