Amanushya, Amanuṣya, Amānuṣya: 12 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Shaktism
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Amanushya 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 terms Amanuṣya and Amānuṣya can be transliterated into English as Amanusya or Amanushya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य) refers to “(a body which is) not that of a mortal man”, according to the Ṭīkā (commentary) on the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] Moreover, within what (should he be worshipped)? There itself, within Ātmatattva. If this is so, who (should do it)? Some wise man who has a ‘divine body’, that is, a body which is not that of a (mortal) man (amanuṣya) [amanuṣyaḥ śarīraḥ]. One who, by the teacher’s grace, is a part of the Lineage of the Eldest. That goddess Parāparā is the Vidyā. [...]”..

context information

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)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य) refers to a “non-human”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 41).—Accordingly, “[Digression on a case brought against the Buddha; B. The defense].—[6. Use of a Stone Bowl].—‘The Buddha forbade the Bhikṣus to use eight kinds of bowls (pātra)’.—[...] [Question].—What is this skillful means? [Answer].—Wishing to save people, the Buddha borrows the customs of humans. If he did not do this, people would take him for a non-human (amanuṣya) and would wonder why they follow his Dharma. Moreover, there are people who find salvation in generosity (dāna); out of respect for them, the Buddha accepts their offerings of food. Then these people say: ‘The food I offer contributes to sustaining the body of the Buddha’. Their mind becomes very joyful (mahāmuditā), and as a result of this joy, they welcome the Buddha’s words with faith. [...]”.

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य) refers to “non-humans”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [after Vairambhaka spoke to the Bhagavān], “Then, having heard this voice, all the Devas, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garuḍas, Kiṃnaras, Mahoragas, humans (manuṣya) and non-humans (amanuṣya) said, ‘Alas, alas, woe, woe, so bad that destroyers have arisen in the world’”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य).—a.

1) Not human, not manly.

2) Not frequented by man.

-ṣyaḥ 1 Not a man; नामनुष्ये भवत्यग्निः (nāmanuṣye bhavatyagniḥ) Rām.2.93.22.

2) A demon, fiend (= rakṣaḥpiśācādi Sk. on P.II.4.23).

-tā Unmanliness.

--- OR ---

Amānuṣya (अमानुष्य).—a. Not human, superhuman &c.

-°ṣyam Inhuman state; अमानुष्यं समापन्नान् दासकर्मण्यवस्थितान् (amānuṣyaṃ samāpannān dāsakarmaṇyavasthitān) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 5.16.113.

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

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य).—subst. m. and adj. (compare next and amā- nuṣa; as subst. = Pali amanussa; in Sanskrit only Lex. and Pāṇini 2.4.23), (1) subst. spirit, demon; Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 83.9; in lists of kinds of creatures, in [compound] Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 169.2 deva-nāga-yakṣa- gandharvāsura-garuḍa-kiṃnara-mahoraga-manuṣyāmanu- ṣyais; Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 69.5—6; same list as separate words Gaṇḍavyūha 141.24 devān…manuṣyān amanuṣyān; Mahāvastu ii.107.13, read with mss. anyā kiṃnarīṇāṃ gatiḥ, amanuṣyāṇām, different is the path of the k°, who are demons (or, as adj., super- human); amanuṣya-vyādhi, disease caused by a demon or spirit, Mahāvastu i.253.11 ff.; 284.6 ff.; 287.5; amanuṣya-upasarga (so probably read, as [compound], with one ms.), id., Mahāvastu i.287.17; °ṣyābhisṛṣṭa Bodhisattvabhūmi 63.6; (2) adj., superhuman: Mahāvastu ii.30.16 °ṣyāṇi ca gītavādyaśabdāni (so with mss.; Senart amānu°).

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

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य).—mfn.

(-ṣyaḥ-ṣyā-ṣyaṃ) Unmanly. E. a neg. manuṣya a man.

--- OR ---

Amānuṣya (अमानुष्य).—mfn.

(-ṣyaḥ-ṣyī-ṣyaṃ) Superhuman. E. a neg. mānuṣya human.

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

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य).—I. m. one who is not a man, [Rāmāyaṇa] 2, 93, 21. Ii. adj. deserted.

Amanuṣya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms a and manuṣya (मनुष्य).

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

1) Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य):—[=a-manuṣya] m. no man, any other being but a man, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Rāmāyaṇa ii, 93, 21] (nā-manuṣye, ‘only with men’)

2) [v.s. ...] a demon, [Pāṇini 2-4, 23.]

3) Amānuṣya (अमानुष्य):—[=a-mānuṣya] [from a-manuṣya] mfn. not human, [Mahābhārata xiv, 266.]

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

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य):—[a-manuṣya] (ṣyaḥ-ṣyā-ṣyaṃ) a. Unmanly.

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

Amanuṣya (अमनुष्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Amaṇussa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Amanushya 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 9 books and stories containing Amanushya, Amanuṣya, Amānuṣya, Amanusya, A-manushya, A-manuṣya, A-manusya, A-mānuṣya; (plurals include: Amanushyas, Amanuṣyas, Amānuṣyas, Amanusyas, manushyas, manuṣyas, manusyas, mānuṣyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Act 7.4: Description of celestial flowers (divypuṣpa) < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

Part 9 - Why is the Buddha called Puruṣadamyasārathi (puruṣa-damya-sārathi) < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]

Part 2 - Punishments for falsehood < [Section I.4 - Abstention from falsehood]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

Chapter 9 - The Dhāranīs

show preview

Chapter 2 - Amoghapaśa (i): Initiation ceremony < [Book 14 - Great Compassion Cycle]

Chapter 2b - Kyungpo Naljor Disciples (Iv): Sangs Rgyas Ston Pa < [Book 9 - Kodrakpa and Niguma]

Chapter 2b - Kyungpo Naljor disciples (iv): sangs rgyas ston pa < [Book 9 - Kodrakpa and Niguma]

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

11. Goddess Kṛtyā < [Chapter 4 - Female Deities and the Glorification of Women in the Atharvaveda]

show preview