Glossary of Hinduism Terms - C

C

• Caste (कास्‍ट): Portuguese word to describe in a western context the Hindu system of classification of peoples (jāti)

• Chakra (चक्र): An energy node in the human body. The seven main chakras are described as being aligned in an ascending column from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each chakra is associated with a certain colour, multiple specific functions, an aspect of consciousness, a classical element, and other distinguishing characteristics.
• Chala (चल): A Kaurava warrior.
• Champā (चम्‍पा): A city on banks of the Ganges river where Karna found as a babe by Adhiratha and Rādhā
• Chāndāla (चांडाल): A person of a degraded caste, whose conduct was much below standard and whose cause pollution.
• Chandraketu (चंद्रकेतु): A devotee of Manasā
• Channa (चन्न) : A royal servant and head charioteer of Prince Siddhartha, who was to become the Buddha.
• Chānd Sadāgar (चांद सदगर): A merchant-prince of Champaka Nagar. Manasā Devi woos the devotion of him
• Charachitra (चरचित्र): A son of King Dhritarashtra who perished in the war.
• Caraka Saṃhitā (चरक संहिता): An ancient Indian Ayurvedic text on internal medicine written by Caraka. It is believed to be the oldest of the three ancient treatises of Ayurveda.
• Chavadi: Place of public assembly of the village. It is the property of the entire community. In it all public business is transacted, and it serves also as the village club the headquarters of the village police and guest house for travellers.
• Chedi (चेदि): A kingdodom of Shishupāla, old name of present Chanderi
• Chekitana (चेकितान): Chekitana was son of Dhrishtaketu, Raja of the Kekayas, and an ally of the Pandavas.
• Chitra (चित्र): A son of Dhritarashtra killed in the war.
• Chitraksha (चित्राक्ष): One of the many sons of King Dhritarashtra who fell in the war
• Chitrakūta (चित्रकूट): Chitrakūta was in mountain forests where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spent eleven and half years of their exile; The hermitages of Vālmīki, Atri, Sati Anusuya, Dattatreya, Maharshi Markandeya, Sarbhanga, Sutikshna were here; and here the principal trinity of the Hindu pantheon, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, took their incarnations.
• Chitralekha (चित्रलेखा): Chitralekha was a friend of Usha and daughter of minister of Banasura. She was a talented lady who helped Usha to identify the young man, Aniruddha, seen in the dream of Usha. Chitralekha through supernatural powers abducted Aniruddha from the palace of Krishna and brought him to Usha.
• Chitrasena (चित्रसेन): King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.
• Chitrayudha (चित्रयुद्‍ध): A Kaurava prince who laid down his life in the war.
• Chitravarma (चित्रवर्मा): A brother of Duryodhana who was killed in the war
• Chitrangada (चित्रांगद): Elder son of Santanu born of Matsyagandhi (Satyavati) who succeeded his father on the throne of Hastinapura.
• Chitrāngadā: Chitrāngadā was one of Arjuna's wives. Arjuna travelled the length and breadth of India during his term of exile. In ancient Manipur in the eastern Himalayas he met Chitrāngadā, the daughter of the king of Manipur and married her. Babhruvahana was soon born to the couple. Babruvahana would succeed his grandfather as king of Manipur.
• Chyavana (च्‍यवन): A great rishi, husband of beautiful wife Sukanyā whom Ashvins beheld at her bath