Varddhaka, Vārddhaka: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Varddhaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationVārddhaka (वार्द्धक) refers to the “stage of old age”, as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.6. Accordingly, as Śiva said to Sandhyā:—“[...] O gentle lady Sandhyā, whatever you have asked I grant you entirely. I am delighted by this excellent penance of yours. (In all living beings) the first stage shall be infancy, the second childhood, the third youth and the fourth stage shall be old age (vārddhaka)”.

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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Google Books: Jainism: An Indian Religion of SalvationVārddhaka (वार्द्धक, “architect”).—One of the fourteen gems (ratna) serving the Cakravartin;—The vārddhaka is the architect who is entrusted with the building of houses, palaces and cities.

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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Varddhaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Rotheca serrata in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Clerodendrum cuneatum Turcz. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Mantissa Plantarum (1767)
· Prodromus Florae Nepalensis. (1825)
· Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany (1883)
· Prodr. (1847)
· Hortus Bengalensis, or ‘a Catalogue of the Plants Growing in the Hounourable East India Company's Botanical Garden at Calcutta’ (1814)
· Phytologia (1977)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Varddhaka, for example diet and recipes, health benefits, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, side effects, extract dosage, 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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryVārddhaka (वार्द्धक).—[vṛddhānāṃ samūhaḥ tasya bhāvaḥ karma vā vuñ]
1) Old age; किमित्यपास्याभरणानि यौवने धृतं त्वया वार्द्धकशोभि वल्कलम् (kimityapāsyābharaṇāni yauvane dhṛtaṃ tvayā vārddhakaśobhi valkalam) Kumārasambhava 5. 44; R.1.8; N.1.77.
2) The infirmity of old age.
3) A collection of old men.
Derivable forms: vārddhakam (वार्द्धकम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryVarddhaka (वर्द्धक) or Vardhaka.—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) Increasing, causing to grow or increase. 2. Dividing. m.
(-kaḥ) 1. A plant, commonly Bamanhati. 2. A carpenter. E. vṛdh to grow, or varddh to divide, aff. ṇvul .
--- OR ---
Vārddhaka (वार्द्धक).—n.
(-kaṃ) 1. A number of old men. 2. Old age. 3. The infirmity, &c. of old age. E. vṛddha old, vuñ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryVārddhaka (वार्द्धक).—i. e. vṛddha + ka + a, n. 1. A multitude of old men. 2. Old age, [Pañcatantra] 95, 16 (read vārdhakabhāve, but cf. also my transl. n. 466). 3. Infirmity of old age.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryVārddhaka (वार्द्धक).—[masculine] old man; [neuter] old age.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vārddhaka (वार्द्धक):—[from vārddha] m. an old man, [Naiṣadha-carita]
2) [v.s. ...] n. old age, senility, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc. (kaṃ-√dhā, to grow old)
3) [v.s. ...] the infirmity or imbecility of old age, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] a multitude of old men, [Patañjali on Pāṇini 4-2, 39.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Varddhaka (वर्द्धक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A plant. a. Increasing.
2) Vārddhaka (वार्द्धक):—(kaṃ) 1. n. A number of old men; old age; its infirmities.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary1) Varddhaka (वर्द्धक):—adj. formant; increasing;
2) Vārddhaka (वार्द्धक):—adj. old (people); n. a group of old people;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Varddhakabhava.
Full-text: Samvarddhaka, Pravardhaka, Varddhakabhava, Shmashruvarddhaka, Shikhivarddhaka, Mashavarddhaka, Kaphavarddhaka, Vardhaka, Vardhduka, Vardhak, Varddhak, Vriddhaka, Varddhakya, Dhatu, Ratna, Yauvana, Varaka, Vriddha.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Varddhaka, Vārddhaka; (plurals include: Varddhakas, Vārddhakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shringara-manjari Katha (translation and notes) (by Kumari Kalpalata K. Munshi)
Section 5 - srngaramanjarya matur-varnanam < [Sanskrit text]
Abhijnana Shakuntalam (Sanskrit and English) (by Saradaranjan Ray)
Chapter 1 - Prathama-anka (prathamo'nkah) < [Abhijnana Shakuntalam (text, translation, notes)]