Akanishtha, Akaniṣṭha: 12 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

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

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan 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.

context information

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.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

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.

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

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

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English 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.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

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.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ).—m.

(-ṣṭhaḥ) A deified saint according to the Bauddhas. mfn.

(-ṣṭhaḥ-ṣṭhā-ṣṭhaṃ) Elder, superior. E. a priv. and kaniṣṭha youngest.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ).—[adjective] [plural] having no youngest (brother), equal in age or strength.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

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.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English Dictionary

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.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Akaniṣṭha (अकनिष्ठ):—[a-kaniṣṭha] (ṣṭhaḥ) 1. m. An elder.

[Sanskrit to German]

Akanishtha in German

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.

Relevant text

Search found 19 books and stories containing Akanishtha, Akaniṣṭha, Akanistha, A-kanishtha, A-kaniṣṭha, A-kanistha; (plurals include: Akanishthas, Akaniṣṭhas, Akanisthas, kanishthas, kaniṣṭhas, kanisthas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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.]

Appendix 1 - The canonical definition of ṛddhividhi-jñāna < [Chapter XLIII - The Pursuit of the Six superknowledges]

+ 9 more chapters / show preview

Verse 3551 < [Chapter 26 - Examination of the ‘Person of Super-normal Vision’]

show preview

Verse 2.10.95 < [Chapter 10 - Conclusion of the Lord’s Mahā-prakāśa Pastimes]

Verse 1.7.43 < [Chapter 7 - Śrī Viśvarūpa Takes Sannyāsa]

show preview

Chapter 12 - Seeing Aksobhya Buddha

show preview

Glossary