Cataka, Caṭaka, Cātaka: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Cataka 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 Chataka.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)One of the Hands that indicate Flying Creatures.—Cātaka, the Lāṅgula hand fluttered.
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).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)
Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval IndiaCaṭaka (चटक) refers to a “sparrow”, whose meat (māṃsa) is classified as “celestial” (khecara) according to 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.—The text [māṃsa-prakaraṇa] says the three fold division of meat [such as celestial (khecara)...]. Here different types of meat and their properties are discussed in detail. The celestial animals are [viz., caṭaka (a sparrow)].
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study1) Cātaka (चातक) (lit. “one who prays for rain water”) is a synonym (another name) for the Sparrow, 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.
2) Cātaka (चातक) also refers to the Yellow-throated sparrow (Petronia Xanthocollis).
3) Cātaka (चातक) also refers to the Pied-Crested Cukoo (Clamator Jacobinus).
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyCaṭaka (चटक) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “tree sparrow”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Caṭaka is part of the sub-group named Pratuda, refering to animals “who eat while striking”. 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.
The meat of the sparrow (caṭaka) is sweet, unctuous, promotes strength and semen, alleviates sannipāta, particularly vāta. The eggs of the Sparrow (caṭaka) are useful in diminished semen, cough, heart disease and injuries. They are sweet, bot cauising burning sensation and immediately strength-promoting.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Cātaka (चातक) refers to a type of bird, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22. Accordingly as Sitā said to Śiva:—“[...] the most unbearable season of the advent of clouds (ghanāgama or jaladāgama) has arrived with clusters of clouds of diverse hues, and their music reverberating in the sky and the various quarters. [...] The sweet and delightful sounds of the Cātaka birds that are fond of clouds fall upon the way-farers like the arrows of rain-showers causing incessant pain. See the wickedness perpetrated by the clouds on my body. They are pelting it with hailstones. But they cover and protect the peacocks and Cātakas who are their followers”.
2) Cātaka (चातक) refers to a group of deities who together with the nine Durgās participated in Vīrabhadra’s campaign against Dakṣa, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.33. Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“Mahākālī went ahead for the destruction of Dakṣa accompanied by nine Durgās [...]. Eager in executing the command of Śiva, they accompanied the marching heroes—[viz., Caṭakas] and set out quickly for the destruction of Dakṣa’s sacrifice”.
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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Prācyā: Animals and animal products as reflected in Smṛti textsCaṭaka (चटक) refers to the bird “Sparrow” (Passer domesticus).—Birds have been described in several ancient Sanskrit texts that they have been treated elaborately by eminent scholars. These birds [viz., Caṭaka] 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 (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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka MaṇḍalaCaṭaka (चटक) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Caṭakī 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., Caṭaka] 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 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.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureCaṭaka (चटक) refers to “sparrows” (responsible for crop-destruction, etc.), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [As the Bhagavān teaches a pacification ritual]: “[...] All stinging insects, mosquitos, ants, flying insects, bees, quivering bees, bumble bees, worms, ones with a sting, vātālikas, owls, mice, long-mouthed ones and so on and various sorts of pests perish. They will not appear. They will be destroyed. All crows, large birds, sparrows (caṭaka), cañcaṭikas, pigeons, surikas, owls, wagtails, parrots, mynas and so on perish. [...]”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraCātaka (चातक) refers to the bird Cuculus melanoleucus (who, according to literary convention, subsists on rain-drops), according to chapter 1.2 [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 soon as the Lord’s bath-water fell on the ground, with devotion it was seized by some, like rain by cātakas. ‘Where, pray, will we obtain that again?’ With this thought, some gods put the water on their heads like men in a desert. Some gods with eagerness sprinkled their bodies again and again, like elephants suffering from summer-heat”.
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 Dictionarycaṭaka : (m.) a sparrow. || cātaka (m.) a hornbill.
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 Dictionarycaṭaka (चटक).—f ( H) A taste, taking to, penchant; an acquired liking or fondness. v lāga. 2 An ill-habit; a way or trick. 3 The anguish of separation and the longing for the return of. v lāva, lāga, basa.
