Raksha, Raksa, Raks, 鲹ṣa, 鲹ṣ�, ṣ�: 30 definitions
Introduction:
Raksha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, 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.
The Sanskrit terms 鲹ṣa and 鲹ṣ� and ṣ� can be transliterated into English as Raksa or Raksha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Images (photo gallery)
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation鲹ṣa (रक्ष) refers to “protection�, according to the Śivapurṇa 2.5.19 (“Jalandhara’s emissary to Śiva�).—Accordingly, as Rhu said to Śiva: “O great lord, O lord of the gods, save me who have sought refuge in you. You are always worthy of being worshipped by the gods and Asuras. You are the lord endowed with all riches and accomplishments. O great lord, your terrible servant has come here to swallow me, a Brahmin. O lord of gods, favourably disposed to your devotees, save me (ṣa) lest he should devour me. Obeisance be to you again and again�.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) 鲹ṣa (रक्ष).—A son of Vasiṣṭha and Ūrj.*
- * Brahmṇḍa-purṇa II. 11. 41.
1b) The son of Khaśa: A fearful figure of three heads, three hands and three feet: roamed in the night in search of prey of men and animals.*
- * Brahmṇḍa-purṇa III. 7. 61-77.
1c) Meaning Plana or protection from ṣasas.*
- * Vyu-purṇa 69. 101.
1d) Resides in the sun's chariot during the month of Śucī;1 ʳܲԲ.2
1e) (also ṣasas) evil spirits.*
- * Bhgavata-purṇa X. 6. 27.
2a) 鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�).—The sister of Ṛkṣa; wife of Prajpati and mother of Jmbavan.*
- * Brahmṇḍa-purṇa III. 7. 299-300.
2b) The use of amulets to protect children and others from evils.*
- * Viṣṇu-purṇa V. 5. 13.

The Purana (पुरा�, purṇas) 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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nryaṇa)
: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts1) 鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) refers to the “protection (of the radiant mantra power)�, as discussed in the twenty-first chapter of the ܻԲⲹṃh, a Pñcartra work in 60 chapters dealing with topics such as Viṣṇu’s discus-power, the processes of creation and esoteric practices related to Sudarśana (such as mantras and yantras).—Description of the chapter [dzپⲹ-ṣ�-Ծū貹ṇa]: Once he has received a mantra, Nrada wants to know what he does with it and in what way it protects him. He is told first that the ṣ�-protection which is effected is of two kinds—one, a kind of awesome and glowing radiance to one’s being, and the other a verbal and spellbinding power. The bulk of the chapter is given over to a description of the radiant variety (1-21), and how it -effects mystically the life of the believer initiated into the mantra (22-30a).
2) 鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) or 鲹ṣmudr refers to one of the 81 Mudrs (hand-gestures) described in chapter 2 of the Ṛṣirtra section of the Բٰܳṃh: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).—[Cf. the chapter ܻ-ṣaṇa].
: University of Vienna: Sudarśana's Worship at the Royal Court According to the ܻԲⲹṃh鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) refers to “protection�, according to the ܻԲⲹṃh, belonging to the Pñcartra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.—Accordingly, “The practice is to be performed for the protection (ṣ�) of the Three Worlds, for the [welfare of the] earth, for the kingdom, the King or a Royal Officer. [It should be done] only for [their] good, never for evil [purposes]�.

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pñcartra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) refers to a “tamer (of brids) (i.e., Hawks)�, according to the ŚⲹԾ첹-śٰ: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rj Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the treatment of hawks]: “An expert tamer of these birds (pakṣa-ṣ�-viśrada) should teach them how to fall upon a quarry, fastened by a string, and thus revive their old instincts. Those hawks, which have been taken from the nests, should be first tamed by being kept tied after their capture, and as they are unpractised in hunting, they should be taught in a variety of ways by an expert trainer of birds, by gradually increasing their skill and cleverness. [...]�.

This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts�) and Shastras (“sciences�) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) refers to one of the ten names of ǻٰī, also known as Śṇa by birth or otherwise known as ī (i.e., ǻٰī)—one of the Sixteen Siddhas according to the Kubjiknityhnikatilaka.—These sixteen spiritual teachers represent the disciples of the Nine Nthas who propagated the Western Transmission noted in the Kubjik Tantras.—This Śṇa teacher was born a woman. She was called ǻٰī Amb because she frightened the Buddhists in Ṭhṇakoṅkaṇa with the sound of her kettle-drum. She has ten names [e.g., 鲹ṣ]. When she took initiation and assumed authority as a teacher she made a gesture that transformed her into a man and assumed authority with her female consort. Even so, the uninitiated see her in the form of a woman.

