Alatacakra, Alātacakra, Alata-cakra: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Alatacakra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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 Alatacakra.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Ālātacakra (आलातचक्र) or simply Ālāta refers to a “whirling firebrand” according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] (2) Above it is the Self—supported (svādhiṣṭhāna), (brilliant) as a whirling firebrand [i.e., ālātacakra-sannibha]. There, in the middle, is the one called the living being (jīva). One should think that it is as (nourishing) like nectar. [...] (Perfect) contemplation (samādhi) is with (these) sixteen aspects and is (attained) within the form of the sixfold deposition (ṣoḍhānyāsa). He who knows this is (a veritable) Lord of Yogis, the others (who do not) are (just) quoting from books. Once attained the plane that is Void and Non-void, the yogi is freed from bondage”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Alātacakra (अलातचक्र) refers to a “burning brand brandished in a circle” and represents one of the various types of upamāna (comparisons). Cf. Nirmāṇa, and the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XI).—The great Madhyamaka masters, Nāgārjuna, Deva, Candrakīrti, Śāntideva, explain the ten comparisons (upamāna) in detail: māyā, marīci, udakacandra and ambucandra, ākāśapuṣpa and khapuṣpa, pratiśrutkā, gandharvanagara, svapna, bimba and pratibimba, nirmāṇa, alātacakra, taimirika (a person suffering from ophthalmia).
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.
In Jainism
Jain philosophy
Alātacakra (अलातचक्र) refers to an “illusion of a circle generated by quickly revolving a fire-brand”, as occurring in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. I, P. 155, l. 22]—The Pāiya (Prakrit) equivalent of ‘alātacakra’ is ‘alāyacakka’. It occurs in Visesā (v. 2433). ‘Alātacakra’ means an illusion of a circle generated by quickly revolving a fire-brand (alāta).—Cf. Śrībhāṣya (p. 187).
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Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
alātacakra (अलातचक्र).—n S A circling firebrand; a wheel of fire. Ex. jaisēṃ a0 phirē || taisā hanumanta asurānta vāvarē ||
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Alātacakra (अलातचक्र).—nt. (= Sanskrit, [Boehtlingk] 7.310, wheel of fire, of a firebrand whirled in the air), used as symbol of some- thing transitory and illusory (so Pali °cakka, Critical Pali Dictionary); Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 9.3 (verse; separate alātacakra = °kraṃ from dhūmo); Mahāvyutpatti 2832; Mūla-madhyamaka-kārikā 173.3; as symbol of restless, unceasing motion, Lalitavistara 205.13 °kra-samārūḍhasya (lokasya), of per- sons living in the saṃsāra.
Alātacakra (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 旋火輪 [xuán huǒ lún]: “fire-wheel”.
2) 火聚 [huǒ jù]: “accumulated fires”.
3) 火輪 [huǒ lún]: “fire-wheel”.
Note: alātacakra can be alternatively written as: alāta-cakra.
2) Ālātacakra (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 旋火輪 [xuán huǒ lún]: “fire-wheel”.
Note: ālātacakra can be alternatively written as: ālāta-cakra.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Alātacakra (ಅಲಾತಚಕ್ರ):—[noun] the apparent circle formed by turning a fire brand fast.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Alata, Chakra, Cakra.
Starts with (+0): Alatacakraka, Alatacakravat.
Full-text (+0): Alata, Alatacakravat, Xuan huo lun, Alaya, Huo lun, Alayacakka, Huo ju, Taimirika, Akashapushpa, Shoshana, Jrimbhana, Hrim, Dravana, Kshobha.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Alatacakra, Alāta-cakra, Ālāta-cakra, Alata-cakra, Alāta-chakra, Ālāta-chakra, Alata-chakra, Alātacakra, Ālātacakra, Ālātachakra, Alatachakra, Alātachakra; (plurals include: Alatacakras, cakras, chakras, Alātacakras, Ālātacakras, Ālātachakras, Alatachakras, Alātachakras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.9.7 < [Chapter 9 - Brahmā’s Prayers]
Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 57 - Movements of the Planets (grahacāra) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Mahayana Buddhism and Early Advaita Vedanta (Study) (by Asokan N.)
Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari (by K. A. Subramania Iyer)
Verse 1.129 < [Book 1 - Brahma-kāṇḍa (or Āgama-samuccaya)]
Verse 3.3.39 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (3): Sambandha-samuddeśa (On Relation)]
Verse 3.8.7-8 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (8): Kriyā-samuddeśa (On Action)]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Sixth comparison or upamāna: A city of the Gandharvas < [Bodhisattva quality 19: the ten upamānas]
Introduction: the ten comparisons (upamāna) < [Bodhisattva quality 19: the ten upamānas]
Mahāyāna auxiliaries (D): The five faculties < [Part 3 - The auxiliaries according to the Mahāyāna]
Bhakti-rasayana by Madhusudana Sarasvati (by Lance Edward Nelson)
Notes for chapter 3 < [Chapter 3 - Bhakti and Advaita in the Bhagavata Purana]