Sahampati: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Sahampati 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 Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA Mahabrahma. When the Buddha was at the Ajapalanigrodha, hesitating as to whether or not he should preach the Dhamma, Sahampati appeared before him and begged of him to open to the world the doors of Immortality. The Buddha agreed to this urgent request (Vin.i.5f.;S.i.137f), and accepted from Sahampati the assurance that all the Buddhas of the past had also had no other teacher than the Dhamma discovered by them. S.i.139; see also S.v.167f.,185, 232, where he gives the same assurance to the Buddha regarding the four satipatthanas and the five indriyas; A.ii.10f.
Buddhaghosa (E.g., SA.i.155) explains that the Buddha was reluctant to preach, not on account of indolence, but because he wished Sahampati to make him this request. For, thought the Buddha, the world honours Brahma greatly, and when people realized that Brahma himself had begged of the Buddha to spread his teaching, they would pay more attention to it. Sahampati was, at this time, the most senior of the Brahmas (jettha Mahabrahma) (DA.ii.467).
Sahampati once saw that the brahminee, mother of Brahmadeva Thera, habitually made offerings to Brahma. Out of compassion for her, Sahampati appeared before her and exhorted her to give her offerings to Brahmadeva instead (S.i.140f). On another occasion, when Kokaliya died and was born in Padumaniraya, Sahampati appeared before the Buddha and announced the fact to him (SN. p.125; cp. S.i.151; A.v.172). The Samyutta (S.i.154f) contains a series of verses spoken by Sahampati at Andhakavinda, when the Buddha sat out in the open during the night and rain fell drop by drop. The verses are in praise of the life and practices of the monks and of the results thereof. Sahampati again visited the Buddha, simultaneously with Sakka, and as they stood leaning against a doorpost of the Buddhas cell, Sakka uttered a verse in praise of the Buddha. Sahampati then added another verse, exhorting the Buddha to preach the Doctrine, as there were those who would understand (S.i.233). A verse spoken by him immediately after the Buddhas death is included in the books (D.ii.157; S.i.158).
During the time of Kassapa Buddha, Sahampati was a monk, named Sahaka, who, having practised the five indriyas (saddha, etc.), was reborn in the Brahma world. Thereafter he was called Sahampati (S.v.233). The Commentaries say (SNA.ii.476; SA.i.155) that he was an Anagami Brahma born in the Suddhavasa, there to pass a whole kappa, because he had developed the first Jhana as a monk. The Buddhavamsa, Commentary (BuA.p.11; see also p.29) says that, strictly speaking, his name should be Sahakapati. When the Buddha attained Enlightenment, Sahampati held over the Buddhas head a white parasol three yojanas in diameter. BuA.239; this incident was sculptured in the Relic Chamber of the Maha Thupa (Mhv.xxx.74); cp. J.iv.266.
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).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismSahāmpati (सहाम्पति) refers to a group of Brahmās (deities) 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 the Sahāmpatis).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySahaṃpati (सहंपति).—(= Pali id.; compare sahā-, sahāṃ-pati), name of Brahmā: Mahāvastu iii.381.11 (verse); °ti (em.), n. sg., without Brahmā.
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Sahāṃpati (सहांपति).—(1) m., = prec., q.v.: Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 4.8; 69.8, and often (app. always sahāṃ°); Mahāvyutpatti 3116; Divyāvadāna 638.25; Avadāna-śataka i.273.9; 298.2; 317.14; 323.12 f.; 343.2; Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 2.3; Kāraṇḍavvūha 2.6; Sukhāvatīvyūha 92.13; (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 19.9; 45.5; 69.7, etc. (always sahāṃ°, I believe); (2) m., name of a gandharva king: Kāraṇḍavvūha 2.18; (3) f., name of a kiṃnara maid: °tir Kāraṇḍavvūha 6.7. Cf. next.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Sahāmpati (सहाम्पति):—[=sahām-pati] [from sah] m. (rather [from] [accusative] of sahā than [from] [genitive case] [plural] of 2. sah+p; cf. saka-pati) Name of Brahmā (with Buddhists), [Lalita-vistara] ([Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 210; 211])
2) [v.s. ...] of a Bodhi-sattva, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha]
3) [v.s. ...] of a serpent-demon, [ib.]
4) [v.s. ...] f. Name of a Kiṃ-narī, [ib.]
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusSahaṃpati (ಸಹಂಪತಿ):—[noun] (Buddh.) Brahma.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Pati.
Starts with: Sahampatika.
Full-text (+5): Sahakapati, Sahapati, Vandana Sutta, Sahaka, Andhakavinda, Sahalokadhatu, Andhakavinda Sutta, Brahma, Parinibbana Sutta, Shuddhavasa, Ambasanda, Garava Sutta, Catuma Sutta, Uruvela Sutta, Devadatta Sutta, Magga Sutta, Ajapala Nigrodha, Pindolya Sutta, Ayacana Sutta, Ariyapariyesana Sutta.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Sahampati, Sahaṃpati, Sahāṃpati, Sahāmpati, Saham-pati, Sahām-pati; (plurals include: Sahampatis, Sahaṃpatis, Sahāṃpatis, Sahāmpatis, patis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 2 - The request of Sahampati Brahmā < [Chapter 9 - The Buddha Reflecting Deeply on the Profundity of the Dhamma]
Part 3 - The Buddha proceeding to Migadaya < [Chapter 9 - The Buddha Reflecting Deeply on the Profundity of the Dhamma]
Part 5 - The Week at Ajapāla Banyan Tree < [Chapter 8 - The Buddha’s stay at the Seven Places]
Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka (by I. B. Horner)
On the invitation of Brahmā < [1. Going forth (Pabbajjā)]
The story of one suspended for not seeing an offence < [1. Going forth (Pabbajjā)]
On the miracles at Uruvelā < [1. Going forth (Pabbajjā)]
The Gospel of Buddha (by Paul Carus)
The Buddha and His Teachings (by Narada Thera)
Dhammapada (Illustrated) (by Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero)
Verse 64 - The Story of Venerable Udāyi < [Chapter 5 - Bāla Vagga (Fools)]
Verse 206-208 - The Story of Sakka < [Chapter 15 - Sukha Vagga (Happiness)]