Akanishtha, Akaniṣṭha: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Akanishtha 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 Akaniṣṭha can be transliterated into English as Akanistha or Akanishtha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ) is part of the group of Gods inhabiting the fourth dhyāna of the Rūpadhātu (or Brahmaloka): the second of the three worlds, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 32-34. The gods of the form realm (rūpadhātu), having fallen from the pure abodes (śuddhāvāsa), will again conceive sensual desire and will abide in the impure spheres.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
1) Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ) is the name of a Tathāgata (Buddha) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Akaniṣṭha).
2) Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ) also refers to a group of deities (from the similarly-named heaven) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ह्ठ) is the name of a “paradise” (bhuvana), according to the Guru-maṇḍala-arcana [i.e., “Guru Mandala Worship]” ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “A small Hūṃ in the heart, a small Hūṃ seal of light, sparkling together, Abiding in Akaniṣṭha paradise (bhuvana), fully accomplished, existing from eternity, Thrice sacred Cakrasaṃvara, attract her equally near to (one’s) navel”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ) refers to the “highest” and represents one of the eighteen “gods of the form-realms” (rūpāvacaradeva) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 128). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., akaniṣṭha). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ).—a. Not the youngest (such as eldest, middle); elder, superior.
-ṣṭhaḥ Name of Buddha Gautama; of a deified Buddhist saint (pl. in this latter sense.) cf. बहूनि शत- सहस्राणि यावदकनिष्ठानां संनिपतितान्यभूवन् (bahūni śata- sahasrāṇi yāvadakaniṣṭhānāṃ saṃnipatitānyabhūvan) | Lv.
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ).—(= Pali akaniṭṭha; see also aghaniṣṭha), (1) name of the fifth and highest class of the Śuddhāvāsakāyika gods (see deva), and (2) sg., name of the region where they live (Bodhisattvabhūmi 61.4 yāvad akaniṣṭhād; but more normally yavad akaniṣṭhabhavanam, Divyāvadāna 162.16, or the like). They dwell brahmaloke Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 359.1. Often mentioned alone as the highest of the ‘form’ (rūpāvacara) gods, as also in the lists of classes of gods: Mahāvyutpatti 3106; Dharmasaṃgraha 128; Lalitavistara 47.1; 150.11; 227.2; 266.8; 342.18; Mahāvastu i.266.3, 7; ii.314.3, 9; 319.7; 349.2; iii.139.3; Divyāvadāna 68.17; 367.14; Avadāna-śataka. i.5.4; ii.105.11; Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 6.16; (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 19.10; 69.7; Bodhisattvabhūmi 69.19; 360.26; Sukhāvatīvyūha 64.11. Sometimes in sg. of a single member of the class, Lalitavistara 44.13.
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ).—m.
(-ṣṭhaḥ) A deified saint according to the Bauddhas. mfn.
(-ṣṭhaḥ-ṣṭhā-ṣṭhaṃ) Elder, superior. E. a priv. and kaniṣṭha youngest.
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ).—[adjective] [plural] having no youngest (brother), equal in age or strength.
1) Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ):—[=a-kaniṣṭha] m. [plural] of whom none is the youngest (id est. younger than the others), [Ṛg-veda]
2) [v.s. ...] a class of Buddhist deities.
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ):—[tatpurusha compound] I. m. f. n.
(-ṣṭhaḥ-ṣṭhā-ṣṭham) Not the youngest. Ii. m.
(-ṣṭhaḥ) A deified saint according to the Bauddhas. E. a neg. and kaniṣṭha.
Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ):—[a-kaniṣṭha] (ṣṭhaḥ) 1. m. An elder.
[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: Kanishtha, A.
Starts with: Akanishthabhuvana, Akanishthacakravartin, Akanishthaga, Akanishtham, Akanishthapa, Akanishthavartini.
Full-text (+56): Akanishthaga, Akanishthapa, Se jiu jing tian, Akanishtham, You ding tian, A jia ni zha, A jia ni se zha, Akanishthabhuvana, You ding, Amadhyama, Er zha, Akanishthacakravartin, A jia se zha, Ajyeshtha, A jia ni zha tian, Se ding, Yi shan tian, Se jiu jing, Wu xiao tian, A jia se.
Relevant text
Search found 29 books and stories containing Akanishtha, A-kanishtha, A-kaniṣṭha, A-kanistha, Akanishthas, Akaniṣṭha, Akanistha; (plurals include: Akanishthas, kanishthas, kaniṣṭhas, kanisthas, Akanishthases, Akaniṣṭhas, Akanisthas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
Text 1.2 (Commentary) < [Chapter 1 (text and commentary)]
Commentary 3.3: The Recognition of (appropriate) Times and Teachers < [Chapter 15 (Text and Commentary)]
Text 1.1 (Commentary) < [Chapter 1 (text and commentary)]
Vimalakirti Sutra (by Burton Watson)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 10 - Looking in the manner of the elephant, etc. < [Chapter LI - Seeing all the Buddha Fields]
III. The procession to bodhi < [Part 10 - Looking in the manner of the elephant, etc.]
2. First dhyāna < [Part 3 - Definition of the various dhyānas and samāpattis]
Sanskrit Words In Southeast Asian Languages (by Satya Vrat Shastri)
Page 675 < [Sanskrit words in the Southeast Asian Languages]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
Part 2 - Guide to Swayambhu Stupa < [A Buddhist Guide to the Power Places of the Kathmandu Valley]
Lankavatara Sutra (by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki)