Vedika, Vedikā: 24 definitions

Introduction:

Vedika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (vastu)

Vedikā (वेदिका) refers to one of the sections found in “three-storied temples”, as discussed in chapter 6 of the Viṣṇutilakasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 3500 Sanskrit verses covering the typically “agamic” subjects which are being narrated by Brahmā to a number of sages.—Description of the chapter [mandira-nirmāṇa]: In undertaking to construct a temple, the first thing to do is to select a properly qualified Ācārya-director (3-10). [...] There are various typologies of temples, according to materials used, according to numbers of storeys, etc. (176-205). In a three-storey temple, some or all of these sections will be found [e.g., vedikā] [...] (188-1912). The details of building are to be drawn from the Śilpaśāstras. [...]

Source: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Architecture (1): Early and Classical Architecture

Vedikā (वेदिका) refers to a “square railing”, a concept defined within the ancient Indian “science of architecture” (vāstuvidyā).—The Indian shrine depicted in early bas-reliefs at Bharhut, Sanchi, Mathura and Amravati, has a small square altar, often enclosed by a vedikā (square railing) and shaded by a tree or a chattra (parasol).

Source: OpenEdition books: Architectural terms contained in Ajitāgama and Rauravāgama

Vedikā (वेदिका) [or vedī] refers to “- 1. bahut (separating two levels of the elevation) §§ 3.6, 8, 12, 15, 25, 26; 4.12. - 2. bahut (raising an enclosure wall) (Aj) § 5.8. - 3. support of dhvajadaṇḍa § 5.12. - 4. central platform of a sacrificial pavilion (or other) §§ 3.3, 6, 12; 4.17, 24, 25, 28, 29. - 5. band (molding) § 3.6. - 6. see snānavedī.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)

Vastushastra book cover
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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.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Vedikā (वेदिका) refers to the “sacrificial altar”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.18 (“Description of the perturbation caused by Kāma”).—Accordingly, as Śiva described Pārvatī: “Is this your face or the moon? Are these your eyes or lotus petals? These two eyebrows are the bows of Kāma of noble soul. Is this your lower lip or Bimba fruit? Is this your nose or the beak of a parrot? Do I hear your voice or the cooing of the cuckoo? Is this your slender waist or the sacrificial altar [i.e., kiṃ madhyaṃ cātha vedikā]? How can her gait be described? How can her comely appearance be described? How can the flowers be described? How can the clothes be described? [...]”.

Source: valmikiramayan.net: Srimad Valmiki Ramayana

Vedika (वेदिक) refers to “platforms”, according to the Rāmāyaṇa verse 5.3.8-13. Accordingly:—“[...] Seeing the city [viz., Laṅkā] everywhere Hanuma (Hanumān) became surprised at heart. Thereafter Hanuma the monkey, became happy seeing the doors which were of golden color, with platforms (vedika) of cat’s eye gems (vaidūrya), inlaid with diamonds, crystals and pearls, embellished with floors of gems, [...], equalling the city of Vasvaukasārā, as though flying towards the sky. Seeing that city of Rāvaṇa, which was best among cities, a wealthy city, a beautiful and auspicious city, that powerful Hanuma thought thus”.

Purana book cover
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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.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: OpenEdition books: Vividhatīrthakalpaḥ (Kāvya)

Vedikā (वेदिका) in Sanskrit refers to a “small stool, pedestal of a statue”, as is mentioned in the Vividhatīrthakalpa by Jinaprabhasūri (13th century A.D.): an ancient text devoted to various Jaina holy places (tīrthas).—(CDIAL 12107; Sircar 1966 p. 368-369).

Kavya book cover
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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’.

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Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Vedikā (वेदिका) refers to a “ceremonial pedestal” (used in the Śayanādhivāsa-ceremony), as discussed in chapter 27 (Kriyāpāda) 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 [śayanādhivāsa-ādi-vidhāna-ādi]: [...] For śayanadhivāsa purposes a special vedikā-pedestal in the East or South side of the yagamaṇḍapa, appropriately purified and covered with grains, is arranged. A woolen cloth—topped by silk cloth, a decorated cloth, and a white cloth—is put on top the grains and a wooden cot is prepared. On top of this cot are put flowers, whereupon the idol is laid to rest on it (69-77). Mantras are chanted (78 ff.), during which incantations the icon is covered up with another woolen cloth. [...]

Pancaratra book cover
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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.

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In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Vedikā (वेदिका) refers to the “railing” (of a vehicle), according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “The great vehicle (mahāyāna) is made with four wheels (cakra), namely with the means of attraction, the spokes (ara) are well fitted as the roots of good have been transformed with intention, [...] it is surrounded with the railing (vedikā) of all sorts of jewels as it is adorned with all the jewels of dharma, it is fastened with a strong girth (varatra) of the highest intention since it surpasses one’s earlier promise, it is carried on by a yoke (yugaṃdharavāhi) yoked with the team of insight and expedient means, it is fastened in the holes of peaceful meditation and expanded vision, [...]”.

