Gomeda, Go-meda: 7 definitions



In Hinduism

Rasashastra (chemistry and alchemy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Gomeda (गोमेद, “Hessonite”):—One of the nine gems (navaratna) according to the 13th century Rasaprakāśasudhākara. When its colour is similar to gomedas (cow’s fat) or similar to very clear cow’s urine, it is considered as śuddha or of superior quality.

The Hessonite (gomeda) has Pharmaco-therapeutic properties and possesses the following characteristics:

  • It pacifys pitta-doṣa,
  • destroys kapha-doṣa, pāṇḍuroga and kṣaya-roga,
  • stimulates digestive fire,
  • acts as a good digestive (appatizer),
  • produces relishness (rūci)
  • and promotes intelligence to great extent

Superior: When the Hessonite is possessed of the following characteristics, it is considered superior: Bright shining, greasy appearance, free from dalas (layers/scales), smooth on touch, having the shade similar to clear cow’s urine, clear inlook, sama (uneven) on surface. When containing these characteristics, the Gomeda is considered garīya (of best quality) and may be used for all purposes.

Inferior: The Hessonite is considered inferior when it exhibits the following traits: Does not contain proper shade, flat, without shining, having dry surface, small in size, containing scales/layers, light in weight and similar to pīta-kāca (yellow glass).

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Gomeda (गोमेद).—Mt. one of the seven hills of Plakṣadvīpa; gives its name to Gomedavarṣa.*

  • * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 7, 138; Matsya-purāṇa 123. 28; Vāyu-purāṇa 49. 6; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 7.

1b) Another name for the country Śāntabhayam in the Plakṣadvīpa;1 surrounding the sea of wine and surrounded by sugar-cane juice sea;2 encircles the Kumuda hill.3

  • 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 15.
  • 2) Matsya-purāṇa 123. 1-4; 124. 50.
  • 3) Ib. 123. 7.
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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Gomeda (गोमेद) refers to one of the seven continents (saptadvīpa) situated within the world of the earth (pṛthivī), according to Parākhyatantra 5.61. It is also known as Gomedadvīpa. These continents are located above the seven pātālas and may contain even more sub-continents within them, are round in shape, and are encircled within seven concentric oceans.

According to the Parākhya-tantra, “beyond that is the continent Gomedas, where, because of the curse of Gautama, a hundred cows were killed, and there then flowed fat: becauseof the profusion of that fat the continent got its name. Outside that is the ocean of liquor which reeks of the perfume of the blood of gods, intoxicated by which Vidyādharas and Gandharvas revel”.


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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: The Jaina Iconography

Gomeda (गोमेद) or Gomedha is the name of the Yakṣa accompanying Neminātha: the twenty-second of twenty-four Tīrthaṃkaras or Jinas, commonly depicted in Jaina iconography.—Neminātha’s emblem is known to be a conch-shell from the Jaina canonical texts. The Śāsana-devatās who attend upon him are Yakṣa Gomedha and Yakṣiṇī Ambikā (Digambara: and Kuṣmāṇḍinī). The Chowri-bearer, in his case, is King Ugrasena. His Kevala-tree is called Mahāveṇu or Vetasa.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Gomeda (गोमेद).—a gem brought from the Himālaya and Indus, described as of four different colours:-white, pale-yellow, red, and dark-blue.

Derivable forms: gomedaḥ (गोमेदः).

Gomeda is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and meda (मेद).


Gomeda (गोमेद).—m.

(-daḥ) A yellow gem: see the next.

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