Alternative spellings of this word include Vatkal.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Valkala (वल्कल).—See under Balvala.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Valkala (वल्कल) refers to “(wearing) tree-barks (for cloths)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.22 (“Description of Pārvatī’s penance”).—Accordingly, after Menā spoke to Pārvatī: “[...] O excellent sage, on getting permission from her mother, Pārvatī remembered Śiva and felt happy. Bowing to her parents with joy, Pārvatī remembered Śiva and set out for performing penance along with her maids. Discarding all the fine clothes of her taste, she wore tree-barks [i.e., valkala] and the fine girdle of Muñja grass. [...]”.

context information

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: Wisdom Library: Raj Nighantu

Valkala (वल्कल) or Valka refers to the “bark” of a tree, as mentioned 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., Valkala] and plants and substances, with their various kinds.

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Valkalā (वल्कला) is another name for Śvetaśilā, an unidentified medicinal plant, according to verse 5.43-44 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fifth chapter (parpaṭādi-varga) of this book enumerates sixty varieties of smaller plants (kṣudra-kṣupa). Together with the names Valkalā and Śvetaśilā, there are a total of seven Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

context information

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: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Valkala (वल्कल) refers to “bark”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “Or else, (he may be an ascetic who) always lives in a cave and eats roots, wears bark clothes [i.e., valkala-ambara-dhārin], keeps silence and is firm (in the observance of his ascetic’s) vow; whether he has dreadlocks or shaved head, he is ever intent on the practice of chastity. He knows the reality of concentration and meditation and does not keep the company of the worldly(-minded). [...]”.

2) Valkala (वल्कल) refers to one of the eight Guardians (kṣetrapāla-aṣṭaka) associated with Nādapīṭha (identified with Kulūta), 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 eight Guardians (kṣetrapālāṣṭaka): Ekapāda, Budbuda, Ghaṇṭāvādanaka, Ghora, Gharghara, Valkala, Līla, Laṅkeśvara.

context information

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)

Valkala (वल्कल) refers to one of the twelve disciples of Matsyendranātha, according to Abhinava in his Tantrāloka verse 29.25-43.—Matsyendranātha and his consort had twelve disciples. Out of these twelve ‘princes’ (rājaputra), six were ‘celibate’, that is, they did not have spiritual offspring. The other six founded the six lineages (ovalli also called kulas) mentioned above. They are worshipped along with Matsyendranātha and his consort in the Wheel of the Siddhas at the beginning of the Kaula ritual described by Abhinava in his Tantrāloka. These six—[e.g., Valkala]—are celibate and so do not possess authority, as authority is the expansion of vitality along the path of Kula.

context information

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.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Valkala in India is the name of a plant defined with Cinnamomum verum in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Camphora mauritiana Lukman. (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Nomenclature et Iconographie des Canneliers et Camphriers (1889)
· Plantae Asiaticae Rariores (1831)
· Flora de Filipinas (1837)
· Flora Cochinchinensis (1790)
· Botanist’s Repository (1808)
· Species Plantarum (1753)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Valkala, for example chemical composition, health benefits, side effects, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, extract dosage, have a look at these references.

context information

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

valkala (वल्कल).—n S The inner bark of a tree: also a garment made of it.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

valkala (वल्कल).—n The inner bark of a tree; a garment made of it.

context information

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 dictionary

Valkala (वल्कल).—[val-kalac kasya netvam Uṇādi-sūtra 4.5]

1) The bark of a tree.

2) A garment made of bark, bark-garment; इयमाधिकमनोज्ञा वल्कलेनापि तन्वी (iyamādhikamanojñā valkalenāpi tanvī) Ś.1.2,19. R. 12.8; Kumārasambhava 5.8; हैमवल्कलाः (haimavalkalāḥ) 6.6 'wearing golden bark-dresses'; (cf. cīraparigrahāḥ in Kumārasambhava 6.93).

Derivable forms: valkalaḥ (वल्कलः), valkalam (वल्कलम्).

--- OR ---

Vālkala (वाल्कल).—a. (-lī f.) [व ल्कल-अण् (va lkala-aṇ)] Made of the bark of trees.

-lam A bark-garment.

-lī Spirituous liquor.

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

Valkala (वल्कल).—pl., name of a brahmanical school (of the Bahvṛcas): Divyāvadāna 632.18 f.

--- OR ---

Vālkala (वाल्कल).—adj. (from Sanskrit valkala), made of bast: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 131.22 (paṭa; see s.v. ātasya).

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

Valkala (वल्कल).—mn.

(-laḥ-laṃ) 1. The bark of a tree. 2. A garment made of bark. 3. A garment in general. E. val to surround, kalan aff.

--- OR ---

Vālkala (वाल्कल).—mfn.

(-laḥ-lī-laṃ) Made of bark. f. (-lī) Spirituous liquor. n.

