Alternative spellings of this word include Chaturvarna.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Cāturvarṇa (चातुर्वर्ण).—The four castes; Viṣṇu, their creator and protector;¹ originated by the four sons of Suvratā, daughter of Dakṣa;² people observe svadharma in Kṛta, attain change in Treta, become weak in Dvāpara and lose all character in the Kali age;³ fresh impetus by Śaunaka and by Bhārgabhūmi.⁴

• 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 37. 5; III. 72. 35; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 6. 5-6, 8.
• 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 30. 67; 97. 36; 100. 44; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 13. 65.
• 3) Matsya-purāṇa 168. 8-12.
• 4) Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 8. 6, 20.

context information

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Caturvarṇa (चतुर्वर्ण) refers to the “four colours” (of the excellent and auspicious), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] (3) Above that, having abandoned Kuṇḍalī, one should think of the (Wheel) Full of Gems (maṇipūraka) (in the navel). It is a mass of radiant energy, like the Fire of Time. There, in the middle, one should place the excellent and auspicious Void of (all) four colours that manifests according to the nature (of each entity) [i.e., caturvarṇa-vara]. [...] (Perfect) contemplation (samādhi) is with (these) sixteen aspects and is (attained) within the form of the sixfold deposition (ṣoḍhānyāsa). He who knows this is (a veritable) Lord of Yogis, the others (who do not) are (just) quoting from books. Once attained the plane that is Void and Non-void, the yogi is freed from bondage”.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Caturvarṇa (चतुर्वर्ण).—1. the four classes or castes of the Hindus; i. e. ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य (brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya) and शूद्र (śūdra); चतुर्वर्णमयो लोकः (caturvarṇamayo lokaḥ) R.1.22.

2) four principal colours.

Derivable forms: caturvarṇaḥ (चतुर्वर्णः).

Caturvarṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms catur and varṇa (वर्ण).

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

Caturvarṇa (चतुर्वर्ण).—m.

(-rṇaḥ) 1. The four classes of Hindus. 2. Four principal colours. 3. Four letters. E. catur, and varṇa tribe.

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

1) Caturvarṇa (चतुर्वर्ण):—[=catur-varṇa] [from catur > catasṛ] (in [compound]) the 4 castes; 4 principal colours, [Horace H. Wilson]

2) [v.s. ...] four letters, [Horace H. Wilson]

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

Caturvarṇa (चतुर्वर्ण):—[catur-varṇa] (rṇaḥ) 1. m. Four classes; four colours; four letters.

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Caturvarṇa (ಚತುರ್ವರ್ಣ):—[noun] the four social classes of Hindu society brahmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śudra.

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Cāturvarṇa (ಚಾತುರ್ವರ್ಣ):—[noun] (pl.) the four broad divisions of Hindu society based on their pursuitsthey being brāṃhaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śudra.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Varna, Catur.

Starts with: Caturvarnadi, Caturvarnamaya.

Full-text: Caturvarnya, Caturvarnamaya, Caturvarnadi, Srishtyantara, Caturvarnyadi, Brahmana, Shyan.

Relevant text

Search found 3 books and stories containing Caturvarna, Cāturvarṇa, Caturvarṇa, Catur-varna, Catur-varṇa; (plurals include: Caturvarnas, Cāturvarṇas, Caturvarṇas, varnas, varṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)

Saptadvīpa (2): Śakadvīpa < [Chapter 4 - Geographical history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]

Caturāśrama (Four Āśramas) < [Chapter 5 - Cultural history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]

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Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)

Story of Brāhmaṇa

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Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study) (by K. Vidyuta)

2 (b). Vāstuśāstra texts < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

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