Carcika, Carcikā, Cārcika: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Carcika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Charchika.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚāktismCarcikā (चर्चिका, “eruption”):—Name of one of the sixty-four mātṛs to be worshipped during Āvaraṇapūjā (“Worship of the Circuit of Goddesses”, or “Durgā’s Retinue”), according to the Durgāpūjātattva. They should be worshipped with either the five upācāras or perfume and flowers.
Her mantra is as follows:
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantramॐ चर्चिकायै नमः
oṃ carcikāyai namaḥ.
1) Carcikā (चर्चिका) (lit. “repetition of a word”) is Kubjikā’s western face, also identified with Mahālakṣmī and Umā, the Skyfarer (khecarī) [it is the lower one in front, which is that of Kubjikā herself], according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Carcikā is the last of the six goddesses with whom Kubjikā declares her identity, implying perhaps, that this is her final and most complete form. The goddess is called Carcikā in the Kumārikākhaṇḍa when she emerges from the Liṅga. As such she is the main deity of the Kula, Kubjikā herself. She is Bhairavī who is both the consort and mother of Bhairava. Carcikā is the aspect Kubjikā assumes when she has imparted the Command to Bhairava and embodies that Command in its purest form.
2) Carcikā (चर्चिका) or Carcikāvvā is the name of the Mother associated with Oṃkāra, which refers to the sacred seat of Oḍḍiyāna.
3) Carcikā (चर्चिका) or Carcikāvvā is also the Mother (avvā) associated with the sacred seat of Pūrṇagiri (pūrṇapīṭha).
Source: Sreenivasarao's blog: Saptamatrka (part 4)Carcika or Camunda refers to one of the seven mother-like goddesses (Matrika).—Camunda represents the principal feminine force. The order of the Saptamatrka usually begins with Brahmi symbolizing creation. Then, Vaishnavi, Maheshvari, Kaumari, Varahi and Indrani. Then, Camunda is the destroyer of delusions and evil tendencies, paving way for spiritual awakening. The most important significance of Saptamatrka symbolism is the implication of the cyclical universal time and its cessation. In the standard versions, the cycle of periodic time ends with dissolution symbolized by Camunda.
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.
Nirukta (Sanskrit etymology)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (etymology)Carcikā (चर्चिका) etymology.—According to the Jayadrathayāmala, Kālikā is called Carcikā because she drinks up (camati) everything making the sound ‘chama chama’, relishings (carvayantī) all that she consumes. The Ciñcinīmatasārasamuccaya implies a similar didactic etymology by saying that the teachings concerning Carcikā are ‘relished’ (carvita). Another etymology of this sort derives her name from the root ‘carca’, which means to reflect or consider. This is how she is understood to be when, like many other forms of Kālī, she is associated with Rāviṇī—the Resounding Goddess. [...]
Nirukta (निरुक्त) or “etymology” refers to the linguistic analysis of the Sanskrit language. This branch studies the interpretation of common and ancient words and explains them in their proper context. Nirukta is one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist IconographyCarcikā (चर्चिका) is the Goddess of the South-west corner in the sādhana of the sixteen-armed variety of Mahākāla, as mentioned in the 5th-century Sādhanamālā (a collection of sādhana texts that contain detailed instructions for rituals).
Accordingly,
Mahākāla should be surrounded by seven goddesses, three in the three cardinal points, (the fourth being occupied by his own Śakti) and the other four in the four corners. [...] The four corners are occupied by the following goddesses. [...] Carcikā in the South-west corner has red complexion, carries the kartri and the kapāla in her two hands and resembles Kālikā in all other respects:—Kālikā in the South-east corner is blue in complexion, has two arms carrying the kapāla and the kartri, and stands on a corpse in the ālīḍha attitude. [...] These four deities are nude, and look terrible with bare fangs, three eyes and dishevelled hair. [...]
