In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Avaivartika (अवैवर्तिक) refers to a “Bodhisattva without regression” according to the according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VII).—“There are two kinds of Bodhisattvas, with regression (vaivartika) or without regression (avaivartika) as is the case for the Arhats who are susceptible of falling back (parihāṇa-dharman) or not susceptible of falling back (aparihāṇa-dharman). The non-regressing Bodhisattvas are called the true Bodhisattvas for they are it truly; the others, the Bodhisattvas susceptible of falling back, are called Bodhisattva by extension. In the same way, those who have found the fourfold path are called the true assembly (saṃgha) for they are really it; the others, those who have not found the path, are called assembly by extension”.

Note: The Bodhisattva becomes irreversible (avaivartika) or predestined to bodhi (niyata) when he acquires the body born of the dharmadhātu.

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

Avaivartika (अवैवर्तिक) refers to “(the stage of) not falling back”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “[...] Then the Bodhisatva Gaganagañja said this to the women: ‘Sisters, bring your respective husbands just as they were’. Then the women, having brought their respective husbands, being filled with rejoicing and happiness of mind, returned to their respective homes. After that, by those magically conjured-up beings, during seven days, the women were brought to maturity, in the way that they attained the stage of not falling back (avaivartika) from the supreme and perfect 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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Avaivartika (अवैवर्तिक).—(perhaps the commonest [Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit] form of many equivalents; see also avaivarta, °tya, and s.vv. anivart(i)ya, avivart(i)ya, avinivartya), not liable to turning back: regularly of Bodhisattvas (usually this word being used; if not, of persons firmly set on the road to enlightenment, which is the same thing): Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 2.11; 264.12; 383.2; Lalitavistara 23.2; 39.14; 181.6; 370.2; Mahāvastu i.82.8; 102.13; 104.8; 107.9, 12; 128.2, 6; Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 81.8; 89.9; Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 56.4; Gaṇḍavyūha 104.3; 308.8 etc.; Daśabhūmikasūtra 1.8; Sukhāvatīvyūha 21.13 etc.; °ka-bhūmi Kāraṇḍavvūha 82.10; Bodhisattvabhūmi 235.17—18; °ka-dharma Lalitavistara 424.14 (here of the Tathāgata); Mahāvastu i.124.19; °ka-kṣānti- pratilabdha Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 259.13 (see kṣānti); °ka-dharmacakra- Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 270.9.

--- OR ---

Avaivartika (अवैवर्तिक) or Avaivartiya.—: Mahāvastu i.63.13 (but 3 mss. out of 6 °tika); 82.19 (v.l. °tika). Both prose.

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

Avaivartika (अवैवर्तिक):—[=a-vaivartika] mfn. never returning (for a new birth), [Sukhāvatī-vyūha i].

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: Vaivartika, A.

Starts with: Avaivartikacakra, Avaivartikachakra, Avaivartikamudra, Avaivartikata, Avaivartikatva.

Full-text: Avaivartikatva, Avaivartikata, Vaivartika, Avaivartiya, Avinivartya, Avivartika, Kula, Ihaloka, Paraloka, Brahmanakula, Kshatriyakula, Dharmakula, Darshana, Avivartya, Anivartiya, Anivartya, Kushalapunya, Kshanti, Bodhisattva.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Avaivartika, A-vaivartika; (plurals include: Avaivartikas, vaivartikas). 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)

III. The two kinds of irreversible Bodhisattvas (avaivartika) < [X. Surpassing the lower vehicles and acceding to the irreversible ground]

I. Eliminating the three poisons from the kṣetra < [Part 1 - Eliminating the three poisons]

Part 15 - Leading innumerable Bodhisattvas to the state of avaivartika < [Chapter LI - Seeing all the Buddha Fields]

+ 21 more chapters / show preview

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

Part 14 - Fourteen Strokes

Part 5 - Five Strokes

Part 8 - Eight Strokes

+ 1 more chapters / show preview