Varatika, Varāṭikā: 6 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)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

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.

Source: Indian Journal of History of Science: Rasaprakāśa-sudhākara, chapter 6

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.

Ayurveda book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of varatika in the context of Ayurveda from relevant books on Exotic India

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

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.

--- OR ---

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.

India history book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of varatika in the context of India history from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English 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.

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

Varāṭikā (वराटिका):—[from varāṭaka > vara] f. Mirabilis Jalapa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Varāṭikā (वराटिका) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Varāḍiyā.

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.

Discover the meaning of varatika in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Related products

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: