Akarma, Akarman: 16 definitions

Introduction:

Akarma means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Akarm.

In Hinduism

Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)

Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)

Akarma (अकर्म) refers to “inactivity”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “[...] The words of the Lord to Arjuna were also to this effect—‘Therefore go on with your work, for activity is better than inactivity (akarma). If you are wanting in activity, you will hardly be able to secure wherewith to keep your body and soul together’”.

Arts book cover
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This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Akarma (अकर्म) 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 Akarma).

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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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.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: SOAS Research Online: Prekṣā meditation: History and Methods

Akarma (अकर्म) or “karma-less” refers to one of the 46 qualities of the soul to be meditated on in the “Practice of Meditation on Liberated Souls (Siddhas)”, according to Jain texts like Ācārāṅga (5.6.123-140), Ṣaṭkhaṇḍāgama (13.5.4.31) and Samayasāra (1.49).—The pure soul can be recognised by meditation on its true nature, represented by the liberated souls of the Siddhas. The practice which leads to this realisation is meditation on the fact that attachment, aversion, passions and the influx of karmas, are ‘not mine’, that I am separate from them and consist of infinite knowledge, perception, conduct, spiritual energy, that I am the pure, enlightened, and everlasting soul. The qualities of the soul to be meditated on as truly mine are: [e.g., My soul is karma-less (akarma)] [...] The meditation on such extended fourty-five qualities of the pure soul presents the niśacaya-naya, which is aligned with Kundakunda’s approach.

General definition book cover
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Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

akarma (अकर्म).—n (S) A bad action; a sin, crime, or fault. Ex. sakaḷa akarmēṃ ṭākōna || sanmārgēñci varttāvēṃ ||

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

akarma (अकर्म).—n A bad action, sin. akarmī-kukarmī a Wicked.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Akarman (अकर्मन्).—a. [na. ba]

1) Without work, idle; inefficient.

2) Disqualified for performing the necessary rites, wicked, degraded; अकर्मा दस्युरभि नो (akarmā dasyurabhi no) Ṛgveda 1.22.8.

3) (Gram.) intransitive, generally in this sense अकर्मक (akarmaka). --n. (rma) [न (na). त (ta)]

1) Absence of work; absence of necessary observances; neglect of essential observances; inaction; अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः (akarmaṇaśca boddhavyaṃ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 4.17,18.

2) An improper act; crime, sin.

3) Not doing (= akaraṇam), nonperformance; प्रतिषेधादकर्म (pratiṣedhādakarma) MS.1.8.1.

4) What should not be done; अकर्म वा कृतदूषा स्यात् (akarma vā kṛtadūṣā syāt) | MS.12.1.1 (where śabara explains akarma by na vā kartavyā dārśikī vediḥ |).

5) Non-act, non-activity: अन्यद्धि कर्म भक्षणं प्रतिषिध्यमानम् अन्यद् अकर्म मानसः संकल्पः (anyaddhi karma bhakṣaṇaṃ pratiṣidhyamānam anyad akarma mānasaḥ saṃkalpaḥ) | ŚB. on MS.6.2.19.

6) Not doing, violation. तदकर्मणि च दोषः (tadakarmaṇi ca doṣaḥ) MS.6.3.3. (where tadakarmaṇi is explained as pradhānātikrame by śabara); अकर्मणि चाप्रत्यवायात् (akarmaṇi cāpratyavāyāt) | MS 6.3.1.

7) A wrong act, an improper act. अकर्म च दारक्रिया या आधानोत्तरकाले (akarma ca dārakriyā yā ādhānottarakāle) | ŚB. on MS.6.8.14; अकर्म चोर्ध्वमाधानात्° (akarma cordhvamādhānāt°) | MS.6.8.14.

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

Akarman (अकर्मन्).—1. [neuter] inactivity.

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Akarman (अकर्मन्).—2. [adjective] inactive, lazy.

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

1) Akarman (अकर्मन्):—[=a-karman] mfn. not working

2) [v.s. ...] not performing good works, wicked, [Ṛg-veda x, 2 2, 8]

3) [v.s. ...] inefficient

4) [v.s. ...] (in [grammar]) intransitive

5) [v.s. ...] n. absence of work

6) [v.s. ...] observances

7) [v.s. ...] improper work, crime.

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

Akarman (अकर्मन्):—I. [bahuvrihi compound] m. f. n.

(-rmā-rmā-rma) 1) Without work, idle, unoccupied.

2) Unfit to work, inefficient.

3) Degraded, no longer performing essential rites.

4) (In grammar.) Having no direct object, intransitive (as a verb). See akarmaka, E. a priv. and karman. Ii. [tatpurusha compound] n.

(-rma) 1) Absence of occupation.

2) Loss or neglect of essential observances.

3) Improper act, crime, offence. E. a neg. and karman.

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

Akarman (अकर्मन्):—[a-karman] (mā-ma) a. Idle, unoccupied.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Akarman (अकर्मन्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Akamma, Akammaga.

[Sanskrit to German]

Akarma 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.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Akarma (अकर्म) [Also spelled akarm]:—(nm) inactivity, inertia.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Akarma (ಅಕರ್ಮ):—[adjective] = ಅಕರ್ತವ್ಯ [akartavya]1.

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Akarma (ಅಕರ್ಮ):—[adjective] = ಅಕರ್ತವ್ಯ [akartavya]2; 2) an idle man.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Akarma (अकर्म):—n. 1. bad act; wicked act; 2. unnecessary/useless act; 3. absence of karma; inaction;

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Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

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