Carita, Cārita: 22 definitions

Introduction:

Carita means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Charita.

In Hinduism

Kavyashastra (science of poetry)

Source: Shodhganga: Bhismacaritam a critical study

Carita (चरित) or Caritakāvya refers to a type of Mahākāvya (‘epic poem’).—Carita-kāvyas play an important role in the field of Sanskrit language as biography is a significant sector of any literature. They mainly form a part of biographical literature. [...] The word carita has the following meanings: performed, practised, attained, known, offered, going, moving-course, acting, doing, practice, behaviour, acts, deeds e.g. “udāra-caritānām tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam”, story e.g. “uttararāma-caritam tat praṇitam prayujyate”. Carita means behaviour, habit, conduct, practice, acts, deeds, performances, observance, history, life, biography, account, adventure, nature, disposition and duty, established of instituted observance.

Kavyashastra book cover
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Kavyashastra (काव्यशास्त्र, kāvyaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian tradition of poetry (kavya). Canonical literature (shastra) of the includes encyclopedic manuals dealing with prosody, rhetoric and various other guidelines serving to teach the poet how to compose literature.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Carita (चरित) refers to “stories regarding the character and deeds of kings”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 3), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The dark spots, also known as ketus, the sons of Rāhu are Tāmasa, Kīlaka and the like, and are 33 in number. How they affect the earth depends upon their color, position and shape. [...] Men, reduced to mere bones and as named to beg will be harassed both by their own princes and by the princes of other lands. Some will begin to speak disparagingly of the character and deeds [i.e., carita] of their own sovereign. Even though there should be indications of good rain, the clouds will yield little rain; the rivers will fall and (food) crops will be found (only) here and there”.

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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In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

Carita refers to “nature, character”. In Vis.M. III there are explained six types of men:

  1. the greedy-natured (rāga-carita),
  2. the hate-natured (dosa-carita),
  3. the stupid or dull-natured (moha-carita),
  4. the faithful-natured (saddhā-carita),
  5. the intelligent-natured (buddhi-carita),
  6. the ruminating-natured (vitakka-carita).—(App.).
Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

On the 6 kinds of human character, s. carita.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Carita (चरित) refers to “one’s actions”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 4).—Accordingly, “[Question: Why is the Buddha called Vidyācaraṇasaṃpanna?]—[Answer]: The Abhijñā knows the previous past existences (atītapūrvajanma), the Vidyā knows the past actions (atītakarman) that are the cause.—The Abhijñā knows that such and such a being will die here and be reborn there, the vidyā recognizes [in these deaths and rebirths] the unfailing result of the actions (carita) that are its cause (hetupratyaya).—The Abhijñā knows that [such and such a being] has destroyed the fetters (saṃyojana), but does not know if he will be reborn again or will never be reborn again; the Vidyā knows that once the impurities (āsravakṣaya) have been destroyed, one is no longer reborn. These three vidyās [are not the prerogative exclusively of the Buddha]; they are also attained by the great Arhats and the great Pratyekabuddhas”.

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

Carita (चरित) refers to the “(mental) behavior”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja, having praised the Lord with these verses, addressed himself to the Lord: ‘[...] The Lord, having played with the supernormal knowledges, is skilled in the knowledge of ascertainment of the base of magic. The Lord, having been endowed with the understanding of observation, throughly shows the mental behavior of all living beings (sarvasatva-citta-carita) as he places it upon the palm of his hand. Since the Lord has been elevated above, nobody can look at the top of his head. The Lord, having been unsurpassed, became a hero in the whole system of threefold thousand great thousand worlds. [...]’”.

Mahayana book cover
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.

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General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: DLMBS: Buddhānusmṛti

carita [carita] nature, temperament. Carita denotes the intrinsic nature of a human being. The six types of temperament are

  1. greedy temperament [rāga-carita],
  2. hateful temperament [doṣa-carita],
  3. dull temperament [moha-carita],
  4. devout temperament [śraddhā-carita],
  5. intellectual temperament [buddhi-carita],
  6. discursive temperament [vitarka-carita].

The six temperaments are combined with one another. The speculative temperament (dṛṣṭi carita) is added to them.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Carita (चरित) (Cf. Vṛtta) refers to the “behaviour” (of the cycle of rebirth), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Fool, do you not perceive the transitory behaviour of the whole world [com.—saṃsāra-carita—‘behaviour of the cycle of rebirth’] ? You must do what is proper to be done. You must not deceive yourself by amusing yourself with false knowledge”.

