Cakra, Cakrā, Cākra: 68 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Natyashastra
2. Shilpashastra
3. Pancaratra
4. Shaivism
5. Vastushastra
6. Purana
7. Dhanurveda
8. Shaktism
9. Chandas
10. Jyotisha
11. Kavya
12. Vaishnavism
13. Vedanta
14. Ayurveda
15. Yoga
16. Mantrashastra
17. General definition
In Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
5. Nepali
See also
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Introduction:

Cakra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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 Chakra.

Images (photo gallery)

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In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “disc”, a weapon which should measure should measure twelve aṅguli (unit of measurement), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. In dramatic plays, weapons such as cakra should be made by experts using proper measurements and given to persons engaged in a fight, angry conflict or siege. It forms a component of āhāryābhinaya (extraneous representation).

Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)

One of the saṃyutta-hastāni (Twenty-four combined Hands).—Cakra (discus): Ardha-candra hands askew, the palms in contact.Usage: discus.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Google Books: The Theory of Citrasutras in Indian Painting

Cakra (चक्र, ‘discus’) is a weapon (āyudha or bādhra) according to the Vāstusūtra Upaniṣad.

Source: Google Books: Elements of Hindu iconography

Chakra is also a characteristically Vaiṣṇava weapon. It is also carried by Durgā, who is said to be the sister and as such the female form of Viṣṇu. It is shown in sculptures in two different forms. In the first variety, it is shaped like the wheel of a cart, with spokes, nave and all, and is meant to be grasped by the rim. But in the other form, it is highly ornamented, the spokes are made to resemble the petals of a lotus so that the interal parts appear like a full blown lotus in the tout ensemble.

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Trinity

The Discus (cakra) in Viṣṇu’s upper right hand is called Sudarśana which means 'pleasing-to-see', it is usually shown in iconography with a hexagon in the centre. The six points of the two triangles represent the six seasons in a yearly time cycle, in the centre nave is the seed sound (bīja) ‘Hrīm’, which represents the changeless, motionless centre , the Supreme Cause.

The Cosmic Mind has the unlimited power which creates and destroys all spheres of existence (lokas) and forms of the universe, the nature of which is to revolve. The Discus represents the “will-to-multiply”. There is only one centre to the wheel but it is said to have a thousand spokes.

Source: Red Zambala: Hindu Icons and Symbols | Introduction

Cakra (Discus or wheel) - The wheel is the symbol of the Dharma which rotates and spins its beneficial influence in all directions. It also symbolises the cycle of Samsāra — of repeated birth and death which turns endlessly and from which we desire to be liberated. It is also used as a weapon and it's speed is faster than the speed of the mind — thus representing the cosmic mind which destroys our enemies in the form of the afflictive emotions.

Source: DSpace at Pondicherry: Siddha Cult in Tamilnadu (sculpture)

Cakra (चक्र).—As many as 150 representations of the yogic cakras are found at Śrisailam. Some of them are depicted in association with Siddhas and sometimes with Swan (haṃsa). In addition to these several sculptures depict yogic exercises and postures. All these indicate the popularity of Siddha cult in the sacred complex of Śrisailam.

The sculptural examples of Tiruvaṭṭāṛu in Tamilnādu show some interesting schematic representations of the Yogic cakras in the human body. These sculptures also carry a sexual dimension of the Yogic powers, in the portrayal of ithyphallic men. Similar examples are also found in the temples of Bāhūr, Puducherry; Śrīraṅgam; Tirupathisāram, Tamilnādu and Āraṇmula, Keralā.

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (śilpa)

Cakra (चक्र, “discus”) refers to one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—Cakra is shown in sculptures in two different forms. In the first variety, it is shaped like the wheel of a cart, with spokes, nave and all, and is studded with precious gems. But in the other form, a highly ornamental one, the spokes are made to resemble the petals of a lotus so that the internal parts appear like a full blown lotus. The cakra also has ornamentations on the top and the sides, and a jeweled ribbon, running around it. It is in some cases held in the hand by means of this ribbon, and in other cases, between the first two fingers. It is a weapon resembling modern quoits and must have been used as a missile to be thrown against the enemy to cut him through and kill him.

Source: Shodhganga: Vaisnava Agamas And Visnu Images

Cakra (चक्र) refers to one of the various attributes (āyudha) of divine icons, as defined in treatises such as the Pāñcarātra, Pādmasaṃhitā and Vaikhānasa-āgamas, extensively dealing with the technical features of temple art, iconography and architecture in Vaishnavism.—The four attributes viz., śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma are very essential in the Pāñcarātra mode of worship. As per Vihagendrasaṃhitā (2.25b-26a), the four attributes i.e., padma, cakra, gadā and śaṅkha signify the creation (sṛṣṭi). sustenance (sthiti), dissolution (laya) and eternal liberation (mokṣa) respectively.

Kāśyapa, while describing the nature of āyudhas and attendants of Viṣṇu states that cakra signifies the saṃsāra set in motion by Viṣṇu and Śrīdevī. As per the Vaikhānasa treatises, the personified form of cakra is male and be is the consort of Puṣṭi or Puṣṭikā. He has the complexion red or that of fire or sun and his garments are in red. He holds a cakra on his head. Sātvatasaṃhitā (13.9b-10a), while describing personified form of cakra states that Sudarśana is present inside the orb of his own rays with his short stature and red eyes. He always awaits the command of his Lord.

According to Prakīrṇādhikāra, cakra is of three types, viz.,

Kālacakra (in the form of a cakra with the pedestal),
Vīracakra (the one held in the right hand of Viṣṇu),
Sahasravikaca (a personified form).

According to Prakīrṇādhikāra the diameter of the cakra must be equal to the face of the icon, i.e., one tāla proportionately. It should have five jvālās (flames), four on the sides and one in the middle and with twelve or eight spokes. It should be placed on the tip of the finger on the right hand.

Pādmasaṃhitā (Kriyāpāda 20.85-88a) details the cakra: the middle circle (cakra-piṇḍikā—the centre-hold of spokes) must have two aṅgulas diametre. The spokes (ara) must have eight aṅgulas i.e. four aṅgulas on either side; outer rim (nemi-valaya) must be two aṅgulas wide i.e. one aṅgula on both sides. In total, the distance between the outer parts of the rim has 12 aṅgulas diameter. There are four jvālās on the rims. Two jvālās with tongues must be from the middle (nābhi). The flames must be 2½-2 aṅgulas high and three aṅgulas wide. The spoke (ara) may resemble yava grain or eye in shape. The spokes may be six, eight or twelve.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Wisdom Library: Pāñcarātra

1) Cakra (चक्र, “discus”):—One of the nine symbols representing the cosmic principles of the universe, according to the Pāñcarātra literature. These nine weapons and ornaments symbolize the principles which they represent as the presiding deity. The Discus (cakra) represents universal mind.

