Agradharma, Agra-dharma: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Agradharma 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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Agradharma in Mahayana glossary
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Agradharma (अग्रधर्म) refers to the “(rain of the) highest dharma”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “[...] After that, by those magically conjured-up beings, during seven days, the women were brought to maturity, in the way that they attained the stage of not falling back from the supreme and perfect awakening. Then the five hundred widows, having come to the Bodhisatva Gaganagañja, uttered these verses: ‘[...] (121) We will produce the thought of the highest awakening, and take care of all living beings. Just as you poured down the magnificent on living beings, we will pour down the rain of the highest dharma (agradharma-varṣa)’ [...]”.

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

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Agradharma in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Agradharma (अग्रधर्म):—[=agra-dharma] [from agra] m. high spiritual state, [Divyāvadāna]

context information

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.

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See also (Relevant definitions)

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