General definition book cover
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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

carita : (pp. of carati) walked or roamed about; behaved. (nt.) 1. character; behaviour; 2. life. || cārita (pp. of cāretvā), set going; pastured.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Carita, (pp. of cāreti, see cara & carati) 1. (adj.) going, moving, being like, behaving (-°) J. VI, 313; Miln. 92 (rāgac°=ratta); Vism. 105, 114 (rāga°, dosa°, moha°, etc.).—2. (nt.) action, behaviour, living Dh. 330 (ekassa c. living alone); Ps. I, 124; Miln. 178. See also carati 1b, 2b. Esp. frequent with su° and duc°: good, right, proper or (nt.) good action, right conduct & the opposite; e.g. sucarita Dh. 168, 231; PvA. 12, 71, 120; duccarita A. I, 146; II, 85, 141; III, 267, 352; D. III, 111. 214; Dh. 169, Sn. 665; Pv. I, 94 (°ṃ caritvā), etc. See also kāya° vacī° mano° under kāya. (Page 263)

Pali book cover
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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.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

carita (चरित).—n See caritra.

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

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Carita (चरित).—p. p. [car karmaṇi kta]

1) Wandered or roamed over, gone.

2) Performed, practised.

3) Attained.

4) Known.

5) Offered; Ś.4.21.

6) Acted, behaved; Ś.5.16.

-tam 1 Going, moving, course.

2) Acting, doing, practice, behaviour, acts, deeds; उदारचरितानाम् (udāracaritānām) H.1.7; सर्वं खलस्य चरितं मशकः करोति (sarvaṃ khalasya caritaṃ maśakaḥ karoti) 1.81.

3) Life, biography, adventures, history उत्तरं रामचरितं तत्प्रणीतं प्रयुज्यते (uttaraṃ rāmacaritaṃ tatpraṇītaṃ prayujyate) Uttararāmacarita 1.2; दिवौकसस्त्वच्चरितं लिखन्ति (divaukasastvaccaritaṃ likhanti) Ś.7.5; so दशकुमारचरितम् (daśakumāracaritam) &c.

4) Nature.

5) Fixed law, due or proper observance.

--- OR ---

Cārita (चारित).—a.

1) Caused to go.

2) Distilled &c.

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

Carita (चरित).—(nt.), (mathematical) operation, calculation, problem (in mathematics): (śākyakumāraśatāny…) apūr- vacaritaṃ samuddiśanti sma, bodhisattvaś cāsaṃmūḍho nikṣipati sma Lalitavistara 147.1,…proposed an unheard-of (mathe- matical) problem… Tibetan rtsis, calculation. See also dhar- ma-carita.

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

Carita (चरित).—mfn.

(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) Gone, gone to, attained. n.

(-taṃ) Fixed institute, proper or peculiar observance: see caraṇa. 2. Story, adventures. 3. Practice, behaviour. 4. Nature. E. car to go, affix kta.

--- OR ---

Cārita (चारित).—mfn.

(-taḥ-tā-taṃ) 1. Caused to go. 2. Distilled. E. car to go, causal form kta aff.

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

Carita (चरित).—[neuter] going, course, way, practice, behaviour, conduct; acts, deeds, adventures.

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

1) Carita (चरित):—[from car] a mfn. gone, gone to, attained, [Horace H. Wilson]

2) [v.s. ...] ‘practised’, in [compound]

3) [v.s. ...] espied, ascertained (by a spy, cara), [Rāmāyaṇa vi, 6, 16 and 7, 21]

4) [v.s. ...] n. going, moving, course, [Atharva-veda iii, 15, 4; ix, 1, 3; Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa iii; Suśruta]

5) [v.s. ...] motion (of asterisms), [Sūryasiddhānta]

6) [v.s. ...] acting, doing, practice, behaviour, acts, deeds, adventures, [Ṛg-veda i, 90, 2; Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] etc. (ifc. f(ā). , [Gīta-govinda ix, 1])

7) [v.s. ...] fixed institute, proper or peculiar observance, [Horace H. Wilson] (cf. uttara-rāma-, duś-, sac-, saha-, su-).

8) [from carācara] b etc. See, [ib.]

9) Cārita (चारित):—[from cāra] mfn. set in motion, [Rājataraṅgiṇī iv, 653]

10) [v.s. ...] caused to be done by ([instrumental case]), [Mahābhārata xii, 11584.]

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

1) Carita (चरित):—[(taḥ-tā-taṃ) p.] Gone; attained. 1. n. Fixed institute practice.

2) Cārita (चारित):—[(taḥ-tā-taṃ) a.] Impelled, made to go; distilled.

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

Carita (चरित) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Cariya, Cāria.

[Sanskrit to German]

Carita 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

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Carita (चरित) [Also spelled charit]:—(nm) biography; doings, goings; ~[kara/-lekhaka] a biographer; -[nāyaka] the hero or the main character (of a literary work); -[rupaka] biographical feature.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Carita (ಚರಿತ):—

1) [adjective] done; accomplished; achieved.

2) [adjective] gone, walked, roamed over.

--- OR ---

Carita (ಚರಿತ):—

1) [noun] the act or manner of walking, moving.

2) [noun] that which has happened, occurred.

3) [noun] what has happened in the life or development of a people, country, etc.; history.

4) [noun] the way that one acts; behaviour; deportment; conduct.

5) [noun] established behaviour or observance.

6) [noun] a wonderful, outstanding act, achievement.

7) [noun] (fig.) government; reign; rule.

8) [noun] the act of hurrying; quickness of motion; rapidity; haste.

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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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