The Sanskrit term Śaṅkhācārya can be transliterated into English as Sankhacarya or Shankhacarya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Shankhacharya.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Śaṅkhācārya (शङ्खाचार्य) is the name of a Ṛṣi according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXVIII). Accordingly, “thus the Buddha Śākyamuni, in a previous lifetime, was a Ṛṣi with a conch-shaped head-dress (śaṅkhaśikhā) named Chang chö li (Śaṅkhācārya). He was always practicing the fourth dhyāna: interrupting his respiration (ānāpāna), seated under a tree, he remained immobile. Seeing him in this posture, a bird mistook him for a piece of wood and laid her eggs (aṇḍa) in his top-knot (śikhā)”.

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: Shankha, Acarya.

Full-text: Tirthika, Vasita, Shankhashikha, Dhyanaparamita.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Shankhacarya, Shankha-acarya, Śaṅkhācārya, Sankhacarya, Śaṅkha-ācārya, Sankha-acarya; (plurals include: Shankhacaryas, acaryas, Śaṅkhācāryas, Sankhacaryas, ācāryas). 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)

Story of the kindness of Śaṅkhācārya towards animals < [Part 5 - The virtue of meditation]

3. The six virtues (pāramitā) < [Part 4 - The Bodhisattva in the Abhidharma system]

Definition of dhyāna and the virtue of meditation (dhyānapāramitā) < [Part 5 - The virtue of meditation]

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