Nanadhatu, Nānādhātu, Nana-dhatu: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Nanadhatu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationNānādhātu (नानाधातु) refers to “multifarious minerals”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.1.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] O excellent sage, there in the northern region is a mountain called Himavat who is the lord of mountains and has great splendour and prosperity. [...] He is of pure soul, an abode of austerities. He sanctifies even the great souls. He is the bestower of the benefit of austerities. He is the auspicious storehouse of multifarious minerals (i.e., nānādhātu-ākara). He is of a divine form. He is beautiful in every part. He is the unaffected part of Viṣṇu. He is the king of leading mountains and a great favourite of the good”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraNānādhātu (नानाधातु) or Nānādhātujñānabala refers to one of the “ten powers” (daśabala) of the Bodhisattva, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 39. Accordingly, “by the power of the knowledge of the various dispositions acquired by beings (nānādhātujñānabala), he distinguishes and evaluates the progression of profound thoughts (gambhīra-citta) of beings”.
Also, “these are all the distinctions that ‘the Buddha knows the world with its many and varied acquired dispositions (nānādhātu)’ and its deliverance is without obstacle. The Buddha knows completely and fully these many diverse dispositions and, since this knowledge is intact (avyāhata) and invincible (ajeya) in him, it is called the’ sixth power’”’
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaNānādhātu (नानाधातु) or Nānādhātujñānabala refers to the “strength of knowing the various elements” and represents on of the ten Jñānabalas (“strength of knowledge”), as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 76). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., nānā-dhātu). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryNānādhātu (नानाधातु):—[=nānā-dhātu] [from nānā] (in [compound]), various minerals or gramm. roots
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)
Starts with: Nanadhatujnanabala, Nanadhatuprakriya, Nanadhatusamakirna, Nanadhatushata.
Ends with: Cakshurvijnanadhatu, Chakshurvijnanadhatu, Ghranavijnanadhatu, Jihvavijnanadhatu, Jnanadhatu, Kayavijnanadhatu, Manovijnanadhatu, Shrotravijnanadhatu, Vinnanadhatu.
Full-text: Nanadhatusamakirna, Nanadhatuprakriya, Nanadhatushata, Nanadhatujnanabala, Dasabala, Jnanabala, Bala, Dhatu.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Nanadhatu, Nānādhātu, Nana-dhatu, Nānā-dhātu; (plurals include: Nanadhatus, Nānādhātus, dhatus, dhātus). 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)
Note (2): Lists of Jñānabalas < [Chapter XXXIX - The Ten Powers of the Buddha according to the Abhidharma]
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 4 - Buddha (a Supremely Enlightened One) < [Chapter 2 - Rare Appearance of a Buddha]