Calendar-History

Calendar-Others

Calendar-Vaidik

Carat      see also      Rattee
Carat is a measurement of weight which is used in measurement of weight of gems.

Cereals
Ann.  Grains.

Chaandaal
(1) A very low caste of Indian society, such as . People do not like even to touch them - sometime back they were called "untouchables".
(2) Naarad Puraan 2/3, tells three types of Chaandaal - (1) Who is born from a maiden, (2) Who is born from a Sa-Gotra girl in spite of being married, and (3) Who is born from a Shoodra man and a Braahman woman.
(Naarad Puraan, p 596)

Chaandraayan Vrat      see       Vrat and Fasts

Chaar Dhaam

Chaatak    see    Birds, Special
A special bird.

Chaaturhotra
Sacrifice.  A Yagya has four people to complete it, and when a Yagya is completed by these four people, it is called Chaaturhotra - (1) Hotaa to chant Rig Ved, (2) Adhwaryu to chant Yajur Ved, (3) Udgaataa to chant Saam Ved, and (4) Brahmaa to chant Atharv Ved.
(Bhaagvat Puraan, 1/4)

Chaaturmaasya

Chakra

Chakra Vyooh    see also    War
A circular maze of troops to trap the enemy. It is a difficult maze or organization of troops. Army Chiefs used it in MBH war. Only Krishn, Arjun, Drone and Karn could break this maze. Abhimanyu, Arjun's son knew only to enter it, not to come out of it. So one day Drone organized his army in this fashion to defeat Paandav. He sent Arjun away from the battlefield, thus Krishn was also naturally away, from the battlefield as He was the charioteer of Arjun. As Paandav came to know that Abhimanyu could enter the maze, they sent him there with the assurance that they would always be behind him to help him, as he entered the Vyooh, the soldiers did not allow the Paandav to follow Abhimanyu. Young Abhimanyu fought with seven Atirathee alone, but in the end he was killed by Dushaasan's son.

Chakrapaani
Chakra means Disc, and Paani means hand. Chakrapaani means in whoever's hand is Disc. Another name of Vishnu or Krishn.

Chakravartee
Sovereign of a vast empire.

Chamar
It is used to fly flies from the body. It is made with the hair of the tail of certain cow found in Himaalaya mountains. The hairs are tied to a stick. The person shakes the stick and those hairs help to move flies away from the person. Normally Chamar is used for kings, Bhagavaan's idols and great saints.

Chamelee
Jasmine flower. Its other names Mallikaa, Maalatee, Vaasantee and Yaasmeen (in  Arabic).

Chandaal    see    Chaandaal

Chandan
Sandal. Its wood is called sandalwood; and a paste is made by rubbing its wood piece on a stone and is applied to the idols of Bhagavaan and on one's forehead as Teekaa or Tilak. Chandan is of two types - white and red. It is because of the color of the sandalwood.

Chandee
Durgaa.

Chandee Paath

Chandra
Moon.

Chandra Grahan
Lunar eclipse.

Chandrahaas
The name of Divine sword given by Shiv to Raavan when Raavan shook Kailaash Parvat.

Chandramauli
Another name of Shiv. Chandra means Moon and Mauli means head; so Chandramauli means on whose head Chandra (Moon) sits - means Shiv.

Chandrashekhar
Another name of Shiv.

Char
(1) Moving.  (2) Living beings. Its antonym is - A-Char.

Charanaamrit     see also     Panchaamrit
A compound word - Charan=feet, and Amrit=nectar. The water after washing feet. Whatever water or Panchaamrit is used to wash feet of God, is called Charanaamrit after the feet are washed. This water can be from washing of anybody's feet. People may drink it or sprinkle it in their houses after washing feet of even great people, then what to say of Bhagavaan. Normally Bhagavaan's idol is bathed with Panchaamrit; and great people's and saints' feet are washed with water when they come home. Panchaamrit becomes Charanaamrit after washing feet of Bhagavaan and is normally drunk in the right hand and then the hand is touched with the head. This Panchaamrit (water) is sometimes sprinkled all over the house when it is of very great saint. Panchaamrit and Charanaamrit are used alternatively in Bhagavaan's reference. But theoretically Panchaamrit is made of five things - milk, yogurt, honey, a little Ghee (clarified butter), and sugar. Normally Bhagavaan is bathed with Panchaamrit but sometimes water is also used.

Charanodak
Panchaamrit and Charanaamrit are also called Charanodak.

Charyaa

Chatur-bhuj    see also    Chaturbhuj Roop
(1) Rectangle.  (2) Four-armed.

Chatur-bhuj Roop
Bhagavaan Vishnu's well-known and most popular form in which He has four arms carrying Shankh (conch), Chakra (Divine disc), Gadaa (mace) and Padm (lotus flower). That form of His is called His Chaturbhuj Roop.

Chatur-Ved
The four Ved - Rig Ved, Yajur Ved, Atharv Ved, and Saam Ved.

Chatur-Yug
A 4-Yug period - Sat, Tretaa, Dwaapar and Kali - these four Yug combined are called a Chatur-Yug or Mahaa-Yug.

Chaturaanan
Another name of Brahmaa Jee

Chaturang
(1) Chaturanginee army (see below)  (2) A game of chess invented in Bhaarat (India) where the pieces represented elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry. Persians took it and called it Shataranj.

Chaturanginee Army
Chatur means "of four types". Chaturanginee army means the army of four types. In olden times there were four types of soldiers in an army - (1) Foot soldiers or infantry who fought on foot; (2) Who fought on horse or cavalry; (3) who fought on elephants; and (4) who fought on chariots. Whichever army had all these four types of soldiers, was called Chaturanginee army.

Chaturthee
The 4th day of any Paksh (fortnight) of Lunar Calendar.

Chaunkanaa
Shocked.

Cheshtaa
Endeavor.

Chetanaa
Mind. In everyday use it means consciousness.

Chhaandogya
One of the 18 main Upanishad.

Chhand