Caturyuga, Catur-yuga: 10 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
In Buddhism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

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)

Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

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.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—(See Manvantara).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

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”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

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)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

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 (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

Source: DDSA: The practical 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).

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

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.

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

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).

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

Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—1. [neuter] the four ages of the world.

--- OR ---

Caturyuga (चतुर्युग).—2. [adjective] containing the four ages of the world, also = caturyukta.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.

Relevant text

Search found 12 books and stories containing Caturyuga, Catur-yuga; (plurals include: Caturyugas, yugas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chapter 8 - The span of life of the trinity < [Section 7.1 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (1)]

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Appendix 1 - Calculations regarding Śaka and Jupiter (Bṛhaspati)

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Verse 2.2.61 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna: Knowledge]

Verse 1.2.31 < [Chapter 2 - Divya: In Heaven]

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Verse 4.8 < [Chapter 4 - Jñāna-Yoga (Yoga through Transcendental Knowledge)]

Verse 16.20 < [Chapter 16 - Daivāsura-sampada-yoga]

Glossary

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Chapter 1 - Description of the dissolution of the Universe (a) < [Section 4a - Upasaṃhāra-pāda]