Candala, Camdala, Canda-ala, Caṇḍāla: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Candala means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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 Chandala.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल).—(See Cāturvarṇya).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल).—Redeemed of their sins at Benares;1 prohibited from seeing food offered at the Śrāddha.2 Satyavrata became a Caṇḍāla.3
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल) refers to one of the seven “minor dialects” (vibhāṣā) of language used in dramatic composition (nāṭya), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 18.
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).
Shaiva philosophy
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (philosophy)Caṇḍāla (चण्डाल) refers to an “outcaste”, according to Somānanda’s Śivadṛṣṭi verse 3.42cd–47.—Accordingly, “[...] How can there be something pure, something diminished, etc., when his nature is undivided? The fact of being gold simply exists in gold, (be it) in (the form of) a golden spittoon, etc., or in (the form of) a tiara, etc. The (fact of being) gold is in no way divided [i.e., differentiated] whatsoever. If you argue that a fire installed in an outcaste’s house (caṇḍāla-sadman) is not (properly) called a fire [i.e., it is not a proper, ritually-purified fire], we reply: that may be so [i.e., this does not contradict our notion of the uniformity of the nature of fire as such]. [...]”.
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Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Brahma-samhitaCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल) refers to—Dog-eater, outcaste.
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’).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismChāndāla (छान्दाल): A person of a degraded caste, whose conduct was much below standard and whose cause pollution.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka MaṇḍalaCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Caṇḍālinī forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Guṇacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the guṇacakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs and Vīras [viz., Caṇḍāla] are whitish red 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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsCāṇḍāla (चाण्डाल) refers to a “man of the lowest and most despised of the mixed tribes”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “A god becomes [filled] with lamenting, a dog ascends to heaven, a Brāhman might become discernible in substance [as a dog] or an insect or even a low outcaste [com.—cāṇḍāla—‘a man of the lowest and most despised of the mixed tribes’]. Like an actor here on the stage, the embodied soul continually takes on individual characters [and] he abandons others”.
Synonyms: Śvapaca.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarycaṇḍāla : (m.) an outcaste or untouchable.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary1) Caṇḍāla, 2 (nt.) a kind of amusement or trick D. I, 6≈(=ayogulakīḷā play with an iron ball DA. I, 84). (Page 260)
2) Caṇḍāla, 1 (Vedic caṇḍāla) a man of a certain low tribe, one of the low classes, an outcaste; grouped with others under nīcā kulā (low born clans) as caṇḍālā nesādā veṇā rathakārā pukkusā at A. I, 107=II. 85=Pug. 51. As caṇḍāla-pukkusā with the four recognized grades of society (see jāti & khattiya) at A. I, 162.—Vin. IV, 6; M. II, 152; S. V, 168 sq. (°vaṃsa); A. III, 214, 228 (brāhmaṇa°); IV, 376; J. IV, 303; PvA. 175; Miln. 200.—f. caṇḍālī A. III, 226; Pv III, 113; DhA. II, 25. See also pukkusa. (Page 260)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarycaṇḍaḷa (चंडळ).—n P A patch or fragment (of mortar, plaster, brick) detached from a wall.
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caṇḍāla (चंडाल).—m (S) pop. caṇḍāḷa m An individual of any of the lowest of the mixed tribes, born from a Shudra father and Brahman mother. Hence fig. A vile, filthy, loathsome, abominable person: also an atrocious, monstrous, heinous, flagitious, awfully truculent, ferocious, or wicked person or deed.
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cāṇḍāḷa (चांडाळ).—Better caṇḍāḷa &c.
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cāndalā (चांदला).—m (cānda Moon.) A ṭikalī or ornamental piece (of brass, silver, glass &c.) or a painted patch worn by females on the forehead. 2 A term of reviling for an overlarge ṭikā of gandha on the forehead.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishcāndalā (चांदला).—m An ornamental piece (of brass, &c.) worn by females on the forehead.
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 dictionaryCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल).—a. [caṇḍ-ālac]
1) Wicked or cruel in deeds, of black deeds (krūrakarman) cf. कर्मचाण्डाल (karmacāṇḍāla).
-laḥ A general name for the lowest and most despised of the mixed castes originating from a Śūdra father and a Brāhmaṇa mother.
2) A man of this caste, an outcast; चण्डालः किमयं द्विजातिरथवा (caṇḍālaḥ kimayaṃ dvijātirathavā) Bhartṛhari 3.56; Manusmṛti 5.131;1.12,16;11. 176.
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Cāṇḍāla (चाण्डाल).—(-lī f.) [caṇḍāla eva svārthe aṇ] An out-caste; see चण्डाल (caṇḍāla); चण्डालः किमयं द्विजातिरथवा (caṇḍālaḥ kimayaṃ dvijātirathavā) Bhartṛhari 3.56; Manusmṛti 3.239; 4.79; Y.1.93.
Derivable forms: cāṇḍālaḥ (चाण्डालः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल).—m.
(-laḥ) An outcaste, a Chandala, the generic name for a man of the lowest of the mixed tribes, born from a Sudra father and Brahman mother. E. caṇḍa angry, and ala able, or caṇḍ to be angry. and ālac Unadi affix; proper to execute all vile or barbarous acts; also cāṇḍāla
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Cāṇḍāla (चाण्डाल).—m.
(-laḥ) A name of an impure or degraded tribe, a Chandala, a Pariah, an outcaste. f. (-lī) A woman of the same tribe. E. caḍi to be angry, Unadi affix ālañ and according to some aṇ added also caṇḍāla.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल).— (akin to caṇḍa), m. A man of the lowest of the mixed tribes, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 5, 131; 10, 12; f. lā, A woman of that tribe, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 11, 175.
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Cāṇḍāla (चाण्डाल).—i. e. caṇḍāla + a, m., f. lī; = caṇḍāla, An outcast, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 239; 8, 373.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल).—[masculine] a Candala or outcast.
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Cāṇḍāla (चाण्डाल).—[masculine] = caṇḍāla.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Caṇḍāla (चण्डाल):—m. (= cāṇḍāla) an outcast, man of the lowest and most despised of the mixed tribes (born from a Śūdra father and a Brāhman mother), [Śāṅkhāyana-gṛhya-sūtra ii, vi; Chāndogya-upaniṣad; Manu-smṛti] etc. (ifc. ‘a very low representative of.’ [Kādambarī])
2) Caṇḍālā (चण्डाला):—[from caṇḍāla] f. a Caṇḍāla woman, [Manu-smṛti xi, 176]
3) Candalā (चन्दला):—[from cand] f. Name of a woman (cf. dralā), [Rājataraṅgiṇī vii, 1122.]
4) Cāṇḍāla (चाण्डाल):—m. = caṇḍ ([Vedic or Veda] [Pāṇini 5-4, 36], [vArttika] 1), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xxx, 21; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa xiv; Kauśika-sūtra; Manu-smṛti] etc.
5) the worst among (in [compound] [Manu-smṛti ix, 87; Mahābhārata xii f.]; [genitive case] [Cāṇakya])
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Caṇḍāla (चण्डाल):—[caṇḍā+la] (laḥ) 1. m. An outcaste.
2) Cāṇḍāla (चाण्डाल):—(laḥ) 1. m. A name of an impure or degraded tribe, outcaste.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Caṇḍāla (चण्डाल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Caṃḍāla.
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryCaṃḍāla (चंडाल) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Caṇḍāla.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusCaṃḍāla (ಚಂಡಾಲ):—
1) [noun] an offspring of śudra man from a brāhmaṇa woman.
2) [noun] a man belonging to the lowest social class of the society.
3) [noun] this class itself.
4) [noun] a man of highly wicked , heinous character.
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Caṃḍāḷa (ಚಂಡಾಳ):—
1) [noun] = ಚಂಡಾಲ [camdala].
2) [noun] ಚಂಡಾಳ ಚೌಕಳಿ [camdala caukali] caṇḍāḷa caukaḷi (fig.) a group of evil-minded people.
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Caṃdaḷa (ಚಂದಳ):—[noun] the palm that is red or pink.