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caṭakā (चटका).—m (cāṭaṇēṃ To graze; to take off the skin.) Glow, ardor, scorching heat (of the sun, fire, or a heated body), considered as catching or affecting: also the hot or acrid qualities of substances, as affecting the mouth or throat. v lāga. 2 The smart or sensation following upon a burn, or, to the tongue and palate, upon touching a thing sharp and biting. v basa. 3 The scar or mark of a burn. 4 A pang, thrill, sudden agony: (as affecting the mind.) v basa. 5 Covert and cutting speech; a reflection, sarcasm, taunt, fling, hit. v māra. 6 Care or concern about; anxious heedfulness or regard. Ex. cākara māṇasāsa cākarīcā caṭa- kā asāvā. 7 The pains of the absence of, and the longing for the return of. v lāva, lāga, basa. Ex. lōbha harīcā laṭakā lāvuni gēlā ca0; tō māḷī dāda- vyā kēlā || tō vihirīnta paḍūna mēlā || tyācēṃ kāṃhīṃ vāṭata nāhīṃ malā || sakhyācā ca0 lāgūna gēlā. 8 A brand with the cauterizing iron, esp. a small and slight one. v dē, lāva. Ex. nasatēci caṭakē lāvīta || śuddhāvari mūrkhatvēṃ ||. 9 Heating (gold) by applying bluestone &c. and throwing it into the fire. v dē. Also, by meton., the materials used in this operation. 10 A blow or loss (as in trade). v basa, lāga. 11 See caṭaka & carakā throughout.
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cātaka (चातक).—m (S) A bird, Cuculus melano-lucus. Fabled to drink only from the clouds, and therefore to be ever eagerly expectant of rain. Hence cātakanyāyēṃ karūna (After the law or according to the manner of the cātaka.) With eager expectation or with intense and strong desire--looking or waiting for.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishcaṭaka (चटक).—f A taste, taking to, penchant. An ill habit; a way or trick.
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caṭakā (चटका).—m Glow, ardour. The smart or sensation following upon a burn, or to the tongue and palate. A pang, thrill, sudden agony (as affecting the mind). Care or concern about.
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cātaka (चातक).—m A bird, Cuculus melano-lucus.
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 dictionaryCaṭaka (चटक).—A sparrow.
Derivable forms: caṭakaḥ (चटकः).
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Caṭakā (चटका).—
1) A hen-sparrow.
2) The root of long pepper.
See also (synonyms): caṭikā.
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Cātaka (चातक).—(-kī f.) [cat yācane kartari ṇvul] Name of a bird which is supposed to live only on rain-drops; सूक्ष्मा एव पतन्ति चातकमुखे द्वित्राः पयोबिन्दवः (sūkṣmā eva patanti cātakamukhe dvitrāḥ payobindavaḥ) Bhartṛhari 2.121; see also 2.51 and R.5.17.
Derivable forms: cātakaḥ (चातकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryCāṭaka (चाटक).—(?) , read probably cāṭuka (= Sanskrit cāṭu, and once cāṭuka, which in the passage cited in [Boehtlingk and Roth] may be an adj.; in Rājat. 1.213, cited in [Boehtlingk] s.v. cāṭu, for cāṭusīt- read [Page227-a+ 71] with Stein caṭasī-), agreeable, pleasant, approximate synonym of prekṣaṇīya: Gaṇḍavyūha 214.23, see s.v. carci (-gātra).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryCaṭaka (चटक).—m.
(-kaḥ) A sparrow. f.
(-kā) 1. A hen-sparrow. 2. A young hensparrow. 3. The root of long pepper: see caṭakāśiras and caṭikā. E. caṭ to break, kvun affix, braking corn, &c. caṭati bhinatti dhānyādikam .
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Cātaka (चातक).—m.
(-kaḥ) A bird, a kind of cuckoo, (Cuculus melanoleucus.) E. cat to beg, affix karttari ṇvul; begging water from the clouds, the supposed sole source of the fluid which this bird drinks.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryCaṭaka (चटक).—m. A sparrow, [Pañcatantra] 80, 5. f. kā, A hen-sparrow, [Pañcatantra] 80, 10.
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Cātaka (चातक).—m. A kind of cuckoo, Cuculus melanoleucus, supposed to drink only drops of rain, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 89.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryCaṭaka (चटक).—[masculine] ā [feminine] a sparrow.
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Cātaka (चातक).—[masculine] the bird Cataka (supposed to live only upon rain drops).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumCaṭaka (चटक) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—a poet and minister under Jayāpīḍa. Rājataraṅgiṇī 4, 496.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Caṭaka (चटक):—[from caṭ] m. a sparrow, [Mahābhārata xii; Harivaṃśa; Suśruta; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā; Pañcatantra]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a poet, [Rājataraṅgiṇī iv, 496]
3) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] ‘sparrows’, a nickname of Vaiśampāyana’s school ([varia lectio] for caraka), [Vāyu-purāṇa]
4) Caṭakā (चटका):—[from caṭaka > caṭ] a f. (gaṇas ajādi and kṣipakādi) a hen-sparrow, [Pañcatantra i, 15, 0/1; 18, 0/1]
5) [v.s. ...] a young hen-sparrow, [Pāṇini 4-1, 128], [vArttika] 2
6) [v.s. ...] Turdus macrourus (śyāmā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] = kā-śiras, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc. [Scholiast or Commentator]]
8) [from caṭ] b f. of ka q.v.
