Agrayana, Agra-yana, Āgrayaṇa, Āgrāyaṇa, Agrayaṇa, Agrayāna: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Agrayana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaĀgrāyaṇa (आग्रायण).—The fourth son of the Agni, Bhānu. (Śloka 13, Chapter 221, Vana Parva, Mahābhārata).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexĀgrayaṇa (आग्रयण).—A Pitṛ ritual; offering of śyāmāka and sugar;1 the first soma libation at the agniṣṭoma sacrifice.2

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarĀgrāyaṇa (आग्रायण).—An ancient scholar of Nirukta quoted by Yāska cf. अक्षि अष्टेः । अनक्तेरिति आग्रायणः (akṣi aṣṭeḥ | anakteriti āgrāyaṇaḥ) Nir. I.9.

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Sacred Texts: The Grihya Sutras, Part 2 (SBE30)Āgrayaṇa (आग्रयण) refers to one of the seven Haviḥsaṃsthās or Haviryajñas (groups of seven sacrifices).—Hārīta says: “Let a man offer the Pākayajñas always, always also the Haviryajñas, and the Somayajñas (Soma sacrifices), according to rule, if he wishes for eternal merit”.—The object of these sacrifices [viz., Āgrayaṇa] is eternal happiness, and hence they have to be performed during life at certain seasons, without any special occasion (nimitta), and without any special object (kāma). According to most authorities, however, they have to be performed during thirty years only. After that the Agnihotra only has to be kept up.
Source: Shodhganga: Vaikhanasa Grhyasutra Bhasya (Critical Edition and Study)Āgrayana (आग्रयन) refers to the ritual of “offering fresh cooked rice got from fresh wild rice to Gods” and represents one of the various rituals mentioned in the Vaikhānasagṛhyasūtra (viz., vaikhānasa-gṛhya-sūtra) which belongs to the Taittirīya school of the Black Yajurveda (kṛṣṇayajurveda).—The original Gṛhyasūtra of Vaikhanāsa consists of eleven chapters or “praśnas”. Each praśna is subdivided into sub-divisions called “khaṇḍa”. But only the first seven chapters deal with actual Gṛhyasūtra section. Āgrayana is one of the seven pākayajñas.

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts1) Āgrāyaṇa (आग्रायण) or Āgrāyaṇotsava (lit. “the harvest festival”) is the name of a festival discussed in the twenty-fifth chapter of the Aniruddhasaṃhitā, an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama text dealing with the annual festivals of temples and regular temple worship routines.—Description of the chapter [jayantīkṛttikotsavavidhi]: In addition to the thread-garland festival of the preceding chapter, four other festivals must without fail also be celebrated annually in order to insure the success and validity of all other, regular offerings—namely, Kṛṣṇa’s birthday [jayantyutsava], the lamp festival [kṛttikotsava], a harvest festival [āgrāyaṇa-utsava] and a cycle of recitations from the Vedas [adhyayanotsava] (1-4 ). Particulars of jayantyutsava (5-27) and of kṛttikotsava (28-49) are given.
2) Āgrayaṇa (आग्रयण) or Āgrayaṇotsava is the name of ceremony listed under festivals (utsava) and observances (vratas), as discussed in chapter 8 of the Viṣṇutilakasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 3500 Sanskrit verses covering the typically “agamic” subjects which are being narrated by Brahmā to a number of sages.—[Cf. chapter 8]: Brahmā speaks to the other sages and says he will now relate what the Lord told him about utsava-festivals. An utsava-occasion is always preceded by a flag-raising ceremony of dhvajārohaṇa. Then follows miscellaneous listing of a number of other utsavas and vratas: [e.g., āgrayaṇa-utsava (278-282)] [...]

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAgrayāna (अग्रयान) refers to the “highest vehicle”, 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: ‘(119) The nature of the dharma is empty, just as an illusion, and we did not know the essence of the dharma before. But you gave magically conjured-up husbands to us, thereby we were matured in the highest vehicle (agrayāna)’ [...]”.