2) Cakra (चक्र) refers to an aspect of nṛsiṃha (‘man-lion’), according to the Vihagendra-saṃhitā 4.17, which mentions seventy-four forms (inlcuding twenty forms of vyūha). He is also known as Cakranṛsiṃha or Cakranarasiṃha. Nṛsiṃha is a Tantric deity and refers to the furious (ugra) incarnation of Viṣṇu.

The 15th-century Vihagendra-saṃhīta is a canonical text of the Pāñcarātra corpus and, in twenty-four chapters, deals primarely with meditation on mantras and sacrificial oblations.

Source: archive.org: Isvara Samhita Vol 5

Cakra (चक्र) or Cakramudrā is the name of a mudrā described in the Īśvarasaṃhitā 33-34.—Accordingly, “the two hands are to be joined with each other and clearly stretched out and moved about like a wheel. This is called cakramudrā, which destroys all miseries. This is the supreme mudrā”. Mūdra (eg., Cakra-mudrā) is so called as it gives joy to the tattvas in the form of karman for those who offer spotless worship, drive out the defects which move about within and without and sealing up of what is done.

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

1) Cakra (चक्र) is the name of a Mudrā (“ritual hand-gestures”), discussed in the twenty-fourth chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (printed edition), a Pāñcarātra work in 8200 verses and 24 chapters dealing with topics such as routines of temple worship, major and minor festivals, temple-building and initiation.—Description of the chapter [mudrā-lakṣaṇa-bhagavaddhyāna-ādi-prakāra]: Nārada tells how one prepares himself for the practice of mudrā-gestures—washing the hands with sandal-paste, doing certain exercises with the fingers, ritually touching the chest with the thumbs and forefingers of both hands, executing certain motions with the palms joined, etc. (3-11). Different mudrā-gestures are named and described (12-72): [e.g., cakra (34a)] [...]

2) Cakra (चक्र) or Cakramudrā refers to one of the fifty-three Mudrās (ritual hand gestures) described in chapter 22 (Caryāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [mudrālakṣaṇa-vidhi]: Brahmā asks the meaning, uses and varieties of mudrā-gestures. Bhagavān says these finger movements are ways to fend off evil and to prevent those taking pleasure in harming others. Furthermore, they please the Lord-so long as they are demonstrated in private (1-5a). He then names and describes 53 mudrā-gestures: [e.g., cakra (48b-49a)] [...]

3) Cakra (चक्र) or Cakramudrā refers to one of the Mudrās (gestures) discussed in chapter 31 of the Mārkaṇḍeyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2200 Sanskrit verses mainly dealing with temple-building, iconography, pūjā (worship procedures), utsava (festivities) and prāyaścitta (expiatory measures).—Description of chapter [mudrā-vidhāna]: As a part of worship [pūjāṅga], it is ordained in the śāstras that certain mudrā-gestures be done to please the gods (1). The ones listed and described are [e.g., Cakra-mudrā] [...]. When some of these are to be used in the worship of God is given (49b-58).

4) Cakra (चक्र) or Cakramudrā is the name of a Mudrā (“ritual hand-gestures”) mentioned in in chapter 13 of the Viśvāmitrasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2600 Sanskrit verses covering topics such as initiation (dīkṣā) and the construction, decoration and consecration of temples and icons, as well as routines of regular and special worship cycles.—Description of the chapter [mudrā-adhyāya]: Kāśyapa asks what are the various types of mudrā-gestures, and Viśvāmitra complies by first defining mudrā as that by seeing which one derives pleasure (“mu-”) and then by counseling that whoever practices these mudrās must do so in secrecy (1-6). Thereupon he names and briefly describes how to perform a number of mudrās [e.g., cakra]

5) Cakra (चक्र) or Cakramudrā is the name of a Mudrā mentioned in chapter 4 of the Viṣṇutilakasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 3500 Sanskrit verses covering the typically “agamic” subjects which are being narrated by Brahmā to a number of sages.—Description of the chapter [yoga-adhyāya]: [...] The namatraya-mantra (Acyuta, Ananta and Govinda) is then mentioned, as is the agniprākāra-mantra. This is followed by brief descriptions of mudrās [e.g., cakra-mudrā]—which “please” Him (649-680).

6) Cakra (चक्र) or Cakramudrā refers to one of the 37 Mudrās (hand-gestures) described in chapter 7 of the Viṣṇusaṃhitā: a Sanskrit text written in 2600 verses which covers typical Pāñcarātra topics through a narrative dialogue between Aupagāyana and Siddha Sumati.—[Cf. the chapter mudrā-lakṣaṇa].

7) Cakra (चक्र) or Cakramudrā refers to one of the 81 Mudrās (hand-gestures) described in chapter 2 of the Ṛṣirātra section of the Sanatkumārasaṃhitā: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).—[Cf. the chapter mudrā-lakṣaṇa].

Source: SriMatham: Vaiṣṇava Iconology based on Pañcarātra Āgama

The Discus (cakra):—

bala svarūpam atyanta javenāntaritānilam |
cakra svarūpañca mano dhatte viṣṇuḥ kare sthitam ||

“In the form of mighty power, revolving swifter than the winds—the Universal Mind in the form of a wheel is held in the hand of Vishnu.” (Viṣṇu-purāṇa. 1;22; 70.)

The Cosmic Mind has the unlimited power which creates and destroys all spheres of existence (lokas) and forms of the universe, the nature of which is to revolve. According to the Ahirbudhnya Samhita 2;26, the Discus represents the “will-to-multiply”. In the beginning the Lord said to Himself eko'ham bahu syam—“I am one, may I become many”. And thus He projected the manifold universe that we see around us. There is only one center to the wheel but it is said to have a thousand spokes (sahasrāra).

The Wheel has eight spokes and 8 wings, which represent the eight syllables of the sacred Aṣṭākṣarī mantra, while the outer circle of the wheel represents ‘māya’, the divine power of manifestation.

In the microcosm the Universal Mind corresponds to the active-notion-of-individual-existence (rajas ahamkara) that is associated with the fiery principle.

“The prodigious power of the mind can destroy all forms of ignorance, hence the discus is the fearful weapon which cuts off the heads of all the demons of error”. ( Śrī Viṣṇnu tattva sidhanta 5;19 44 - 45)

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantra

Cakra (चक्र):—According to tantric principles, the cakra is an inward representation of a maṇḍala, interiorized into the human body. These mystic centres are usually represented as a lotus. Different systems of such centres are recognized with varying number and symbolism. Gorakṣanātha (author of kādiprakaraṇa or kubjikāmata-tantra) recognizes twenty-eight or more of such centres with presiding deity and śaktis. These cakras symbolize the cosmic processes of emanation and re-integration in six levels and in them the Sāṃkhya categories and the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet are represented.