Shakta (शाक्�, śkta) or Shaktism (śktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) or Pañcaṣ�, refers to the five protectresses (deities) as they are called in Tantric works. The 鲹ṣs are popular and well-known amongst the Mahyna Buddhists, particularly of Nepal. A manuscript copy of the Pañcaṣ� describing the five 鲹ṣ� deities, their worship on different occasions and their powers, is to be found in almost every Buddhist house-hold in Nepal. Such manuscripts are often very artistically written and they bear miniature pictures of not only the five 鲹ṣ� deities but alsoof other Buddhist deities such as the Dhyni Buddhas and their Śaktis.
According to the Բ, the five 鲹ṣ� deities, when worshipped, grant long life. They protect kingdoms, villages and meadows. They protect men from evil spirits, diseases and famines, and from all possible dangers that may befall mankind. The Pañcaṣ� is recited in all varieties of domestic difficulties, such as, illnesses, adversities, loss of wealth, cattle, etc.
The five 鲹ṣ� deities according to the Niṣpannayogvalī are:
- Ѳپ,
- Ѳ岹ī,
- Ѳ峾ԳٰԳܲṇ�,
- Ѳśīٲī,
- Ѳ峾ūī.

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 (Բ) are collected indepently.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcch鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) refers to “protecting�, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcch: the eighth chapter of the Mahsaṃnipta (a collection of Mahyna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as Gaganagañja said to Ratnapṇi: “Son of good family, the thirty-two dharmas are included in sixty-four dharmas. What are those sixty-four? [...] (9) the unhindered thought is included in protecting oneself (tma-ṣ�) and protecting others (para-ṣ�); (10) the equal attitude to all living beings is included in the absence of distinction and a single taste; (11) indefatigability is included in the nature as a dream and the nature as an illusion; (12) works to be done for all beings is included in supernormal knowledges and skillful means; [...]’�.
: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) refers to “protection�, according to the ղٳṇḍⲹ첹貹Ჹ, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [As the afflicted Ngas said to Bhagavn]: “[...] However, O Bhagavn, from today on I make a vow in the presence of the Tathgata. Wherever this spell-holder king will circulate, there, O Bhagavn, the Ngas will not make calamities again. Wherever this heart-ṇ� is used for protection (ṣ�), [there is] rescue, shelter, safeguard and the sealing of the boundaries and sealing of the maṇḍala. Where an amulet-cord is made, for that person, O Bhagavn, we will constantly ward off all calamities�.

Mahayana (महायान, mahyna) 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 ūٰ of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñpramit ūٰ.
General definition (in Buddhism)
: Buddhist Door: GlossaryRaksa refers to those living in the Ghost Path.—Like Yaksa, they are evil and violent, but inferior to Yaksa.
India history and geography
: Project Gutenberg: Castes and Tribes of Southern India, Volume 1Raksha (“protecting�) is one of the gotras (clans) among the Kurnis (a tribe of South India). Kurni is, according to the Census Report 1901, “a corruption of kuri (sheep) and vanni (wool), the caste having been originally weavers of wool�. The gotras (viz., Raksha) are described as being of the Brhman, Kshatriya, and Vaisya sub-divisions of the caste, and of Shanmukha’s Sudra caste.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary鲹ṣ�.�(EI 17), confirmation of a former grant. Note: ṣ� is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary� as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
: What is India: Epigraphia Indica volume 27 (1947-1948)鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) refers to �(the law of) protection�, according to the Velūrplaiyam plates of Nandivarman (II : S. I. I., Vol. II, p. 507. l.8).—Accordingly, “Thence came into existence the race of the Pallavas, who by the Law of Protection (ṣ�-vidhi) (they had adopted) removed even the slightest distress (of their subjects,) [...]�.
: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�) (Prakrit) (in Sanskrit: Racch) refers to “police posts (which were like defense citadels)� in ancient Indian cities, according to Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayaml (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kvya poetry).—The Kuvalayamala (779 A.D.) is full of cultural material which gains in value because of the firm date of its composition. [...] Page 58.32: There is a reference to -ܰ첹 or Police posts which were like defense citadels garrisoned by soldiers and were a common feature of medieval administration Ṭhṇe. These were also known as ܱ-ٳԲ, the garrisioning contingent of the government, in Gupta administration and found in Mṛcchakaṭika. In the medieval period, the ṣ�-ctuṣkika had come into existence and is recorded in the inscription of Vastupla and Tejapla (ձ-śپ, about 1225 A.D.).

