Caturdaśī
Caturdaśī · catur-daśī, “the fourteenth”
Caitra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Caitra.
Grammar: feminine noun, from caturdaśa (fourteenth), from catur (four) and daśa (ten): “the fourteenth”.
Meaning: the fourteenth tithi (lunar day) of the bright or the dark fortnight.
In the scriptures: Vyāsa tells the munis that when Nārada had told Kaṃsa of the exchange of Yaśodā’s child, Kaṃsa resolved to kill Balarāma and Kṛshṇa before they grew strong, and sent Akrūra to Gokula to bring them. “On this caturdaśī,” he said, “the great yāga called the Dhanur-utsava will take place; on that account arrangements for combat will be made,” and he set the wrestlers Cāṇūra and Mushṭika and the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa against them (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 190).
In his teaching on śrāddha, Vyāsa gives the fruit of śrāddha on each tithi. On caturdaśī, if śrāddha is offered with śraddhā, even with whatever food is at hand, those who died struck by weapons and those who died young are satisfied (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 220).
In his teaching on sadācāra (right conduct), Vyāsa tells the munis that on caturdaśī, ashṭamī, pūrṇimā and the parva days abhyaṅga (an oil-bath) and union with a woman are not fit (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 221).
Related terms: Tithi · Śrāddha · Ashṭamī · Pūrṇimā · Amāvāsyā
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 190, 220–221