Ratnavati, Ratnavāṭī, Ratnāvatī: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Ratnavati means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraRatnavati (रत्नवति) is the daughter of Ratnadatta and Nandayantī from Ayodhyā, as mentioned in the fourteenth story of the Vetālapañcaviṃśati in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 88. Accordingly, “... and there was born to him [Ratnadatta], by his wife Nandayantī, a daughter named Ratnavatī, who was obtained by propitiating the deities”.
The story of Ratnavatī is mentioned in the Vetālapañcaviṃśati (twenty-five tales of a vetāla) which is embedded in the twelfth book of the Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’). The main book is a famous Sanskrit epic detailing the exploits of prince Naravāhanadatta in his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The Kathā-sarit-sāgara is is explained to be an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā which consisted of 100,000 verses and in turn forms part of an even larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraRatnāvatī (रत्नावती) is the name of a universe according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XV).—Accordingly, “Then in the east, beyond universes as numerous as the sands of the Ganges and at the limit of these universes, there is a universe called To pao (Ratnāvatī) where there is a Buddha called Pao tse (Ratnākara) who is now teaching the Prajñāpāramitā to the Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas”.
This universe is called Ratnāvatī (“rich in jewels”. There are two kinds of jewels: the substantial jewel (dhanaratna) and the dharma jewel (dharmaratna). What are these jewels the abundance of which merits the name Ratnāvatī for this universe? Answer—Both kinds of jewels occur in this universe. Furthermore, the many Bodhisattvas who inhabit it are also jewels who illumine the nature of things (dharmatā). [Note by Kumārajīva: These jewels, namely the great Bodhisattvas, serve as a diadem (ratnamukuṭa); in the center of this diadem we see the Buddha and we penetrate the nature of all dharmas]. As these jewels are numerous, the universe in question is called “rich in jewels” (Ratnāvatī).
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismRatnavatī (रत्नवती) is the name of a Dhāraṇī Goddesses mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Ratnavatī).
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection IRatnavatī (रत्नवती) is the name of a princess who married Siṃhalasuta, according to the Priyamelakacopaī by Samayasundara (dealing with the lives of Jain teachers), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—Accordingly, “[...] Siṃhalasuta was able to cure princess Ratnavatī who had been bitten by a snake by giving her some special water to drink and was married to her. During the wedding night, Siṃhalasuta slept on the ground, telling Ratnavatī that he did so because he was separated from his parents. [...]”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryratnavāṭī (रत्नवाटी).—f (Poetry.) A saucer-form dish with diamonds (or other jewels) attached.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryRatnāvatī (रत्नावती).—name of two lokadhātus: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 139.1 (the Buddha Ratnaketu dwells here); Śatasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 29.6 (in the east; the Buddha Ratnākara dwells here).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ratnavatī (रत्नवती):—[=ratna-vatī] [from ratna-vat > ratna] f. (atī) the earth, [Haravijaya]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of various women, [Daśakumāra-carita; Kathāsaritsāgara]
3) Ratnāvatī (रत्नावती):—[=ratnā-vatī] [from ratna] f. Name of a woman, [Harṣacarita]
4) [v.s. ...] of a town, [Catalogue(s)]
[Sanskrit to German]
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)
Full-text: Ratnavant, Umapati upadhyaya, Samantarashmi, Ratnaketu, Ratnakara, Nandayanti, Kusumavati, Ratnadatta, Dhatu.
Relevant text
Search found 9 books and stories containing Ratnavati, Ratnavāṭī, Ratnāvatī, Ratnavatī, Ratna-vati, Ratna-vatī, Ratnā-vatī; (plurals include: Ratnavatis, Ratnavāṭīs, Ratnāvatīs, Ratnavatīs, vatis, vatīs). 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)
Act 9.1: Description of the Ratnāvatī universe and the Buddha Ratnākara < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
Act 9.3: Question of the bodhisattva Samantaraśmi < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
Act 9.6: Ratnākara approves of Samantaraśmi’s venture to the Sahā universe < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 5: Dhanavatī’s birth as Ratnavatī < [Chapter I - Previous incarnations of Ariṣṭanemi (Nemi)]
Part 23: Marriage with Ratnavatī < [Chapter II - Marriages of Vasudeva with maidens]
Part 9: Story of Ratnavatī and Anaṅgasiṃha < [Chapter I - Previous incarnations of Ariṣṭanemi (Nemi)]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 198 - Śūdrī Brāhmaṇī Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 195 - Story of the Daughter of Chāndogya < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 196 - Bṛhadbala Proceeds to the city of Ānarta < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter LXXXVIII < [Book XII - Śaśāṅkavatī]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.2.36-37 < [Chapter 2 - The Lord’s Appearance]
Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4 (by Vihari-Lala Mitra)
Chapter XXXII - On good conduct < [Book IV - Sthiti prakarana (sthiti prakarana)]