Animitta, Ānimitta: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Animitta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Animitt.
In Hinduism
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarAnimitta (अनिमित्त).—Not serving as a cause, not possessing a causal relation; e. g. संनिपातलक्षणे विधिरनिमित्तं तद्विघातस्य (saṃnipātalakṣaṇe vidhiranimittaṃ tadvighātasya) Par. Śek. Pari. 85. See also M. Bh. on I.1.39.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraĀnimitta (आनिमित्त, “signlessness”) or Ānimittasamādhi refers to a type of Samādhi, representing a set of “three concentrations” acquired by the Bodhisattvas, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter X.
a) Some say: Ānimitta has for its object the Dharma free of the following ten marks: a) the five dusts (rajas, namely, color, sound, smell, taste and touch); b) male and female; c) arising (utpāda), continuance (sthiti), cessation (bhaṅga).
b) Others say: All dharmas are free of marks (animitta). Not accepting them, not adhering to them is ānimitta-samādhi.
c) Furthermore: ānimitta-samādhi is suppressing all the marks of the Dharmas (sarvadharma-nimitta) and not paying attention to them (amanasikāra).
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAnimitta (अनिमित्त) refers to “(one whose body is) without distinguishing marks”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] The Bodhisattva Gaganagañja then sustained the jewel-canopy of ten thousand yojanas high over the Lord’s lion throne in the sky, joined the palms of his hands, saluted, and praised the Lord with these suitable verses: ‘[...] (7) When the whole assembly regard the body of the Victorious One, his form and distinguishing marks (rūpa-nimitta) appear as different (bhinna), though incomparable (atulya), and even not part of any particular group (asabhāga). Even though his body is changeless (nirvikāra), beyond thought-constructions (nirvikalpa), and without distinguishing marks (animitta), he gladdens the assemblies in accordance with their particular way of thinking and their intentions (yathācittāśaya)”.
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-samgrahaAnimitta (अनिमित्त, “signless”) or refers to one of the “three liberations” (vimokṣa) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 73). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., animitta). 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 dictionaryAnimitta (अनिमित्त).—a
1) , Causeless, groundless; casual, incidental; आलक्ष्यदन्तमुकुलाननिमित्तहासैः (ālakṣyadantamukulānanimittahāsaiḥ) Ś.7.17; °त्तं मित्रम् (ttaṃ mitram) disinterested, Daśakumāracarita 25; °उत्कण्ठा (utkaṇṭhā) M.3.9.
-ttam Absence of an adequate cause or occasion, causelessness, groundlessness.
2) A bad omen, ill-omen; चारुदत्तस्यैव दर्शनमनिमित्तं प्रमार्जयिष्यति (cārudattasyaiva darśanamanimittaṃ pramārjayiṣyati) Mṛcchakaṭika 6; ममानिमित्तानि हि खेदयन्ति (mamānimittāni hi khedayanti) 9.1; शमनार्थम् अनिमित्तस्य (śamanārtham animittasya) Ve.2.3.
3) Not a valid means of knowledge अनिमित्तं विद्यमानोपलम्भनात् (animittaṃ vidyamānopalambhanāt) MS.1.1.4. -adv.,
-°taḥ Groundlessly, causelessly, without any adequate cause; अनिमित्तमिन्दु- वदने किमत्रभवतः पराङ्मुखीभवसि (animittamindu- vadane kimatrabhavataḥ parāṅmukhībhavasi) M.1.18; अनातुरः स्वानि रवानि न स्पृशेदनिमित्ततः (anāturaḥ svāni ravāni na spṛśedanimittataḥ) Manusmṛti 4.144.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryĀnimitta (आनिमित्त).—adj. and subst. nt. (from Sanskrit animitta plus suffix -a), causeless(ness); usually parallel with śūnyatā and apraṇihita, qq.v.; as in the case of apra- ṇihita, it is often hard to be sure whether adj. or subst. is intended, but sometimes certainly the latter; sometimes preceded by śūnyatā in composition so that an- or ān- would be equally possible, see śūnyatā; clearly subst. nt. Daśabhūmikasūtra.g. 29(55).6 bhavate idam ānimittaṃ; Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 204.12 (nāpi) ānimittaṃ pravartate; 256.13 na ca…ānimittaṃ vā apraṇihitaṃ vā anabhisaṃskāro vā (and other noms. masc.)…lujyate; Bodhisattvabhūmi 317.3 dve ānimitte (the only noun which could be understood is vihāra, masc.); more or less clearly adj. Bodhisattvabhūmi 276.10 ānimittaḥ samādhiḥ (in 2 śūnyatā-samādhiḥ, 5 apraṇihitaḥ sa°); Kāśyapa Parivarta 125.3 śūnyatā ānimittā apraṇihitāś (all seemingly acc. pl.!) ca dharmāṃ śrutvā; other cases, Lalitavistara 428.9 ānimitta-viḥārī; Kāśyapa Parivarta 94.4 (prose) °tta (read °ttaṃ? probably subst.) cikitsā; Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 274.4 yogī ānimitta-pratiṣṭhitaḥ; Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 298.6 °tta-gatikā(ḥ) …sarvadharmās (compare parallel 5 śūnyatā-gatikā); Daśabhūmikasūtra.g. 29(55).14 °tta-varadaṃ; śūnyatam…ānimittaṃ (corr. °ttāṃ, which would make the form adj.) Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 16.13 (see s.v. adhimukta).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryAnimitta (अनिमित्त).—adj. having no motive, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 176. acc. ºtam, adv. without a cause, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 45. Atonimitta + m, i. e.