Surrounded by all these deities [viz., Carcikā], Mahākāla should be meditated uponas trampling upon Vajrabhairava in the form of a corpse.
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)Carcikā of the Hindus is identified with Koṭṭavai (Koṭṭavī or Koṭṭajjā), according to “A Cultural note on the Kuvalayamala of Uddyotanasuri” by the late Dr. V. s. Agrawala.—Page 82.30: Here is a list of religious establishments of different denominations [e.g., Shrine of goddess Koṭṭavī], [...]. According to the Vāmana-purāṇa, Koṭṭavai was the name of ancient Goddess at Hingulas in Baluchistan who was later on renamed by Scythians as Nani and by the Hindus Carcikā during the Gupta period. It is gratifying to note that Uddyotanasūri refers to the shrine of Koṭṭavi [Koṭṭajjā]. In the Deśīnāmamālā (12th century) Koṭṭā is given as the name of Pārvatī (2.35) which seems to have been due to a later religious synthesis of Goddess’ name,
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryCarcikā (चर्चिका).—
1) Repetition, recitation, study, repeated reading, perusal.
2) Discussion, inquiry, investigation; आवर्जितैः स निखिलैरधिकोत्कोचचर्चया (āvarjitaiḥ sa nikhilairadhikotkocacarcayā) Rāj. T.5.34; आबद्धपङ्क्तयश्चर्चामुच्चलाश्रयिणीं व्यधुः (ābaddhapaṅktayaścarcāmuccalāśrayiṇīṃ vyadhuḥ) ibid. 7.1463.
3) Reflection.
4) Smearing the body with unguents; अङ्गचर्चामरचयम् (aṅgacarcāmaracayam) K.157; श्रीखण्डचर्चा विष (śrīkhaṇḍacarcā viṣa) ... Gītagovinda 9.
5) An epithet of the goddess Durgā,
See also (synonyms): carcā.
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Cārcika (चार्चिक).—a. Conversant with the repetition (of the Veda).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryCarcikā (चर्चिका).—f.
(-kā) 1. The goddess Durga. or Chamunda. 2. Cleaning the person with perfumes. 3. Deliberation, inquiry. E. carc to ask, affix ṇvul; also carcā as above.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Carcikā (चर्चिका):—[from carcaka > carc] a f. = carcā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of Durgā, [Brahma-purāṇa ii, 18, 15; Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi i, 7, 153; Tantr.] (cf. gharma-, vi-).
3) [from carc] b f. of rcaka q.v.
4) Cārcika (चार्चिक):—mfn. conversant with the repetition of words (carcā) [gana] ukthādi.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryCarcikā (चर्चिका):—(kā) 1. f. The goddess Durgā; perfuming; inquiry into.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Carcikanirnaya, Carcikapada, Carcikapara, Carcikaravini, Carcikavva, Carcikeshvari.
Ends with: Gharmacarcika, Gharmavicarcika, Gomacarcika, Macarcika, Vajracarcika, Vicarcika.
Full-text (+69): Gharmacarcika, Khakamini, Vicarci, Carca, Carcikaravini, Carccikya, Gharmavicarcika, Kulamandapa, Carcya, Vicarcika, Vicarcita, Carcikya, Gharmmacarccika, Sukshmasphota, Camundabhairava, Carcikanirnaya, Carcikapara, Diptasya, Sushushka, Carcaka.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Carcika, Carcikā, Cārcika; (plurals include: Carcikas, Carcikās, Cārcikas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 135 - Greatness of Śītalāgaurī (Śītalā-gaurī) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 97 - Holy Spots in Vārāṇasī < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Chapter 66 - Kṛṣṇa beheads Barbarīka: Greatness of Guptakṣetra Concluded < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Chapter 25 - The seventeen-syllabled Mantra < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
Chapter 29 - The worship of Caṇḍikā < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
One hundred and eight (108) names of Sāvitrī < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 27 - The description of the Jaya ablution < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)