In Hinduism

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Ratikara (रतिकर) refers to “charming (young women)”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 16) (“On the planets—graha-bhaktiyoga”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The Moon presides over citadels fortified by hills or by water, over Kosala, Bharukaccha, the sea, the city of Roma, the country of Tuṣāra, dwellers in forests, the islands of Taṅgaṇa, Hala and Strīrājya in the big seas. [...] She also presides over fine white horses, charming young women (ratikara-yuvati), commanders of armies, articles of food, clothes, horned animals, the Rākṣasas, farmers and Śrotiyas. [...]”

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Ratikara (रतिकर).—There are thirty-two Ratikara mountains in-between each tow of the sixteen lotus-lakes which are situated in the vicinity of the four Añjana mountains, according to Jain cosmology. Each Ratikara mountain has their own Śāśvatajinālaya (“eternal temple”) housing images of the Śāśvata-Jinas.

The Añjana (and Ratikara) mountains are situated in the southern direction of the central part of Nandīśvaradvīpa, which is one of the continents (dvīpa) of the middle-world (madhyaloka) and is mentioned in ancient Jaina canonical texts dealing with cosmology and geography of the universe. Examples of such texts are the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapannatti and the Trilokasāra in the Digambara tradition.

Source: Google Books: Jaina Iconography

Ratika (रतिक).—In the eight directions on the two southern Ratikara mountains are the places of eight queens of Śakra and on the two northern mountains are those of the queens of Īśānedra, all these being adorned with the temples of the Jinas. Here and elsewhere on the Nandīśvara-dvīpa, Indra and other gods celebrate eight days festival (aṣṭāhnika-mahotsava) every year on different holy (parva) days.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1) Ratikara (रतिकर) is the name of a mountain mentioned in chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly, “Inside the constellation-circle, like an elephant inside a group of trees, making the sky seem to be covered with clouds, as it were, after crossing numberless continents and oceans, like the wind in speed, the car arrived at Nandīśvaradvīpa. Going to mount Ratikara in the southeast, Indra contracted the car, like a learned man abridging a book. Then, after crossing continents and oceans on this side, gradually contracting the car more and more, Vāsava arrived at the continent named Jambūdvīpa, at the southern half of Bharata, and at the birth-house of the first Tīrthakṛt”.

2) Ratikara (रतिकर) refers to the 32 mountains between the lotus-lakes situated near the four Añjana mountains, which are situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.3.—Accordingly:—“In the four directions from each of the Añjana Mountains there are lotus-lakes, 100,000 yojanas square: [...]. Between each two lotus-lakes there are 2 Ratikara Mountains so there are 32 Ratikara Mountains On the Dadhimukha Mountains and on the Ratikara Mountains, there are eternal shrines of the Arhats, just as on the Añjana Mountains likewise at the intermediate points of the continent there are 4 Ratikara Mountains, having a length and width of 10,000 yojanas, and a height of 1,000 yojanas, made of all kinds of jewels, divine, the shape of a jhallarī. [...] In them (i.e., the 32 Ratikara Mountains) the gods with all their splendor together with their retinues make eight-day festivals in the shrines on the holy days of the holy Arhats”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Ratikara (रतिकर).—a.

1) giving pleasure; रामो रतिकरः पितुः (rāmo ratikaraḥ pituḥ) Rām.1.18.24.

2) enamoured.

Ratikara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms rati and kara (कर).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Ratikara (रतिकर).—m., (1) lamp (? possibly a corruption for some other word of that meaning; this meaning is proved by Burnouf, Introd. 223 infra, where in a translation(s) of a verse recension of Kāraṇḍavvūha it is a lamp which gives the merchant Siṃhala(rāja) the information which in the prose Kāraṇḍavvūha he receives from a ratikara; no plausible em. occurs to me): Kāraṇḍavvūha 54.7; 55.7, 9, 12 (warns the merchant that he is in danger of being devoured by an ogress); (2) m., name of a samādhi: Mahāvyutpatti 545; Śatasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 1418.11. Cf. ratiṃkara.

--- OR ---

Ratikarā (रतिकरा).—name of an apsaras: Kāraṇḍavvūha 3.14.

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

Ratikara (रतिकर).—[feminine] ī causing joy or being in love, enamoured.

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

1) Ratikara (रतिकर):—[=rati-kara] [from rati > ram] mf(ī)n. causing pleasure or joy, [Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] being in love, enamoured (= kāmin), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

3) [v.s. ...] m. a [particular] Samādhi, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) Ratikarā (रतिकरा):—[=rati-karā] [from rati-kara > rati > ram] f. Name of an Apsaras, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha]

[Sanskrit to German]

Ratikara 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: A, Kaara, Kara, Rati.

Starts with: Ratikarayuvati.

Query error!

Full-text (+23): Amogha, Gostupa, Ratna, Navami, Arcimali, Ratnoccaya, Bhutavatamsika, Vasumitrika, Apsaras, Bhuta, Sujata, Amala, Shuci, Vasubhaga, Krishnaraji, Ramarakshita, Devakuru, Nandottara, Ratimkara, Rohini.

Relevant text

Search found 4 books and stories containing Ratikara, Rati-kara, Rati-karā, Rati-kara-a, Ratikarā; (plurals include: Ratikaras, karas, karās, as, Ratikarās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)

Page 261 < [Volume 5 (1879)]

show preview

Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 31: Description of Nandīśvara < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]

Part 8: Birth-ceremonies presided over by Śakra < [Chapter II - Birth of Ajita and Sagara]

Part 4: Birth ceremonies of Ṛṣabha < [Chapter II]

show preview

Sanskrit sources of Kerala history (by Suma Parappattoli)

11. Other Dramas describing Kerala history < [Chapter 5 - Sanskrit Dramas and Campus bearing on Kerala History]

show preview

Karandavyuha Sutra (by Mithun Howladar)

Chapter 1 - Jetavana-vihāra-varṇana < [Part One]

show preview