Virecana: 16 definitions

Introduction:

Virecana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Virechana.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci

Virecana (विरेचन) refers to one of the five topics of the Pañcakarma section, and is dealt with in the 10th century Yogaśataka written by Pandita Vararuci.—It describes Pañcakarma as one separate branch from Kāyacikitsā. This may be the only book which describes Pañcakarma as an independent branch. In Pañcakarma section, there is one stanza and preparation described for each Karma. [...] Powder of Dantī (Baliospermum solanifolium Suresh), Citraka (Plumbago zeylanica Linn.), Pippalī and Biḍlavaṇa mixed with Harītakī decoction made up from Sauvīraka is used for Virecana. Castor oil is also recommended for Virecana.

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: Indian National Science Academy: Annual Report 2015-16 (rasashastra)

Virecana (विरेचन, “purgation”) refers to one of the five Pañcakarma for Rasaśāstra as introduced (as a new set) in the Āyurvedaprakāśa: an exclusive text on Rasaśāstra the pharmaceutical wing of Ayurveda that concentrates on preparation of herbo-mineral medicaments, written in 17th Century AD by Mādhava Upādhyaya.

Unclassified Ayurveda definitions

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Virecana (विरेचन, “purgation”):—One of the five pañcakarma (or ‘five measures’) which are employed for Śodhana, an Ayurvedic method for purification of the body by eliminating malas. More specifically, Virecana refers to medically induced elimination of stool. It is used as a treatment for all pitta-related illnesses.

Source: Google Books: Ayurveda: The Gentle Health System

Purging (Virecana):—Purging, medically induced elimination of stool, is the ideal treatment for all pitta-related illnesses. It can also be used for kapha-pitta disturbances or for kapha disturbances that have become lodged in pitta locations. This treatment consists of cleansing the inner organs by eliminating stool. All classical texts list numerous medications that can be used for purging, such as triphala-churna (Terminalia chebula, Terminalia belerica and Emblica officinalis).

When choosing the medication, it is important to take the patient’s digestive capacity into consideration. For people with a weak digestion, a mild laxative is sufficient. For those with a strong digestive system, more powerful medication should be chosen. Oil and sweat therapies are a must before purging. For hepatitis, diabetes, trauma, edema, chronic abscesses, and anemia, pretreatment should be kept to a minumum. Therapy must be discontinued when slime is detected in the stool, and the patient must go on an eight-day anti-kapha diet.

Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Virecana (विरेचन) refers to a “purgative”, mentioned in verse 4.18-19 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] Erysipelas, urticaria, leprosy itching of the eyes, jaundice, and fever as well as cough, dyspnea, palpitation of the heart, freckles of the face, and swellings of the skin (result) from (suppressed) vomiting. A gargle, an inhalant, a fast, after one has eaten pungent (food)—its ejection, gymnastics, a bloodletting, and a purgative [viz., virecana] (are) commended in this case”.

Source: Ancient Science of Life: Vaidyavallabha: An Authoritative Work on Ayurveda Therapeutics

Virecana (विरेचन) refers to “therapeutic purgation”, and is dealt with in the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha (chapter 1) written by Hastiruci.—The Vaidyavallabha is a work which deals with the treatment and useful for all 8 branches of Ayurveda. The text Vaidyavallabha (mentioning virecana) has been designed based on the need of the period of the author, availability of drugs during that time, disease manifesting in that era, socio-economical-cultural-familial-spiritual-aspects of that period Vaidyavallabha.

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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Virecana in Pali glossary
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Virecana, (nt.) (vi+recana, ric) purging, a purgative Vin. I, 206 (°ṃ pātuṃ to drink a p.), 279 (id.); D. I, 12; A. V, 218; J. III, 48 (sineha° an oily or softening purgative); DA. I, 98. (Page 635)

Pali book cover
context information

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 Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

virēcana (विरेचन).—n S Purging. 2 A purgative.

context information

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

Virecana (विरेचन).—See विरेक (vireka).

Derivable forms: virecanam (विरेचनम्).

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

Virecana (विरेचन).—n.

(-naṃ) 1. Purging, evacuation by stool. 2. A purgative. E. vi before ric to purge, aff. ṇic-lyuṭ .

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

1) Virecana (विरेचन):—[=vi-recana] [from vi-recaka > vi-ric] mfn. opening, [Suśruta]

2) [v.s. ...] m. Careya Arborea or Salvadora Persica, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] n. purging or any purging substance, [Suśruta]

4) [v.s. ...] a means for making the head clear, [Caraka]

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

Virecana (विरेचन):—[vi-recana] (naṃ) 1. n. Idem.

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

Virecana (विरेचन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vireaṇa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Virecana 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

[«previous next»] — Virecana in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Virecana (विरेचन) [Also spelled virechan]:—(nm) catharsis, purgation; —[siddhāṃta] the theory of catharsis (in Poetics).

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Virēcana (ವಿರೇಚನ):—[noun] = ವಿರೇಚಕ [virecaka]2 - 1 & 2.

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Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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