Recaka: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Recaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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 Rechaka.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyRecaka (रेचक) is another name (synonym) for Kampillaka, which is the Sanskrit word for Mallotus philippensis (kamala tree), a plant from the Cleomaceae family. This synonym was identified by Narahari in his 13th-century Rājanighaṇṭu (verse 13.99), which is an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus.
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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstraRecaka (रेचक) refers to “exhaling” (of breath). It is one of the three types of ‘breath-suspension’ techniques, also known as prāṇāyāma. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (See the Manubhāṣya verse 6.70)
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryRecaka (रेचक).—The state of equilibrium attained by offering the exhaled breath into the inhaled breath.
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraRecaka (रेचक) refers to ‘moving a limb round’ or ‘drawing up’ or its ‘movement of any kind’ separately, etc. Among the recakas
- the first is that of the foot (pādarecaka),
- the second is that of the waist (kaṭirecaka),
- the third is that of the hand (hastarecaka)
- and the fourth is that of the neck (grīvārecaka).
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: YogaRecaka (रेचक, “breathing out”) is a Sanskrit word referring to one of the three major breaths on which prāṇāyāma is built.
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchRecaka (रेचक) refers to “exhalation”, according to the Hemacandra’s Yogaśāstra (verse 5.6); Cf. Pātañjalayogaśāstra (verse 1.31).—Accordingly, “That external emission of the breath, [which is performed] with intense effort [and flows] from the abdomen through the nose, the crown of the head and mouth, is considered to be the exhalation (recaka)”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramRecaka (रेचक) refers to “exhalation” (of breath), according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] Thus, it is beyond Form (rūpa) and Part (pada) and its sphere (of existence) is beyond the beyond. It is not an object of meditation. It is not involved in concentration, meditation or Yoga. There is no exhalation [i.e., recaka], no inhalation or retention of the breath. It is free of in-breathing and out-breathing and it has no form or characterizing feature. It resides in the teacher's lotus mouth -it cannot be obtained otherwise (except from there)”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) 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 Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsRecaka (रेचक) refers to “exhalation”, and represents one of the three kinds of “breath-control” (prāṇāyāma), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Breath control is praised by mendicants, whose own opinions are well-established, for the accomplishment of meditation and for steadiness of the inner self. Therefore, it should be learned directly and before [meditation] by the wise. Otherwise, even a little mastering of the mind cannot be done. It is considered by the teachers of old as threefold in accordance with the difference in characteristics. There is inhalation, holding and, immediately after that, exhalation (recaka)”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryrēcaka (रेचक).—n (S) A cathartic medicine. 2 m Liberation of the breath suspended during the exercises called kumbhaka, pūraka &c.
--- OR ---
rēcaka (रेचक).—a (S) Purgative or aperient.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishrēcaka (रेचक).—n A cathartic medicine. Purgative.
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 dictionaryRecaka (रेचक).—a. (-cikā f.) [रेचयति रिच्-णिच् ण्वुल् (recayati ric-ṇic ṇvul)]
1) Emptying, purging.
2) Purgative, aperient.
3) Emptying the lungs, emitting the breath.
-kaḥ 1 Emission of breath, breathing out; exhalation, especially through one of the nostrils (opp. pūraka which means 'inhaling breath', and kumbhaka 'suspending breath'); प्राणापानौ संनिरुन्ध्यात् पूरकुम्भकरेचकैः (prāṇāpānau saṃnirundhyāt pūrakumbhakarecakaiḥ) Bhāgavata 7.15.32.
2) A syringe; सिच्यगानोऽच्युतस्ताभिर्हसन्तीभिः स्म रेचकैः (sicyagāno'cyutastābhirhasantībhiḥ sma recakaiḥ) Bhāgavata 1.9.9.
3) Nitre, salt-petre.
-kam A purgative, cathartic.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryRecaka (रेचक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-cikā-kaṃ) 1. Purgative, aperient. 2. Emptying the lungs, emitting the breath. m.
(-kaḥ) 1. A cathartic, a purgative. 2. Nitre, salt-petre. 3. The purging-nut plant, (Croton tiglium.) 4. Exhalation through one of the nostrils, (opposed to pūraka.) 5. A syringe. n.
