Yavaka, Yāvaka: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Yavaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, biology. 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyYavaka (यवक) is a Sanskrit word for a species of rice (śāli) which is said to have an inferior quality, according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. The literal translation of the word is “being of the nature of barley”. The plant Yavaka is part of the Śūkadhānyavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of awned grains”. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic value of the plant.

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 and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationYāvaka (यावक) refers to “red lac (applied over the lips)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.46 (“The arrival of the bridegroom”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] In the meantime the servant-maids in the harem of the mountain took Pārvatī out in order to worship the tutelar family deity. [...] With diamond earrings her cheeks appeared brilliant. Her rows of teeth sparkled like diamonds. Red lac (yāvaka) applied over her lips which were naturally red like Bimba fruits was exquisite. [...]”.
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical studyYavaka (यवक) refers to the naivedya offerings in the month Vaiśākha for the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-Vrata, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-vrata is observed in honour of Śiva for acquiring virtue, great fortune, wealth and for destruction of sins [...] This vrata is to be performed for a year from Mārgaśīra.—In Vaiśākha, the tooth-brush is that of udumbara-wood. The food taken is jātīphala. The deity to be worshipped is Mahārūpa. The flowers used in worship are mandāra. The naivedya offerings is yavaka. The result accrued equals the gift of thousand cows.

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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsYāvaka (यावक) refers to “barley-gruel”, according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 9.—Accordingly, “[...] [The Lord spoke]:—[...] In the left hand, he should hold a winnowing fan in the observance of Ardhanārīśvara. Adopting this observance he should eat alms, keep his senses under control, be devoted to regular obligatory recitation and oblation, rejecting the receipt of gifts. He should venerate God three times [a day] and perform ablutions three times [a day]. Eating vegetables and barley-gruel (śāka-yāvaka-bhikṣāśin), eating bulbs, roots and fruits, for one month. [...]”.

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Source: archive.org: Hindu MathematicsYāvaka (यावक) refers to the “colour red” in Yāvakastāvat, which represents an emendation of Yāvattāvat (“unknown quantity”), according to the principles of Bījagaṇita (“algebra” or ‘science of calculation’), according to Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—Yāvattāvat is not a varṇa (colour or letter of alphabet). So in its inclusion in the lists of varṇa, as found enumerated in the Hindu algebras—though apparently anomalous—we find the persistence of an ancient symbol which was in vogue long before the introduction of colours to represent unknowns. To avoid the anomaly Muralidhara Jha has suggested the emendation yāvakastāvat (yāvaka and also; yāvaka = red) in the place of yāvattāvat, as found in the available manuscripts. He thinks that being misled by the old practice, the expression yāvakastāvat was confused by copyists yāvattāvat. In support of this theory it may be pointed out that yāvaka is found to have been sometimes used by Pṛthūdakasvāmī to represent the unknown. Bhāskara II has once used yāvat. Nārāyaṇa used it on several occasions. The origin of the use of names of colours to represent unknowns in algebra is very probably connected with the ancient use of differently coloured shots for the purpose.

Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Yavaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Hordeum vulgare in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Zeocriton distichum P. Beauv. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Synopseos Plantarum (Persoon) (1805)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Essai d’une Nouvelle Agrostographie
· A Botanical Materia Medica (1812)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Yavaka, for example side effects, extract dosage, diet and recipes, health benefits, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryYavaka, (nt.) (yava+collect. ending °ka) in cpd. sāli° (whatever there is of) rice & corn (i.e. rice- and cornfields C.) J. IV, 172. Cp. yāvaka. (Page 551)
— or —
Yāvaka, (=yavaka) a dish prepared of barley J. VI, 373 (=yavataṇḍula-bhatta C.). (Page 555)