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Biology (plants and animals)
: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Raksa in India is the name of a plant defined with Benincasa hispida in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Benincasa hispida Cogn. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Flora Japonica (1784)
· Indian Journal of Pharmacology (2002)
· Systema Vegetabilium, ed. 14 (1784)
· Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal. (1783)
· Monographiae Phanerogamarum (1881)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2001)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Raksa, for example extract dosage, side effects, chemical composition, health benefits, diet and recipes, 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
Marathi-English dictionary
: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryṣ� (रक्ष�).—f (S) Ashes. 2 A twist of thread or tinsel bound as a preservative (against evil spirits) around the wrist at particular periods. 3 A string tied round the neck of a puerperal woman and of her infant on the sixth day after delivery. 4 A kept woman, a mistress. 5 S Preserving, keeping, protecting.
: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishṣ� (रक्ष�).�f Ashes. Keeping.
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
: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary鲹ṣa (रक्ष).—[ṣantyasmt ityarthe asun Uṇdi-sūtra 4.196]
1) A guard, protector.
2) Preserving, guarding, watching.
Derivable forms: ṣa� (रक्ष�).
--- OR ---
鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�).—[�-bhve a ṭp]
1) Protection, preservation; guarding; मय� सृष्टिर्हि लोकाना� रक्ष� युष्मास्ववस्थिता (mayi sṛṣṭirhi lokn� ṣ� yuṣmsvavasthit) Kumrasambhava 2.28; Ś.2.15; R.2.4,8; Meghadūta 45.
2) Care, security.
3) A guard, watch.
4) An amulet or mystical object used as a charm, any preservative; as in रक्षाकरण्ड (ṣkaraṇḍa) q. v. below.
4) A tutelary deity.
5) Ashes.
6) A piece of silk or thread fastened round the wrist on particular occasions, especially on the full-moon day of Śrvaṇa, as an amulet or preservative; (ṣ� also in this sense).
7) Lac.
--- OR ---
ṣ� (राक्षा).—See लाक्षा (ṣ�); (perhaps an incorrect form).
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�).—a set of magic formulas personified as a tutelary deity; five such: ٳṃg 5 Pratisar, Shasrapramardanī, Mrīcī, Mantrnusariṇ�, Śītavatī; the same, often preceded by Mah-, in various places in Բ, see the names; pañ- caṣ�- Բ 413.6; mah-pañcaṣ� 402.13; see also, especially, Բ 401.10 ff.; 405.1 ff. Instead of Śītavatī occurs (Mah-)sitavatī. See Lévi, JA 1915.1.19.
--- OR ---
ṣa (राक्�).�(nt.? in meaning = Sanskrit ṣ�, Pali rakkh; Sanskrit ṣa only adj. and n. ag.), protection: rkṣe ca sthitv jina satkaroti Śṣsܳⲹ 309.2 (verse), and he pays homage to the Jina(s), abiding in (their) protection.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary鲹ṣa (रक्ष).—mf.
(-ṣa�-ṣ�) 1. Preserving, protecting. 2. Lac. f.
(-ṣ�) 1. Ashes. 2. A tutelary deity. f. (-ṣi-ṣ�) A sort of bracelet, a twist of thread or tinsel, with a small packet containing a few carminative seeds, bound round the wrist at particular periods, especially at the day of full-moon in Sravana. E. � to preserve, aff. ac .
--- OR ---
ṣ� (राक्षा).—f.
(-ṣ�) Lac, the red animal dye. E. � to preserve, (colour,) a aff.; the vowel made long; perhaps an incorrect form of ṣ� .
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary鲹ṣa (रक्ष).—[� + a], I. m. One who guards, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 34, 8. Ii. m., and f. ṣ�. 1. Preserving, guarding, [ʲñٲԳٰ] 184, 8; protecting, protection, [ʲñٲԳٰ] 157, 7. 2. (i. e. ñ + ta, cf. , s.v. ñ), Lac. Iii. f. ṣ�. 1. Ashes. 2. A sort of bracelet, an amulet, [Śkuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 105, 12 (Prak�.).
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary鲹ṣa (रक्ष).—[feminine] ī protecting, guarding, keeping, watching; [masculine] protector, keeper. [feminine] guard, watch, protection, preservation; any preservative, [especially] a sort of bracelet or amulet.
