Viraka, Vīraka: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Viraka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Vīraka (वीरक).—A country. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Karṇa Parva, Chapter 44, Stanza 43, that this country was to be avoided as the thought and customs and manners of this country were full of defilement.
2) Vīraka (वीरक).—A King of the dynasty of Aṅga. He was the son of Śibi. Vīraka had three brothers named Pṛthudarbha, Kaikaya and Bhadraka. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 277).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Vīraka (वीरक).—(Virāka, Bhāgavata-purāṇa) a sage of the Cākṣuṣa epoch.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 5. 8.
1b) The head of a Śiva gaṇa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 41. 28.
1c) The door-keeper of Śiva, with the cane in hand; directed the Devas to their proper seats in the marriage of Umā and Śiva; adopted as son by Umā who brought him up tenderly, played with Vidyādharas; appointed to guard the harem by Umā when she went for penance; when he allowed Āḍi in the guise of a woman to enter, he was cursed to be born as man and join the gaṇa afterwards.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 154. 230, 383, 445-54, 465-577; chh. 155-158.
Vīraka (वीरक) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VIII.30.45) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Vīraka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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 Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesThe Bodhisatta born as a marsh crow. See the Viraka Jataka.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesVīraka (वीरक) refers to “heroes”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly: [while explaining the body circle (kāyacakra)]: “[...] Great hell-guardians are always in the eight charnel grounds: (1) Śālmalī, (2) Aśokavṛkṣā, and (3) Pārijātā, (4) Umbarī (for Udumbarī), (5) Ḍombarī, (6) Gambhārī (for Gambhīrī), (7) Bhadirakī (For Badarakī), and (8) Piśācakī. There are also troops of various Vetālas, assemblages of Yoginīs and heroes (vīraka), a sky-going female, an earth-going female, and also other females who have superhuman powers. [...]”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryvirakā (विरका).—a C That crumbles during the operation of husking or of rough grinding--rice, the pulses.
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 dictionaryVīraka (वीरक).—
1) A hero.
2) The Karavīra plant.
Derivable forms: vīrakaḥ (वीरकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryVīraka (वीरक).—[masculine] little man.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vīraka (वीरक):—[from vīr] m. a little man, manikin, [Ṛg-veda viii, 91, 2]
2) [v.s. ...] a pitiable hero, [Bālarāmāyaṇa ix, 1/2]
3) [v.s. ...] Nerium Odorum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of one of the seven sages under Manu Cākṣuṣa, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] of a police-master, [Mṛcchakaṭikā]
6) [v.s. ...] ([plural]) of a people, [Mahābhārata]
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusVīraka (ವೀರಕ):—[noun] a brave, courageous man.
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 (+13): Viraka Jataka, Virakacannatam, Virakacce, Virakal, Virakalal, Virakalpa, Virakam, Virakama, Virakambalabarhi, Virakan, Virakankana, Virakankanam, Virakanoy, Virakanta, Virakantai, Virakantamani, Virakanya, Virakara, Virakaram, Virakaran.
Full-text (+6): Karaviraka, Suviraka, Avirakapurisa, Virakam, Viraka Jataka, Vairaki, Kanaviraka, Virakavetanai, Virakatapam, Virakacannatam, Virakanoy, Kroncaviraka, Ika-muttira-pala-pokavirakam, Irakavirakam, Virika, Savitthaka, Asala, Badaviraka, Bhutavali, Mushaka.
Relevant text
Search found 24 books and stories containing Viraka, Vīraka, Virakā; (plurals include: Virakas, Vīrakas, Virakās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 204: Vīraka-jātaka < [Book II - Dukanipāta]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 8.91.2 < [Sukta 91]
Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 45 - The beginning of the war and the conversation with the messengers < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 46 - Andhaka fights < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 44 - Andhaka’s attainment of the leadership of Gaṇas < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 74 < [Volume 5 (1879)]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 9: The story of the weaver < [Chapter X - The recovery of draupadī]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 38 - Kusumeśvara (kusuma-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Chapter 28 - Pārvatī Goes to the Mountain for Penance < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 27 - Pārvatī Enraged: The Origin of Gaṇeśa < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]