In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

A Niraya. It resembled a city with four gates and a wall. Mittavindaka, arriving at Ussaka in his wanderings, saw there a man supporting a wheel as sharp as a razor, which to Mittavindaka appeared like a lotus flower. Mittavindaka took it from him, and realising then what it was, tried to escape, but was unsuccessful. This was the suffering undergone by those who had smitten their mothers. Sakka, during a visit to Ussaka, saw Mittavindaka, but could do nothing for him (J.iv.3f; iii.206f).

Ussada was considered a place of great suffering (E.g., J.iv.403), and also a place where those who, having promised a gift fail to give it, are born (J.iv.405). Once the Bodhisatta was born in Ussada, for cruelty during his reign as king of Benares, and he suffered for eighty thousand years (J.vi.2). Beings born there have their tongues pierced with glowing hooks and are dragged about on a floor of heated metal (J.vi.112).

In the scholiast to the Matakabhatta Jataka (J.i.168) reference is made to sixteen Ussada niraya.

Revati (q.v.) was once cast into Ussada niraya. VvA.223.

context information

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).

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

ussada : (adj.) abundant; excessive; full of.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Ussada, (most likely to ud + syad; see ussanna): this word is beset with difficulties, the phrase satt-ussada is applied in all kinds of meanings, evidently the result of an original application & meaning having become obliterated. satt° is taken as *sapta (seven) as well as *sattva (being), ussada as prominence, protuberance, fulness, arrogance. The meanings may be tabulated as follows: (1) prominence (cp. Sk. utsedha), used in characterisation of the Nirayas, as “projecting, prominent hells”, ussadanirayā (but see also below 4) J. I, 174; IV, 3, 422 (pallaṅkaṃ, v. l. caturassạṃ, with four corners); V, 266.—adj. prominent ThA. 13 (tej-ussadehi ariyamaggadhammehi, or as below 4?).—2. protuberance, bump, swelling J. IV, 188; also in phrase sattussada having 7 protuberances, a qualification of the Mahāpurisa D. III, 151 (viz. on both hands, feet, shoulders, and on his back).—3. rubbing in, anointing, ointment; adj. anointed with (-°), in candan° J. III, 139; IV, 60; Th. 1, 267; Vv 53⁷; DhA. I, 28; VvA. 237.—4. a crowd adj. full of (-°) in phrase sattussada crowded with (human beings) D. I, 87 (cp. DA. I, 245: aneka-satta-samākiṇṇa; but in same sense BSk. sapt-otsada Divy 620, 621); Pv IV. 1⁸ (of Niraya = full of beings, expl^d. by sattehi ussanna uparûpari nicita PvA. 221.—5. qualification, characteristic, mark, attribute, in catussada “having the four qualifications (of a good village)” J. IV, 309 (viz. plenty of people, corn, wood and water C.). The phrase is evidently shaped after D. I, 87 (under 4). As “preponderant quality, characteristic” we find ussada used at Vism. 103 (cf. Asl. 267) in comb^ns. lobh°, dos°, moh°, alobh° etc. (quoted from the “Ussadakittana”), and similarly at VvA. 19 in Dhammapāla’s definition of manussa (lobh’ādīhi alobh’ādīhi sahitassa manassa ussannatāya manussā), viz. sattā manussa-jātikā tesu lobh’‹-› ādayo alobh’ādayo ca ussadā.—6. (metaph.) self-elevation, arrogance, conceit, haughtiness Vin. I, 3; Sn. 515, 624 (an° = taṇhā-ussada-abhāvena SnA 467), 783 (expl^d. by Nd¹ 72 under formula sattussada; i.e. showing 7 bad qualities, viz. rāga, dosa, moha etc.), 855.—See also ussādana, ussādeti etc. (Page 157)

— or —

Ussāda, (fr. ussādeti) throwing up on DA. I, 122. (Page 157)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Ussadaka, Ussadana.

Ends with: Anussada, Candanussada, Catussada, Mohussada, Ragussada, Sattussada.

Full-text (+1): Ragussada, Sattussada, Anussada, Ussadiyati, Ussadaka, Mohussada, Candanussada, Ussava, Ussa, Ussadeti, Ussadita, Catudvara Jataka, Catussada, Ucchadaka, Ucchadana, Ucchada, Mittavindaka, Utsada, Raga, Nandiya.

Relevant text

Search found 6 books and stories containing Ussada, Ussāda; (plurals include: Ussadas, Ussādas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)

Jataka 369: Mittavinda-jātaka < [Volume 3]

Jataka 439: Catu-Dvāra-jātaka < [Volume 4]

Jataka 530: Saṃkicca-jātaka < [Volume 5]

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Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka (by I. B. Horner)

At the Goatherds’ Banyan tree < [1. Going forth (Pabbajjā)]

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The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)

Chapter II - Maudgalyāyana’s visits to hell < [Volume I]

Chapter VI - A visit to the Śuddhāvāsa Devas < [Volume I]

Chapter XXXVIII - The questions of Sabhika < [Volume III]

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The Catu-Bhanavara-Pali (critical study) (by Moumita Dutta Banik)

(11) Mettanisamsa Sutta < [Chapter 2 - Subject Matter of the First Bhanavara]

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The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)

Part 15 - What are The Advantages that accrue from The Pāramīs < [Chapter 7 - On Miscellany]

Moggallāna Mahāthera’s Attainment of Parinibbāna < [Chapter 43 - Forty-one Arahat-Mahatheras and their Respective Etadagga titles]

Part 5 - The Week at Ajapāla Banyan Tree < [Chapter 8 - The Buddha’s stay at the Seven Places]

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Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa) (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)

Part 1 - The nature of hells (niraya) < [Chapter 11 - Planes Of Existence]

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