Source: academia.edu: The Śaiva Yogas and Their Relation to Other Systems of Yoga

Cakra (चक्र).—In the Netratantra there are six cakras. Kṣemarāja’s Netratantroddyota commentary to 7.1cd–5 locates them as follows: “‘Season’ stands for ‘six’, [which are] the locations [called] ‘birth’, navel, heart, palate, ‘drop’, and ‘resonance’, where are found wheels (cakra) called ‘channel’ (nāḍi), ‘illusion’ (māyā), ‘union’ (yoga), ‘breaking’ (bhedana), ‘effulgence’ (dīpti), and ‘the peaceful’ (śānta), because they are the substrates (āśraya) of the surges (prasara) of nāḍi, māyā etc.”

Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the Āgamas

Cakra (चक्र) refers to one of the various Devatā weapons and represents a type of “temple implement (instrument)” as described in the Karaṇalakṣaṇavidhi-paṭala section of the Uttara-Kāmikāgama.—The instruments should be according to the particular śāstra followed at the temple. Some of the instruments mentioned are weapons of all Devatās including [viz., cakra].

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Cakra (चक्र) refers to “(rites involving) alphabetical wheels ”, according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 7th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—While worship (yāga, yajana) provides the essential paradigm for the Brahmayāmala’s integration of inner and outer ritual, the principle and practice of their integration applies more widely. This is abundantly evident in the domain of “magic,” including all manner of rites involving alphabetical wheels (cakra), images of the deities (pratimā), and two-dimensional figures (yantra). These processes may entail, for example, the fusion of the channels of one’s own body with the spokes drawn in the lotus of a cakra—the term nāḍī refers to both—which may then be fused with the channels of the targeted victim (sādhya).

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Cakra (चक्र) refers to a class of “mystical diagrams”.—The terms maṇḍala, cakra, and yantra are each often translated as “mystical diagram”. These diagrams serve as spaces for ritual practice and are created so that the deities can appear within them. Each type has its own frequent characteristics... Cakras are diagrams that can be part of maṇḍalas, ritual diagrams in their own right, or are used as a synonym for maṇḍala or yantra. As ritual diagrams, cakras can be circles of deities or associated with particular places of energy within the human body.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

Cakra (चक्र):—The Sanskrit name for a classification of a ‘temple’, according to the Agnipurāṇa, featuring a list of 45 temple types. It is listed under the group named Triviṣṭapa, featuring octagonal-shaped temples. This list represents the classification of temples in North-India.

Source: Google Books: The Hindu Temple, Volume 1

The Cakras of the microcosm are:

Mūlādhāra, the support of all the Cakras;
Maṇipūra, the seat of mind (manas);
Svādhiṣṭhāna, the seat of intellect (buddhi);
Anāhata, the seat of the principle of articulate sound (Śabdabrahman);
Viśuddhi, the seat of Ether (ākāśa)
and Sahasrāra or Śiva-Śakti or Bindu, the point limit between the unmanifest and the manifest.

The eight Cakras are also given as the eight means necessary to control the inclinations of the inner faculties. They are:

Yama, restriction,
Niyama, opbservances,
Āsana, sitting posture,
Prāṇāyāma, breath control,
Pratyāhāra, emptying the mind from external objects,
Dhāraṇa, its subsequent concentration,
Dhyāna, keeping it concentrated
and Samādhi, merging and dissolving it in the object of its concentration.

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (vastu)

Cakra (चक्र) [=Cakraka] refers to one of the fifty-two varieties of Temples (prāsāda), as discussed in chapter 8 (Kriyāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [prāsāda-bheda]:—This is ostensibly a highly technical chapter on varieties of vimāna-types. There are 52 varieties of vimānas mentioned [e.g., Cakraka (or Vandira)] based on differences of tāla-measurements and adhiṣṭhāna-basements; but the treatment upon examination gives only the most superficial of distinctions between one type and another.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Cakra (चक्र).—A son of Vāsuki, the Nāga king. He died at the serpent yajña (Sarpa Satra) of Janamejaya by falling into the fire. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 57, Verse 6).

2) Cakra (चक्र).—One of the three attendants given to Subrahmaṇya by Viṣṇu, the other two being Saṅkrama and Atikrama. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 40).

3) Cakra (चक्र).—One of the two attendants presented to Skandhadeva by Tvaṣṭa, the other one being Anucakra. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 45, Verse 40).

4) Cakra (चक्र).—Sudarśana Cakra (disc) of Mahāviṣṇu. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa contains the following story about the origin of the Cakra.

Sūryadeva (the Sun God) married Saṃjñā, daughter of Viśvakarmā. But, due to the insufferable heat of her husband the marital life of Saṃjñā became miserable, and so she requested her father to lessen the heat of Sūrya. And, accordingly Viśvakarmā ground Sūrya on a grinding machine and thus diminished his effulgence. But, the grinding could diminish only (1/8) of that effulgence, which glowing red-hot dropped on the earth, and with that Viśvakarmā made the Sudarśana Cakra, the Triśūla, the Puṣpakavimāna and the weapon called Śakti. Out of those four things the Triśūla came to be possessed by Śiva, the Puṣpakavimāna by Kubera and Śakti by Brahmā. The Sudarśana Cakra which was glowing like anything was deposited in the sea. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Part 3, Chapter 2). There is a story in the Mahābhārata as to how the Cakra thrown into the sea came into the possession of Mahāviṣṇu. While Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna were picnicing on the shores of the Yamunā Agnideva went to them and requested them to give Khāṇḍava forest to him for food. As Takṣaka, friend of Indra, was living in the forest the latter was causing heavy rains to fall there. Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna realized the fact that Agni would be able to consume the forest only after subjugating Indra. But, how to manage it? Then Agni said that he would supply the weapon to fight Indra with, and accordingly he meditated on Varuṇa, who presented to him (Agni) a chariot and flag with monkey as symbol, a quiver which would never become empty of arrows, a bow called Gāṇḍīva and the Sudarśana Cakra. Agnideva gave the Cakra to Śrī Kṛṣṇa and the other things to Arjuna. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 297).

5) Cakra (चक्र).—A city in ancient India. (Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 45).

6) Cakra (चक्रव्यूह) or Cakravyūha refers to the “Disposition of an army in the shape of a wheel”.—Disposition of an army (vyūha) of four parts, (infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots) in the battlefield, the arrangement of it, in various forms. It is said that during the period of Mahābhārata, there were various forms of disposition of the army.—Cakra-vyūha is mentioned in the Mahābhārata Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 34.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Cakra (चक्र) or “wheel” refers to “(the bondage of the rope of activities) that revolves like a wheel (cakra)”, as defined in the Śivapurāṇa 1.18. Accordingly, “the Jīva bound by the rope of activities revolves round and round for ever like a wheel (cakra) by means of the three types of body (śārira-traya) and their activities (karma). The creator of the wheel (Cakrakartṛ) must be worshipped for the cessation of the revolution of the wheel. The Prakṛti etc. constitute the great wheel and Śiva is beyond the Prakṛti. The creator of the wheel is the Lord Śiva. He is beyond the Prakṛti. Just as a boy drinks or spits out water as he pleases so also Śiva keeps Prakṛti etc. just as he pleases. He is called Śiva because he has brought it under his control. (Vaīśkṛta). Śiva alone is omniscient, perfect and free from desire”.

2) Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “wheels” (of a chariot), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.8 (“The detailed description of the chariot etc.”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “The divine chariot of lord Śiva consisting of all the worlds was built by Viśvakarman with devoted effort. [...] The year constituted its velocity. The two Ayanas northern and southern constituted the junctions of the wheels and axles (cakra-saṃgama). The Muhūrtas constituted the joints and the Kalās the pins of the yoke. The division of time Kāṣṭhā constituted the nose of the chariot and the Kṣaṇas the axle-shaft. The Nimeṣas constituted the bottom of the carriage and the minutest divisions of time constituted the poles. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Cakra (चक्र).—A son of Satyabhāmā and Kṛṣṇa.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 47. 17.

1b) The Discus of Hari (Trailokyamohana)¹ filed off from the tejas of the sun by Viśvakarman; cut off Rāhu's head.²

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 9. 4; VI. 8. 23; VII. 1. 45. IX. 5. 1. Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 72. 11; IV. 44. 116; Vāyu-purāṇa 51. 38; 55. 12; 84. 83.
2) Matsya-purāṇa 11. 29; 45. 15-16; 129. 35; 149. 8; 150. 73; 151. 8; 152. 2; 153. 198; 177. 9; 178. 13; 217. 32; 215. 14. Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 2. 11; IV. 15. 13; V. 17. 29.

1c) Mountain a hill of Kuśadvīpa.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 20. 15.

1d) A tīrtha visited by Balarāma.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 78. 19.

1e) A mountain that entered the sea from fear of Indra—also Cakravat.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 18. 78; Matsya-purāṇa 121. 72.

1f) The wheel of nakṣatras, and planets.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 93; 58. 23; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 13. 85 and 98.

1g) One of the seven ratnas of a king.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 57. 68.

2) Cakrā (चक्रा).—A river of the Bhadra continent.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 43. 25.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Cakra (चक्र) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.52.5, I.57, IX.44.33) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Cakra) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

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.

Dhanurveda (science of warfare)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dhanurveda

Cakra (चक्र) refers to a weapon (also known as Sudarśana; A discus of sharp circular missile weapon). It is a Sanskrit word defined in the Dhanurveda-saṃhitā, which contains a list of no less than 117 weapons. The Dhanurveda-saṃhitā is said to have been composed by the sage Vasiṣṭha, who in turn transmitted it trough a tradition of sages, which can eventually be traced to Śiva and Brahmā.

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts (dh)

Cakra (चक्र) or “discus” refers to the weapon produced from the mouth of Nārāyaṇa, as discussed in chapter 10 of the Ṛṣirātra section of the Sanatkumārasaṃhitā: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).—Description of the chapter [śastralakṣaṇa]: Sanatkumāra offers to recount the story of how the weapons of the Lord came into being when the gods requested Nārāyaṇa to help them in their encounters with the demons. At their request He produced [e.g., the cakra-discus from His mouth] [...]. He also composed a handbook, known as the Dhanurveda, which has been passed down from generation to generation. It tells how to use these weapons, both as astra or as śastra effectively.

Source: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his times (weapons)

Cakra refers to a wheel and represents a kind of weapon employed in warfare by the soldiers, according to Śrīnātha’s 15th century Palanāṭivīra-caritra. The Vardhmānapuram inscription states that the king should be proficient in dealing several varieties of weapons.

context information

Dhanurveda (धनुर्वेद) refers to the “knowledge of warfare” and, as an upaveda, is associated with the Ṛgveda. It contains instructions on warfare, archery and ancient Indian martial arts, dating back to the 2nd-3rd millennium BCE.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Cakra (चक्र, “discus”) (cf. Cakrapāṇi) refers to one of the attributes of Viṣṇu, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly: “[...] Then, after the goddess Kumārikā had heard Vyāsa’s words, she hid her Māyā nature from him and assumed (her) Vaiṣṇava form. Viṣṇu held a conch, discus (cakra), mace and rosary [śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇiḥ akṣasūtraṃ]. Stainless (nirañjana), he wore yellow clothes and, mounted on Garuḍa, he was radiant. Keśava, that is, Janārdhaka, was accompanied by Mahālakṣmī. (He), the god Hari, born from a lotus womb, is the imperishable cause (of all things). [...]”.

2) Cakra (चक्र, “discus”) refers to the “spiritual centres” (which the Kuṇḍalinī energy pierces), according to the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—The cardinal characteristic of Kaula initiation is that the teacher imparts it by awakening in his disciple the energy of Kuṇḍalinī, which once aroused rises upward, piercing (vedha) through the spiritual centres (cakra—lit. ‘wheels’) in the disciple's subtle body. The Kubjikā Tantras attribute this to the Command.

3) Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “wheel” and as one of the weapons (attributes) of Goddess Kubjikā symbolizes “the destruction of Māyā”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—Accordingly, “(Now) I will tell (you about) the great weapons of that (goddess) Kubjikā. [...] (One) attains (ultimate) reality by means of the trident and Māyā is destroyed by means of the wheel [i.e., cakra]. All diseases are destroyed by the thunderbolt while the goad is considered to be (the means to attract and) control. The enemy is destroyed by the arrow. The dagger is the avoidance of obstacles. Wealth is acquired by means of the severed head and the eight yogic powers by the ascetic’s staff”.

Source: archive.org: Shakti and Shakta

Cakra (चक्र) are centres of Śakti as vital force. In other words, they are centres of Prāṇaśakti manifested by Prāṇavāyu in the living body, the presiding Devatā of which are names for the Universal Consciousness as It manifests in the form of those centres. The Cakras are not perceptible to the gross senses, whatever may be a Yogi’s powers to observe what is beyond the senses (atīndriya). Even if they were perceptible in the living body which they help to organize, they disappear with the disintegration of organism at death.

Source: DSpace at Pondicherry: Siddha Cult in Tamilnadu (shaktism)

Cakra (चक्र).—According to the Śākta scheme there are six nerve-plexes or wheels (ṣaṭcakras) within the human body.

These (six cakras) are in the:

mūlādhārā (rectal region, at the base of the spine),
svādhiṣṭhāna (immediately above the sexual organs),
maṇipūrāka (the region of the navel),
anāhata (region around the heart),
viśuddha (at the front of the throat),
and ājña (between the eyebrows).

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)

Source: Shodhganga: a concise history of Sanskrit Chanda literature

1) Cakra (चक्र) is the name of an author of works dealing with prosodoy (chandas or chandaśśāstra) quoted by Kṣemendra (11th century) in his Suvṛttatilaka. The Suvṛttatilaka is a monumental work of Sanskrit prosody in which the author discusses 27 popular metres which were used frequently by the poets (e.g., Cakra).

