Citraka: 24 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Citraka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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 Chitraka.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyCitraka (चित्रक) is a Sanskrit word referring to Plumbago zeylanica (Ceylon leadwort), a plant species in the Plumbaginaceae family. Certain plant parts of Citraka are eaten as a vegetable (śāka), according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. The plant is therefore part of the Śākavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic value of the plant. Other commonly used English names include “doctorbush”. It grows throughout India. The literal translation of citraka is “painter”. It is also known as Dahana.
This plant (Citraka) is also mentioned as a medicine used for the treatment of all major fevers (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which forms the first chapter of the Sanskrit work called Mādhavacikitsā. In this work, the plant is also known by the name Vahni.
Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)Citraka (चित्रक) refers to “plumbago” and is one of the pañcakola (“five spices”), mentioned in verse 3.46 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—By pañcakola (“the five spices”) are meant long pepper (pippalī), long-pepper roots (pippalīmūla) , elephant pepper (cavya), plumbago (citraka), and dry ginger (nāgara). Instead of lṅai CD offer lṅa ni, which is probably corrupt for lṅa-yi.
Source: Advances in Zoology and Botany: Ethnomedicinal List of Plants Treating Fever in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra, IndiaCitraka in the Marathi language refers to the medicinal herb “Plumbago zeylanica L. P. indica L. Syn. P. rosea L.”, and is used for ethnomedicine treatment of Fever in Ahmednagar district, India. The parts used are: “Dried mature roots”. Instructions for using the herb named Citraka: A tincture made from the bark of dried mature roots—orally 2-3 drops twice a day.
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Yogaśataka of Pandita VararuciCitraka (चित्रक) refers to a medicinal plant known as Plumbago zeylanica Linn., and is mentioned in the 10th century Yogaśataka written by Pandita Vararuci.—The Yogaśataka of Pandita Vararuci is an example of this category. This book attracts reader by its very easy language and formulations which can be easily prepared and have small number of herbs (viz., Citraka). It describes only those formulations which are the most common and can be used in majority conditions of diseases.
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Botanical identification of plants described in Mādhava CikitsāCitraka (चित्रक) refers to the medicinal plant Plumbago zeylanica L., and is used in the treatment of atisāra (diarrhoea), according to the 7th century Mādhavacikitsā chapter 2. Atisāra refers to a condition where there are three or more loose or liquid stools (bowel movements) per day or more stool than normal. The second chapter of the Mādhavacikitsā explains several preparations [including Citraka] through 60 Sanskrit verses about treating this problem.
Note: Plumbago indica L. Syn. Pityriasis rosea L. is the red flowered variety (Raktacitraka) while Phygelius capensis Thunb. Syn. Plumbago auriculata Lamk. is the blue flowered variety (Nīlacitraka).
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Śodhana: An Ayurvedic process for detoxificationCitraka (चित्रक) refers to the medicinal plant known Plumbago zeylanica Linn.—Citraka is commonly used as appetizer, digestive, in irritable bowel disease, pain and piles. Plumbagin at higher doses has been reported to be highly cytotoxic.
For śodhana (purification process), Citraka is soaked in lime mixed with water for 24 h. The same procedure is repeated for another 24 h. It has been reported that Śodhana of Citraka, removed 50% of plumbagin. In another comparative study it has been reported that after the Śodhana, plumbagin content is comparatively reduced in the roots of Plumbago zeylanica significantly as compared to roots of Plumbago indica.
(cf. Rasataraṅgiṇī)
Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgrahaCitraka (चित्रक) is another name for “Agni” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning citraka] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).

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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraCitraka (चित्रक) is the Sanskrit name of one of Bharata’s sons, mentioned in the Nāṭyaśāstra 1.26-33. After Brahmā created the Nāṭyaveda (nāṭyaśāstra), he ordered Bharata to teach the science to his (one hundred) sons. Bharata thus learned the Nāṭyaveda from Brahmā, and then made his sons study and learn its proper application. After their study, Bharata assigned his sons (eg., Citraka) various roles suitable to them.

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaCitraka (चित्रक).—(CITRA, CITRABĀI.A). A son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. Bhīma killed him in the great war. (Mahābhārata Droṇa Parva, Chapter 137).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexCitraka (चित्रक).—A son of Vṛṣṇi; (Pṛṣṇi, Vāyu-purāṇa); father of a number of sons and daughters; brother of Svaphalka.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 102, 114; Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 101, 113-14; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 14. 5-6, 11.
Citraka (चित्रक) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.46.21) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Citraka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka MaṇḍalaCitraka (चित्रक) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Citriṇī forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Jñānacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the jñānacakra refers to one of the three divisions of the saṃbhoga-puṭa (‘enjoyment layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs and Vīras [viz., Citraka] are white in color; the shapes of their faces are in accordance with their names; they have four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryCitraka.—(IA 8), ‘a painter’; epithet of the engraver of an inscription. Note: citraka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarycitraka (चित्रक).—m (S) Ceylon leadwort, Plumbago Zeylanica. 2 A leopard. See cittā.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishcitraka (चित्रक).—m A leopard.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryCitraka (चित्रक).—a.
1) Bright, lovely, agreeable.
2) Brave, powerful.
-kaḥ 1 A painter.
2) A tiger in general.
3) A small hunting leopard; खरोष्ट्रमहिषाः सिंहा व्याघ्राः सृमरचित्रकाः (kharoṣṭramahiṣāḥ siṃhā vyāghrāḥ sṛmaracitrakāḥ) Mb.7.3.19.