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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryĀgrayaṇa.—(EI 7), the first Soma libation at the agniṣṭoma sacrifice; oblation consisting of first-fruits at the end of the rainy season. Note: āgrayaṇa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryĀgrayaṇa (आग्रयण).—[agre ayanaṃ śasyāderyena karmaṇā pṛṣo° hrasvadīrghavyatyayaḥ]
1) The first Soma libation at the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice.
2) A form of Agni.
3) The time of the sacrifice.
4) See आग्रयणी (āgrayaṇī); नवाग्रयणपूजाभिरभ्यर्च्य पितृदेवताः (navāgrayaṇapūjābhirabhyarcya pitṛdevatāḥ) Rām.3.16.6; Bhāgavata 1.2.4.
-ṇakam, -ṇī 1 An oblation consisting of first fruits; see आग्रयणम् (āgrayaṇam).
-ṇam An oblation consisting of first fruits at the end of the rainy season (āśvinī pūrṇimā); आग्रयणं त्रिविधं श्यामाक°, व्रीहि°, यव°, यथापूर्वं वर्षासु शरदि वसन्ते च तत्करणोपदेशात् (āgrayaṇaṃ trividhaṃ śyāmāka°, vrīhi°, yava°, yathāpūrvaṃ varṣāsu śaradi vasante ca tatkaraṇopadeśāt) Ārya. S.; आग्रयणेनेष्ट्वा नवान्नं प्राश्नीयात् (āgrayaṇeneṣṭvā navānnaṃ prāśnīyāt) Ait. Br.; आग्रयणं व्रीहिश्यामा- कयवानाम् (āgrayaṇaṃ vrīhiśyāmā- kayavānām) Āśval.
Derivable forms: āgrayaṇaḥ (आग्रयणः).
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Agrayaṇa (अग्रयण).—[agram ayanāt uttarāyaṇāt ṇatvaṃ śakaṃ° tadvidhānakālo'sya ac (?) Tv.] a kind of sacrificial ceremony. See आग्रयण (āgrayaṇa).
Derivable forms: agrayaṇam (अग्रयणम्).
Agrayaṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms agra and yaṇa (यण).
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Agrayāna (अग्रयान).—a. [agre yānaṃ yasya, yā-lyuṭ] taking the lead, foremost.
-nam an army that stops in front to defy the enemy. मनोऽग्रयानं वचसा निरुक्तं नमामहे (mano'grayānaṃ vacasā niruktaṃ namāmahe) Bhāgavata 8.5.26.
Agrayāna is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms agra and yāna (यान).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryAgrayāna (अग्रयान).—(1) best vehicle, = mahāyāna: Vajracchedikā 30.6; also °nin, see -yānin; (2) name of a Bodhisattva: Gaṇḍavyūha 442.11.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAgrayāna (अग्रयान).—n.
(-naṃ) Advancing before an army, for the purpose of defiance; military ardor or daring. E. agra and yāna going.
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Āgrāyaṇa (आग्रायण).—n.
(-ṇaṃ) A sacrifice offered when the new rice or wheat ripens. E. agra chief, ayana coming, aṇ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀgrayaṇa (आग्रयण).— (from agra). I. n. Offering of new grain, Mahābhārata 3, 14188, and in the vedic literature; in the classic books it is spelled āgrāyaṇa, e. g. [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 22, 6; [Yājñavalkya, (ed. Stenzler.)] 1, 25; [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 6, 10, Lois. Ii. m. A name of Agni.
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Āgrāyaṇa (आग्रायण).—see āgrayaṇa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀgrayaṇa (आग्रयण).—[masculine] firstling (a cert. Soma-libation); [feminine] ī & [neuter] oblation of firstlings or firstfruits.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Āgrayaṇa (आग्रयण) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—śr. Paris. (D 154 b).
2) Āgrāyaṇa (आग्रायण):—grammarian. Quoted by Yāska 1, 9. 6, 13. 10, 8.
