Chaga, Chāga: 22 definitions

Introduction:

Chaga means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. 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 Chhaga.

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śilpa-śāstra

Chāga (छाग, “ram”):—In Hindu iconology (śilpaśāstra), this is the mount of Agni who one of the most important Vedic gods and represents divine illumination. The ram is one of the main sacrificial animals which also represents leadership and aggression.

Shilpashastra book cover
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Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-purana

Chāga (छाग) is the name of a gaṇa (attendant of Śiva), mentioned in the Skandapurāṇa 4.2.53. In this chapter, Śiva (Giriśa) summons his attendants (gaṇas) and ask them to venture towards the city Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) in order to find out what the yoginīs, the sun-god, Vidhi (Brahmā) were doing there.

While the gaṇas such as Chāga were staying at Kāśī, they were desirous but unable of finding a weakness in king Divodaśa who was ruling there. Kāśī is described as a fascinating place beyond the range of Giriśa’s vision, and as a place where yoginīs become ayoginīs, after having come in contact with it. Kāśī is described as having both the power to destroy great delusion, as well as creating it.

The Skandapurāṇa narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is the largest Mahāpurāṇa composed of over 81,000 metrical verses, with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Chāga (छाग).—The goat, as the riding animal of Agni; its flesh pleasing to Pitṛs.*

  • * Matsya-purāṇa 148, 83; 17. 32.
Purana book cover
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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.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Dietetics and Culinary Art (such as household cooking)

Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval India

Chāga (छाग) refers to the “goat”, whose meat (māṃsa) is classified as “terrestrial” (bhūcara) 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 terrestrial (bhūcara)...]. Here different types of meat and their properties are discussed in detail. The terrestrial animals are [viz., chāga (goat)].

Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)

Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study

Chāga (छाग) refers to the Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), 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.

Ayurveda book cover
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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.

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Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Prācyā: Animals and animal products as reflected in Smṛti texts

Chāga (छाग) refers to a type of goat breed (Hemitragus jemlahicus).—The Smṛtis mention several domestic as well as wild animals that are enumerated in context of specifying expiation for killing them, the flesh being used as a dietary article to give satisfaction to the Manes (Pitṛs) in Śrāddha rites, the law of transmigration due to various sins committed as well as in the context of specifying gifts to be given on various occasions. These animals [viz., Chāga] are chiefly mentioned in the Manusmṛti, Parāśarasmṛti [Chap.6], Gautamasmṛti [17.2 and 15.1], Śātātapasmṛti [II.45-54], Uśānasmṛti [IX.7-9; IX.12-13], Yājñavalkyasmṛti [I.170-171; I.175; I.258- 260], Viṣṇusmṛti [51.3;51.6;51.26;51.33;80.3-14], Uttarāṅgirasasmṛti [X.15-17], Prajāpatismṛti [Śrāddhatyājyavastuvarṇanam. 138-143], 9 Kāśyapasmṛti [Section on Prāyaścittavarṇanam], Vṛddha Hārītasmṛti [6.253-255] and Kātyāyanasmṛti [27.11].

Dharmashastra book cover
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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.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Google Books: Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences (Astronomy)

Chāga (छाग) refers to a “goat” and represents one of the items offered to the priests, according to the grahaśānti (cf. grahayajña) section of the Yājñavalkyasmṛti (1.295-309), preceded by the section called vināyakakalpa (1.271-294), prescribing a rite to be offered to Vināyaka.—[verse 306: Gifts to priests]—It seems that when a specific graha was chosen as the object of appeasement, the gift (dakṣiṇā) [i.e., chāga] prescribed for each graha was to be given to the priest(s) who performed the śānti ritual.

Jyotisha book cover
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Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)

Chāga (छाग) refers to “goats”, according to Bāṇa’s Kādambarī (p. 225-226).—Accordingly, while describing the shire of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, “[Then follows the image of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, which matches the conception of Kālarātri in the passage from the Mahābhārata:] [...] she bore the coquettish apparel of a woman going out to meet Mahākāla at night, with a vine-like body furnished with a raiment reddened with saffron-dye, with a face with red eyes, whose brows were furrowed into a frown, whose lip was crimsoned with betel that was blood, whose cheeks were reddened by the light shed from ear-ornaments of pomegranate flowers, with a forehead on which there was a tilaka dot of vermillion made by a Śabara beauty, covered by a magnificent gold turban. She was worshipped by goats (chāga)... mice... antelope and black serpents... She was praised on all sides by flocks of old crows; [...]”.