(-kaṃ) A purge. E. ric to evacuate by stool, causal form, vun aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryRecaka (रेचक).—i. e. ric + aka, I. adj. Purgative, aperient. Ii. m. 1. A purgative. 2. A proper name, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] 76, 2 (but cf. Wilson, Spec. of the Theatre of the Hind. i. 2. ed. p. 260, n.). Iii. n. A purge. Iv. m. or n. Exhalation, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 3, 28, 9; a method of suppressing the breath, [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in
Recaka (रेचक).—[masculine] na [neuter] emission of breath.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Recaka (रेचक):—[from reka] mf(ikā)n. emptying, purging, aperient, cathartic, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] emptying the lungs, emitting the breath, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] m. the act of breathing out, exhalation, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
4) [v.s. ...] ([especially]) expelling the breath out of one of the nostrils (one of the three Prāṇāyāmas q.v. or breath-exercises performed during Saṃdhyā), [Amṛtabindu-upaniṣad; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc., [Religious Thought and Life in India 402]
5) [v.s. ...] a syringe, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
6) [v.s. ...] a [particular] movement of the feet, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
7) [v.s. ...] saltpetre, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) [v.s. ...] Croton Jamalgota, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] Clerodendrum Phlomoides, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) [v.s. ...] Name of a forester, [Vikramorvaśī] ([varia lectio] redhaka)
11) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata] ([Bombay edition] ārocaka)
12) [v.s. ...] n. a kind of soil or earth, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
13) [v.s. ...] the fruit of the yellow myrobalan, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
14) [v.s. ...] a purge, cathartic, [Horace H. Wilson]
15) [v.s. ...] m. or n. (?) = bhramaṇa, [Haravijaya] (cf. next).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryRecaka (रेचक):—[(kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) a.] Purgative. m. A purgative nitre; purging nut plant. n. A purge.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryRecaka (रेचक) [Also spelled rechak]:—(a) purgative; (nm) a purgative, jalap; a stage in [prāṇāyāma] when deeply inhaled air is expelled through the nose; ~[cana] the evacuation of the bowels; expulsion of deeply inhaled air through the nose in [prāṇāyāma; ~cita] evacuated; purged out; (inhaled air) expelled (through the nose).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusRēcaka (ರೇಚಕ):—
1) [noun] the act of breathing out; an exhaling.
2) [noun] a medicine used as a laxative; a laxative.
3) [noun] a device used to draw out air from within.
4) [noun] a defect; a flaw; a fault.
5) [noun] a yogic act of breathing out in a regulated manner, through one nostril.
6) [noun] (dance.) a particular movement in dance.
7) [noun] the tree Clerodendrum phlomidis of Verbenaceae family.
8) [noun] its beautiful flower.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryRecaka (रेचक):—n. 1. purgation; laxation; catharsis; 2. a method of respiration in the practice of yoga in while the breath is exhaled out of one nostril; 3. evacuation of bowels; adj. purgative; laxative; cathartic; aperient;
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: Recakah, Recakanikuntaka, Recakanikuttita, Recakavata, Recakayamtra.
Ends with: Atirecaka, Grivarecaka, Hastarecaka, Kancukirecaka, Katirecaka, Padarecaka, Purakakumbhakarecaka, Samrecaka, Surecaka, Udrecaka, Urdvarecaka, Vatarecaka, Virecaka.
Full-text (+32): Pranayama, Redhaka, Reca, Vatarecaka, Padarecaka, Hastarecaka, Grivarecaka, Katirecaka, Irecakakuna, Vatavetaka, Pataha, Virecya, Kancukirecaka, Virecita, Bheri, Dindima, Virecanadravya, Virecin, Jhanjha, Purakakumbhakarecaka.
Relevant text
Search found 35 books and stories containing Recaka, Rēcaka; (plurals include: Recakas, Rēcakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Yogadrstisamuccaya of Haribhadra Suri (Study) (by Riddhi J. Shah)
Chapter 4.4a - The Fourth: Dīprādṛṣṭi (dīprā-dṛṣṭi)—Introduction < [Chapter 4 - The Eight Yogadṛṣṭis and the nature of a Liberated Soul]
Gati in Theory and Practice (by Dr. Sujatha Mohan)
Elements of Āṅgika-abhinaya in Nāṭyaśāstra < [Chapter 1 - Nāṭya]
Gati in classical form of Mohiniāṭṭam < [Chapter 4 - Practice of Gati]
Technical treatises on Nāṭya (other works) < [Chapter 1 - Nāṭya]
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 8 - Yogic zones (aṣṭāṅgayoga-nirūpaṇa) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Chapter 55 - The mode of propitiating Śiva < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations) (by Makarand Gopal Newalkar)
Sūtra 2.49 [The definition of prāṇāyāma] < [Book II - Sādhana-pāda]
Part 4 - Scientific Research work carried out by Kaivalyadham < [Relevant research]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Related products
