Vriksha, aka: Vṛkṣa, Vṛkṣā; 7 Definition(s)

Introduction

Vriksha means something in 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.

The Sanskrit terms Vṛkṣa and Vṛkṣā can be transliterated into English as Vrksa or Vriksha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Vṛkṣa (वृक्ष, “tree”).—One the classifications of plants according to their stature. Vṛkṣas are plants that bear flowers and fruits and have trunks and branches such as Kovīdara (Bauhinia). The term is used throughout Āyurvedic literature such as the Suśruta-saṃhitā and the Caraka-saṃhitā.

Vṛkṣa is listed as a classification for plants in the following sources:

The Manusmṛti 1.46-48 by Manu (also known as the Manusaṃhitā and Mānavadharmaśāstra).
The Suśrutasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna I.23) by Suśruta.
The Praśastapādabhāṣya by Praśastapāda and its two commentaries Nyāyakaṇḍalī and Kiraṇāvalī.

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.

Purana

Vṛkṣa (वृक्ष).—(trees) It is stated in Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇya Kāṇḍa, Sarga 14, Stanza 29, as follows about the origin of Vṛkṣas (trees).

Prajāpati Kaśyapa married Analā, the daughter of Dakṣa. Trees yielding good fruits were given birth to by Analā.

Vṛkṣā (वृक्षा).—Sacred as houses for the primitive man and supplied him with honey, fruits and clothing; Gandharvas live in them; these kalpavṛkṣās deteriorated and man who took to caves began to build houses on the model furnished by the trees with the upward, downward and crosswise trees;¹ milked the cow-earth; the essence was tender leaves; the vessel was of pālāśa wood and the plakṣa tree acted as the calf.²

• 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 7. 75-91, 117-20.
• 2) Matsya-purāṇa 10. 27.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Vṛkṣa (वृक्ष) is the ordinary term for ‘tree’ in the Rigveda and later. In the Atharvaveda it denotes the coffin made from a tree, no doubt by hollowing it out. The Ṣaḍviṃśa-brāhmaṇa refers to the portent of a tree secreting blood.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

vṛkṣa (वृक्ष).—m (S) A tree, shrub, or plant in general.

vṛkṣa (वृक्ष).—m A tree, shrub, or plant in general.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Vṛkṣa (वृक्ष).—[vraśc-ksa Uṇ.3.66]

1) A tree; आत्मापराधवृक्षाणां फलान्येतानि देहिनाम् (ātmāparādhavṛkṣāṇāṃ phalānyetāni dehinām).

2) A tree bearing visible flowers and fruit; अपुष्पाः फलवन्तो ये ते वनस्पतयः स्मृताः । पुष्पिणः फलिनश्चैव वृक्षास्तूभयतः स्मृताः (apuṣpāḥ phalavanto ye te vanaspatayaḥ smṛtāḥ | puṣpiṇaḥ phalinaścaiva vṛkṣāstūbhayataḥ smṛtāḥ) || Ms.1.47.

3) Wrightia Antidysenterica (Mar. iṃdrajava, kuḍā).

Derivable forms: vṛkṣaḥ (वृक्षः).

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