Caturyuga, aka: Catur-yuga; 5 Definition(s)

Introduction

Caturyuga means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Chaturyuga.

In Hinduism

Purana

Caturyuga (चतुर्युग) refers to a time period consisting of four times the amount of one Kaliyuga, according to the Nīlamatapurāṇa. The passage of the sun through one sign of the zodiac, we are informed, is called a solar month. Two months make a season, three seasons an Ayana and two Ayanas a year. Four lacs and thirty two thousand years make Kaliyuga. Twice as much as Kaliyuga is Dvāpara, thrice is Tretā and four yugas make one Caturyuga and seventy one Caturyugas make one Manvantara.

Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—(See Manvantara).

Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—Kṛtam, Treta, Dvāparam and Kali. The section deals with the differences between them under the heads yugadharma, yugasandhi, aṃśaka and yugasandhāna. These are in Bhāratavarṣa;¹ According to the yugas the height of men, birds, beasts and plants decreases or increases;² Manu's height is aṣṭatāla and one whose height is navatāla is praised even by Gods.³ Kṛta 4000 years sandhya 400 sandhyāṃśa 400; Treta 3000 years sandhya 300 sandhyāṃśa 300; Dvāpara 2000 years sandhya 200 sandhyāṃśa 200; Kali (Tiṣyam) 1000 years sandhya 100 sandhyāṃśa 100; Thus on the whole the yugas comprise 12000 divine years;⁴ described.⁵

• 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 29. 1 ff. Matsya-purāṇa 142. 2 and 17, 23.
• 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa 32. 8 ff.
• 3) Ib. 35. 172.
• 4) Vāyu-purāṇa 23. 105; 24. 1; 32. 65, 67; 45. 137; 57. 5 and 21-8.
• 5) Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI. 1. 5-7; 3. 11-40.

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.

In Buddhism

General definition (in Buddhism)

Caturyuga (चतुर्युग) or simply Yuga refers to the “four ages” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 88):

1. kṛta-yuga (the accomplished age),
2. tretā-yuga (the threefold-life age),
3. dvāpara-yuga (the twofold age),
4. kali-yuga (the dark age).

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (eg., catur-yuga). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—the aggregate of the four Yugas or ages of the world.

Derivable forms: caturyugam (चतुर्युगम्).

Caturyuga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms catur and yuga (युग).

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