Cakravaka, Cakravāka, Cakra-vaka: 29 definitions
Introduction:
Cakravaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Chakravaka.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)One of the Hands that indicate Flying Creatures.—Cakravāka, the Alapadma hands fluttered.

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).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Google Books: Cultural History from the Vāyu PurānaCakravāka (चक्रवाक)—Dhṛtarāṣṭrī was a wife of Garuḍa. She gave birth to haṃsas, kalahaṃsas, cakravākas, and various other kinds of birds. The attachment between the cakravāka and the cakravākī is alluded to in a simile.
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationCakravāka (चक्रवाक) refers to birds that exhibit “diverse gestures of amorous dalliance with brows and other limbs”, conjured by Kāma (god of love) in an attempt to charm Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.9. Accordingly as Kāma related to Brahmā:—“[...] Whenever Śiva was out of Samādhi I used to place a pair of Cakravāka birds in front of Him. O Brahmā, those birds exhibited diverse gestures of amorous dalliance with brows and other limbs”.
Cakravāka or Cakrāṅga birds according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22, as Śiva said to Sitā:—“[...] the Apricot tree seems to dance with their oscillating branches. They seem to be fanning the self-born god of love. There are Sārasa birds and the intoxicated Cakravāka birds heightening its beauty”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Cakravāka (चक्रवाक).—Birds noted for their staunch love;1 the seven sons of Kauśika took their form in Mānasa; on the Airāvadi.2
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 15. 79; III. 7. 458; 50. 41; Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 19; 54. 31.
- 2) Matsya-purāṇa 20. 17; 21. 9 and 28; 113. 76; 116. 11.
1b) A tīrtham sacred to Pitṛs.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 22. 42.
Cakravāka (चक्रवाक) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.60.56) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Cakravāka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval IndiaCakravāka (चक्रवाक) is the name of an animal described in the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana), and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—Cakravāka is mentioned in a discusses regarding the reaction of certain insects and other living beings on consumption of poisionous food. The after-effect of intake of poison for Cakravāka is defined as: “die after tasting poisoned food”.
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: archive.org: The Elephant Lore of the HindusCakravāka (चक्रवाक) refers to a type of gait (considered excellent for elephants), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 2, “on favorable marks”]: “12. A gait like an antelope, lion, parrot, ape, wrestler, haṃsa or kādamba-bird shall be regarded as excellent [... gatiḥ sadṛśī śubhā syāt], or like a gandharva, kinnara, eagle, boar, tiger, king, śarabha (fabulous animal), serpent (uraga), or cakravāka-bird”.
Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical studyCakravāka (चक्रवाक) (lit. “one who is named after the part of a chariot i.e. the wheel” or “one who has a curved body”) refers to a type of bird, 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.
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyCakravāka (चक्रवाक) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “cakra bird (Anas Casarca)”, or to the “ruby sheldrake”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Cakravāka is part of the sub-group named Ambucārin, refering to animals “which move on waters”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.
Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume ICakravāka (चक्रवाक)—Sanskrit word for an animal “sheldrake”, “brahminy duck” (Tadorna ferruginea). This animal is from the group called Plava (‘those which float’ or ‘those move about in large flocks’). Plava itself is a sub-group of the group of animals known as Ānupa (those that frequent marshy places).

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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Prācyā: Animals and animal products as reflected in Smṛti textsCakravāka (चक्रवाक) refers to the bird “Ruddy Sheldrake” (Tadorna ferruginea).—Birds have been described in several ancient Sanskrit texts that they have been treated elaborately by eminent scholars. These birds [viz., Cakravāka] are enumerated in almost several Smṛtis in context of specifying the expiations for killing them and their flesh being used as a dietary article to give satisfaction to the manes (Pitṛs) in Śrāddha rites. These are elaborated especially in the Manusmṛti, Parāśarasmṛti [chapter VI], Gautamasmṛti [chapter 23], Śātātapasmṛti [II.54-56], Uśānasmṛti [IX.10-IX.12], Yājñavalkyasmṛti [I.172-I.175], Viṣṇusmṛti [51.28-51.29], Uttarāṅgirasasmṛti [X.16].

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraCakravāka (चक्रवाक) refers to the “ruddy goose” (commonly called the Brāhmaṇī duck), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 12), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “When star Canopus reappears after its conjunction with the Sun, waters muddled by their contact with the earth will resume their original clearness just in the same way as the minds of the Sādhus naturally recover their original purity after contact with the wicked. The autumn is attended by the Cakravāka on both its sides (i.e., beginning and end); in it is heard the music of the swan; and its opening is marked by the beautiful red sky; in all these respects the season resembles a woman with a rising bosom, sounding jewels and betel-coloured mouth”.

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.
Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)
Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)Cakravāka (चक्रवाक) refers to the “Brahminy duck”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the yellow-eyed division of hawks]: “The Vājas are of five kinds. Their descriptions are given separately. [...] That which is shaped like Cakravāka or the Brahminy duck is called the Cakrāṅga”.

