Caturyuga, Catur-yuga: 16 definitions
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 and Itihasa (epic history)
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—(See Manvantara).
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) refers to a set of “four yuga periods”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.10, while explaining the span of life of the deities (Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Hara):—“[...] A thousand sets of the four-yuga periods [viz. caturyuga] constitute one day of Brahmā [viz., brahmadina]. The period of night is also similar. Further measurement of time is based on this calculation. Thirty such days (days and nights) constitute one month and twelve months, one year. The span of life of Brahmā is hundred such years”.
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.
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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग) refers to:—One set of the four yugas, or ages: Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग) refers to the “four yugas”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 15.9cd-11, while describing protection rituals]—“[When the mantrin] confers benefits [during] different ages, [mustard seeds] appear in [different colors], bright white, etc. When white they are called all-bestowing, when red they are granting the kingdom. When they are yellow they are [said to] cause protection, and when black they cause the destruction of the enemy. In the four Yugas (caturyuga), [mustard seeds] always are bi-colored, yellow and black. That which is known as rājasarṣapagaura, O Beloved, this [other] bi-colored [seed] is not visible”.
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.
In Buddhism
General definition (in Buddhism)
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग) or simply Yuga refers to the “four ages” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 88):
- kṛta-yuga (the accomplished age),
- tretā-yuga (the threefold-life age),
- dvāpara-yuga (the twofold age),
- kali-yuga (the dark age).
The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., catur-yuga). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit 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).
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—n.
(-gaṃ) The aggregate of the four Yugs or ages of the Hindus, a Mahayuga or 4,320,000 years. E. catur four, and yuga an age.
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—I. n. the aggregate of the four yugas, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 1, 71. Ii. adj. containing the four yugas, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 10, 23.
Caturyuga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms catur and yuga (युग).
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—1. [neuter] the four ages of the world.
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Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—2. [adjective] containing the four ages of the world, also = caturyukta.
1) Caturyuga (चतुर्युग):—[=catur-yuga] [from catur > catasṛ] n. ([gana] pātrādi) the 4 Yugas (or ages of the world) combined (= a Mahā-yuga q.v.), [Manu-smṛti i, 71; Mahābhārata xii, 11227; Harivaṃśa 516] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] mf(ā)n. (cat) = -yukta, [Ṛg-veda ii, 18, 1]
3) [v.s. ...] comprising the 4 Yugas, [Raghuvaṃśa x, 23.]
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग):—[catur-yuga] (gaṃ) 1. n. The aggregate of the four ages, 4,320,000 years.
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग):—(ca + yuga)
1) n. sg. die vier Weltalter; s. u. yuga . —
2) adj. f. ā a) vierjochig oder mit Vieren bespannt: ratha [Ṛgveda 2, 18, 1.] — b) die vier Weltalter in sich schliessend [Raghuvaṃśa 10, 23.]
Caturyuga (चतुर्युग):—1. n. die vier Weltalter.
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Caturyuga (चतुर्युग):—2. Adj. (f. ā) —
1) vierspännig. —
2) die vier Weltalter in sich schliessend.
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
Caturyuga (ಚತುರ್ಯುಗ):—[noun] (pl.) the four ages of the world, of long mundane period of years.
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)
Full-text: Manvantara, Kalpa, Kaliyuga, Tretayuga, Dvaparayuga, Yuga, Purvacaturyuga, Nivartaka, Suvarca, Kalamana, Vishnu, Divyavarsha, Aikshvaku, Aha, Devapi, Pralaya, Satya.
Relevant text
Search found 41 books and stories containing Caturyuga, Catur-yuga, Catur-yugas, Caturyugas; (plurals include: Caturyugas, yugas, yugases, Caturyugases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Puranic Theory of the Yugas and Kalpas < [Purana, Volume 11, Part 2 (1969)]
Yajna-varaha—Some more Material < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 1 (1964)]
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Day and night for the Manes, Gods and Brahma < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.2.61 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]
Verse 1.2.31-32 < [Chapter 2 - Divya (the celestial plane)]
Verse 1.1.70-72 < [Chapter 1 - Bhauma (the earthly plane)]
History of Science in South Asia
The Units of Time in Ancient and Medieval India < [Vol. 5 No. 1 (2017)]
Garga and Early Astral Science in India < [Vol. 5 No. 1 (2017)]
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
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