Tamra, aka: Tāmra, Tāmrā; 13 Definition(s)
Tamra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. 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.
Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)
Tāmra (ताम्र, “Copper”) is the name for a variation of ‘metal’ (dhātu/loha) from the sub-group named Pūtiloha, according to the Rasaprakāśasudhākara: a 13th century Sanskrit book on Indian alchemy, or, Rasaśāstra.
Copper has 2 variations on its own:
- nepālaja (obtained from Nepāla-deśa, modern Nepal),
- mlecchaja (obtained from places other than Nepāla-deśa).
Tamra refers to “copper”. (see Bhudeb Mookerji and his Rasajalanidhi)Source: archive.org: Rasa-Jala-Nidhi: Or Ocean of indian chemistry and alchemy
Copper (Tāmra) is of two types:
- and Mlecchaja.
Tāmra-bhasma used in one valla dose internally cures pariṇāma-śūla, aṣṭavidha-udara-rogas, pāṇḍu-roga, śopha-roga, gulma-roga, plīha-roga, yakṛdjanya-roga, agnisāda (mandāgni), kṣayaja-roga, prameha and gradaṇī etc. and many diseases with different anupānas.
Generally Tāmra-bhasma is advised for internal use mixed with pippalī-cūrṇa and madhu. And as such it can destroy all the doṣas and the diseases produced by these. Specially copper bhasma may destroy arśas, ajīrṇajanya-rogas and jvara-rogas etc. It may also prove very good in destroying bṛddhi-roga, śvasana-janya-rogas and various types of kāsas. It is a best Rasāyana and prevents/destroys jarā and mṛtyu (senile diseases and death).Source: Indian Journal of History of Science: Rasaprakāśa-sudhākara, chapter 4-5
Tamra (Copper) is another ancient metal known to human civilization. Charaka uses the term Arka in a few places which Chakrapani clarifies as synonymous with Tamra. According to the descriptions of Rasa in Vagbhata Ref. there are two forms of Tamra viz. Nepaliya and Mlechha, only the former being acceptable. Samples with characteristic metallic sheen (Snigdham), soft (Mridulam), bright reddish in color (Shonam), having high tensile strength (Ghanaghata Ksamam), heavy (Guru), and devoid of impurities (Nirvikaram) are identified as best used for medicinal purposes.
Formulations of ‘Tamra’ are useful in a wide range of diseases like Krimi, Sthaulya, Arsha, Ksaya, Pandu, Kusta, Swasa, Kasa, Amlapitta, Sotha, Sula, Yakrit Roga and Grahani dosha etc. In addition, Charaka advocates the use of Tamra Patra (copper vessels) in several pharmaceutical procedures. Normal doses mentioned for ‘Tamra Bhasma’ is 15 mg to 60 mg.Source: PMC: Therapeutic potentials of metals in ancient India
Rasashastra (रसशास्त्र, rasaśāstra) is an important branch of Ayurveda, specialising in chemical interactions with herbs, metals and minerals. Some texts combine yogic and tantric practices with various alchemical operations. The ultimate goal of Rasashastra is not only to preserve and prolong life, but also to bestow wealth upon humankind.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Tāmra (ताम्र).—A demon, son of Murāsura. The demon Mura had seven children named Tāmra, Antarīkṣa, Śravaṇa, Vasu, Vibhāvasu, Nabhasvān and Aruṇa. Of these Tāmra was Mahiṣāsura’s minister for a long time. The Chief Minister of Mahiṣāsura was Asilomā; Defence Minister, Cikṣura; Foreign minister, Viḍāla and Finance minister, Tāmra. Udarka was the Commander-in-chief and Bāṣkala, Trinetra and Kālabandhaka were Cabinet Ministers. He was killed along with his father Mura, by Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (10th Skandha Bhāgavata and 5th Skandha, Devī Bhāgavata).
2) Tāmrā (ताम्रा).—Daughter of Dakṣa. Tamrā was married to Kaśyapa and he begot of her five daughters named Krauñcī, Bhāsī, Śyenī, Dhṛtarāṣṭrī and Śukī. Of these Krauñcī delivered owls, Bhāsī delivered Bhāsas, Śyenī, Kites and Vultures, Dhrtarāṣṭrī, swans, geese and cuckoos, and Śukī delivered Natā and Natā in turn Vinatā. (Sarga 14, Araṇya Kāṇḍa, Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa).Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopaedia
1a) Tāmra (ताम्र).—A son of Mura (s.v.).*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 59. 12.
1b) A monkey chief.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 234.
1c) A son of Satyabhāmā and Kṛṣṇa.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 47. 17; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 247.
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 6. 26-27; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 2 and 30; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 325-26. Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 15. 125; 21. 14-17.
- 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 3. 56; 7. 445 to 448; 69. 325.
- 3) Matsya-purāṇa 146. 18; 171. 29 and 60.
2b) Wife of Vasudeva; her son was Sahadeva.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 46. 16.
2c) A daughter of Dakṣa and wife of Kaśyapa.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 66. 54.
