Caturika, Caturikā, Cāturika, Cāturīka: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Caturika means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Chaturika.
In Hinduism
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Caturikā (चतुरिका) is the name of a lady whose story is told in ‘The Chanter of the Sāma-veda and the Courtesan’, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara chapter 6.
2) Caturikā (चतुरिका) is the friend of Śaśāṅkavatī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 103. Accordingly, as Śaśāṅkavatī said to Caturikā: “... so you must go to the army and see what he is like, and then return. For, my fortunate friend, Caturikā is your name, and Prudence is your nature”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Caturikā, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaCaturikā (चतुरिका).—A harlot about whom the following story is told in Kathāsaritsāgara.
Once a poor Brahmin got a piece of gold as Pratigraha (fee or dakṣiṇā for performing a religious rite). While he was perplexed not knowing what to do with the gold, a Viṭa advised him to go on tour with the money got by selling the gold. The poor Brahmin did not even know how to go on tour. Then the Viṭa advised him to visit a harlot called Caturikā, who lived close by and who, the Vita said, would teach him how to go on tour.
Brahmin:—What shall I do first after going to the harlot’s house?
Viṭa:—Caturikā will become friendly if you would give her the gold. Then you should use sweet and charming words, and that is all.
The Brahmin went immediately to Caturikā’s house and he was received honourably by her. Then giving the gold to her he requested her to instruct him about going on tour. This request of his evoked laughter from people around him. Then the Brahmin who was versed in the Śrutis began reciting the Sāman with his palm formed in the shape of the ears of the cow. All those who were present there wildly laughed at him, and somehow or other he escaped from the none too pleasant scene, and reported his experience at the harlot’s to the Viṭa. He very easily understood that the reason for the Brahmin being ridiculed was that misreading his advice to use 'sāma' (sweet words) the Brahmin recited the sāmaveda. He took the brahmin back to Caturikā and asked her to return the 'grass' (gold given her by the brahmin) to 'the cow', the Brahmin who was as simple as the cow. Laughingly Caturikā returned the gold to him. (Kathāsaritsāgara, Kathāpīṭha Laṃbakam, Taraṅga 6).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryCāturika (चातुरिक).—[cāturīṃ rathacaryāṃ vetti ṭhak] A coachman, driver, charioteer.
Derivable forms: cāturikaḥ (चातुरिकः).
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Cāturīka (चातुरीक).—
1) A swan.
2) A sort of duck; कलहंसे च कारण्डे चातुरीकः पुमानयम् (kalahaṃse ca kāraṇḍe cāturīkaḥ pumānayam) Nm.
Derivable forms: cāturīkaḥ (चातुरीकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryCāturika (चातुरिक).—m.
(-kaḥ) A charioteer, a coachman. E. cātura a carriage, and ṭhak aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Caturikā (चतुरिका):—[from catasṛ] 1. caturikā f. (= tuṣka) a quadrangular courtyard (used for guests), [Pañcadaṇḍacchattra-prabandha iv, 76; v, 45.]
2) [from catura] 2. caturikā (See caturaka) f. Name of a woman, [Śakuntalā vi, 8/9] (in Prākṛt) and, [13/14; Kathāsaritsāgara vi, 53; ciii, 20.]
3) Cāturika (चातुरिक):—[from cātura] m. ([from] 1. ra) a charioteer, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryCāturika (चातुरिक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A charioteer.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Caturikai, Caturikan.
Ends with: Shringaracaturika.
Full-text: Caturaka, Caturikai, Caturthaka, Catura.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Caturika, Caturikā, Cāturika, Cāturīka; (plurals include: Caturikas, Caturikās, Cāturikas, Cāturīkas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
Part 8 - The Date of the Nāṭyaśāstra < [Introduction, part 1]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)