Cakravaka, Cakravāka, Cakra-vaka: 28 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 book cover
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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).

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Purana glossary
Source: Google Books: Cultural History from the Vāyu Purāna

Cakravāka (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 Translation

Cakravāka (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 Index

1a) 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.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

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.

Purana book cover
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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.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Ayurveda glossary

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

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

Cakravāka (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 botany

Cakravāka (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 I

Cakravāka (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).

Ayurveda book cover
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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.

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Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Prācyā: Animals and animal products as reflected in Smṛti texts

Cakravāka (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 book cover
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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.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Jyotisha glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Cakravāka (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 book cover
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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.

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Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Arts glossary
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”.

Arts book cover
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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.

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General definition (in Hinduism)

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Hinduism glossary
Source: Google Books: The Hymns of Śaṅkara

The 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)

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Cakravāka (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 book cover
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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.

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

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

Cakravāka (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 book cover
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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.

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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).

India history book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

cakravāka (चक्रवाक).—m S Brahmany goose or duck, Anascasarca.

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Cakravāka (चक्रवाक).—

1)

- 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 Dictionary

Cakravāka (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 Dictionary

Cakravāka (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. , Its female, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 81.

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

Cakravāka (चक्रवाक).—[masculine] ī [feminine] the Cakravāka, a kind of goose or duck.

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

1) 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 Dictionary

Cakravāka (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]

Cakravaka 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.

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Hindi dictionary

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Cakravāka (चक्रवाक) [Also spelled chakravak]:—(nm) see [cakavā].

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Cakravaka in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Cakravāka (ಚಕ್ರವಾಕ):—[noun] the ruddy goose or gander, the male and female of which are supposed to be together always.

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

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