2) Cakra (चक्र) refers to one of the 130 varṇavṛttas (syllabo-quantitative verse) dealt with in the second chapter of the Vṛttamuktāvalī, ascribed to Durgādatta (19th century), author of eight Sanskrit work and patronised by Hindupati: an ancient king of the Bundela tribe (presently Bundelkhand of Uttar Pradesh). A Varṇavṛtta (e.g., cakra) refers to a type of classical Sanskrit metre depending on syllable count where the light-heavy patterns are fixed.

context information

Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms

Cakra (चक्र).—1. Circle. 2. Twelve signs or 360°. Note: Cakra is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

1) Cakra (चक्र) or Cakraparvata is the name of a mountain situated on the island Nārikela, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 54. Accordingly, as four heavenly figures said to Naravāhanadatta: “... there is in the midst of the great sea a great, prosperous and splendid island, which is called the island of Nārikela, and is renowned in the world for its beauty. And in it there are four mountains with splendid expanses of land, named Maināka, Vṛṣabha, Cakra and Balāhaka; in those four we four live”.

2) Cakra (चक्र) is the name of a merchant’s son (vaṇikputra) from Dhavala, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 56. Accordingly, “... in the city of Dhavala there was a merchant’s son named Cakra. He went on a trading voyage to Svarṇadvīpa against the will of his parents. There he gained great wealth in five years, and in order to return embarked on the sea in a ship laden with jewels”.

The story of Cakra was narrated by Candrasvāmin to his son Mahīpāla in order to demonstrate that “one who is cursed by his father and mother does not long enjoy prosperity”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Cakra, 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.

context information

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’.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (vaishnavism)

Cakra (चक्र) refers to “wheel” and in the hand of Viṣṇu is called the sudarśana-cakra [which] reveals many lofty ideas. Cakra is the solar symbol representing eternity. It symbolizes the wheel of time where the destiny of man is seen in all his ebbs and flows in life when he mounts up in fortune and goes down in adversity. It symbolizes the wheel of power representing sovereignty. Viṣṇu, as the protector of the universe, and as the Emperor of emperors, carries the wheel which is the symbolic of the power that he wields for the benefit of the universe. The cakra in Viṣṇu’s hand symbolizes the destructive ability of the Lord. The devotee prays to Lord Viṣṇu and gains all the fortunes from each part of the deity.

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Vedanta (school of philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Siva Gita A Critical Study

Cakra (चक्र) refers to “wheel”.—Any of the nerve plexes or centres of force and consciousness located with in the inner bodies of man. In the physical body there are corresponding nerve plexes, ganglia and glands. The seven principal cakras are situated along the spinal cord from the base to the cranial chamber. Additionally seven cakras exist below the spine. They are seats of instinctive consciousness, the origin of jealousy, hatred, envy, guilt, sorrow etc. They constitute the lower or hellish world, called Naraka or Pātāla. Thus there are 14 major cakras in all.

The seven upper cakras are:—

mūlādhāra (base of spine): memory time and space;
svādhiṣṭhana (below navel): reason;
maṇipūra (solar plexus): will power;
anāhata (heart centre): direct cognition;
viśuddha (throat): divine love;
ājñā (third eye): divine sight;
sahasrāra (crown of head): illumination, Godliness.

The seven lower cakras are:—

atala (hips): fear and lust;
vitala (thighs); raging anger;
sutala (knees); retaliatory jealousy;
talātala (calves): prolonged mental confusion;
rasātala (ankles): selfishness;
mahātala (feet); absence of consciousness;
pātāla (located in the soles of the feet): murder and malice.

context information

Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).

Ayurveda (science of life)

Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)

Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study

Cakra (चक्र) refers to (a variant of) the Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

1) Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “cycle (of birth and death)”, according to the Śivayogadīpikā by Sadāśivayogīśvara: a text dealing with Śaivism and Haṭhayoga in two hundred and eighty-nine verses.—Accordingly, while discussing the difference between Rājayoga and Śaivayoga: “[...] Devotion is gnosis full of Śiva, and Śaiva gnosis is Śiva’s nature. Since Śaiva observance is worship of Śiva, Śiva's yoga is five-fold. He who is without the practice [of worshipping] Śiva is certainly a bound soul, and he goes round and round forever in this cycle of birth and death (saṃsāra-cakra)”.

2) Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “cycles (of cosmic periods)”, according to the Mokṣopāya.—Accordingly: “[He is] known as Bhuśuṇḍa [because] his long life is known throughout the world. He is strong-minded because he has seen the coming and going of the Ages [of the world], and he is exhausted counting the successions of cycles (cakra) in each cosmic period”.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

Mantrashastra (the science of Mantras)

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa (mantra)

Cakra (चक्र, “disc”) or Cakramudrā refers to one of the Pañcamudrās (“five mudrās or signs”), according to the Śeṣa-samhitā (p.26, mudrāvidhi).—Mantras refers to “that which is chanted by people to obtain their spiritual aspirations”. Mantras must be accompanied by the prescribed mudrās or signs. Mudrā is the position of the hand and finger indicative of various moods and sentiments, and accelerate the effectiveness of the accompanying mantras. The Śeṣasamhitā states that the five Mudrās [e.g., disc (cakra-mudrā)] yield the four puruṣārthas when displayed in the middle and end of a japa.

context information

Mantrashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, mantraśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mantras—chants, incantations, spells, magical hymns, etc. Mantra Sastra literature includes many ancient books dealing with the methods reciting mantras, identifying and purifying its defects and the science behind uttering or chanting syllables.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Cakra (चक्र):—The chariot (ratha) has, as a rule, two wheels (cakra), to which reference is frequently made. The wheel consisted of a rim (Pavi), a felly (Pradhi), spokes (Ara), and a nave (Nabhya). The rim and the felly together constitute the Nemi. The hole in the nave is called Kha: into it the end of the axle was inserted ; but there is some uncertainty whether Āṇi denotes the extremity of the axle that was inserted in the nave, or the lynch-pin used to keep that extremity in the wheel. Sometimes a solid wheel was used.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Chakra (चक्र): An energy node in the human body. The seven main chakras are described as being aligned in an ascending column from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each chakra is associated with a certain colour, multiple specific functions, an aspect of consciousness, a classical element, and other distinguishing characteristics.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

Cakra (चक्र) (in Tibetan: 'khor lo) — In tantric theory, one of a number of “wheels” at the intersection of important channels in the subtle body . The cakras are important for understanding human physiology and meditative praxis, and are replete with symbolic significance. The most commonly mentioned are those at the sexual organ, navel, heart, throat, forehead, and crown

Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka Maṇḍala

Cakra (चक्र) refers to a “discus” and represents one of the items held in the right hand of Heruka: one of the main deities of the Herukamaṇḍala described in the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Heruka is positioned in the Lotus (padma) at the center; He is the origin of all heroes; He has 17 faces (with three eyes on each) and 76 arms [holding, for example, cakra]; He is half black and half green in color; He is dancing on a flaming sun placed on Bhairava and Kālarātrī.

