Amarakosha

The Amarakosha (from amara "immortal" and kosha "casket, pail, collection, dictionary"; also Namalinganushasana (nama-linga-anu-shasana - "instruction concerning the gender of nouns of Amarasimha ")) is a thesaurus of Sanskrit written by the Buddhist scholar Amarasimha. Amarasimha was one of the Navaratnas (nava means nine and ratna refers to gem/precious stone) at the court of Chandragupta II, a Gupta king who reigned around AD 400. Some sources indicate that he belonged to the period of Vikramaditya of 7th century. He is believed to be son of a Sudra woman.

This book consists of verses that can be easily memorized. The book was originally called by Amarasimha as Ithyaamarasimhakruthov Namalinganushasane (Book of instruction concerning the gender of nouns written by Amarasimha), but is generally referred to as Amarakosam.

Textual organisation

Amarakosham is divided into three Khandas or chapters. The first Kandam Svargadhikanda(Heaven and others) has words pertaining to gods and heavens. The second Kandam Bhuvargadhikanda(Earth and others) deals with words of Earth, Towns, Animals and Humans. The third Kandam Samanyadhikanda(Common) has words related to grammar and other miscellaneous words.

Svargadhikanda, the first Kandam of Amarakosham begins with the verse 'Svaravyam swarganakathridivatrishalaya..' describing various names of Heaven viz. Sva, Avya, swarga, Naka, Tridiva, Tridasalaya etc. The second verse 'Amara, nirjara, deva,’ describes various words that are equivalent to word God. The fifth and sixth verses give various names of Gautama Buddha reinforcing the claim that he is a Buddhist.

The second Kandam, Bhuvargadhikanda, of Amarakosham is divided into ten Vargas or parts. The ten Vargas are Bhuvarga (Earth), Puravarga (Towns or Cities), Shailavarga (Mountains), Vanoshadivarga (Forests and medicines), Simhadivarga (Lions and other animals), Manushyavarga (Mankind), Bramhavarga (Brahmin), Kshatriyavarga (Kshatriyas), Vysyavarga (Vysyas) and Sudravarga (Sudras).

The Third Kandam, Samanyadhikanda contains Adjectives, Verbs, words related to prayer and business etc.. The first verse Kshemankaroristatathi Shivathathi Shivamkara gives the Nanarthas of the word Shubakara or propitious as Kshemankara, Aristathathi, Shivathathi and Shivamkara.

Commentaries

The Amarakoshad-ghatana is a commentary by Kshirasvamin.

Bibliography

• (1951). Amarakosam. Kadapa: Rayalu and Co. education publishers.
• Krsnaji Govinda Oka, Poona City, Law Printing Press, 1913
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