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Cāṃḍāla (ಚಾಂಡಾಲ):—[noun] a general name for a man of the lowest and most despised of the mixed castes originating from a śudra father and a brāhmaṇa mother; a man engaged or habitually engages, in wicked, cruel deeds.
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Cāṃḍāḷa (ಚಾಂಡಾಳ):—[noun] = ಚಾಂಡಾಲ [camdala].
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 DictionaryCaṇḍāla (चण्डाल):—n. 1. a man from a low and despised caste, Chandal; 2. cruel or wicked person;
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Cadi, Ala, Canda, Candala, Na.
Starts with (+13): Camdalagitti, Candalabhasa, Candalacandra, Candaladevi, Candaladikula, Candalagama, Candalageha, Candalagotta, Candalajati, Candalakamma, Candalakanda, Candalaki, Candalakula, Candalakulasahassa, Candalakumaraka, Candalanucchavika, Candalapabbajita, Candalaputta, Candalasadman, Candalasutta.
Full-text (+243): Candali, Brahmanacandala, Candalavallaki, Candalata, Karmacandala, Candalakanda, Sarvacandala, Divakirti, Svacandala, Candalatva, Upasakacandala, Antyavasayin, Candalayoni, Candalakula, Candalaka, Candalaki, Pakkana, Candalavesha, Camdala, Upalahasta.
Relevant text
Search found 151 books and stories containing Candala, Cadi-ala, Caḍi-ala, Camdala, Caṃḍāla, Caṃḍāḷa, Caṃdaḷa, Cāṃḍāla, Cāṃḍāḷa, Canda-ala, Caṇḍa-ala, Caṇḍāla, Caṇḍaḷa, Caṇḍala, Cāṇḍāḷa, Cāṇḍāla, Cāndalā, Caṇḍālā, Candalā, Caṇḍāḷa, Candaḷa, Candala-na, Caṇḍāla-ṇa; (plurals include: Candalas, alas, Camdalas, Caṃḍālas, Caṃḍāḷas, Caṃdaḷas, Cāṃḍālas, Cāṃḍāḷas, Caṇḍālas, Caṇḍaḷas, Caṇḍalas, Cāṇḍāḷas, Cāṇḍālas, Cāndalās, Caṇḍālās, Candalās, Caṇḍāḷas, Candaḷas, nas, ṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Yajnavalkya-smriti (Vyavaharadhyaya)—Critical study (by Kalita Nabanita)
Chapter 3.2b - Untouchability < [Chapter 3 - The Social Aspect Depicted in the Vyavahārādhyāya]
Chapter 5.18 - Laws on Sāhasa (Robbery and Violence) < [Chapter 5 - Modern Indian Laws reflected from the Vyavahārādhyāya]
Vasudevahindi (cultural history) (by A. P. Jamkhedkar)
7. The Candalas and Other Despised Classes < [Chapter 3 - Social Conditions]
28. Crime and Punishment (in ancient India) < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
11. Food in Jainism < [Chapter 5 - Religion and Philosophy]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.247 < [Section XIX - Accepting of Gifts]
Verse 11.24 < [Section II - The Brāhmaṇa’s Responsibilities and Privileges regarding Sacrificial Performances]
Verse 5.129 < [Section XIII - Purification of Substances]
Malatimadhava (study) (by Jintu Moni Dutta)
Part 1.4 - The Subcastes and Caṇḍālas < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects of the Mālatīmādhava]
Part 5.3a - Pada-doṣa (defects of word) < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 2: Marriage of Pradyumna < [Chapter VII - Marriages of Śāmba and Pradyumna]
Part 11: Origin of Dhūmaketu’s enmity < [Chapter VI - Marriage of Kṛṣṇa with Rukmiṇī and others]
Part 13: Sermon on the four gatis: humans < [Chapter IV - Padmaprabhacaritra]
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Chapter XXIX - On Bodhisattva Highly-Virtuous King (c) < [Section Six]
Chapter VIII - On the Four Dependables < [Section One]
Chapter XII - On the Nature of the Tathagata (Tathagatagarbha) < [Section One]
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