Caritra, Caritrā, Cāritra, Carītra: 27 definitions

Introduction:

Caritra 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 Charitra.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantra

1) Caritra (चरित्र):—The name for a ‘sacred site’ associated with the group of eight deities (mātṛ) born from Mahimā, according to the Kubjikāmata-tantra. Mahimā is the seventh of the Eight Mahāmātṛs, residing within the Mātṛcakra (third of the five cakras) and represents the earth.

2) Caritrā (चरित्रा):—Sanskrit name for one of the twenty-four sacred sites of the Sūryamaṇḍala, the first maṇḍala of the Khecarīcakra, according to the kubjikāmata-tantra. The Khecarīcakra is the fifth and final cakra located just above the head. Each one of these holy sites (pītha) is presided over by a particular Khecarī (‘sky-goddess’). This Caritrā-pītha is connected with the goddess Kṛṣṇā (also called Kṛṣṇāsyā).

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Caritra (चरित्र) is the name of a sacred site (pīṭha) to be assigned to the fontanelle (randhra) during the pīṭhavidhi (‘ritual of sacred sites’) according to the Tantrāloka chapter 29. This chapter of the Tantrāloka by Abhinavagupta expounds details regarding the Kula initiation ritual. Kula or Kaula is a specific tradition within Śaivism, closely related to Siddhānta and Śaktism.

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II) (shaivism)

Caritrā (चरित्रा) refers to one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22). Prayāga is presided over by the Goddess (Devī) named Kṛṣṇā accompanied by the Field-protector (Kṣetrapāla) named Mahābala. Their weapon possibly corresponds to the śakti and their abode is the karañja-tree. A similar system appears in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18).

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Caritra (चरित्र) or Caritraka is the name of a sacred region, according to the Tantrasadbhāva (verse 6.218): an important Trika Tantra and a major authority for Kashmiri Trika Śaivites.—Accordingly, “For those who know the Self, Prayāga should be understood as located in the [cakra of the] navel, Varuṇā [i.e. Vārāṇasī] in the heart region, Kolagiri in the throat, Bhīmanāda in the palate, Jayantī in the place of Bindu, Caritra [i.e., caritraka] in [the plexus] called Nāda, and Ekāmraka in [the plexus of] Śakti. The eighth, Koṭivarṣa, is likewise said to be in the Mouth of the Guru. These are the places I have declared to be present in the person internally”.

Note: This list of eight pīṭhas (e.g., Caritra) overlaps with the nine śmaśānas or pīṭhas of the Brahmayāmala’s principal maṇḍala (as outlined in chapter 3); however, it corresponds more precisely to the eight delineated in Brahmayāmala 87. Cf., also, Tantrasadbhāva 15.70:

Shaivism book cover
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Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Cāritra (चारित्र).—A Marut gaṇa.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 171. 54.
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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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Caritra (चरित्र) is the name of a sacred place associated with a “deserted house”.—The Śrīkāmākhyaguhyasiddhi, also called simply Guhyasiddhi, is attributed to Matsyendranātha. In this text, the eight sites normally associated with the Mothers are identified with eight such places [i.e., isolated, lonely places] as follows:—1) Prayāga—cremation ground, 2) Varaṇā (i.e. Vārāṇasī)—a solitary tree, 3) Kollā—a mountain peak, 4) Aṭṭahāsa—a temple of the Mothers, 5) Jayantī—a palace, 6) Caritra—a deserted house, 7) Ekāmraka—the bank of a river, and 8) Devīkoṭa—a forest.

2) Caritra (चरित्र) is the name of a sacred place identified with the Mātṛkā named Indrāṇī, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—According to the Kubjikā Tantras, the eight major Kaula sacred sites each have a house occupied by a woman of low caste who is identified with a Mother (Mātṛkā).—[...] Caritra is identified with (a) the class of washer woman (rajakī) [or liquor seller (dhvajinī)], (b) the Mātṛkā or ‘mother’ named Indrāṇī, and (c) with the location of ‘sound’.

