Cidrupa, Cidrūpa, Cidrūpā, Cit-rupa: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Cidrupa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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 Chidrupa.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप) refers to “one possessed of the form of consciousness” and represents an epithet of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.15. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] On arrival there, after paying respects to the lord [Śiva] with great excitement we lauded Him with various hymns with palms joined in reverence. The Devas said: [...] Obeisance to the primordial seed of every one, the Cidrūpa (one possessed of the form of consciousness), the Puruṣa beyond Prakṛti”.
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)
Cidrūpā (चिद्रूपा) refers to “one whose nature is consciousness”, according to the commentary on the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “There, above, at the very end of the Wick of Smoke, above the Great Cavity at (a distance that) measures twelve fingers, is the Supreme Energy whose nature is consciousness [i.e., cidrūpā]. Supreme Śiva is above that (energy). The Transmission (krama) has come forth there from that Śiva”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप) or Cidrūpatvā refers to the “nature of consciousness”, according to the Pauṣkarāgama, which is said to be a subsidiary (upabheda) of the Pārameśvara, itself one of the 28 tantras or āgamas recognized as authoritative by Śaivas.—One of the key passages examined by Appaya (ad Brahmamīmāṃsābhāṣya 2.2.38) is from the Pauṣkarāgama Vidyāpāda 4-5: “Just like Śiva, [His] śakti is not a material cause for it has the nature of consciousness [i.e., cidrūpa-tva]. Transformation is taught [to be possible] for what is insentient; it is not possible for what has the nature of consciousness”.—(Cf. Kiraṇatantra 2.26)
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.
Mantrashastra (the science of Mantras)
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप) refers to the “form of consciousness”, according to Utpala Vaiṣṇava’s commentary (called Spandapradīpikā) on the Spandakārikā by Vasugupta.—Accordingly, “And moreover, [it is said] in the Saṅkarṣaṇasūtras: ‘The form of consciousness (cidrūpa), which is installed in itself alone, and is prepared through presence and absence, is perceivable through self-awareness, and its sphere of knowledge lies beyond nature. This source of the mantras is recollected, o sage, to consist of cognition. These mantras, which appear externally and internally in the form of phonemes rest on the undivided level. Like the [sense] organs of the embodied beings, when they are employed, [the mantras] are successful at all times because of the connection with vigour”.
Mantrashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, mantraśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mantras—chants, incantations, spells, magical hymns, etc. Mantra Sastra literature includes many ancient books dealing with the methods reciting mantras, identifying and purifying its defects and the science behind uttering or chanting syllables.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप) refers to “that which consists of consciousness”, according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Aṣṭavakra says to Janaka]: “If you are seeking liberation, my son, shun the objects of the senses like poison. Practise tolerance, sincerity, compassion, contentment and truthfulness like nectar. You are neither earth, water, fire, air or even ether. For liberation know yourself as consisting of consciousness (cidrūpa), the witness of these [eṣāṃ sākṣiṇamātmānaṃ cidrūpaṃ viddhi muktaye]. If only you will remain resting in consciousness, seeing yourself as distinct from the body, then even now you will become happy, peaceful and free from bonds. [...]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Shaiva philosophy
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप) refers to “having the nature of consciousness” (applied to Śiva and Puruṣa—the soul), according to Bhaṭṭa Rāmakaṇṭha’s 10th-century Tattvatrayanirṇayavivṛti—a commentary on the 7th-century Tattvatrayanirṇaya by Sadyojyoti which discusses philosophical aspects of Śiva including the theories of Puruṣas (souls), Māyā (primal matter) and Mala (the innate impurity afflicting souls).—The term cidrūpa describes Śiva and Puruṣa (soul) as entities whose essential nature is pure consciousness itself—not merely possessors of awareness due to association with some other entity, such as the mind [i.e., manaḥ-saṃyoga-ādi]. This assertion of being cidrūpa—“of the nature of consciousness” distinguishes the entities such as Śiva and Puruṣa from the insentient Māyā (primal matter).
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप) refers to the “forms of consciousness”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “In reality, there is no unity of the forms of matter and consciousness (cidrūpa—aciccidrūpayor) with regard to mundane bondage and the connection of these two is without a beginning like gold and a flaw in gold. In this world, the body which is material, absolutely immobile [and] without that which is conscious, becomes confused, through ignorance, with that which is conscious, formless and mobile”.
