Pittala: 15 definitions

Introduction
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In Hinduism
1. Ayurveda
2. Purana
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Prakrit
4. Kannada
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Introduction:

Pittala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit. 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.

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In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Pittala (पित्तल, “Brass”) is the name for a variation of ‘metal’ (dhātu/loha) from the sub-group named Miśraloha, according to the Rasaprakāśasudhākara: a 13th century Sanskrit book on Indian alchemy, or, Rasaśāstra.

Brass has the following two variations:

Rītikā,
Kākatuṇḍī.

Source: Indian Journal of History of Science: Rasaprakāśa-sudhākara, chapter 4-5

Pittala (‘brass’) is of two types:

Rītikā
and Kākatuṇḍī.

That which turns on heating and quenching in tuṣajala (dhānyaāmla-an acidic liquid) is known as ṛtikā, and which turns black on heating and quenching in kāñjika is known as kākatuṇḍi.

Which looks yellowish, soft, heavy and like asāra (iron), golden yellow in colour, smooth and oily on touch is considered superior or acceptable for therapeutic uses. Which gives bad or foul smell, rough on touch, pāṇḍura (whitish) incolour, can not stand to hammering and has dry surface is considered inferior and not recommended for rasāyana purposes.

Ṛtikā is rūkṣa in guṇa, kṛmighne in karma and destroys raktapitta. Kākatuṇḍī is used in vīrya, sara in guṇa and kuṣṭhahara in karma .

Source: PMC: Therapeutic potentials of metals in ancient India

Pittala is an important Misra Loha, an alloy of Copper and Zinc, known since the period of Samhita Kala. Charaka used this metal to prepare Vasti netra. It is known as Brass. As per the descriptions available in Rasa Ratna Samuchaya, there are two varieties of Pittala viz. Ritika and Kakatundi. Formulations of ‘Pittala’ are beneficial in diseases like Krimi, Kusta, Pandu etc.

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 and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Pittala (पित्तल).—A Janapada of the Ketumālā continent.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 44. 15.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

pittaḷa (पित्तळ).—a Commonly pittāḷū.

context information

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

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Pittala (पित्तल).—a. Bilious.

-lam 1 Brass.

2) A species of birch tree.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Pittala (पित्तल).—mfn.

(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) Bilious, relating to the bilious humour. n.

(-laṃ) 1. Brass. 2. The Bhurjapatra or Birch tree, of which the bark is used for writing upon, &c. f.

(-lā) A plant, (Jussieua repens.) E. pitta bile, lā to get, to resemble, (in colour,) aff. ḍa.

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

Pittala (पित्तल).—[adjective] bilious.

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

1) Pittala (पित्तल):—[from pitta] mf(ā)n. bilious, secreting bile, [Suśruta] ([gana] sidhmādi)

2) Pittalā (पित्तला):—[from pittala > pitta] f. Jussiaea Repens, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) Pittala (पित्तल):—[from pitta] n. brass, bell-metal, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] Betula Bhojpatra (its bark is used for writing upon; cf. bhūrja-pattra), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Pittala (पित्तल):—[(laḥ-lā-laṃ) a.] Bilious n. Brass; the birch tree. f. A plant (Jussieua repens).

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Pittala (पित्तल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pittala.

[Sanskrit to German]

Pittala 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.

Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Pittala (पित्तल) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Pittala.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Pittala (ಪಿತ್ತಲ):—[adjective] of, having or resulting from some ailment of the bile or the liver; bilious.

--- OR ---

Pittala (ಪಿತ್ತಲ):—

1) [noun] a yellowish metal that is essentially an alloy of copper and zinc; brass.

2) [noun] the colour of this.

3) [noun] (fig.) a pretending of what one is not, for purpose of cheating others; hypocrisy.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 8 books and stories containing Pittala, Pittaḷa, Pittalā; (plurals include: Pittalas, Pittaḷas, Pittalās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 1 - Characteristics of Brass (pittala) < [Chapter VIII - Mixed metals (1): Pittala (brass)]

Chapter VIII - Mixed metals (1): Pittala (brass)

Part 3 - Incineration of pittala < [Chapter VIII - Mixed metals (1): Pittala (brass)]

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Chapter XXXVIII - Treatment of the diseases of the female organ of generation < [Canto II - Kaumarabhritya-tantra (pediatrics, gynecology and pregnancy)]

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4a. Kuṣṭha-roga (leprosy) in the Atharvaveda < [Chapter 5 - Diseases and Remedies in Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā]

1a. Study of Fever (Takman) in the Atharvaveda < [Chapter 5 - Diseases and Remedies in Atharvaveda and Caraka-Saṃhitā]

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Appendix 5.2: new and rare words < [Appendices]

Appendix 1.6: New and rare words < [Appendices]

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