4) Name of a tree.
-kam 1 A sectarial mark on the forehead. (tanute) कस्तूरिकाचित्रक- मङ्कशङ्काम् (kastūrikācitraka- maṅkaśaṅkām) Rām. Ch.6.69.
2) A particular manner of fighting.
3) Name of a wood near the mountain Raivataka.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryCitraka (चित्रक).—[, see cintaka.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryCitraka (चित्रक).—m.
(-kaḥ) 1. The Chita or small hunting leopard. 2. A painter. 3. The castor oil plant. 4. A medical plant, (Plumbago zeylanica.) n.
(-kaṃ) 1. A mark made with Sandal, &c. on the forehead. E. kan added to the preceding. citramiva kāyati kai-ka; citra-svārthe ka vā .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryCitraka (चित्रक).—[citra + ka], I. m. The Cheeta, or small hunting leopard, [Pañcatantra] 72, 11. Ii. n. 1. A sectarial mark, made on the forehead, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 7074. 2. A mode of fighting, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 15979. 3. The name of a forest, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 8952.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryCitraka (चित्रक).—[masculine] tiger or panther, a kind of snake, [Name] of [several] plants, also of [several] men, [plural] of a people; [neuter] mark, sign (adj. —° marked by), picture.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Citraka (चित्रक):—[from cit] m. a painter, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] = tra-kāya, [Mahābhārata vii, 1320] (cillaka, C), [Pañcatantra]
3) [v.s. ...] a kind of snake, [Suśruta v, 4, 33]
4) [v.s. ...] (in [algebra]) the 8th unknown quantity
5) [v.s. ...] Plumbago zeylanica, [i, 38; iv]
6) [v.s. ...] Ricinus communis, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] Name of a son (of Vṛṣṇi or Pṛśni, [Harivaṃśa]; of Dhṛta-rāṣṭra, [Mahābhārata i, 2740])
8) [v.s. ...] of a Nāga, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc. [Scholiast or Commentator]]
9) [v.s. ...] ([plural]) of a people, [ii, 1804]
10) [v.s. ...] n. a mark (only ifc. ‘marked or characterised by’ [Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa i, 1, 9, 5 [Scholiast or Commentator]; .])
11) [v.s. ...] a sectarial mark on the forehead, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
12) [v.s. ...] a painting, [Harivaṃśa 7074]
13) [v.s. ...] a particular manner of fighting (cf. tra-hasta), 15979 ([varia lectio] cakraka)
14) [v.s. ...] Name of a wood near the mountain Raivataka, 8952.
[Sanskrit to German] (Deutsch Wörterbuch)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Sanskrit-Wörterbuch in kürzerer FassungCitraka (चित्रक):——
1) m. — a) Maler. — b) Tiger oder Panther. — c) eine Schlangenart. — d) Plumbago zeylanica. — e) *Ricinus communis. — f) Nomen proprium — α) verschiedener Männer. — β) Pl. eines Volkes. — γ) eines Schlangendämons. —
2) n. — a) Zeichen. Am Ende eines adj. Comp. so v.a. durch — gekennzeichnet. — b) *Sectenzeichen auf der Stirn. — c) Bild , Gemälde [Harivaṃśa 7074.] — d) eine best. Art zu fechten. cakraka v.l. — e) Nomen proprium eines Waldes.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+10): Citrakadi, Citrakagula, Citrakali, Citrakambala, Citrakanaka, Citrakandali, Citrakantaka, Citrakantha, Citrakara, Citrakarah, Citrakaraka, Citrakaranyasana, Citrakarma, Citrakarman, Citrakarmashilpashastra, Citrakarmavid, Citrakarmman, Citrakarmmavid, Citrakarna, Citrakarvid.
Ends with: Barhicitraka, Bhashacitraka, Binducitraka, Carmacitraka, Janmacitraka, Kalacitraka, Mayuracitraka, Nilacitraka, Pandhara Citraka, Raktacitraka, Sapheda-citraka, Sucitraka, Tambada Citraka, Upacitraka, Vicitraka, Vinducitraka.
Full-text (+71): Ashvabahu, Sucitraka, Ashvagriva, Pancakola, Carmacitraka, Suparshvaka, Bhashacitraka, Binducitraka, Vicitraka, Gavesin, Raktacitraka, Shravishtha, Pandhara Citraka, Viprithu, Kalacitraka, Pridaku, Citramula, Carmavarmabhrit, Tambada Citraka, Ashvasya.
Relevant text
Search found 25 books and stories containing Citraka; (plurals include: Citrakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 11: Mahendrasiṃha goes in search of the prince < [Chapter VII - Sanatkumāracakricaritra]
Part 4: War between Kṛṣṇa and Jarāsandha < [Chapter VII - Marriages of Śāmba and Pradyumna]
Sushruta Samhita, volume 4: Cikitsasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
Chapter VI - The medical treatment of Hemorrhoids
Chapter IX - The medical treatment of cutaneous affections
Sushruta Samhita, volume 1: Sutrasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
Sushruta Samhita, Volume 6: Uttara-tantra (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
Chapter XLII - Symptoms and Treatment of Abdominal Tumors (Gulma) < [Canto III - Kaya-chikitsa-tantra (internal medicine)]
Chapter LIII - Symptoms and Treatment of Hoarseness (Svara-bheda) < [Canto III - Kaya-chikitsa-tantra (internal medicine)]
Chapter LII - Symptoms and Treatment of Cough (Kasa) < [Canto III - Kaya-chikitsa-tantra (internal medicine)]
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)