Animitta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms a and nimitta (निमित्त).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAnimitta (अनिमित्त).—[adjective] having no cause, motive, or design; [neuter] no cause etc., also = durnimitta; tas without reason.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Animitta (अनिमित्त):—[=a-nimitta] mf(ā)n. having no adequate occasion, causeless, groundless
2) [v.s. ...] n. absence of an adequate cause or occasion, groundlessness.
3) [from a-nimitta] n. a bad omen, [Mṛcchakaṭikā]
4) [v.s. ...] m. ([scilicet] vimokṣa) unconditioned salvation (with Buddhists one of the three kinds of s°), [Dharmasaṃgraha 73]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAnimitta (अनिमित्त):—I. [tatpurusha compound] n.
(-ttam) No cause, want of cause. E. a neg. and nimitta. Ii. [bahuvrihi compound] m. f. n.
(-ttaḥ-ttā-ttam) Having no cause or motive. (animittam from no cause, without a cause.) E. a priv. and nimitta.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryAnimitta (अनिमित्त) [Also spelled animitt]:—(a) without a cause, sudden.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAnimitta (ಅನಿಮಿತ್ತ):—[adjective] happening without reason or cause; accidental; fortuitous.
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)
Starts with: Animitta Ceto Vimutti, Animitta Sutta, Animitta Vimokkha, Animittagagana, Animittahasya, Animittakrodhi, Animittalinganasha, Animittalipi, Animittam, Animittanimitta, Animittanirakrita, Animittanirakriya, Animittanupassana, Animittasamadhi, Animittashoka, Animittatas, Animittavaira.
Ends with (+9): Abhinnanimitta, Abhyasanimitta, Adharmanimitta, Adhikaranimitta, Amtarikshanimitta, Animittanimitta, Anuktanimitta, Anyanimitta, Apathyanimitta, Asubhanimitta, Daivanimitta, Dharmanimitta, Jnapakanimitta, Kammanimitta, Karakanimitta, Lakshananimitta, Mahanimitta, Padanimitta, Patibhaganimitta, Pubbanimitta.
Full-text (+19): Animittalinganasha, Animittatas, Animittalipi, Animittam, Animittanirakrita, Signless, Unconditioned, Animittanirakriya, Apranihita, Animitt, Nimitta, Appanihita, Aryavihara, Vimokshamukha, Vibhavita, Anivarta, Nirvananagara, Apranidhi, Three Liberations, Vimoksha.
Relevant text
Search found 33 books and stories containing Animitta, Ānimitta, A-nimitta; (plurals include: Animittas, Ānimittas, nimittas). 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)
Mahāyāna auxiliaries (A): The four foundations of mindfulness < [Part 3 - The auxiliaries according to the Mahāyāna]
Bodhisattva quality 23: endowed with utmost patience < [Chapter XII - Unhindered Mind]
Bodhisattva quality 2: the three concentrations (samādhi) < [Chapter X - The Qualities of the Bodhisattvas]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.17.7 < [Chapter 17 - The Gopis Describe Their Remembrance of Sri Krsna]
A Manual of Abhidhamma (by Nārada Thera)
Nibbāna < [Chapter VI - Analysis of Matter]
Different Kind of Purity < [Chapter IX - Mental Culture]
Patthana Dhamma (by Htoo Naing)
Advice To Rāhula (by Nyanaponika Thera)
The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment (study) (by Dr Kala Acharya)
6. Nibbāna (Liberation) in Theravāda Buddhism (Introduction) < [Chapter 4 - Comparative Study of Liberation in Jainism and Buddhism]
2.8. Right Concentration (Sammā-samādhi or Samyak-samādhi) < [Chapter 3 - Seven Factors of Enlightenment and Noble Eightfold Path]
4.2.5. Faculty of Wisdom (Paññindriya or Prajñā) < [Chapter 2 - Five Groups of Factor]