In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A very high rank bestowed by the Sinhalese kings. It appears to have corresponded to the modern Orders. It may have originated in the members of the Order being entrusted with the care of the Hair Relic (Kesadhatu), which was brought to Ceylon in the reign of Moggallana I (Cv.xxxix.49). This duty afterwards evidently became a mere formality. The word Kesadhatu may be an abbreviation of the fuller Kesadhatunayaka.

We first come across the term in the time of Vijayabahu I., when a Kesadhatu, Kassapa by name, became governor of Rohana (Cv.lvii.65f). Parakkamabahu I. conferred the title on his general, the Dandadhinayaka Rakkha. Cv.lxx.19.

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).

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

kesadhātu : (f.) hair-relic.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Kesadhātu refers to: the hair-relic (of the Buddha) J. I, 81;

Note: kesadhātu is a Pali compound consisting of the words kesa and dhātu.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Dhatu, Kesa.

Starts with: Kesadhatuvamsa.

Full-text: Kuntavara, Devila, Gimhatittha, Devaraja, Buddhanayaka, Dandanayakabhataro, Tamba, Loka, Kacaragama, Lankapura, Vijayabahu, Kitti, Rakkha.

Relevant text

No search results for Kesadhatu, Kesadhātu, Kesa-dhatu, Kesa-dhātu; (plurals include: Kesadhatus, Kesadhātus, dhatus, dhātus) in any book or story.