The Sanskrit term Keśolluñcana can be transliterated into English as Kesolluncana or Kesholluncana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Keshollunchana.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Keśolluñcana (केशोल्लुञ्चन) refers to “tearing out one’s hair”, representing one of the various actions of Māra, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 10).—Accordingly, “[Question: What are the works of Māra?]—[Answer].—[...] Māra has three types of actions: (a) play, laughter, idle chatter, singing, dancing, and everything that provokes desire; (b) iron fetters, beating, whipping, wounds, spikes, knives, slashing and everything that is caused by hatred; (c) [demented mortifications] such as being burned, being frozen, tearing out one’s hair (keśolluñcana), starving, jumping into the fire, throwing oneself into the water, falling onto spears and everything that results from stupidity”.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Kesa, Ulluncana.

Full-text: Ulluncana.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Kesholluncana, Keśolluñcana, Keśa-ulluñcana, Kesha-ulluncana, Kesolluncana, Kesa-ulluncana; (plurals include: Kesholluncanas, Keśolluñcanas, ulluñcanas, ulluncanas, Kesolluncanas). 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)

Bodhisattva quality 12: having passed beyond the works of Māra < [Chapter X - The Qualities of the Bodhisattvas]

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