Shaktism book cover
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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.

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In Buddhism

Buddhist philosophy

Source: Google Books: The Treasury of Knowledge: Book six, parts one and two (philosophy)

Cāritra (चारित्र) is the name of an ancient country located beneath the Jñānabimbakāya-stūpa, according to Sakya Paṇḍita (12th century).—[The Jñānabimbakāya-stūpa] is said to be present in the form of rainbow-colored light, in the sky above the so-called “town stūpa”, in the land of Koṅkana, which hugs the ocean shore in South [West] India. The venerable Sakya Paṇḍita has referred to the whole region that lies beneath this stūpa in the following verse: “This land, known as Cāritra, is located by the ocean shore, in the south”.

With regard to that land known as Cāritra, it is where Vajravārāhī is known to have ritually summoned or brought together all the ale of the three levels of existence. After she had mixed all the yeast and grain liquor that there was, the quantity increased manifoldly, and when the essence of that yeast had been exhausted, she let it set for a while, so that its potency was renewed. After this had happened on seven occasions, subsequently at auspicious times, the whole region of Koṅkana was permeated by the fragrance of the wine.

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Caritra (चरित्र) refers to one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18). These districts are not divided into subgroups, nor are explained their internal locations. They [viz., Caritra] are external holy places, where the Tantric meting is held with native women who are identified as a native goddess. A similar system appears in the tradition of Hindu Tantrims, i.e., in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22), which belongs to the Śākta sect or Śaivism. Note: In the Kubjikāmatatantra, the name is spelled as Caritrā and has Kṛṣṇā as the presiding deity and Mahābala as the Kṣetrapāla.

Caritra is presided over by the Goddess (Devī) named Karañjavāsinī accompanied by the Field-protector (Kṣetrapāla) named Mahāghaṇṭa or Mahābala. Their weapon possibly corresponds to the mudrā and śakti and their abode (residence) is mentioned as being a karañja-tree. Caritra is also mentioned in the Saṃpuṭatantra as being associated with the karañja-tree.

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Caritra (चरित्र) is the name of Śmaśāna (category of holy sites), according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly: “Now, [the Blessed One] has taught [holy sites] such as the śmaśāna and upaśmaśāna in sequence. [...] (9) Mummunī is a śmaśāna [site] Caritra, Harikela, and Māyāpurī are also the śmaśāna [sites]. (10) The upaśmaśāna [sites] are the base of a mountain, a dead village, Surapura, and Karṇāṭapāṭaka. [...] Girls who are in these places are of [the nature of] the innate, born in their own birthplaces. [...]”.

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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Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

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

Cāritra (चारित्र) refers to “behaviour”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] Then, the bodhisatva, the great being, Gaganagañja addressed himself to the Lord: [...] (36) [How do the Bodhisattvas] know the way of right action and behaviour (ācāra-cāritra), obtain the light being freed from darkness, understand the self-originated knowledge, not being dependent on any other, and speedily attain the gnosis of omniscience from the great vehicle? [...]’”.

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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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Google Books: The Routledge Companion to Death and Dying

Caritra (चरित्र, “proper conduct”).—Bhattapariṇṇā v. 80 of the Mūrtipūjaka Śvetāmbara Jaina canon, conveys how through faith (ārāhaṇā) and proper conduct (caritra) higher rebirth is assured, and how, after death, the soul then “moves swiftly like a car towards good and high forms of being”.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Cāritra (चारित्र) or Saṃyakcaritra refers to “right-conduct” (i.e., restraint of the senses with the whole soul), as mentioned in chapter 1.3 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly, as mentioned in Ṛṣabha’s sermon:—“[...] mokṣa is attained by those who practice unceasingly the brilliant triad of knowledge, faith, and conduct. The abandonment of all censurable activities will lead to right-conduct (cāritra), known by its five divisions, [...]. The restraint of the senses with the whole soul is called cāritra. It may be partial in laymen devoted to the yatidharmas. The roots of right-belief are the five lesser vows (aṇuvratas), the three meritorious vows (guṇavratas), and the four disciplinary vows (śikṣāvratas) of laymen. A wise person, who has seen lameness, leprosy, crookedness, etc.—the fruit of injury, free from sin, should resolutely avoid injury to all movable souls. When he has seen defectiveness in speech-organs, indistinct speaking, dumbness, month-disease—the fruit of falsehood, he should avoid falsehood, false statements about girls, etc.”.