--- OR ---
ṣ� (राक्षा).—[feminine] lac (cf. ṣ�).
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) 鲹ṣa (रक्ष):—[from �] 1. ṣa mf(ī)n. (f(). See p.860) guarding, watching, protecting, serving
2) [v.s. ...] a watcher, keeper, [Suparṇdhyya; Mahbhrata] etc. (mostly ifc.; cf. ṣeٰ-, go-, cakra-r etc.)
3) [from �] 2. ṣa in [compound] for ṣas.
4) 鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�):—[from �] f. the act of protecting or guarding, protection, care, preservation, security, [Manu-smṛti; Mahbhrata] etc.
5) [v.s. ...] a guard, watch, sentinel, [Mṛcchakaṭik; Kmandakīya-nītisra]
6) [v.s. ...] any preservative, ([especially]) a sort of bracelet or amulet, any mysterious token used as a charm, [Bhgavata-purṇa; Suśruta]
7) [v.s. ...] a tutelary divinity (cf. mah-r)
8) [v.s. ...] ashes (used as a preservative), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] a piece of thread or silk bound round the wrist on [particular] occasions ([especially] on the full moon of Śrvaṇa, either as an amulet and preservative against misfortune, or as a symbol of mutual dependence, or as a mark of respect), [Monier-Williams� Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
10) ṣ� (राक्षा):�f. = ṣ�, lac, [Uṇdi-sūtra iii, 62 [Scholiast or Commentator]]
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) 鲹ṣa (रक्ष):—[(kṣa�-ṣ�-kṣa�) a.] Preserved or preserving. m. f. Preservation; lac. f. Ashes; a sort to bracelet.
2) ṣ� (राक्षा):�(ṣ�) 1. f. Lac.
: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)鲹ṣa (रक्ष) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Rakkha, Rakkh.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम� (ṃsṛt), 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.
Hindi dictionary
: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Raksa (रक्स):�(nm) dance, dancing; dance performance.
2) Raksha in Hindi refers in English to:�(nm) see [riksha]..—raksha (रिकश�) is alternatively transliterated as Rikaś.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
: Alar: Kannada-English corpus鲹ṣa (ರಕ್ಷ):�
1) [noun] the act or an instance of protecting, guarding a person or a thing; protection.
2) [noun] a man who protects; a protector; a guard.
3) [noun] (dance.) a kind of hand gesture in giving protection.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary1) 鲹ṣa (रक्ष):—n. a clan of giant (as mentioned in puranas (पुरा� [purṇa] ));
2) 鲹ṣ� (रक्ष�):—n. protection;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+15): Rakshabandha, Rakshabandhanavidhi, Rakshabhagavati, Rakshabhyadhikrita, Rakshadhipati, Rakshagandaka, Rakshah, Rakshahpala, Rakshahpati, Rakshahsabham, Rakshak, Rakshakamba, Rakshakavaca, Rakshamalla, Rakshamandhanavidhi, Rakshamantra, Rakshamari, Rakshamjana, Rakshamkita, Rakshan.
Full-text (+629): Goraksha, Rakshas, Araksha, Atmaraksha, Rakshahsabha, Samraksha, Pariraksha, Rakshoghna, Rakshadhikrita, Rakshamani, Rakshapala, Pancaraksha, Padaraksha, Angaraksha, Ashvaraksha, Rakshapekshaka, Brahmarakshas, Rakshojanani, Potaraksha, Puraraksha.
Relevant text
Search found 171 books and stories containing Raksha, Raksa, Raks, 鲹ṣa, 鲹ṣ�, ṣ�, ṣa; (plurals include: Rakshas, Raksas, Rakss, 鲹ṣas, 鲹ṣs, ṣs, ṣas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.10.15 < [Chapter 10 - Description of the Birth of Lord Balarma]
Verse 1.5.25 < [Chapter 5 - The Lord’s Appearance]
Verse 3.2.14 < [Chapter 2 - The Great Festival of Śrī Girirja]
Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study) (by Arpita Chakraborty)
8b. Different names of Bhasma < [Chapter 2 - Greatness of Bhasma and Dhraṇa]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dsa)
Verse 3.5.626 < [Chapter 5 - The Pastimes of Nitynanda]
Verse 1.4.7 < [Chapter 4 - Name-giving Ceremony, Childhood Pastimes, and Thieves Kidnap the Lord]
Verse 2.4.14 < [Chapter 4 - Revelation of Nitynanda’s Glories]
The Indian Buddhist Iconography (by Benoytosh Bhattachacharyya)
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