Adhivacana: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Adhivacana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Alternative spellings of this word include Adhivachana.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraAdhivacana (अधिवचन) refers to the “languages (of all the universes)”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 4).—Accordingly, “[Question: Why is the Buddha called Samyaksaṃbuddha?]—[Answer]: [...] Finally, the languages (adhivacana) of all the universes (lokadhātu), the ten directions (daśadiś), the languages of beings (sattva) in the six destinies (gati), the history of previous lives (pūrvajanmanidāna) of beings and their birthplaces (utpādasthāna) in future generations (anāgatajanma), the natures of the mind (cittalakṣaṇa) of all beings in the ten directions, their fetters (saṃyojana), their roots of good (kuśalamūla) and their outcome (niḥsaraṇa): all the Dharmas of this kind he knows in detail. This is why he is called Samyaksaṃbuddha”.
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAdhivacana (अधिवचन) refers to a “designation”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] Just as there is no border dividing the sky, just so there is no limit of any dharma in the limit of reality. Since the limit of reality is the limit of the self, by knowing the limit of the self, the knowledge of the limit of all beings is understood. Since the limit of all dharmas is unified with the limit of all beings, all dharmas are called ‘the limit of exhaustion, the end of exhaustion, and the ultimate of exhaustion’. What is called ‘exhaustion’ is a designation (adhivacana) for extinction, and thus all dharmas are the same as extinction. Why is that? Because it is without adversary. [...]”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryadhivacana : (nt.) a term; designation.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryAdhivacana, (nt.) (adhi + vacana) designation, term, attrîbute, metaphor, metaphorical expression D.II, 62; M.I, 113, 144, 460; A.II, 70, 124; III, 310; IV, 89, 285, 340; It.15, 114; Sn.p. 218; J.I, 117; Nd2 34 = Dhs.1306 (= nāma saṅkhā paññatti etc.); Vbh.6; PvA.63. See on term Dhs. trsl. 340.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAdhivacana (अधिवचन).—
1) Advocacy, speaking in favour of (pakṣapātena kathanaṃ vacanam).
2) A name, epithet, appellation.
Derivable forms: adhivacanam (अधिवचनम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryAdhivacana (अधिवचन).—nt. (= Pali id.), designation, appellation, name, term (of, for, gen.): Mahāvyutpatti 6333; Mahāvastu i.161.2; tathatā tathateti…śūnyatāyā etad adhivacanam Śikṣāsamuccaya 263.1, tathatā is a name for nullity; Kāśyapa Parivarta 71.9, 10; bhūtatathatāyā etad adhivacanam Vajracchedikā 37.3; Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 342.1; kasyaitad adhiva- canaṃ yad uta nirvāṇam iti Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 182.9, of what is this a designation, viz. the word nirvāṇa?; anāyavyaya ity anut- pādasyaitad adhivacanam Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 175.18; katamasyaitad dharmasyādhivacanaṃ samādhir iti Samādhirājasūtra p. 13 lines 19—20, of what matter is this a designation, the word samādhi?
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAdhivacana (अधिवचन).—n.
(-naṃ) A name, an appellation. E. adhi, and vacana speech.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryAdhivacana (अधिवचन):—[=adhi-vacana] [from adhi-vac] n. an appellation, epithet.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAdhivacana (अधिवचन):—[tatpurusha compound] n.
(-nam) I. Advocating, speaking in favour of another. E. vac with adhi, kṛt aff. lyuṭ. Ii. A name, an appellation. E. adhi and vacana.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryAdhivacana (अधिवचन):—[adhi-vacana] (naṃ) 1. n. A name, or appellation, or title.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryAdhivacana (अधिवचन):—n. Law. the advocate's pledge at court; pleading;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Vacana, Adhi.
Starts with: Adhivacanapatha, Adhivacanapravesha.
Ends with: Garavadhivacana, Khandhadhivacana.
Full-text (+34): Anabhiraddhi, Abhiraddhi, Andhaka, Vevacana, Khandhadhivacana, Asanivicakka, Adhivacanapatha, Takkin, Ananda, Adhivutti, Papata, Garavadhivacana, Paghaṇa, Vanasanda, Hiri, Buddhanusmriti, Appaccaya, Uraga, Kodhupayasa, Vikkhittaka.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Adhivacana, Adhi-vacana; (plurals include: Adhivacanas, vacanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
I. Recollection of the Buddha (1): The ten names (adhivacana) < [Part 2 - The Eight Recollections according to the Abhidharma]
Part 4 - Why is the Buddha called Samyaksaṃbuddha < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]
Section C - Third method: practicing the five dharmas < [Part 2 - Means of acquiring meditation]
Vinaya (3): The Cullavagga (by T. W. Rhys Davids)
Cullavagga, Khandaka 5, Chapter 37 < [Khandaka 5 - On the Daily Life of the Bhikkhus]
Cullavagga, Khandaka 6, Chapter 20 < [Khandaka 6 - On Dwellings and Furniture]
Cullavagga, Khandaka 5, Chapter 19 < [Khandaka 5 - On the Daily Life of the Bhikkhus]
Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)
Commentary on Biography of the thera Mogharāja < [Chapter 4 - Kuṇḍadhānavagga (section on Kuṇḍadhāna)]
Part II - The Suttanta Pairs Of Terms < [Book III - The Division Entitled 'elimination']
Chapter II - Good In Relation To The Universe Of Form < [Part I - Good States Of Consciousness]
Chapter II - The Category Of Form Considered By Way Of Dual Attributes < [Book II - Form]
Buddhist Monastic Discipline (by Jotiya Dhirasekera)
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter XVI - The great renunciation again < [Volume II]