chitra

Chitra is a term used in Sanskrit and many Indian languages that means picture, image, or painting. It describes visual representations, drawings, and illustrated works, and occurs in compound terms such as chitrakala (the art of painting) and chitrakatha (a picture narrative or illustrated story). In literature and everyday usage, chitra can convey anything depicted or described in vivid, visual terms.

Chitra is also a common feminine given name in the Indian subcontinent and among the diaspora. It is derived from the noun for painting or image and often carries connotations of artistry and vivid imagery. Notable individuals with the given name include Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, an Indian-American author and poet known for works such as The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart.

In Hindu astrology, Chitra is the name of one of the 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) used in Jyotisha. As a nakshatra, it is part of the traditional celestial framework employed for astrology and calendrical calculations.

The term chitra also appears in various cultural and religious contexts, including literature, art, and place names, reflecting its broad association with imagery and visual representation.