Source: De Gruyter: Himalayan Anthropology: The Indo-Tibetan Interface

Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “circular arrangements within the head, throat, heart, stomach, and genitals”, according to William Stablein’s A Descriptive Analysis of the Content of Nepalese Buddhist Pujas as a Medical-Cultural System (with References to Tibetan Parallels).—The tshog shin (sacred tree) is also mentally visualized.—[...] The education and training of the hierophant (vajrācārya) may be significant for the existence and maintenance of his vajradeha [Vajra body] which is the main dynamo of the system. The Vajra body is the model system of three nerves: lalanā, rasanā, and avadhūtī, which are located in the left, right, and middle parts of the body respectively. With these nerves there are five cakra [circular arrangements within the head, throat, heart, stomach, and genitals]. The main function of this unit is the sacred procreation, i.e., the creation of the bodhicitta [sacred semen].

Source: MUNI Arts: Kalachakra and the twenty-five Kulika kings of Shambhala

Cakra (चक्र) refers to a “wheel” and represents one of the attributes of Bhadra or Rigden Zangpo—one of the Twenty-five Kulikas as well as one of the traditional Shambhala rulers.—His attributes are a wheel (Sanskrit: cakra, Tibetan: khorlo [khor lo]; berdo [be rdo]) and a white conch shell.

Cakra (चक्र) or “wheel” also represents one of the attributes of Narasiṃha or Rigden Misengge.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

1) Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “four wheels” of Mahāyāna, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “The great vehicle (mahāyāna) is made with four wheels (cakra), namely with the means of attraction, the spokes (ara) are well fitted as the roots of good have been transformed (pariṇāmita) with intention (āśaya), it is well made with a deep nave as there is the immense knowledge of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), it is well kept together by the axle (akṣa)1494 in order to bear the burdens of all living beings, [...]”.

2) Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “wheel (of the dharma)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā.—Accordingly, as Bodhisattva Gaganagañja explains to Bodhisattva Ratnaśrī what kind of concentration should be purified: “[...] (39) [when the Bodhisattvas attain] the concentration called ‘Stainless wheel’, the wheel of the dharma will be purified (dharma-cakra); [...]”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Cakra (चक्र, “wheel”) or Cakraratna refers to the “wheel jewel” and represents the first of the “seven jewels of universal monarchs” (saptaratna) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 85). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., cakra). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Source: Buddhist Door: GlossaryA wheel in Yoga, one of the psychic centres of the body.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Google Books: Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation

Cakra (चक्र, “discus”).—One of the fourteen gems (ratna) serving the Cakravartin;—The cakra is a discus embellished with jewels; the Cakravartī hurls it in the battle againts his opponent. Provided with unfailing power, it returns into the hand of the one who has thrown it, after it has smashed the head of the enemy. If it does not immediately kill the opponent for some reason, then it follows him, likea falcon its booty where it can destroy him.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: Teachers, Saints and Sages

Cakra (चक्र) or Cakranātha refers to one of the eighty-four Siddhas (Siddhācāryas) mentioned in various sources as being representative teachers of Sahajiya Tantrism, Alchemy, Nath Sampradaya and other traditions having influence in the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas.—Many of these Mahāsiddhas [e.g., Cakra-nātha] were historical figures whose lives and mystical powers were the subject of legends. They are often associated with teachings belonging to Hinduism, Buddhism, Ajivikism and Jainism and are evident of a caste-less interreligious spiritual society.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Cakra.—cf. Cakrin (EI 4); a district; same as maṇḍala. Cf. sakkaram (SITI), wheel of authority; the king's order; an officer entrusted with the execution of the king's order. (CII 3), ‘the discus’; an emblem on seals. Cf. śakkara-kāṇikkai (SITI), Sanskrit-Tamil; tax paid by potters; also called tirigai-āyam. Note: cakra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

Source: Yale Journal of Music & Religion: Ritual Music in Contemporary Brahmanical Tantric Temples of Kerala

Cakra (चक्र) refers to the “energetic centers” of the Human Body which is represented by the Temple.—Another category of correspondences between the Temple and the Human Body (according to texts and performers in Kerala) is established on the vertical plane, and in this case it relates to the so-called energetic centers (cakras) situated along the internal channel (suṣumnā) in the spine.

The Cakras are:

mūlādhāra,
svādhiṣthāna,
manipūra,
anāhata,
viṣuddha, and
ājnā.

At the base of the channel, imagined as a coiled serpent in the lowest of the Cakras (mūlādhāra), Kuṇḍalinī, the feminine life force or Śakti, is thought to reside. At the opposite end, above the six power centers, the thousand-petaled lotus (sahasrāra-cakra) is the abode of Śiva. Before the erection of the śrīkōvil (“shrine”), a hole is made in the place where the deity will be installed. In this hole, which represents the suṣumnā, six symbolic elements associated with the six centers (cakras) in the human body are installed, one over the other.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

cakra (चक्र).—n (S) A wheel. 2 A discus or sharp circular missile weapon, esp. the discus of viṣṇu. 3 A play thing, a bandalour. 4 Circular lines at the finger-ends (opp. to the conchform lines); held as a favorable sign. 5 An army, a host, an assemblage. 6 A realm, region, country: also a province or district. 7 A cant term for the dish vaḍē. 8 A common term for the two wheels attached to the ends of the kapāḷakāṭhī of a loom: or for the wheel supplying the kapāḷakāṭhī (or ḍhēṅkaṇī) in its absence. 9 A form of array of troops,--the circle. 10 A whirlpool. 11 A diagram of various forms for calculating nativities or foretelling events. 12 An anatomical division of the body, --a ring or a depression. Six are reckoned: viz. ādhāra-liṅga-nābhi-hṛt-kaṇṭha-bhrū-cakra. See further under ṣaṭcakrabhēda. 13 A cycle of years. 14 In astronomy. A sphere or circle, as rāśicakra, prāk- cakra, jyōtiṣacakra. 15 (Vulgar.) A trouble; a maze, vortex, puzzle, quandary.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

cakra (चक्र).—n A wheel. An army, a host, an as- semblage. (Astronomy) A sphere or circle, as rāśicakra, jyōtiṣacakra. A trouble, a maze, vortex, puzzle, quandary.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Cakra (चक्र).—[kriyate anena, kṛ ghañarthe< ka ni° dvitvam Tv.]

1) The wheel of a carriage; चक्रवत्परिवर्तन्ते दुःखानि च सुखानि च (cakravatparivartante duḥkhāni ca sukhāni ca) H.1.173.

2) A potter's wheel.

3) A sharp circular missile, weapon, a disc (especially applied to the weapon of Viṣṇu).

4) An oil-mill; दशसूनासमं चक्रं दशचक्रसमो ध्वजः (daśasūnāsamaṃ cakraṃ daśacakrasamo dhvajaḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 13.125.9.

5) A circle, ring; कलाप- चक्रेषु निवेशिताननम् (kalāpa- cakreṣu niveśitānanam) Ṛtusaṃhāra 2.14.

6) A troop, multitude, collection, Śiśupālavadha 2.17.

