Jyotishcakra, Jyotiṣcakra, Jyotiścakra, Jyotis-cakra, Jyotikcakra: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Jyotishcakra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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.
The Sanskrit terms Jyotiṣcakra and Jyotiścakra can be transliterated into English as Jyotiscakra or Jyotishcakra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Jyotishchakra.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Padma-puranaJyotiścakra (ज्योतिश्चक्र) refers to the “cycle of the luminaries”, according to the Padmapurāṇa 5.1 (“Rāma Sees Nandigrāma from Puṣpaka”).—Accordingly, as the Śrī Vātsyāyana said to Śeṣa:—“O Śeṣa, (I have heard) from you all stories like the creation and dissolution of the world. So also (you have told me about) the settled rule about the terrestrial world, the celestial sphere, and about the cycle of the luminaries [i.e., jyotiścakra-vinirṇaya], so also about the products like the principles e.g. Mahat, and separate primary substances. O sinless one, you also told me the accounts of many kings. There is the wonderful account of the kings born in the solar race. In it is the story of the deeds performed by Rāma, which destroys many great sins. From you I have heard in brief the account of the horse sacrifice of (i.e. performed by) that hero Rāma.. [...]”.
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationJyotiścakra (ज्योतिश्चक्र) refers to the “solar cycle”, as defined in the Śivapurāṇa 1.14.—Accordingly, “[...] the lord made the sun etc. who are His own manifestations and are firmly established in the solar cycle (Jyotiścakra) the lords of the different days. Their worship in their respective days accords the respective benefits viz:—health, riches, removal of sickness, nourishment, longevity. enjoyment of pleasures and prevention of death respectively. It is said that the respective merits of the different days are secured through the gratification of the gods. Śiva is the ultimate bestower of the fruits accruing from the worship of other gods as well”.
Note: Jyotiścakra or Śiṃśumāra-cakra refers to the system of stars, planets and constellations conceived of as a cakra rotating like the Potter’s wheel. The vast space is an ocean in which the stars are arranged like the body of a giant alligator. The imagery of the wheel implies a fixed centre to which the whole system of moving stars is secured by certain pulls, spoken of as winds (Vāta) in physical form but actually invisible forces exercised by the centre on the peripheral stars.
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Śrīmad Devī BhāgavatamJyotiṣcakra (ज्योतिष्चक्र) refers to the “celestial heavens” or “celestial wheel”, according to Śrīmad Devī Bhāgavatam 8.17 (“On the Dīkṣā vidhi or on the rules of Initiation”).—Accordingly: “[...] Some say that this jyotiṣcakra, the celestial Heavens (the Zodiac) is Śiśumāra. It is kept duly in its position for the purpose of holding things up by the power of the Bhagavān. Hence it does not fall. It is resting with its body coiled round and with its head lower down. O Muni! Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda is staying at the tail end. And, in addition to him, also at the tail rests Brahmā, the Sinless Prajāpati, worshipped by the Gods, Agni, Indra and Dharma. Thus the creation is at the tail and the Saptarṣimaṇḍal is staying at his waist. Thus the celestial wheel (jyotiṣcakra) is resting with his coils turned in a right-hand direction”.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Prabhupada Books: Sri Caitanya Caritamrta (jyotisha)Jyotiścakra (ज्योतिश्चक्र) refers to the “zodiac”, as mentioned in the Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta 2.20.387ff.—Accordingly, “The sun moves across the zodiac [i.e., jyotiścakra] day and night and crosses the oceans between the seven islands one after the other. According to Vedic astronomical calculations, the rotation of the sun consists of sixty daṇḍas, and it is divided into thirty-six hundred palas. The sun rises in steps consisting of sixty palas. Sixty palas equal one daṇḍa, and eight daṇḍas comprise one prahara. The day and the night are divided into eight praharas—four belonging to the day and four belonging to the night. After eight praharas, the sun rises again”.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: Wisdom Library: PāñcarātraJyotiścakra (ज्योतिश्चक्र) [=jyotiścakramantrārthanirūpaṇam] refers to one of the topics discussed in the fifty-seventh chapter of the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā: an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama scripture dealing with the symbology of the Sudarśana weapon while also dealing with iconography, philosophy and Vaiṣṇava rituals.
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraJyotiṣcakra (ज्योतिष्चक्र) refers to the “circle of heavenly bodies”, according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly: “[...] The circle of heavenly bodies (jyotiṣcakra) moves continually in a circle in all directions at 1121 yojanas from the continent Jambūdvīpa, not touching Mount Meru. But one polar star is fixed. It (the jyotiṣcakra) remains fixed in a circle, not touching the end of the world, at a distance of 1111 yojanas. Of these Svāti is above all and Bharaṇī is below all; to the south of all Mūla and Abhīci to the north. There are 2 moons and 2 suns belonging to this Jambūdvīpa; 4 moons and 4 suns belonging to Lavaṇoda; 12 moons and 12 suns to Dhātakīkhaṇḍa; and 42 moons and 42 suns to Kāloda. To half of Puṣkara belong 72 suns and moons each. Thus there are 132 moons and the same number of suns. Each moon has a retinue of 88 planets, 28 constellations, and of 6,697,500,000,000,000,000 stars”.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryJyotiścakra (ज्योतिश्चक्र).—the zodiac.
Derivable forms: jyotiścakram (ज्योतिश्चक्रम्).
Jyotiścakra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms jyotis and cakra (चक्र).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryJyotiścakra (ज्योतिश्चक्र).—n.
(-kraṃ) 1. The zodiac. 2. The lunar mansion. E. jyotis, planet, and cakra a sphere.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Jyotiścakra (ज्योतिश्चक्र):—[=jyotiś-cakra] [from jyotiś > jyut] n. ‘luminary circle’, the zodiac, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] GarP, [Liṅga-purāṇa; Tithyāditya]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryJyotiścakra (ज्योतिश्चक्र):—[jyoti-ścakra] (kraṃ) 1. n. The zodiac.
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusJyōtiścakra (ಜ್ಯೋತಿಶ್ಚಕ್ರ):—[noun] the cycle or system of twenty seven asterisms, based on which classification of zodiac signs is made.
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: Jyotis, Cakra.
Full-text: Shimshumaracakra.
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Search found 7 books and stories containing Jyotishcakra, Jyotiṣcakra, Jyotiścakra, Jyoti-ścakra, Jyotis-cakra, Jyotikcakra, Jyoti-scakra, Jyoti-shcakra, Jyotiś-cakra, Jyotiscakra, Jyotish-cakra, Jyotiṣ-cakra, Jyōtiścakra; (plurals include: Jyotishcakras, Jyotiṣcakras, Jyotiścakras, ścakras, cakras, Jyotikcakras, scakras, shcakras, Jyotiscakras, Jyōtiścakras). 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 20: The Jyotiṣkas < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 14 - Description of Fire-sacrifice (agniyajña), etc. < [Section 1 - Vidyeśvara-saṃhitā]
The Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 21 - The Stellar Region < [Book 5 - Fifth Skandha]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 54 - Movements of Luminaries (jyotiścakra) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]