Synonyms: Jñānasvarūpa.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
cidrūpa (चिद्रूप).—a S (Of whom Mind is the gem; Pure intelligence; delighting in knowledge, "dwelling in light" &c.) Epithets of God.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप).—a.
1) consisting of intelligence.
2) wise, intelligent, of a liberal mind.
3) amiable, good-hearted.
-pam pure intelligence, the Supreme Being.
Cidrūpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms cit and rūpa (रूप).
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप).—mfn.
(-paḥ-pā-paṃ) 1. Amiable, good-hearted. 2. Wise, intelligent, of liberal or expansive mind. n.
(-paṃ) The Supreme Being, as indentifiable with intellect or understanding. E. cit mind, and rūpa form. cideva rupamasya . ātmasphūrttimatiu hṛdayālau ca .
1) Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप):—[=cid-rūpa] [from cid > cit] mfn. ([Vopadeva ii, 37]) = cin-maya, [Kapila’s Sāṃkhya-pravacana vi, 50; Nṛsiṃha-tāpanīya-upaniṣad] (-tva n. abstr.), [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
2) [v.s. ...] wise, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] n. the Universal Spirit as identified with pure thought, [Horace H. Wilson]
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप):—[cidrū-pa] (paḥ-pā-paṃ) a. Amiable, wise, intelligent. n. The supreme Being.
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप):—(5. cit + rūpa) [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 8, 2, 39,] [Scholiast] [Vopadeva’s Grammatik 2, 37.] adj.
1) aus Intelligenz bestehend, ganz Intelligenz seiend ( = jñānamaya): cidrūpe paramātmani [Yogaśāstra im Śabdakalpadruma] Nach [Wilson’s Wörterbuch] n.: the Supreme Being, as identifiable with intellect or understanding. — b) gutherzig, = sphūrtimant [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 1, 23.] = hṛdayālu, sahṛdaya [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 345.]
--- OR ---
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप):—
1) [SARVADARŚANAS. 53, 2. 162, 3.] —
2) (so ist st. b) zu lesen. = sahṛdaya klug, verständig [Halāyudha 2, 218.] = vastutattvajñānayukta [Scholiast]
Cidrūpa (चिद्रूप):——
1) Adj. — a) aus Intellect bestehend , ganz I. [The Sankhya Philosophy 6,50.] Nom.abstr. tva n. [Indische studien von Weber 9,134.] — b) *klug , verständig. —
2) *n. the Supreme Being , as identifiable with intellect or understanding.
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
Cidrūpa (ಚಿದ್ರೂಪ):—
1) [noun] a man showing friendly feelings.
2) [noun] the pure Consciousness.
3) [noun] the Supreme.
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 (+0): Cit, Pa, Rupa.
Starts with (+0): Cidrupamba, Cidrupashrama, Cidrupashraya, Cidrupatva.
Full-text (+0): Cidrupatva, Cidrupamba, Adibija, Cit, Manahsamyoga, Samyoga, Sahridaya, Jnanasvarupa, Sakshin, Atman, Ashtavakra Gita.
Relevant text
Search found 25 books and stories containing Cidrupa, Cid-rūpa, Cid-rupa, Cid-rūpā, Cidru-pa, Cidrū-pa, Cidrūpa, Cidrūpā, Cit-rūpa, Cit-rupa, Cit-rūpā; (plurals include: Cidrupas, rūpas, rupas, rūpās, pas, Cidrūpas, Cidrūpās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 138 [Vimarśa reflects Prakāśa of Cit as Upādānakāraṇa] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Verse 46 [Śakti and Kula-Dharma] < [Chapter 2 - Second Vimarśa]
Verse 182 [Yogic experience of Cidrūpā shining in Self and Manifestation] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Saura-purana (analytical study) (by Priyanku Chakraborty)
Part 2.4.1 - The Vedic mantras in the Saura-purāṇa < [Chapter 4 - The Vedic and other Elements as Reflected in the Saura-purāṇa]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 682 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Brahma Samhita (Jiva Goswami commentary) (by Srila Narayana Maharaja)