Cāritra (चारित्र) (“right-belief”) refers to one of the three aspects of yoga (self-concentration), according to Dharmanātha in his sermon on the kaṣāyas found in chapter 4.5 [dharmanātha-caritra].

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra

Cāritra (चारित्र, “conduct”).—What is the meaning of conduct? Behaviour or the way an individual lives is called his conduct.

General definition book cover
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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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

caritra (चरित्र).—n (S) pop. carita n Actions, deeds, proceedings; esp. the exploits, feats, and achievements of gods and heroes. Pr. strīcēṃ ca0 āṇi puruṣācēṃ bhāgya kōṇhāsa samajata nāhīṃ. Ex. kathīna caritarūpēṃ vyāsa bhāvārtha hō tō.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

caritra (चरित्र).—n Actions, deeds, proceedings; esp. the exploits, feats, and achieve- ments of gods and heroes. Biography.

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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

Caritra (चरित्र).—[car itra]

1) Behaviour, habit, conduct, practice, acts, deeds.

2) Performance, observance.

3) History, life, biography, account, adventures.

4) Nature, disposition.

5) Duty, established or instituted observance; Manusmṛti 2.2,9.7.

6) A foot, leg.

7) Going.

-trā The tamarind tree.

Derivable forms: caritram (चरित्रम्).

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Carītra (चरीत्र).—Behaviour, conduct, practice &c.

Derivable forms: carītram (चरीत्रम्).

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Cāritra (चारित्र).—[car-ṇitran Uṇādi-sūtra 4.171; caritrameva svārthe aṇ vā] (also written cāritryam)

1) Conduct, behaviour, manner of acting; कुलाक्रोशकरं लोके धिक् ते चारित्रमीदृशम् (kulākrośakaraṃ loke dhik te cāritramīdṛśam) Rām.3.53. 9.

2) Good manner or character, reputation, probity, uprightness, good conduct; अनृतं नाभिधास्यामि चारित्रभ्रंश- कारणम् (anṛtaṃ nābhidhāsyāmi cāritrabhraṃśa- kāraṇam) Mṛcchakaṭika 3.26,25; चारित्र्यविहीन आढ्योऽपि च दुर्गतो भवति (cāritryavihīna āḍhyo'pi ca durgato bhavati) 1.43.

3) Chastity, purity of life (of women).

4) Disposition, temperament.

5) Peculiar observance or practice.

6) Hereditary observance.

-trā The tamarind tree.

Derivable forms: cāritram (चारित्रम्).

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

Cāritra (चारित्र).—(nt.), in °tram āpadyate (with loc.; = Pali cārittaṃ āpajjati, with loc.), has dealings with, visits, cultivates, especially said of a monk who takes food at the house of laymen: (bhikṣuḥ…) kuleṣu cāritram āpadyeta [Prātimokṣasūtra des Sarvāstivādins] 522.4. The Pali phrase is rendered goes on his (beg- ging) rounds in [Sacred Books of the East] 13.42.

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

Caritra (चरित्र).—n.

(-traṃ) 1. Instituted and peculiar observance or conduct. 2. Story, advantures 3. Practice, habit, behaviour. 4. Nature, disposition. f.

(-trā) The tamarind tree. E. car to go, itra Unadi aff.

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Carītra (चरीत्र).—n.

(-traṃ) Practice conduct behaviour: see caritra.