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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryYavaka (यवक).—Barley.
Derivable forms: yavakaḥ (यवकः).
--- OR ---
Yāvaka (यावक).—
1) Food prepared from barley; भुञ्जानो यावकं रुक्षं दीर्घकालमरिंदम (bhuñjāno yāvakaṃ rukṣaṃ dīrghakālamariṃdama) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.3.44; Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.215.22; 12.321.49; Manusmṛti 11.125.
2) Lac, red lac; लक्ष्यते स्म परिरक्ततयात्मा यावकेन वियतापि युवत्याः (lakṣyate sma pariraktatayātmā yāvakena viyatāpi yuvatyāḥ) Śiśupālavadha 1.9;5.13;7.67; Kirātārjunīya 5.4; उत्क्षिप्य यावकरसं किरती तथान्या (utkṣipya yāvakarasaṃ kiratī tathānyā) Bil. Ch.79.
3) Half-ripe barley; अपक्व एव यावके पुरा प्रलीयसे त्वरम् (apakva eva yāvake purā pralīyase tvaram) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.321.49.
4) Awnless barley.
5) Forced rice.
6) A kind of kidney-bean.
7) A kind of observance (vrata) in which one lives only on the grains of barley found in cow-dung; गवां निर्हारनिर्मुक्ताद् यावकात् तद्विशिष्यते (gavāṃ nirhāranirmuktād yāvakāt tadviśiṣyate) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 13.26.38.
Derivable forms: yāvakaḥ (यावकः), yāvakam (यावकम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryYavaka (यवक).—m.
(-kaḥ) Barley. E. yava barley, kan pleonasm.
--- OR ---
Yāvaka (यावक).—m.
(-kaḥ) 1. Half-ripe barley. 2. Awnless barley 3. A sort of kidney-bean, (Phaseolus) 4. A kind of pulse, (Dolichos biflorus.) 5. A kind of pulse said to be peculiar to Cashmir. 6. Lac. E. yu to mix, aff. vun, and aṇ added; or yāva as above, pleonastic aff. kan .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryYavaka (यवक).—[yava + ka], m. Barley.
--- OR ---
Yāvaka (यावक).—[yāva + ka], m. 1. Half ripe barley. 2. Barley-gruel. [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 11, 125. 3. Lac.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryYāvaka (यावक).—1. [masculine] [neuter] a kind of food prepared from barley.
--- OR ---
Yāvaka (यावक).—2. [masculine] = 3 yāva.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Yavaka (यवक):—[from yava] mfn. being of the nature of barley [gana] sthūlādi
2) [v.s. ...] m. barley, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Vāgbhaṭālaṃkāra]
3) Yāvaka (यावक):—[from yāva] 1. yāvaka m. n. a [particular] food prepared from barley, [Gautama-dharma-śāstra]
4) [v.s. ...] n. grains of b°, [Mahābhārata] ([Nīlakaṇṭha])
5) [from yāva] 2. yāvaka m. idem, [Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara; Rājataraṅgiṇī]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Yavaka (यवक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. Barley.
2) Yāvaka (यावक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. Half ripe barley, awnless barley; forced rice; kind of pulse; kidney bean; lac.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Yāvaka (यावक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Jāvaya.
[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 corpusYavaka (ಯವಕ):—
1) [noun] = ಯವ [yava] 1 & 2.
2) [noun] a colourless, crystalline compound, potassium nitrate (KNO3), used in gunpowder, medicine, preservative, etc.; saltpetre.
--- OR ---
Yāvaka (ಯಾವಕ):—
1) [noun] = ಯಾವ [yava]4.
2) [noun] the annual plant Vigna unguiculata ( = V. catjang, = V. sinensis, = Dolichos sinenses, = D. catjang) of Papilionaceae family.
3) [noun] its edible pea.
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: Yavakabhikshashin, Yavakacchaka, Yavakadrava, Yavakakricchra, Yavakalapi, Yavakalapiya, Yavakalapiya Sutta, Yavakalika, Yavakalka, Yavakam, Yavakara, Yavakarana, Yavakarandava, Yavakarasa, Yavakari, Yavakasamyuta, Yavakashin, Yavakastavat, Yavakavratin.
Full-text (+26): Latayavaka, Ayavaka, Sayavaka, Yavakam, Yavakakricchra, Prasritiyavaka, Yavakavratin, Yavakya, Prasritayavaka, Yavakarasa, Yavakadrava, Aulukhala, Yavakabhikshashin, Yavakashin, Mlecchabhojana, Yavakastavat, Kulmasha, Shakayavaka, Yavakasamyuta, Yakuvam.
Relevant text
Search found 33 books and stories containing Yavaka, Yāvaka; (plurals include: Yavakas, Yāvakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Ritual drink in the Iranian and Indian traditions (by Nawaz R. Guard)
13. Specifically named prayascittas involving Drink < [Chapter 7 - Drinks under Prayashcittas and ordeals]
14. Prasrita-Yavaka or Prasritiya-Yavaka < [Chapter 7 - Drinks under Prayashcittas and ordeals]
9. Drinks used in Penance for Purification < [Chapter 7 - Drinks under Prayashcittas and ordeals]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.20.4 < [Chapter 20 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Verse 1.16.50 < [Chapter 16 - Description of Śrī Rādhikā’s Wedding]
Verse 2.22.38 < [Chapter 22 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]
Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari (by K. A. Subramania Iyer)
Verse 2.191 < [Book 2 - Vākya-kāṇḍa]
Verse 2.12 < [Book 2 - Vākya-kāṇḍa]
Verse 2.330 < [Book 2 - Vākya-kāṇḍa]
Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas (by Goswami Mitali)
Sun-worship Vratas (15) Gomayādi-saptamī < [Chapter 5 - Rituals Related to the Sun-Worship in the Purāṇas]
Baudhayana Dharmasutra (by Georg Bühler)
Brahma Purana (critical study) (by Surabhi H. Trivedi)
4. Dishes and Preparations < [Social and Economic Life]
18. Materials not to be employed < [Religion]
3. Food in General < [Social and Economic Life]