Tāmrā (ताम्रा) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.60.54) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Tāmrā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Tāmrā also refers to the name of a River mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.10.27).Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Tāmrā (ताम्रा) is another name for Tāmravallī, a medicinal plant possibly identified with Phyllanthus urinaria (chamber bitter or common leafflower) from the Phyllanthaceae or “leafflower” family of flowering plants, according to verse 3.122-123 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The Dhanvantari (in his nighaṇṭu) does not describe Tāmravallī, but by the synonym Tāmalkī he has described Bhūmyāmalkī (Phyllanthus urinaria) in Candanādi-varga, which does not tally with the description of Raj Nighantu. The third chapter (guḍūcyādi-varga) of this book contains climbers and creepers (vīrudh). Together with the names Tāmrā and Tāmravallī, there are a total of nine Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu
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.
General definition (in Jainism)
Tāmra (ताम्र) refers to “copper”: a metal that was typically mined, extracted and used (both domestic and industrial) in ancient India. Mining was an important industry at that time as well. The Jaina canonical texts mention about the extraction of various kinds of minerals, metals (eg., tāmra) and precious stones. The term ‘āgara’ occurring intire texts denotes the mines which provided many kinds of mineral products. The references in the texts of various professions and trade in metallic commodities clearly show a highly developed industry of mining and metallurgy in that period.Source: archive.org: Economic Life In Ancient India (as depicted in Jain canonical literature)
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
tāmra (ताम्र).—n (S) Copper. 2 Calx of copper. 3 In comp. Of a coppery-red color.Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary
tāmra (ताम्र).—n Copper, Calx of copper. a Red.Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English
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.
Tāmra (ताम्र).—a. [tam-rak dīrghaḥ Uṇ.2.16.]
1) Made of copper.
2) Of a coppery red colour, red; ततोऽनुकुर्याद्विशदस्य तस्यास्ताम्रौष्ठपर्यस्तरुचः स्मितस्य (tato'nukuryādviśadasya tasyāstāmrauṣṭhaparyastarucaḥ smitasya) Ku.1.44; उदेति सविता ताम्रस्ताम्र एवास्तमेति च (udeti savitā tāmrastāmra evāstameti ca) Subhāṣ.
-mraḥ A kind of leprosy with red spots.
-mram 1 Copper.
2) A dark or coppery red.
3) A coppery receptacle; ताम्रलोहैः परिवृता निधयो ये चतुः- शताः (tāmralohaiḥ parivṛtā nidhayo ye catuḥ- śatāḥ) Mb.2.61.29.
-mrī A copper pot having a small hole at the botton used in measuring time by placing it in a water-vessel.Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Search found 122 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
Tāmraparnī (ताम्रपर्नी) is the name of a river and it issues from the Malaya mountain called th...
Tāmralipta (ताम्रलिप्त).—A King in ancient Bhārata. Sahadeva during his victory march conquered...
Tāmrapatra (ताम्रपत्र).—n. (-traṃ) A plate of copper. m. (-traḥ) A potherb: see jīva. E. tāmra,...
Tāmrābha (ताम्राभ).—n. (-bhaṃ) Red sandal wood. E. tāmra copper, and resembling. tāmrasya ābhā ...
Tāmracūḍā (ताम्रचूडा).—A female follower of Subrahmaṇya. (Śloka 18, Chapter 46, Anuśāsana Parva...
Tāmrapaṭṭa (ताम्रपट्ट).—n. (-ṭṭaṃ) A copper-plate, such as Hindu grants of land, &c. are fr...
Tāmrākṣa (ताम्राक्ष).—mfn. (-kṣaḥ-kṣī-kṣaṃ) Red-eyed. m. (-kṣaḥ) The Koil or Kokila, the Indian...
Tāmraśikhin (ताम्रशिखिन्).—m. (-khī) A cock. E. tāmra copper, śikhā a crest, and ini affix. see...
Tāmravallī (ताम्रवल्ली).—f. (-llī) Bengal madder, (Rubia manjith.) 2. A medicinal plant used as...
Tāmrakṛmi (ताम्रकृमि).—m. (-miḥ) A kind of red insect. E. tāmra red, and kṛmi a worm. indragopa...
Tāmramukha (ताम्रमुख).—a. copper-faced. (-khaḥ) 1 a Frank or European; 2) the Moghals. Tāmramuk...
Tāmravarṇī (ताम्रवर्णी).—the blossom of sesamum. Tāmravarṇī is a Sanskrit compound consisting o...
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Tāmrakuṭṭa (ताम्रकुट्ट).—m. (-ṭṭaḥ) A brazier or copper-smith. E. tāmraṃ kuṭṭayati kuṭṭa-aṇ upa...
Tāmranakha (ताम्रनख) refers to “fingernails of copper colour” and represents the first of the e...
Search found 28 books and stories containing Tamra, Tāmra or Tāmrā. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 1 - Characteristics of Copper (tamra) < [Chapter III - Metals (3): Tamra (copper)]
Part 1 - Characteristics of Varta-loha < [Chapter X - Mixed metals (3): Varta-loha]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 32 - Description of Creation (3): The family of Kaśyapa < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 46 - Incarnation of Mahālakṣmī < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 25 - Treatment for enlargement of spleen and liver (24): Tamra Kalpa < [Chapter VII - Enlargement of spleen (plihodara) and liver (yakridudara)]
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 6 - Birth of Devas, Daityas, Birds and Serpents etc. < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Chapter 6 - Bhāratavarṣa: Its Rivers and Regions < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]