Varatika, Varāṭikā: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Varatika means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Varāṭikā (वराटिका, “cowrie”):—Sanskrit name for one of the drugs belonging to the Sādhāraṇarasa group, according to the Rasaprakāśasudhākara: a 13th century Sanskrit book on Indian alchemy, or, Rasaśāstra. Varāṭikā has various medicinal applications such as easing the pain in the abdomen caused by duodenal ulcers. Cowry (or cowrie) refers to the shell of a group of sea snails. It also has a positive effect on the eyes, and helps fight eye diseases.
Varāṭikā (cowrie).—The yellow Varāṭikā which is of the size of one and half niṣka (about 4½ gms.) is considered best. That which is of the size of a ṭaṅka (about 3 gms.) is considered madhyama (medium) and that which is of the size of the quarter to ṭaṅka (¼th part less than a ṭaṅka about 2¼th gms.) is considered inferior.
It is used in rasakarma and rasāyana-karma both, destroys the pain in abdomen due to pariṇāma-śula (deudenal ulcer), grahaṇīroga, kṣayaroga and kaphavātadoṣajaroga, its Vīrya is uṣṇa, acts as dīpana (disgestive stimulant) vṛṣya (aphrodisiac), netrya (good for eyes or eye diseases) and doṣa-hāri (pacifyer of all the doṣas). It is highly useful for the jāraṇa-saṃskāra of mercury and best amongst viḍa-dravyas (in the drugs recommended for the jāraṇa-karma of mercury). There are big (sthūla) cowries which are claimed as guru (heavy in weight) or in digestion and destroyer of śleṣma-pitta doṣas.
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.
Gitashastra (science of music)
Varāṭikā (वराटिका) is the name of a Rāga (melodic modes in Indian classical music) which is to be sung before the first prahara (specific period of the day), according to the Kohalamatam, one of the works ascribed to Kohala—a celebrated authority of the ancient period along with others such as Bharata, Yāṣṭika, Śārdūla, Kāśyapa etc.—The section on rāga begins with an excerpt from Mataṅga’s Bṛhaddesi regarding the definition of rāga. [...] The work then gives a list of sūryāṃśa and candramāṃśa-rāgas and also another list of rāgas to be sung at certain praharas. For example, Varāṭikā-raga is to be sung before the first prahara. This entire portion is found almost in exact form in Saṅgītamakaranda of Nārada. The fruit of singing rāgas in the appropriate time and the demerits accrued by ignoring these are mentioned.
Gitashastra (गीतशास्त्र, gītaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of Music (gita or samgita), which is traditionally divided in Vocal music, Instrumental music and Dance (under the jurisdiction of music). The different elements and technical terms are explained in a wide range of (often Sanskrit) literature.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Varāṭikā (वराटिका) [=varāṭikākrīḍā] refers to “gambling with cowrie shells” according to Mānasollāsa chapter 5.16.—Note: An apparent confusion between the words khelaka/lekhaka (player/writer) and khelana/lekhana (playing/writing) runs throughout various chapters on games in the Mānasollāsa This might simply be due to metathesis (i.e., the accidental switching around of syllables), perhaps aggravated by the fact that the chapter on varāṭikā-krīḍā, or gambling with cowrie shells, does indeed refer to writers or notaries (lekhaka) responsible for keeping track of throws, stakes, fines, and outcomes (Mānasollāsa 5.14.727–29ab) It is also possible that the physical act of noting down signs for various throws resulted in players (khelaka) and playing (khelana) sometimes being referred to as writers (lekhaka) and writing (lekhana)
This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
India history and geography
Varāṭikā.—‘a cowrie-shell used as a coin’; money. See Gaurī-varāṭikā, varaṭakā, barāḍ. Note: varāṭikā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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Varāṭikā.—cowrie-shell used as a coin; money. Note: varāṭikā 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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Varāṭikā (वराटिका).—
1) A cowrie; लोभाद्वराटिकानां विक्रेतुं तक्रमानिशमटन्त्या (lobhādvarāṭikānāṃ vikretuṃ takramāniśamaṭantyā) (labdho ... nīlamaṇiḥ) Bv.2.42.
2) A trifling; प्रयागे मूञ्यते येन तस्य गङ्गा वराटिका (prayāge mūñyate yena tasya gaṅgā varāṭikā) Udb.
Varāṭikā (वराटिका):—[from varāṭaka > vara] f. Mirabilis Jalapa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Varāṭikā (वराटिका) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Varāḍiyā.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Varatikai, Varatikakrida.
Full-text: Nattavaratika, Varataka, Gauri-varatika, Varakashthaka, Varadiya, Kanga, Varatikakrida, Varatikai, Gauri, Rasabandhana, Sadharanarasa, Barad, Vatta, Varadi, Udvahana.
Relevant text
Search found 13 books and stories containing Varatika, Varāṭikā; (plurals include: Varatikas, Varāṭikās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
Case report: Efficacy of Varatika Bhasma for Kanda Bhagna management. < [2017: Volume 6, March issue 3]
Kapardika bhasma study and DNA sequencing analysis. < [2023: Volume 12, September issue 15]
A review on pottali kalpana < [2015: Volume 4, November issue 11]
Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita (by Laxmi Maji)
Treatments of Vātaja diseases < [Chapter 3 - Diseases and Remedial measures (described in Atharvaveda)]
Rasendrasāra Saṅgraha (Āyurveda book) < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study) (by Padma Sugavanam)
Part 1(a).3 - Contents of Kohalamatam < [Chapter 4 - Works attributed to Kohala]
Hemagarbha pottali - the wonder drug of ayurvedic critical care < [Volume 3, issue 5: September - October 2016]
A therapeutic approach of sudha varga dravya w.s.r. to gastrointestinal disorder < [Volume 3, issue 2: March- April 2016]
Ayurvedic management of visarpa w.s.r.to herpes zoster - a case study < [Volume 6, Issue 1: January - February 2019]
International Research Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga
Clinical Indications Of Kamadudha Rasa A Scientific And Experiential Review < [Vol. 3 No. 12: Dec (2020)]
Clinical Indications of Pravala panchamrita rasa - An experiential and... < [Vol. 3 No. 11: Nov (2020)]
Amlapitta : A Critical Review Study < [Vol. 3 No. 8: Aug (2020)]
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
A controlled clinical study to evaluate the efficacy of indigenous drug formulation in ardhavabhedaka vis-a-vis migraine < [2022, Issue 2, February]
Unusual animal resources explained in rasa ratna samucchaya < [2020, Issue 8, August]
Pharmaceutical and analytical study of kukkutandatwak bhasma with special reference to ayurved saar sangraha and vruddha vaidya parampara < [2016, Issue IX September]
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