Introduction

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Anuttara (अनुत्तर) or “without superior”, is a synonym for the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter IV).

Why is he called A neou to lo (Anuttara)?

1) Nirvāṇa is the highest dharma. The Buddha alone knows this nirvāṇa; he has not learned it from another. Besides, he guides beings and leads them to nirvāṇa. Just as nirvāṇa is without superior among all the dharmas, so the Buddha is without superior among beings.

2) Furthermore, no-one is his equal and, a fortiori, surpasses him in discipline (śīla), samādhi and wisdom (prajñā). This is why he is called Anuttara.

3) Furthermore, A indicates negation and uttara means refutation. All the systems of the heretics (tīrthika) can be refuted and destroyed because they are false (asatya) and impure (aviśudda). But the doctrine of the Buddha cannot be either refuted or destroyed because it escapes any discussion; it is true (satya) and pure (viśuddha). This is why he is called Anuttara.

According to the Visuddhimagga:—“There is no-one better endowed with qualities than him; no-one surpasses him”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Google Books: Jaina Iconography

Anuttara (अनुत्तर).—One of the five heavens of the upper world (ūrdhvaloka);—The five Anuttaras (according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara) are:

1. Vijaya in the east,
2. Vaijayanta in the south,
3. Jayanta in the west,
4. Aparājita in the north,
5. Sarvarthasiddhi in the centre.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Anuttara (अनुत्तर) and Anuttara are the name of two heavens in Jainism, according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism. Accordingly, in the sermon of Sūri Dharmaghoṣa:—“[...] Dharma is the highest happiness. Dharma bestows heaven and emancipation. Dharma shows the road for crossing the wilderness of saṃsāra. [...] From dharma one attains Ahamindraship in the Graiveyaka and Anuttara heavens. [...]”.

In these two heavens [viz., Graiveyaka and Anuttara], the highest, the gods have no distinction of rank, and all are called ‘Ahamindras’. Cf. Bṛhatsaṅgrahanī 3, p. 4b. Die Kosmographie der Inder p. 302.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 4: The celestial beings (deva)

Anuttara (अनुत्तर) is one of the three subclasses of kalpātītas (born beyond heaven), itself a division of empyrean celestial beings (vaimānika) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.19. The living beings residing in the vimānas are called the empyrean gods (vaimānika) and represents one of the four classes of Devas.

There are five anuttaras, namely:

1. Vijaya,
2. Vaijayanta,
3. Jayanta,
4. Aparājita,
5. Sarvārtha-siddhi

Which thought-colourations are there in Graivaiyaka, Anudiśa and Anuttara gods? They have pure white thought-colouration. What is the life span of deities in the five-Anuttara? The five anuttara heavens are layered heavens above Nava-anudiśā where deities reside. The life span in these heavens is thirty three sāgaropama.

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Anuttara.—(EI 18), penance. Note: anuttara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

anuttara : (adj.) incomparable; unsurpassed.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Anuttara, (adj.) (an + uttara) “nothing higher”, without a superior, incomparable, second to none, unsurpassed, excellent, preeminent Sn.234 (= adhikassa kassaci abhāvato KhA 193), 1003; Dh.23, 55 (= asadisa appaṭibhāga DhA.I, 423); Pv IV.3^{5 2} (dhamma); Dhs.1294; DA.I, 129; PvA.1, 5, 6, 18, etc. (Page 36)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

anuttara (अनुत्तर).—a (S) Unable to answer. 2 S Chief, principal, best, excelled or surpassed by none, haud ulli secundus.

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anuttara (अनुत्तर).—n (S) Want or absence of an answer; or a defective, inapplicable, irrelevant answer. Pr. anuttaraṃ utaraṃ or pop. anuttaraṃ mēva uttaraṃ. 2 In law. Any answer not includible within the four kinds prescribed. See uttara. 3 Failure or non-performance of an engagement. Ex. sadarahu lihilyāpramāṇēṃ karīna hyāsa a0 karaṇāra nāhīṃ.

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

anuttara (अनुत्तर).—a Unable to answer.

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Anuttara (अनुत्तर).—a. [nāsti uttaro yasmāt]

1) Principal, chief.

