Yacanaka, Yācanaka: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Yacanaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Yachanaka.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Yācanaka (याचनक) is another name (synonym) for Raktairaṇḍa: one of the three varieties of Eraṇḍa, which is a Sanskrit name representing Ricinus communis (castor-oil-plant). This synonym was identified by Narahari in his 13th-century Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 8.55-57), which is an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus. Certain plant parts of Eraṇḍa are eaten as a vegetable (śāka), and it is therefore part of the Śākavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”.

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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Yācanaka (याचनक) refers to “beggars”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “How then, son of good family, the Bodhisattva, having accumulated immeasurable merits, nourishes all living beings? Son of good family, (1) the Bodhisattva practices friendliness to all living beings; (2) he practices compassion to all creatures; (3) he is not attached to anything in particular in his meditations; (4) he gives away all his possessions to beggars (yācanaka); (5) his pleasure is imperishable through his merits; (6) he is always committed to his intention by the purity of morality; [...]”.

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
yācanaka : (adj.) begging.
Yācanaka, (cp. BSk. yācanaka Divy 470, 585)=yācaka A. III, 136 (ati°); Pv. II, 76; 916; 946; J. III, 49; DA. I, 298. (Page 552)

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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Yācanaka (याचनक).—A beggar, suitor, petitioner.
Derivable forms: yācanakaḥ (याचनकः).
Yācanaka (याचनक).—(Sanskrit and Pali only m., beggar), (1) m. wooer (of a girl, on behalf of another): Divyāvadāna 168.1 sārthavā- haputrāś ca bhāryārthaṃ °kān preṣayanti; (2) nt., begging, in na-yācanaka, q.v.; (3) nt., alms, the result of begging: Mahāvastu iii.184.17 (prose) māṣa aparasya puruṣasya sakāśāto yācanakaṃ (mss. vāc°, but em. certain) labdhaṃ; Śikṣāsamuccaya 145.2 °ka-guruko, eager for alms.
Yācanaka (याचनक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) Beggar, mendicant. E. yācana an asker, kan added.
Yācanaka (याचनक).—[yāc + ana + ka], adj. Begging importunately, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 165.
Yācanaka (याचनक).—[masculine] beggar, mendicant.
Yācanaka (याचनक):—[from yācana > yāc] m. an asker, petitioner, beggar, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa],
Yācanaka (याचनक):—[(kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) a. Idem.]
[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
Yācanaka (ಯಾಚನಕ):—[noun] = ಯಾಚಕ [yacaka].
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)
Full-text: Akutana, Pratipadanaka, Nayacanaka, Gatapratyagatika, Avasphandayati, Yacaka, Raktairanda, Jihmikarana, Eranda, Vyomaka, Guruka, Aragayati.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Yacanaka, Yācanaka; (plurals include: Yacanakas, Yācanakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.165 < [Section VIII - Śrāddhas]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Bhūmi 6: the ground of presence (abhimukhī) < [Chapter XX - (2nd series): Setting out on the Mahāyāna]
Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 94 - The Means of Destroying Sins < [Section 5 - Pātāla-Khaṇḍa (Section on the Nether World)]