Karandavyuha Sutra
by Mithun Howladar | 2018 | 73,554 words
This page relates “Classification of Mahayana Sutras” of the Karandavyuha Sutra (analytical study): an important 4th century Sutra extolling the virtues and powers of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The Karandavyuhasutra also introduces the mantra “Om mani padme hum” into the Buddhist Sutra tradition.
Part 2 - Classification of Mahāyana Sūtras
The Mahāyāna Sūtras are also classified into several categories like
- Prajñāpāramitāsūtra propounding Śūnyatā to be ultimate reality
- Avataṃśataka Sūtra (consisting of different vyūhas, like Gaṇḍavyūha, Kāraṇḍyavyūha etc.)
- Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtra related to the cult of Amitāvha the great Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.
As mentioned above the two spiritual practices of Bodhisattvas are dealt with in different Sūtras of Mahāyāna. The text Ārya Kāraṇḍyavyūha Nāma Mahāyāna Sūtra (KVS)[1] is a significant Sūtra because it aims at uniting these two facets of these spiritual practices of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Kāraṇḍyavyūha Sūtra the text belongs to the Vyūha categories of Buddhist Mahāyāna Sūtras. From these literary sources it is also confirmed that altruist a Bodhisattva, by the practice of Pāramitā, attends higher merits of benevolence, moral conduct, tolerance, vigour, meditative excellence and wisdom creditable to engage for rendering welfare service to those who suffer.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ārya Kāraṇḍya Vyūha Nāma Mahāyāna Sūtra narrates glory of Avalokiteśvara with his mantra Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ. The first chapter deals with Buddha’s assembly at the Jatavana ārama, which was donated by Anāthapinda He was Chief house holder devotee of Buddha, at Srāvasti–A city in Kosala where Buddha resided for many years. In the assembly a large number of monks together with Bodhisattva, Nāgarāja, Jandharvarāja, Debapūtra, Nāgakannyā, Kinnirarāja, Kinnirakannyā, Jandharava Kannyā and many other are assembled. In comparison similar lists are also mention in Buddhist text like Ārya Manjuśri Mula Kalpa Tantra (MMK). It is observe that two lists regarding Bodhisatta, Jandharava, and Kinnira do not tally. For instance Ārya Kāraṇḍya Vyūha enumerates twenty Bodhisatta, while MMK mention ninety. Similar variations are notices about the Davaputra and other beings.