Karavala, Karavāla, Kara-vala: 8 definitions



Karavala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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.

India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: India History

Karavala (or, Karavāla) refers to one of the 84 castes (gaccha) in the Jain community according to Mr. P. D. Jain. The Jain caste and sub-caste system was a comparatively later development within their community, and it may have arisen from the ancient classification of Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. Before distinction of these classes (such as Karavala), the society was not divided into distinct separate sections, but all were considered as different ways of life and utmost importance was attached to individual chartacter and mode of behaviour.


The legendary account of the origin of these 84 Jain castes (e.g., Karavala) relate that once a rich Jain invited members of the Jain community in order to establish a vaiśya-mahāsabhā (i.e. Central Association of Traders). In response, 84 representatives came from different places, and they were later seen as the progenitors of these castes. Various sources however mention differences in the list.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

karavala (करवल).—m ( H) A horse-musketeer.

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karavalā (करवला).—m (karā & vālā Affix implying an agent.) In marriages. A jocose term for the brother of the bride or bridegroom. This being the masculine form of karavalī q. v. infra.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Karavāla (करवाल).—

1) sword; अघोरघण्टः करवालपाणिर्व्यापादितः (aghoraghaṇṭaḥ karavālapāṇirvyāpāditaḥ) Māl.9; म्लेच्छनिवहनिधने कलयसि करवालम् (mlecchanivahanidhane kalayasi karavālam) Gīt.1, Śi.13.6.

2) a finger-nail.

Derivable forms: karavālaḥ (करवालः).

Karavāla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kara and vāla (वाल). See also (synonyms): karabāla.

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

Karavāla (करवाल).—[masculine] sword;

pāṇi [substantive] in hand.*


1) Karavāla (करवाल):—[=kara-vāla] [from kara] m. a sword, scymitar, [Mahābhārata; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc. (cf. -pāla above)

2) [v.s. ...] a finger-nail, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]


Karavāla (करवाल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Karavāla.

[Sanskrit to German]

Karavala in German

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Prakrit-English dictionary


Karavāla (करवाल) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Karavāla.

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