Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

47 Cäæakya

cakra (3)

In TANTRA(2), six (to nine) nerve cen-

tres in the subtle body through which

the spiritual energy is channelled. (See

also BODY.)

calendar

Calendars were always important in

Hinduism for the exact determination

of the time for SACRIFICESand feast days,

as well as for providing basic informa-

tion for establishing HOROSCOPES. The

Hindu calendar is a solar–lunar calen-

dar, requiring regular adjustments. The

printed calendars (PAÑCÄ¢GA) contain

the astronomical tables for each fort-

night as well as other information

important for astrological calculations.

(See also FESTIVALS.)

camphor

The burning of camphor is part of the

daily ritual of IMAGE worship; it is

believed to keep away ghosts and

demons.

Cämuæõä

An aspect of the goddess DURGÄ, created

to destroy the demons Caæõa and

Muæõa.

Cäæakya (fourth century BCE?)

Also called Kauflilya, author of the

famous Cänakya Sütra or Kauflilïya

Ärthaÿästra. According to tradition he

was a brahmin responsible for the

downfall of the NANDAS(2) and the ele-

vation of Candragupta, the founder of

the MAURYA dynasty. His work is

AH

A

B

AH

KS

A

R

AM

SÜRYA

ARUŒA

VIÆŒU

MITRA

SUVARNA-DIVÄKARA

HARIDAŸVAYAMA orRETAS

GABHASTI

RAVI

RUDRA

BHANU

VEDANGA

M

A

Y

UJ

N

E

JU

LY

AU

GU

ST

SEPTEMBER

AP

RIL

MARCH F

EBR

UA

RY

JA

N

U

A

RY

D E C E M B E R N O

EV

M

B

RE

CO

OT

EB

R

RA

SEI

AT

RU

SU

GE

MI

NI

CA

NC

ER

LEO VIRGO

PISCES

AQUARIU

SC

APR

ICO

RN

SA

GI

TT

AR

IU

S

SC

RO

IP

O

BIL

AR

MÏNA KUMBHA

MA

KA

RA

DH

AN

U

ØV

CS

IK

A

UT

ÄL

EM

AŸ

ØV

AÆ

M

IT

HU

NA

KA

RK

ATA

SIMÅA

KANYÄ

CAITRA

PHALGUŒ

A

MÄ

GH

A

PA

US

M

RA

AG

RŸI

AS

AK

TR

KIT

A

AV

AŸI

HK

YJ

SE

HT

A

AŸ

A¥

HA

ŸR

AV

AŒ

A

BHAD

RA AŸWINI

LUN

AR

MO

NT

HS

SOL

AR

MO

NT

HS

The Hindu calendar: The solar and lunar months are shown with the signs of

the Zodiac in relation to the months of the Western (Gregorian) calendar.

Encyclo - Letter C 10/2/03 9:38 am Page 47