Anavaragrashunyata, Anavarāgraśūnyatā, Anavaragra-shunyata: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Anavaragrashunyata means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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 Anavarāgraśūnyatā can be transliterated into English as Anavaragrasunyata or Anavaragrashunyata, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraAnavarāgraśūnyatā (अनवराग्रशून्यता) (or Anagraśūnyatā) or simply Anavarāgra refers to the “emptiness of dharmas without end or beginning”, representing one of the sixteen or eighteen emptinesses (śūnyatā), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLVIII. Accordingly, “what is the emptiness of dharmas without end or beginning (anavarāgraśūnyatā)? The Dharma whose beginning or end are not perceived has neither going nor coming. And yet a dharma without end or beginning is empty of this absence of end and beginning because it is neither eternal nor transitory. Why? Because such is its essence. That is called: emptiness of dharmas without end or beginning (anavarāgra-śūnyatā)”.
Emptiness of dharmas without beginning (anagraśūnyatā).—The world (loka, saṃsāra), whether it is beings (sattva) or things (dharma), has no beginning (agra). The present birth (ihajanma) exists as result of a previous existence (pūrvajanman); the previous existence, in turn, exists as a result of a preceding existence, and so on. Therefore there is no beginning for beings; and it is the same for dharmas.
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-samgrahaAnavarāgraśūnyatā (अनवराग्रशून्यता) or simply anavarāgra refers to “emptiness of the extremes” one of the “twenty emptinesses” (śūnyatā) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 41). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., anavarāgra). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shunyata, Anavaragra.
Full-text: Anagrashunyata, Anavaragra, Shunyata, Shodashashunyata.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Anavaragrashunyata, Anavarāgraśūnyatā, Anavaragra-shunyata, Anavarāgra-śūnyatā, Anavaragra-sunyata, Anavaragrasunyata; (plurals include: Anavaragrashunyatas, Anavarāgraśūnyatās, shunyatas, śūnyatās, sunyatas, Anavaragrasunyatas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
IV. The emptinesses (śūnyatā) in the great Prajñāpāramitā-sūtras < [Note on emptiness (śūnyatā)]
Emptiness 10: Emptiness of dharmas without beginning (anagraśūnyatā) < [Chapter XLVIII - The Eighteen Emptinesses]
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Chapter XXII - On Pure Actions (b) < [Section Four]