This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Google Books: The Hymns of ŚaṅkaraThe cakravāka bird and the sun; one of similes (or pairs) given in Śivānandalaharī 59. The cakravāka couples, it is believed, are separated and mourn during night; hence, their longing for the sun.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraCakravāka (चक्रवाक, “cakra bird”) represents an incarnation destination of the tiryaggati (animal realm) according to the “world of transmigration” section in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXVII).—The Bodhisattva sees the animals (tiryak) undergoing all the torments: they are made to gallop by blows of the whip or stick; they are made to make long journeys carrying burdens; their harness is damaged; they are branded with hot iron. If sensual desires (kāmarāga), passion and ignorance (avidyā) were predominant in them [people], they are reborn as [for example] cakra bird (cakravāka); thus they become one of the hundred thousand kinds of birds. If they are guilty of lust, their body becomes covered with hairs and feathers; their plumage is fine and smooth; their beak, big and wide; thus they cannot distinguish touch (sparśa) and taste (rasa).

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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka MaṇḍalaCakravāka (चक्रवाक) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Cakravākī forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Vāyucakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the vāyucakra refers to one of the three divisions of the dharma-puṭa (‘dharma layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs and Vīras [viz., Cakravāka] are dark blue in color; they each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.

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.
India history and geography
Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)Cakravāka (चक्रवाक) refers to type of animal found in water ponds of ancient India, according to Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kāvya poetry).—Page 160.13: There is a reference to stencil cutting in which a figure of Rājahaṃsī and the name of prince Kuvalayacandra were reproduced. It was one of the seventy-two arts. The price Kuvalayacandra himself cut a stencil design of a water pond with haṃsa, sārasa, cakravāka, nalinī, śatapatra, bhramara and also cut a Gāthā verse on it (169.8).

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 Dictionarycakravāka (चक्रवाक).—m S Brahmany goose or duck, Anascasarca.
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 dictionaryCakravāka (चक्रवाक).—
1)
-kī f.) the ruddy goose; दूरी- भूते मयि सहचरे चक्रवाकीमिवैकाम् (dūrī- bhūte mayi sahacare cakravākīmivaikām) Meghadūta 83. °बन्धुः (bandhuḥ) the sun.
Derivable forms: cakravākaḥ (चक्रवाकः).
Cakravāka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms cakra and vāka (वाक).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryCakravāka (चक्रवाक).—m.
(-kaḥ) The ruddy goose. commonly called in India, the Brahmany duck or goose, (Anas casarca.) E. cakra an imitative sound, and vāka speech. vaca paribhāṣaṇe karmaṇi ghañ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryCakravāka (चक्रवाक).—i. e. cakra (based on an imitative sound) -vac + a, I. m. The ruddy goose, Anas casarca Gm., [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 20, 20. Ii. f. kī, Its female, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 81.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryCakravāka (चक्रवाक).—[masculine] ī [feminine] the Cakravāka, a kind of goose or duck.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Cakravāka (चक्रवाक):—[=cakra-vāka] [from cakra] m. the Cakra bird (Anas Casarca; the couples are supposed to be separated and to mourn during night), [Ṛg-veda ii, 39, 3; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xxiv f.; Atharva-veda xiv; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) Cākravāka (चाक्रवाक):—[from cākra] mfn. proper for the Cakra (-vāka) bird, [Mānava-gṛhya-sūtra i, 14.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryCakravāka (चक्रवाक):—[cakra-vāka] (kaḥ) 1. m. The ruddy goose (Anas casaca). f. vākī.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Cakravāka (चक्रवाक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Cakkavāga, Cakkavāya.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryCakravāka (चक्रवाक) [Also spelled chakravak]:—(nm) see [cakavā].
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusCakravāka (ಚಕ್ರವಾಕ):—[noun] the ruddy goose or gander, the male and female of which are supposed to be together always.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Cakravakabandhu, Cakravakagati, Cakravakamaya, Cakravakasana, Cakravakashtaka, Cakravakavati.
Full-text (+119): Cakravakavati, Cakravakabandhu, Cakravakamaya, Upacakra, Mithunecara, Cakranga, Cakravakin, Cakravakeya, Harihetihuti, Dinaduhkhita, Rodara, Ratrivishleshagamin, Cakrahva, Chidradarshana, Koka, Cakrangana, Cakrasahvaya, Cakravaki, Cakravakasana, Kokabandhu.
Relevant text
Search found 81 books and stories containing Cakravaka, Cakra-vaka, Cakra-vāka, Cakravāka, Cākravāka; (plurals include: Cakravakas, vakas, vākas, Cakravākas, Cākravākas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 41 - The attainment of the seven hunters < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 42 - Power of the Pitṛs < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 22 - The dalliance of Śivā and Śiva on the Himālayas < [Section 2.2 - Rudra-saṃhitā (2): Satī-khaṇḍa]
Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study) (by Debabrata Barai)
Part 7.7 - Poetic conventions regarding to the Birds < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]
Part 7.1 - Origin and development of the Kavisamaya (poetic conventions) < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]
Part 8.10 - Characteristics of Śarad-kāla (autumn season) < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.3.47-48 < [Chapter 3 - Prapañcātīta (beyond the Material Plane)]
Verse 2.4.45 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Verse 1.6.107 < [Chapter 6 - Priyatama (the most beloved devotees)]
Ramayana of Valmiki (Shastri) (by Hari Prasad Shastri)
Chapter 31 - Ravana goes to the Banks of the Narmada River < [Book 7 - Uttara-kanda]
Chapter 83 - The whole army reaches the river Ganges < [Book 2 - Ayodhya-kanda]
Chapter 30 - Description of Autumn < [Book 4 - Kishkindha-kanda]
Satirical works of Kshemendra (study) (by Arpana Devi)
2. Kavisamaya or the poetic convention < [Chapter 4 - Literary study of the Three Satirical Works]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)