Mahayana book cover
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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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Vedikā (वेदिका) is the raised seat made around large trees, particularly in villages. Even the castor-bean plant is used for this purpose in the absence of real trees. Cf. Mainwaring 1218: “In a deserted village the castor-oil plant is a noble tree”. In the Hitopadeśa in the story of the Vulture, the Cat and the Birds it is said: nirastapādape deśe erando’pi drumāyate.

General definition book cover
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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.

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India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Vedikā.—(LL), a rail; also, a raised platform (cf. vedi). See Ep. Ind., Vol. XXXV, p. 192. Note: vedikā 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
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

vedikā : (f.) a platform; a railing.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Vedikā, (f.) (& vediyā) (fr. vedi) cornice, ledge, railing D. II, 179; Vin. II, 120; J. IV, 229, 266; Vv 786 (vediyā= vedikā VvA. 304); 8416 (=vedikā VvA. 340); VvA. 275. (Page 648)

Pali book cover
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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.

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Marathi-English dictionary

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

vēdikā (वेदिका).—f An altar.

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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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vedikā (वेदिका).—

1) A sacrificial altar or ground; इति प्रिये वादिनि वेदिकोदरी (iti priye vādini vedikodarī) Rām. ch.2.57.

2) A raised seat; an elevated spot of ground (usually for sacred purposes); सप्तपर्णवेदिका (saptaparṇavedikā) Ś.1; सदेवदारुद्रुमवदिकायाम् (sadevadārudrumavadikāyām) Kumārasambhava 3.44.

3) A seat in genearal.

4) An altar, a heap, mound; मन्दाकिनी- सैकतवेदिकाभिः (mandākinī- saikatavedikābhiḥ) Kumārasambhava 1.29 'by making altars or heaps of sand &c'.

5) A quadrangular open shed in the middle of a court-yard; a pavilion, balcony; तप्तकाञ्चन- वेदिकम् (taptakāñcana- vedikam) (jagrāha); Rām.7.15.37; सुरवेश्मवेदिका (suraveśmavedikā) Kirātārjunīya 7.12.

6) An arbour, a bower.

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

Vedikā (वेदिका).—(= Pali id.), railing, especially one made of bars with interstices, or network, of the kind commonly surrounding Buddhist stūpas; in [Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit] around cities: °kā Mahāvyutpatti 5586 = Tibetan lan kan (railing), and others; °kāyāḥ sphaṭikamayā sūcī ālambanam adhiṣṭhānam Divyāvadāna 221.8 (compare sūcī); (nagarī…uccaistoraṇa-)-gavākṣa-vātāyana- °kā-pratimaṇḍitā Divyāvadāna 315.9; coping on a roof,-pravṛddhod- dhṛta-vedikaṃ ca tṛṇacchadaṃ Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 83.2 (verse; so with WT and Kashgar recension), the thatched roof was old and had a cracked (yawning, uddhṛta) coping; °kā-jāla, nt., network of a railing, °lam Mahāvyutpatti 5583 = Tibetan lan kan gyi dra ba; rāja- dhānī saptahi °kā-jālehi parikṣiptā Mahāvastu i.194.18 = iii.227.5.

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

Vedikā (वेदिका).—f.

(-kā) 1. A quadrangular open shed in the middle of a courtyard, erected for various purposes: see vitarddi. 2. Ground prepared for sacrificial ceremonies, a rude kind of altar. E. kan added to the last.

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

Vedikā (वेदिका).—[vedi + kā], f. 1. Ground prepared for sacrificial ceremonies, a rude altar, [Mālavikāgnimitra, (ed. Tullberg.)] 60, 3. 2. A quadrangular open shed in the middle of a court-yard, erected for various purposes, and furnished with a seat, [Pañcatantra] 129, 17. 3. A seat, [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 75, 27.

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

Vedikā (वेदिका).—[feminine] the same.

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

1) Vedikā (वेदिका):—[from vedaka > veda] a f. See sub voce

2) Vedika (वेदिक):—[from veda] m. a seat, bench, [Rāmāyaṇa; Harivaṃśa]

3) Vedikā (वेदिका):—[from vedika > veda] b f. (cf. vedaka and 1. vedi) idem, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

4) [v.s. ...] a sacrificial ground, altar, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

5) [v.s. ...] a balcony, pavilion (= vitardi), [Naiṣadha-carita; Vāsavadattā; Pañcatantra]

6) Vedīka (वेदीक):—[from veda] (ifc.) = vedī, a pavilion, balcony, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

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

Vedikā (वेदिका):—(kā) 1. f. A quadrangular open shed in the middle of a court-yard; an altar.

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

Vedikā (वेदिका) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Veiā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Vedika 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.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Vedikā (वेदिका):—(nf) an altar; a platform, terrace.

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Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Vedikā (वेदिका):—n. 1. a small or a makeshift; sacrificial altar; 2. a platform;

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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.

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