9) Cātaka (चातक):—m. the bird Cucculus melanoleucus (said to subsist on rain-drops), [Śakuntalā vii, 7; Raghuvaṃśa xvii, 15; Meghadūta] etc.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Caṭaka (चटक):—[(kaḥ-kā)] 1. m. f. A sparrow.
2) Cātaka (चातक):—(kaḥ) 1. m. A bird, a kind of cuckoo (Cuculus melano-leucus.)
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Caṭaka (चटक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Caḍaya, Cāyaga, Cāyava.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Caṭaka (चटक) [Also spelled chatak]:—(nf) glitter, splendour, brilliance; agility; crack; sprain; a sparrow; (a) bright, brilliant, loud (colour); ~[dāra] brilliant; gaudy, loud; —[maṭaka] gaud/gaudiness; coquetry; ornamentation, glitter.
2) Caṭāka (चटाक) [Also spelled chatak]:—(nm) a crackling sound (comparatively louder and more lasting than [caṭa]); smack; —[paṭāka] promptly, swiftly.
3) Caṭākā (चटाका):—(nm) a smack, crackling report.
4) Cātaka (चातक) [Also spelled chatak]:—(nm) an Indian bird —Cuculus melanoleucus.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusCaṭaka (ಚಟಕ):—[noun] the passerine bird Passer domesticus of Passerinae family, with brown and grey plumage; house-sparrow.
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Caṭaka (ಚಟಕ):—[noun] a blade of the sacred grass (Desmodium tripinnata of Poaceae family) used to represent or substitute a brāhmaṇa.
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Cāṭaka (ಚಾಟಕ):—
1) [noun] jugglery a) the art or an act of juggling; sleight of hand; b) trickery; deception.
2) [noun] the use of charms, spells and rituals in seeking or pretending to cause or control events or govern certain natural or supernatural forces; magic; black magic.
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Cātaka (ಚಾತಕ):—[noun] the male of the bird Cuculus melanoleucus, fabled to live only upon rain drops.
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 DictionaryCaṭaka (चटक):—n. 1. trick; magic; 2. a sparrow;
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)
Starts with (+19): Catakacakkili, Catakacandanem, Catakacandani, Catakacariyan, Catakacataka, Catakaccirtti, Catakacitti, Catakacuriyan, Catakacutakam, Catakadesha, Catakaira, Catakaka, Catakakkanni, Catakakkatci, Catakakkillaiyon, Catakakkotu, Catakakkunacalam, Catakakkurippu, Catakalam, Catakalampam.
Full-text (+177): Carmacataka, Mrigendracataka, Catakashiras, Mayuracataka, Aranyacataka, Catakanandana, Grihacataka, Satakam, Catakadesha, Caruvacatakam, Stokaka, Shyamacataka, Gramacataka, Catika, Catakaira, Catakayana, Kakunjala, Meghacintaka, Ghanatola, Meghajivaka.
Relevant text
Search found 68 books and stories containing Cataka, Caṭaka, Cātaka, Caṭakā, Cāṭaka, Caṭāka, Caṭākā, Catakas, Cata-nvu, Cata-ṇvu, Cata-nvu, Caṭa-ṇvu; (plurals include: Catakas, Caṭakas, Cātakas, Caṭakās, Cāṭakas, Caṭākas, Caṭākās, Catakases, nvus, ṇvus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 4.14.17 < [Chapter 14 - The Story of the Jālandharīs]
Verse 5.17.3 < [Chapter 17 - The Gopis Describe Their Remembrance of Sri Krsna]
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 997: Sthambana Chakra < [Tantra Four (nankam tantiram) (verses 884-1418)]
Verse 2753: Dance Ensemble < [Tantra Nine (onpatam tantiram) (verses 2649-3047)]
Verse 716: Sadhaka's State in Samadhi < [Tantra Three (munran tantiram) (verses 549-883)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Animal Kingdom (Tiryak) in Epics (by Saranya P.S)
Chapter 4.32 - Water-loving birds in the Epics
Chapter 4.22 - The Cataka (Pied crested cuckoo) in the Epics
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 5.12 < [Section II - Objectionable Food]
Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
Chapter V - Division of the Yajur-veda < [Book III]