3) Āgrayaṇa (आग्रयण):—śr. Cs. 414 (inc.). L. 4032.
—Hiraṇyak. by Gopīnātha. [Bhau Dāji Memorial] 56.
1) Agrayāna (अग्रयान):—[=agra-yāna] [from agra] n. stepping in front to defy the enemy.
2) [v.s. ...] the first vehicle, [Buddhist literature]
3) Āgrayaṇa (आग्रयण):—[from āgrabhojanika] m. ([from] agra), the first Soma libation at the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice (See graha), [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Taittirīya-saṃhitā] etc.
4) [v.s. ...] a form of Agni, [Mahābhārata iii, 14188 seqq.]
5) [from āgrabhojanika] n. oblation consisting of first-fruits at the end of the rainy season, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa] etc., [Manu-smṛti vi, 10, etc.]
6) Āgrāyaṇa (आग्रायण):—[from āgrabhojanika] 1. āgrāyaṇa m. ([gana] naḍādi q.v.) ‘descendant of Agra’, Name of a grammarian, [Nirukta, by Yāska]
7) [v.s. ...] of a Dārbhāyaṇa, [Pāṇini 4-2, 102.]
8) [v.s. ...] 2. āgrāyaṇa n. ([Pāṇini 5-4, 36] [commentator or commentary]) = āgrayaṇa n. above, [Kāṭhaka; Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra]
9) [v.s. ...] ([varia lectio] for āgray, [Rāmāyaṇa; Yājñavalkya i, 125, etc.])
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAgrayāna (अग्रयान):—[tatpurusha compound] n.
(-nam) Advancing before an army, for the purpose of defiance. E. agra and yāna.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Agrayāna (अग्रयान):—[agra-yāna] (naṃ) 1. n. Going before the army to defy or attack.
2) Āgrāyaṇa (आग्रायण):—[ā-grāyaṇa] (ṇaṃ) 1. n. Sacrifice on the ripening of corn or rice.
[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)
Partial matches: Yana, Agra, A, Agrayana, Te.
Starts with: Agrayanagra, Agrayanahautra, Agrayanaka, Agrayanapaddhati, Agrayanapaddhvati, Agrayanapatra, Agrayanaprayoga, Agrayanasthali, Agrayanasutra, Agrayaneshti, Agrayanotsava.
Full-text (+4): Agrayaneshti, Yavagrayana, Svagrayana, Agrayanapatra, Vrihyagrayana, Agrayanagra, Agrayanasthali, Agrayanasutra, Agrayanapaddhati, Agrayanaprayoga, Darbhayana, Agrayani, Shravanakarmadi, Yanin, Darbhi, Mahayana, Akkirayanam, Haviryajna, Yana, Agrayanotsava.
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Search found 35 books and stories containing Agrayana, A-grayana, Ā-grāyaṇa, Agra-yana, Agra-yaṇa, Agra-yāna, Āgrayaṇa, Āgrāyaṇa, Agrayaṇa, Agrayāna, The agrayana; (plurals include: Agrayanas, grayanas, grāyaṇas, yanas, yaṇas, yānas, Āgrayaṇas, Āgrāyaṇas, Agrayaṇas, Agrayānas, The agrayanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 6.10 < [Section III - Details of the Hermit’s Life]
Verse 4.26 < [Section VI - The Harvest-Sacrifice]
Verse 4.10 < [Section II - Means of Subsistence]
Mundaka Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary (by S. Sitarama Sastri)
Verse 1.2.3 < [Mundaka I, Khanda II]
Mandukya Upanishad (by Kenneth Jaques)
Verse 90 < [Chapter 4]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section CCXX < [Markandeya-Samasya Parva]
The Agnistoma Somayaga in the Shukla Yajurveda (by Madan Haloi)
Part 1.1: Forms (Saṃsthās) of Somayāga (Introduction) < [Chapter 3 - The Somayāga]
Part 5.5: Third Soma pressing (tṛtīya-savana) < [Chapter 4 - The Agniṣṭoma Ritual]
Part 5.2: Morning Soma pressing (prātaḥsavana) < [Chapter 4 - The Agniṣṭoma Ritual]
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