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Cāritra (चारित्र).—n.

(-traṃ) 1. Peculiar observance or practice, peculiarity of customs or condition. 2. Conduct. 3. Reputation: see caraṇa f.

(-trā) The tamarind tree. E. car to go ṇitran Unadi affix; also caritra &c. caritrameva svārthe aṇ vā .

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

Caritra (चरित्र).—[car + itra], n. 1. Ancient usages, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 7. 2. Conduct, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 51, 17.

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Cāritra (चारित्र).—i. e. caritra + a, n. 1. Peculiar observance, praiseworthv observance, [Rāmāyaṇa] 6, 88, 11. 2. Conduct, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 59, 15. 3. Good conduct, [Rāmāyaṇa] 1, 1, 3.

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

Caritra (चरित्र).—[neuter] foot, leg ([masculine]); also = carita + custom, law.

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Cāritra (चारित्र).—[neuter] conduct, [especially] good conduct, virtue, reputation; [ablative] tas.

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

1) Caritra (चरित्र):—[from car] a n. ([Pāṇini 3-2, 184]; rarely m., [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā vi, 14; Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā i, 2, 16]) a foot, leg, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda x, 2, 12; Kauśika-sūtra 44]

2) [v.s. ...] n. going, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xiii, 19]

3) [v.s. ...] n. acting, behaving, behaviour, habit, practice, acts, adventures, deeds, exploits, [Manu-smṛti ii, 20; ix, 7; Rāmāyaṇa] etc. (ifc. f(ā). , [Pañcatantra iv, 7, 5])

4) [v.s. ...] n. nature, disposition, [Horace H. Wilson]

5) [v.s. ...] custom, law as based on custom, [Nārada-smṛti, nāradīya-dharma-śāstra i, 10 f.; xx, 24]

6) Caritrā (चरित्रा):—[from caritra > car] f. the tamarind tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (cf. cār).

7) Carītra (चरीत्र):—[from car] n. = ritra, behaviour, conduct, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) Caritra (चरित्र):—[from carācara] b etc. See, [ib.]

9) Cāritra (चारित्र):—[from cāra] m. (√car cf. śāmitra) ‘moving’, Name of a Marut, [Harivaṃśa 11547]

10) [v.s. ...] n. (= car) proceeding, manner of acting, conduct, [Rāmāyaṇa iii, iv; Pañcatantra] (ifc. f(ā). )

11) [v.s. ...] n. good conduct, good character, reputation, [Harivaṃśa 10204; Nalopākhyāna; Rāmāyaṇa] etc. (‘life in accordance with the 5 great vows’ [Jaina literature])

12) [v.s. ...] peculiar observance, peculiarity of customs or conditions, [Horace H. Wilson]

13) [v.s. ...] a ceremony, [Buddhist literature; cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

14) Cāritrā (चारित्रा):—[from cāritra > cāra] f. the tamarind tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

1) Caritra (चरित्र):—(traṃ) 1. n. Practice; history; character. (trā) f. Tamarind tree.

2) Carītra (चरीत्र):—(traṃ) 1. n. Practice.

3) Cāritra (चारित्र):—[(traṃ-trā)] 1. n. f. Peculiar observance, practice. f. A tamarind tree.

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

Caritra (चरित्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Caritta.

[Sanskrit to German]

Caritra in German

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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»] — Caritra in Hindi glossary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Caritra (चरित्र) [Also spelled charitra]:—(nm) character; -[citraṇa/nirmāṇa] characterisation, portrayal; -[doṣa] flaws of character; ~[vāna] (a man) of sound character; -[hatyā] character assassination; ~[hīna] profligate, deprave, characterless.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Caritra (ಚರಿತ್ರ):—[noun] = ಚರಿತ್ರೆ [caritre].

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Cāritra (ಚಾರಿತ್ರ):—[noun] personal behaviour; way of acting; bearing or deportment; conduct; demeanour.

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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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