7) A realm, sovereignty; स्वस्थं स्वचक्रं परचक्रमुक्तम् (svasthaṃ svacakraṃ paracakramuktam) Bu. Ch.2.15; cf. चक्रं सैन्यथाङ्गयोः । राष्ट्रे दम्भान्तरे (cakraṃ sainyathāṅgayoḥ | rāṣṭre dambhāntare) ... ()| Medinī.

8) A province, district, a group of villages.

9) A form of military array in a circle.

1) A circle or depression of the body.

11) A cycle, cycle of years.

12) The horizon; यावदावर्तते चक्रं तावती मे वसुन्धरा (yāvadāvartate cakraṃ tāvatī me vasundharā) Rām.2.1.36.

13) An army, a host.

14) Section of a book.

15) A whirlpool.

16) The winding of a river.

17) An astronomical circle; राशि° (rāśi°) the zodiac.

18) Circular flight (of birds &c.).

19) A particular constellation in the form of a hexagon.

2) Range, department in general.

21) The convolutions or spiral marks of the शालिग्राम (śāligrāma).

22) A crooked or fraudulent contrivance.

-kraḥ 1 The ruddy goose (also called cakravāka); पद्मोल्लासविधायिनि सत्पथदीप्तिकृति चक्रभव्यकरे (padmollāsavidhāyini satpathadīptikṛti cakrabhavyakare) Viś. Guṇā.274.

2) A multitude, troop, group.

Derivable forms: cakram (चक्रम्).

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Cākra (चाक्र).—a. (-krī f.) [चक्रेण निर्वृत्तं अण् (cakreṇa nirvṛttaṃ aṇ)]

1) Carried on with the discus (as a battle).

2) Circular.

3) Relating to a wheel.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Cakra (चक्र).—nt., circle; (= Pali cakka) one of the four circles or states of (desirable, happy) existence (in which gods and men may find themselves): catvāri devamanu- ṣyāṇāṃ cakrāṇi Mahāvyutpatti 1603 (similarly Pali Aṅguttaranikāya (Pali) ii.32.1), listed 1604—7, pratirūpadeśavāsaḥ, satpuruṣāpāśrayam, ātmanaḥ samyakpraṇidhānam, pūrve ca kṛtapuṇyatā (= Pali ibid. 5 paṭirūpadesavāso sappurisūpassayo at- tasammāpaṇidhi pubbe ca katapuññatā); see further cakra-bheda, vidyuc-cakra.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Cakra (चक्र).—m.

(-kraḥ) 1. The ruddy or Brahmani goose, (Anas casarca.) n.

(-kraṃ) 1. An army, a host. 2. A realm, a region. 3. A multitude, a heap 4. A wheel. 5. A potter’s wheel. 6. An oil mill, &c. 7. A discus or sharp circular missile weapon. 8. A whirlpool. 9. A province, a number of villages, a district. 10. A form of military array, a circular position. 11. A diagram of various sorts for calculating nativities or foretelling events. 12. A ring, circle or depression of the body for mystical, astrological or cheiromantic purposes; six such are enumerated, or Muladhara the parts about the pubis, above that is the Swadhishthanam or umbilical region, and above that the Munipuram or pit of the stomach or epigastrium, Anahatam is the root of the nose, Visuddham the hollow between the frontal sinuses, and the Ajnyakhyam the fontenelle or union of the coronal and sagittal sutures; various faculties and divinities are supposed to be present in these hollows. 13. A cycle, a cycle of years. 14. (In Astronomy,) A sphere or circle, as rāśicakraṃ the zodiac; prākcakraṃ an epicycle. 15. The horizon. 16. The spiral marks of the Salagram or ammonite. E. kṛ to do or make, with the reduplicate initial letter, affix ka, or cak to repel, &c. with rak aff.

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

Cakra (चक्र).—I. n. 1. A wheel, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 291. 2. A potter’s wheel, [Yājñavalkya, (ed. Stenzler.)] 3, 146. 3. A discus, or sharp circular missile weapon, especially of Viṣṇu, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 29, 6. 4. An oil-press, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 84. 5. A circle, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 230. 6. A form of military array, a circular position. 7. An astrological or mystical figure, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 55 (mātṛ-). 8. A multitude, [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 75, 39. 9. An army, Mahābhārata 5, 1939. 10. Dominion, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 9, 20, 32. Ii. m. 1. The ruddy goose, Anas casarca, Mahābhārata 9, 443. 2. The name of a people, Mahābhārata 6, 352. 3. A proper name, Mahābhārata 1, 2147. 4. The name of a mountain, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 5, 20, 15.

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Cākra (चाक्र).—i. e. cakra + a, adj. Performed with a discus, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 5648.

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

Cakra (चक्र).—[neuter] [masculine] wheel (lit. & [figuratively]), discus ([especially] of Viṣṇu); orb, circle; troop, multitude, army; circuit, district, province, domain. —[masculine] a kind of duck, also a man’s name; [feminine] cakrī wheel.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Cakra (चक्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—an abbreviation of Cakrapāṇidatta. See Catal. Io. p. 937. 939.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Cakra (चक्र):—n. ([Vedic or Veda] rarely m.; [gana] ardharcādi; [from] √car?; √1. kṛ, [Pāṇini 6-1, 12; Kāśikā-vṛtti]) the wheel (of a carriage, of the Sun’s chariot [Ṛg-veda], of Time [i, 164, 2-48]; kraṃ-√car, to drive in a carriage, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa vi]), [Ṛg-veda] etc.

2) a potter’s wheel, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa xi; Yājñavalkya iii, 146] (cf. -bhrama etc.)

3) a discus or sharp circular missile weapon ([especially] that of Viṣṇu), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Suśruta; Pañcatantra; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

4) an oil-mill, [Manu-smṛti iv. 85; Mahābhārata xii, 6481 & 7697]

5) a circle, [Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc. (kalāpa-, ‘the circle of a peacock’s tail’ [Ṛtusaṃhāra ii, 14])

6) an astronomical circle (e.g. rāśi-, the zodiac), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Sūryasiddhānta]

7) a mystical circle or diagram, [Tantr.]

8) = -bandha q.v., [Sāhitya-darpaṇa x, 13 a/b]

9) a cycle, cycle of years or of seasons, [Harivaṃśa 652]

10) ‘a form of military array (in a circle)’ See -vyūha

11) circular flight (of a bird), [Pañcatantra ii, 57]

12) a particular constellation in the form of a hexagon, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā xx; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhajjātaka; Laghujātaka, by Varāha-mihira]

13) a circle or depression of the body (for mystical or chiromantic purposes; 6 in number, one above the other, viz. 1. mūlādhāra, the parts about the pubis; 2. svādhiṣṭhāna, the umbilical region; 3. maṇi-pūra, the pit of the stomach or epigastrium; 4. anāhata, the root of the nose; 5. viśuddha, the hollow between the frontal sinuses; 6. ājñākhya, the fontanelle or union of the coronal and sagittal sutures; various faculties and divinities are supposed to be present in these hollows)

14) Name of a metre (= -pāta)

15) a circle or a similar instrument (used in [astronomy]), [Laghujātaka, by Varāha-mihira; Sūryasiddhānta xiii, 20; Golādhyāya xi, 10 ff.]

