The Sanskrit word andikā most commonly means a fireplace or oven, but in other contexts it can also mean an elder sister, a small weight unit, or (in variant form) something egg‑bearing.
Core Sanskrit dictionary meanings
- A fireplace, oven, or furnace — the most widely attested meaning in classical Sanskrit dictionaries.
- An elder sister — treated as a weaker or variant form of antikā.
Technical meanings in ancient Indian metrology
A closely related form aṇḍikā (अण्डिका) appears in epigraphical and historical sources with a specific weight value :
- A weight equal to 1/4 of a māṣa.
- Also equated with a copper paṇa, valued as 1/12 of a suvarṇa in some sources.
- Sometimes glossed as 4 yava (barley grains), following medical texts such as Caraka.
These meanings occur in inscriptions and measurement tables rather than general vocabulary.
Biological / botanical usage
In Indian botanical tradition, Andika is also recorded as a name for the plant Boswellia serrata .
This is a regional or traditional plant-name usage, not a Sanskrit grammatical meaning.
This is a regional or traditional plant-name usage, not a Sanskrit grammatical meaning.
Distinguishing andikā from āṇḍīka
The results also list āṇḍīka (आण्डीक), which is not the same word, though similar in form.
It means :
It means :
- “Egg-bearing” — used for plants with egg-shaped fruits or bulbs, attested in the Atharva‑Veda.
This is a descriptive adjective derived from āṇḍa (“egg”).
Summary
If you encountered andikā in a Sanskrit text, the most likely meaning is “fireplace/oven.”
Other meanings—elder sister, a small weight, or a plant name—depend on the textual or disciplinary context.
Other meanings—elder sister, a small weight, or a plant name—depend on the textual or disciplinary context.
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