In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Asvabhāva (अस्वभाव) refers to “(that which is) without (any activity or) intrinsic nature”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] The Bodhisattva Gaganagañja then sustained the jewel-canopy of ten thousand yojanas high over the Lord’s lion throne in the sky, joined the palms of his hands, saluted, and praised the Lord with these suitable verses: ‘[...] (8) All the dharmas are born from causes and conditions (hetupratyaya). Without any activity or intrinsic nature (asvabhāva), they are generated in thought-constructions (saṃkalpa). But still the Sugata, having known the mode (naya) of such dharmas, obtained the changeless (nirvikāra), peaceful (śānta), unsurpassable (anuttara) awakening. [...]”.

context information

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

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Asvabhāva (अस्वभाव).—a. Of a different nature.

-vaḥ Different or unnatural character.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Asvabhāva (अस्वभाव).—m.

(-vaḥ) Unnatural or unusual character or temperament. mfn.

(-vaḥ-vā-vaṃ) Of a different nature. E. a neg. svabhāva nature.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Asvabhāva (अस्वभाव):—[=a-sva-bhāva] [from a-sva] m. unnatural or unusual character or temperament

2) [v.s. ...] mfn. of a different nature, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Asvabhāva (अस्वभाव):—[a-svabhāva] (vaḥ-vā-vaṃ) a. Unnatural.

context information

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Bhava, Svabhava, A, Ashva.

Ends with (+17): Abhavasvabhava, Adveshasvabhava, Amohasvabhava, Angasvabhava, Anyasvabhava, Bhavasvabhava, Bhinnasvabhava, Bhutasvabhava, Calasvabhava, Cittasvabhava, Dehasvabhava, Dharmasvabhava, Gaganasvabhava, Janmasvabhava, Komalasvabhava, Kutilasvabhava, Lenkurasvabhava, Madhyamasvabhava, Mayasvabhava, Mugdhasvabhava.

Full-text: Santa, Anuttara, Hetupratyaya, Svabhavapuja.

Relevant text

Search found 4 books and stories containing Asvabhava, Asvabhāva, Asva-bhava, Asva-bhāva, A-svabhava, A-svabhāva; (plurals include: Asvabhavas, Asvabhāvas, bhavas, bhāvas, svabhavas, svabhāvas). 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)

Appendix 1 - Pretas (hungry ghosts) and water < [Chapter XLVI - Venerating with the Roots of Good]

III. Emptiness according to the Madhyamaka < [Note on emptiness (śūnyatā)]

Emptiness 12: Emptiness of essences (prakṛtiśūnyatā) < [Chapter XLVIII - The Eighteen Emptinesses]

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Shri Gaudiya Kanthahara (by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati)

Chapter 7 - Kṛṣṇa-tattva

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Reverberations of Dharmakirti’s Philosophy (by Birgit Kellner)

Dharmakīrti against Physicalism

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A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)

Part 12 - Twelve Strokes

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