16) (also m., [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]) a troop, multitude, [Mahābhārata v, ix] (krāvalī, q.v.), [Harivaṃśa; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

17) the whole number of (in [compound]), [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha xi, 127]

18) a troop of soldiers, army, host, [Mahābhārata] (ifc. f(ā). , [iii, 640]), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa i, ix; Cāṇakya]

19) a number of villages, province, district, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

20) ([figuratively]) range, department, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā xxx, 33]

21) the wheel of a monarch’s chariot rolling over his dominions, sovereignty, realm, [Yājñavalkya i, 265; Mahābhārata i, xiii; Bhāgavata-purāṇa ix, 20, 32; Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

22) n. ([plural]) the winding of a river, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

23) a whirlpool, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

24) a crooked or fraudulent device (cf. cakrikā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

25) the convolutions or spiral marks of the Śāla-grāma or ammonite, [Horace H. Wilson]

26) Name of a medicinal plant or drug, [Suśruta vf.]

27) of a Tīrtha, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa x, 78, 19]

28) m. the ruddy goose or Brāhmany duck (Anas Casarca, called after its cries; cf. -vāka), [Mahābhārata ix, 443; Bālarāmāyaṇa viii, 58; Kathāsaritsāgara lxxii, 40; Śārṅgadhara-paddhati]

29) ([plural]) Name of a people, [Mahābhārata vi, 352]

30) ([gana] aśvādi) Name of a man, [Bṛhad-āraṇyaka-upaniṣad iii, 4], 1 [Scholiast or Commentator]

31) of another man, [Kathāsaritsāgara lvi, 144]

32) of a Nāga, [Mahābhārata i, 2147]

33) of one of Skanda’s attendants, [Mahābhārata ix, 2539 and 2542]

34) of a mountain, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa v, 20, 15; Kathāsaritsāgara liv. 16]

35) Cakrā (चक्रा):—[from cakra] f. a kind of Cyperus or another plant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

36) Cakra (चक्र):—cf. a-, aṣṭā-, uccā-, eka-, kāla-, kū-, daṇḍa-, dik-, dharma-, mahā-, mātṛ-, rodha-, viṣṇu-, sa-, sapta-, hiraṇya-; triand sucakra; cf. also, κύκλος, [Latin] circus; [Anglo-Saxon] hveohl, Engl. wheel.

37) Cākra (चाक्र):—mfn. ([from] cakra) carried on (a battle) with the discus, [Harivaṃśa 5648]

38) belonging to a wheel, [Horace H. Wilson]

39) circular, [Horace H. Wilson]

40) m. Name of a man, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa xii.]

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

Cakra (चक्र):—[(kraḥ-kraṃ)] 1. m. The ruddy goose. n. An army; a realm; a heap; a discus; a wheel; a goose.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Cakra (चक्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Cakka, Cakkī.

[Sanskrit to German]

Cakra in German

context information

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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Cakra (चक्र) [Also spelled chakra]:—(nm) a wheel; cycle; circle; disc, discus; discus-shaped missile; ~[gati] circular motion; ~[ṇa] spin(ning); ~[dhara] armed with a discus-shaped missile; an epithet of Lord Vishnu; ~[vartī] universal; (an emperor) ruling over a vast empire; ~[vāta] a whirlwind, cyclone; ~[vṛddhi] compound (interest); ~[vyūha] a circular array of troops; impregnable battle-array (as practised in ancient Indian military strategy); —[calānā] see [cakkara] (—[calānā]).

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Cakra (ಚಕ್ರ):—

1) [noun] the wheel of a carriage or in any machine.

2) [noun] a potter’s wheel.

3) [noun] a circle or ring.

4) [noun] the sharp circular missile weapon (esp. of Viṣṇu); a disc.

5) [noun] the earth.

6) [noun] a state, nation or country.

7) [noun] a multitude of a large number of persons.

8) [noun] a troop of soldiers.

9) [noun] a form of military array in a circle.

10) [noun] a circle or depression of the body.

11) [noun] the line or circle that forms the apparent boundary between earth and sky; the horizon.

12) [noun] the ruddy goose, the male and female of which are supposed to be together always.

13) [noun] a net (as the one used by hunters).

14) [noun] (arch.) a monetary coin equal to a fourth of a rupee.

15) [noun] any of the six mystic circles, the dormant energy of the body when aroused and passed through these would give the person mystical experience and powers.

16) [noun] (pros.) a particular kind of composition.

17) [noun] (dance.) a particular movement of both the hands together.

18) [noun] (fig.) a becoming nothing or missing completely; a being lost.

19) [noun] ಚಕ್ರಹಾಕು [cakrahaku] cakra hāku to make (something) invisible; 2. (fig.) to cheat; to dupe; to deceive by trickery.

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Cakra (ಚಕ್ರ):—[noun] a village servant working under the village chief or accountant.

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Cakra (ಚಕ್ರ):—[noun] a kind of fish .

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Cakra (चक्र):—n. 1. Mythol. discuss of lord Vishnu; 2. a potter's wheel; 3. circle; ring; orb; 4. (yoga) different mystical circles in the body like mooladhar, agya, brahmarandhra, etc.; 5. (of a vehicle) wheel; 6. state; sovereignty; realm; 7. spiral lines in the fingers; 8. group; ring; 9. a cycle of years; 10. nerve centre of the subtle body;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

Relevant text

Search found 220 books and stories containing Cakra, Cakrā, Cākra, The cakra; (plurals include: Cakras, Cakrās, Cākras, The cakras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 2.1 - The Six Chakras (ṣaḍcakras) in Yogaśikha-upaniṣad < [Chapter 5 - Nature of Yoga practice in Upaniṣad]

Part 2.1g - Sahasrāra cakra (crown or casional centre) < [Chapter 5 - Nature of Yoga practice in Upaniṣad]

Part 2.1a - Mūlādhāra cakra (root or basic centre) < [Chapter 5 - Nature of Yoga practice in Upaniṣad]

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1.5. The concept of Cakra (according to Yoga) < [Chapter 7 - Hatha, Laya, and Mantra Yoga in the Yogopanisads]

8. Introduction to Hatha-Yoga < [Chapter 1 - The Origin of Yoga and its Evolution]

1.4. The concept of Nadi (according to Yoga) < [Chapter 7 - Hatha, Laya, and Mantra Yoga in the Yogopanisads]

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6. The concept of Cakra (psychic centres) < [Chapter 5 - Exposition of Thought science, Tantra and Mantra]

1.1. Manovaha Nadi < [Chapter 3 - Scientific exposition of Nadi, Hridaya, Kosa and Prana]

Chapter 9 - Summary and Conclusionsion

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