(-laṃ) A dress made of the bark of trees worn by ascetics. E. valkala bark, and aṇ aff.

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

Valkala (वल्कल).—[valka + la], m. and n. 1. The bark of a tree, [Pañcatantra] 188, 13. 2. A cloth made of bark, [Pañcatantra] v. [distich] 21.

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

Valkala (वल्कल).—[masculine] [neuter] = [preceding]; a garment made of bark (worn by hermits).

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

1) Valkala (वल्कल):—[from valka] a mn. (ifc. f(ā). ) the bark of a tree, a garment made of bark (worn by ascetics etc.), [Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] m. = valka-rodhra, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] Name of a Daitya, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa] ([probably] [wrong reading] for balvala)

4) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a school of the Bahv-ṛcas (cf. bāṣkala), [Divyāvadāna]

5) Valkalā (वल्कला):—[from valkala > valka] f. = śilāvalka, a medicinal substance said to be of cooling and lithonthryptic properties, [Suśruta]

6) Valkala (वल्कल):—[from valka] n. the bark of Cassia, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) b etc. See [column]1.

8) Vālkala (वाल्कल):—[from vālka] mfn. ([from] valkala) made of bark, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) [from vālka] n. a bark dress worn by ascetics, [Horace H. Wilson]

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

1) Valkala (वल्कल):—[(laḥ-laṃ)] 1. m. n. Bark; garment made of it.

2) Vālkala (वाल्कल):—[(laḥ-lī-laṃ) a. Idem. f.] Spirituous liquor. n. A bark dress.

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

Valkala (वल्कल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Vakkala, Vāgala.

[Sanskrit to German]

Valkala 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Valkala (वल्कल) [Also spelled vatkal]:—(nm) the bark of a tree;-[vastra] cloth made from [valkala].

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Valkala (ವಲ್ಕಲ):—

1) [noun] the bark of a tree.

2) [noun] a cloth made using the bark of trees or its fibres.

3) [noun] the large, evergreen tree Antiaris toxicaria of Moraceae family, with alternate leaves.

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)

Starts with: Valkalaciri, Valkalacirikatha, Valkalacirin, Valkaladharin, Valkaladharini, Valkalajinadharana, Valkalajinasamvrita, Valkalajinavasas, Valkalakshetra, Valkalakshetramahatmya, Valkalam, Valkalambara, Valkalambaradharana, Valkalasamvita, Valkalavant, Valkalavasana, Valkalavasane, Valkalavastra, Valkalavat.

Ends with (+8): Apavalkala, Arshoghnavalkala, Bahalavalkala, Bahulavalkala, Bahulvalkala, Bahuvalkala, Ciravalkala, Dridhavalkala, Gandhavalkala, Haimavalkala, Jalavalkala, Komalavalkala, Laghuvalkala, Mahavalkala, Nirvalkala, Pamcavalkala, Pancavalkala, Panchavalkala, Shailavalkala, Shilavalkala.

Full-text (+60): Vagala, Pancavalkala, Jalavalkala, Shvetavalkala, Surabhivalkala, Sthulavalkala, Gandhavalkala, Komalavalkala, Valkalasamvita, Svarnavalkala, Valkalam, Shilavalkala, Vakkala, Balvala, Valkalakshetramahatmya, Dukula, Valkalavat, Valkalakshetra, Valkalacirin, Valukala.

Relevant text

Search found 18 books and stories containing Valkala, Vālkala, Valkalā; (plurals include: Valkalas, Vālkalas, Valkalās). 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.)

2.12. Dress of Ascetics, Monks and Hermits < [Chapter 2 - Costumes]

2.2. Lower Garments (c): Tārpya (sacrificial garment) < [Chapter 2 - Costumes]

1. Materials for Garments (d): Skin clothes from Animals < [Chapter 2 - Costumes]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Alamkaras mentioned by Vamana (by Pratim Bhattacharya)

16: Definition of Parivṛtti Alaṃkāra < [Chapter 4 - Arthālaṃkāras mentioned by Vāmana]

show preview

Sanskrit sources of Kerala history (by Suma Parappattoli)

13. Balarama-vijaya by Sitarama < [Chapter 5 - Sanskrit Dramas and Campus bearing on Kerala History]

4. Other Mahatmyas < [Chapter 2 - Historical details from Mahatmyas and Prashastis]

show preview

Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)

Story of Bharadvāja

show preview

Hanuman Nataka (critical study) (by Nurima Yeasmin)

6. Dress and Decoration < [Chapter 5]

Part 4: Some important Plays based on the Rāmāyaṇa < [Chapter 1]

show preview

Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study) (by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah)

15. The style of Costumes < [Chapter 6 - Other Socio-Cultural Aspects]

3. Environmental Awareness in 7th century India < [Chapter 7 - Environmental awareness and Hygiene Conciousness]

show preview

 

Click here for all 18 books