Dhammapala, Dhammapali, Dhammapāla, Dhammapālā, Dhammapālī, Dhamma-pala: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Dhammapala means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Dhammapala in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Dhammapala Thera - An arahant. He was a brahmin of Avanti and studied in Takkasila. While returning from there after completing his studies, he saw a monk dwelling apart and, having heard the Dhamma from him, entered the Order and became an arahant. We are told that one day, while meditating, he saw two novices climbing a tree in the vihara to pick flowers. The bough broke and they fell, but he, with his iddhi power, caught them and put them down unhurt.

In the time of Atthadassi Buddha he gave to the Buddha a pilakkha fruit (Thag.vs.203f; ThagA.i.326f). He is probably identical with Pilakkhaphaladayaka of the Apadana. Ap.i.298.

2. Dhammapala - A brahmin, son of the Bodhisatta. See Maha Dhammapala.

3. Dhammapala - The Bodhisatta born as the son of Maha Dhammapala. For his story see the Maha Dhammapala Jataka.

4. Dhammapala - The Bodhisatta born as the son of King Mahapatapa. For his story see the Culla Dhammapala Jataka.

5. Dhammapala - A name given to Vidhurapandita. J.vi.289, 291.

6. Dhammapala Kumara - The son of Vidhurapandita (q.v.). He is identified with Rahula. J.vi.290, 300, 329.

7. Dhammapala - The name of the family (kula) of Dhammapala, and the village in Kasi where he lived (J.iv.50; PvA.61). See the Maha Dhammapala Jataka.

8. Dhammapala - A celebrated author, generally referred to as Acariya. Various works are attributed to him, but as there seem to have been several authors of the same name (Gv. (p.66f.) mentions four), it is difficult to assign their works separately. The best known, distinguished by the name of Acariya, is said (Gv. p.69) to have written fourteen books. The Sasanavamsa (p.33) records that he lived at Badaratittha in South India.

His works show that he was a native of Kancipura. His period is uncertain, though it is generally agreed that he is posterior to Buddhaghosa. He seems to have studied in the Mahavihara, because he mentions this fact in the introduction to his books (e.g., the Petavatthu Commentary). It is quite likely that he studied the Tamil Commentaries as well and that he wrote at Badaratittha. (Hiouen Thsang, Beal.ii.229, says that Dhammapala was a clever youth of Kancipura and that the king gave him his daughter. But Dhammapala, not wishing to marry, prayed before an image of the Buddha. The gods took him to a place far away where he was ordained by the monks).

9. Theri - An arahant. She was the preceptor (upajjhaya) of Sanghamitta. Mhv.v.208; Sp.i.51.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Dhammapala in Pali glossary
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Dhammapāla refers to: guardian of the Law or the Dh. J.V, 222, frequent also as Np.;

Note: dhammapāla is a Pali compound consisting of the words dhamma and pāla.

Pali book cover
context information

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.

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