Akashanantyayatana, Ākāśānantyāyatana, Ākāsānañcāyatana, Akasha-anantyayatana: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Akashanantyayatana 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.
The Sanskrit term Ākāśānantyāyatana can be transliterated into English as Akasanantyayatana or Akashanantyayatana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines'sphere of boundless space', is identical with the 1st absorption in the immaterial sphere; s. jhāna (6).
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).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraĀkāśānantyāyatana (आकाशानन्त्यायतन) referst to the “sphere of infinity of space” and represents one of the four Ārūpyasamāpatti (“formless absorptions”), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 32. Of the four formless (ārūpya) absorptions, one, namely, the naivasaṃjñānā-saṃjñā-āyatana, is always impure (sāsrava). For the other three, one can single out: the ākāśānantya-āyatana is sometimes impure (sāsrava) and sometimes pure (anāsrava). If it is impure, this ākāśāyatana contains four impure aggregates (sāsrava-skandha); if it is pure, it contains four pure aggregates. It is the same for the vijñānānantya-āyatana and the ākiṃcanya-āyatana.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: WikiPedia: BuddhismĀkāśānantyāyatana or Ākāsānañcāyatana (Tib: nam mkha' mtha' yas; Jpn: 空無辺処 kū mu hen jo) "Sphere of Infinite Space". In this sphere formless beings dwell meditating upon space or extension (ākāśa) as infinitely pervasive. Total life span on this realm in human years - 20,000 Maha Kalpa. This is realm is place 5,580,000 Yodun above the Akanita Brahma Loka — Highest plane of pure abodes.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryĀkāśānantyāyatana (आकाशानन्त्यायतन).—the abode of infinity or of infinite space; Name of a world with the Buddhists.
Derivable forms: ākāśānantyāyatanam (आकाशानन्त्यायतनम्).
Ākāśānantyāyatana is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ākāśa and anantyāyatana (अनन्त्यायतन).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryĀkāśānantyāyatana (आकाशानन्त्यायतन).—(= Pali ākāsānañcāy°), (1) nt., stage of the infinity of space; as first of the stages of arūpā- vacara gods (see deva), Mahāvyutpatti 3110; Daśabhūmikasūtra 34.11; as first of four ārūpya samāpatti -(q.v.), Mahāvyutpatti 1492; Karmavibhaṅga (and Karmavibhaṅgopadeśa) 47.21; as condition of the 4th vimokṣa, Mahāvyutpatti 1514; as condition of the 7th abhibhvāyatana, Mahāvyutpatti 1526; as fifth sattvāvāsa, Mahāvyutpatti 2293; (2) m. pl., = next: Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 86.11; compare ākāśānantya.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ākāśānantyāyatana (आकाशानन्त्यायतन):—[from ā-kāśa > ā-kāś] n. ‘abode of infinity or of infinite space’, Name of a world, [Buddhist literature]
2) [=ā-kā-śānantyāyatana] [from ākāśānantyāyatana > ā-kāśa > ā-kāś] m. [plural] Name of a class of gods, [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 213 ](also °tanopaga, [Dharmasaṃgraha 129])
[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)
Starts with: Akashanantyayatanacakravartin, Akashanantyayatanachakravartin.
Full-text: Akashanantyayatanopaga, Arupyadhatu, Akashanantyayatanacakravartin, Kritsnayatana, Anupubba Nirodha, Akasha, Abhibhayatana, Vimokkha, Jhana.
Relevant text
Search found 9 books and stories containing Akashanantyayatana, Ākāśānantyāyatana, Ākāsānañcāyatana, Akasha-anantyayatana, Akasanantyayatana, Ākāśa-anantyāyatana, Akasa-anantyayatana, Aka-shanantyayatana, Ākā-śānantyāyatana, Aka-sanantyayatana; (plurals include: Akashanantyayatanas, Ākāśānantyāyatanas, Ākāsānañcāyatanas, anantyayatanas, Akasanantyayatanas, anantyāyatanas, shanantyayatanas, śānantyāyatanas, sanantyayatanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Manual of Abhidhamma (by Nārada Thera)
Formless-Sphere Consciousness < [Chapter I - Different Types of Consciousness]
Summary of Objects < [Chapter III - Miscellaneous Section]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Objects and distribution of the vimokṣas, abhibhus and kṛtsnas < [Class (5) liberations, (6) masteries and (7) totalities]
6. First samāpatti < [Part 3 - Definition of the various dhyānas and samāpattis]
The formless absorptions (ārūpyasamāpatti) according to the Abhidharma < [Class 4: The four formless absorptions]
Dhammapada (Illustrated) (by Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero)
Verse 111 - The Story of Khānu-Koṇḍañña < [Chapter 8 - Sahassa Vagga (Thousands)]
Verse 205 - The Story of Venerable Tissa < [Chapter 15 - Sukha Vagga (Happiness)]
Verse 87-89 - The Story of Five Hundred Visiting Monks < [Chapter 6 - Paṇḍita Vagga (The Wise)]
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 24 - The Eight Stages of Release, Vimokkha < [Chapter 40 - The Buddha Declared the Seven Factors of Non-Decline for Rulers]
Part 48 - The Buddha’s Parinibbāna < [Chapter 40 - The Buddha Declared the Seven Factors of Non-Decline for Rulers]
The Jhanas (by Henepola Gunaratana Mahāthera)
The Doctrinal Context of Jhāna < [Introduction]
The Immaterial Jhānas < [Chapter 3 - The Higher Jhānas]
The Buddha and His Teachings (by Narada Thera)