Kavya book cover
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Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Chāga (छाग) refers to a “goat”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] Not knowing the highest reality, which is situated within himself, the confused man goes astray [looking for it] in the scriptures, [just as] the foolish herdsman looks in a well while the [missing] goat (chāga) is [being held] under his armpit. [...]”.

Yoga book cover
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Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

1) Chaga (छग) is the name of the ‘goat’ in the Taittirīya Saṃhitā (v. 6.22.1). Cf. Aja and Chāga.

2) Chāga (छाग, “goat”) is found in the Rigveda, and not rarely later. See Aja and Chaga.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Chaga in the Telugu language is the name of a plant identified with Chonemorpha fragrans (Moon) Alston from the Apocynaceae (Oleander) family having the following synonyms: Chonemorpha grandiflora, Echites fragrans, Chonemorpha elliptica. For the possible medicinal usage of chaga, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Chaga in India is the name of a plant defined with Sansevieria roxburghiana in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Acyntha roxburghiana Kuntze (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Species Plantarum, ed. 4 (1799)
· Pl. Coromandel (1805)
· Enum. Philipp. Fl. Pl. (1923)
· Systema Vegetabilium ed. 15 (1829)
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Chaga, for example side effects, chemical composition, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, health benefits, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
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This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Chaga (छग).—(- f.) A goat.

Derivable forms: chagaḥ (छगः).

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Chāga (छाग).—a. (- f.) Relating to a goat or she-goat; Y.1.258.

-gaḥ (- f.)

1) A goat; ब्राह्मणश्छागतो यथा (brāhmaṇaśchāgato yathā) (vañcitaḥ) H.4.53; Manusmṛti 3.269; छागो वा मन्त्रवर्णात् (chāgo vā mantravarṇāt) Manusmṛti 6. 8.31.

2) The sign Aries of the zodiac.

3) A horse whose movements have been cut off; यश्छिन्नगमनोऽश्चः स छागः । छिदेर्गमेश्च छागशब्दः प्रसिद्धः (yaśchinnagamano'ścaḥ sa chāgaḥ | chidergameśca chāgaśabdaḥ prasiddhaḥ) | ŚB. on MS.6.8.36.

-gam 1 The milk of a she-goat.

2) An oblation.

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

Chaga (छग).—mf.

(-gaḥ-gā) A goat. E. cho to cut, gak aff.

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Chāga (छाग).—f.

(-gaḥ) A goat. f. (-gī) A she goat. E. cho to cut, Unadi affix gan.

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

Chāga (छाग).— (cf. chagala), I. m. A goat, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 269. Ii. adj. Produced from a goat, or a she-goat.

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

Chāga (छाग).—1. [masculine] ram, goat; [feminine] chāgā & chāgī she-goat.

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Chāga (छाग).—2. [adjective] coming from a goat.

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

1) Chaga (छग):—m. = chāga, a he-goat, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) Chāga (छाग):—m. = chaga (‘limping’ ?, of σκάζω etc.) a he-goat, [Ṛg-veda i, 162, 3] : [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā xix, xxi; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa v; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Manu-smṛti] etc.

3) the sign Aries, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhajjātaka v, 5]

4) Name of one of Śiva’s attendants, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc. [Scholiast or Commentator]]

5) mfn. coming from a goat or she-goat, [Yājñavalkya i, 257; Caraka; Suśruta]

6) Chāgā (छागा):—[from chāga] f. a she-goat, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa iii; Śāṅkhāyana-brāhmaṇa vii, 10]

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

1) Chaga (छग):—(gaḥ) 1. m. A goat.

2) Chāga (छाग):—(gaḥ) 1. m. A goat.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Chāga (छाग) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Chāla.

[Sanskrit to German]

Chaga in German

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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Chaga (ಛಗ):—[noun] a he-goat (of Capra genus), a wild or domesticated bovid ruminant with hollow horns.

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Chāga (ಛಾಗ):—[noun] a he-goat (of Capra genus), a wild or domesticated bovid ruminant with hollow horns.

context information

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

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