Adho: 3 definitions

Introduction:

Adho means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Adho (“nadir”) represents one of the “two directions above and below” (paṭidisā in Pali), itself part of the “ten directions” (diś in Sanskrit or disā in Pali) according to an appendix included in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV). Adho or heṭṭhimā is a Pali word and is known in Sanskrit as Adhas or Adhastāt or Heṣṭhimā (?), in Tibetan as ḥog and in Chinese as hia.

Mahayana book cover
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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

adho : (ind.) under; below.

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

Adho, (adv.) (Vedic adhaḥ; compar. adharaḥ = Lat. inferus, Goth. undar, E. under, Ind. * n̊dher-; superl. adhamaḥ = Lat. infimus) below, usually combd. or contrasted with uddhaṃ “above” and tiriyaṃ “across”, describing the 3 dimensions. — uddhaṃ and adho above and below, marking zenith & nadir. Thus with uddhaṃ and the 4 bearings (disā) and intermediate points (anudisā) at S.I, 122; III, 124; A.IV, 167; with uddhaṃ & tiriyaṃ at Sn.150, 537, 1055, 1068. Expld. at KhA 248 by heṭṭhā and in detail (dogmatically & speculatively) at Nd2 155. For further ref. see uddhaṃ. The compn. form of adho before vowels is adh°.

Pali book cover
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.

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