2) Best, excellent; अनुत्तराणि विलसितानि (anuttarāṇi vilasitāni) Dk.162 unsurpassed. शरीरसौख्यार्थमनुत्तरस्य निपेततुर्मूर्धनि तस्य सौम्ये (śarīrasaukhyārthamanuttarasya nipetaturmūrdhani tasya saumye) | Bu. ch.1.35.

3) [nāsti uttaraṃ yasya] Without a reply, silent, unable to answer; भवत्यवज्ञा च भवत्यनुत्तरात् (bhavatyavajñā ca bhavatyanuttarāt) Naiṣadha.

4) Fixed, firm (na uttarati calati). अर्थ्यं तथ्यं हितं वाक्यं लघुयुक्तमनुत्तरम् (arthyaṃ tathyaṃ hitaṃ vākyaṃ laghuyuktamanuttaram) Mb.2.2.5.

5) Low, inferior, base, mean.

6) Southern.

-ram [na. ta.] No reply, a reply which, being evasive, is considered to be no reply.

-rāḥ (pl.) A class of gods among Jainas (°upapātika).

-upapātikadaśāḥ f. Title of the ninth aṅga of the Jainas treating of those gods.

-rā The south. ...अनुत्तरः । नोदीच्यां नोपरि श्रेष्ठे (anuttaraḥ | nodīcyāṃ nopari śreṣṭhe)... ()| Nm.

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

Anuttara (अनुत्तर).—adj. (= Pali id.; compare sottara; Sanskrit in this sense only Lex., replaced by anuttama, which has had its ending assimilated to superlatives owing to the meaning of the word), having no superior, highest, supreme: Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 266.13, of cittāni; Gaṇḍavyūha 244.7 °rāṃ tathāgatavarṇaviśud- dhiṃ; Lalitavistara 24.13 °ra-parivāraṃ (kulaṃ); 85.2 anuttaro bhaviṣyāmi sarvasattvānām; Divyāvadāna 144.5 anuttare-manuṣ- yadharme (see s.v. uttari-, end); especially epithet of samyak- saṃbodhi, Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 100.3; Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 293.10; Vajracchedikā 24.2; Lalitavistara 183.17; Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 148.3 etc., etc., extremely common (see under abhisaṃbudhyate); m. as epithet of a Buddha, Mahāvyutpatti 9; as name of a samādhi, Kāraṇḍavvūha 52.3; f. with ellipsis of samyak- saṃbodhi (see above), Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 216.8 (prose) °rāṃ samyak- saṃbuddhaḥ samāno, being enlightened unto supreme (enlightenment); normally the noun samyaksaṃbodhiṃ follows anuttarāṃ in this common phrase; has it dropped out by haplography? (WT same text).

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

Anuttara (अनुत्तर).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) 1. Chief, principal. 2. Best, excellent. 3. Unable to answer, silent. 4. Fixed, firm. 5. Low, inferior. 6. South, southern. n.

(-raṃ) A reply which is incoherent or evasive, and is therfore held to be no answer. E. an neg. and uttara subsequent, &c.

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

1) Anuttara (अनुत्तर):—[=an-uttara] mfn. chief, principal

2) [v.s. ...] best, excellent

3) [v.s. ...] without a reply, unable to answer, silent

4) [v.s. ...] fixed, firm

5) [v.s. ...] low, inferior, base

6) [v.s. ...] south, southern

7) [v.s. ...] n. a reply which is coherent or evasive and therefore held to be no answer

8) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] a class of gods among the Jainas.

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

Anuttara (अनुत्तर):—I. [tatpurusha compound] 1. m. f. n.

(-raḥ-rā-ram) 1) Low, nether.

2) South, southern.

3) Low, inferior, vile. 2. n.

(-ram) 1) No-answer.

2) A bad or evasive reply and held therefore to be no-answer (e. g. of the defendant, in a law-suit). E. a neg. and uttara. Ii. [bahuvrihi compound] 1. m. f. n.

(-raḥ-rā-ram) 1) Best, excellent, supreme, chief, principal (literally: than which there is no higher or better).

2) Fixed, firm.

3) Unable to answer or to give a proper answer. 2. m. pl.

(-rāḥ) In Jaina mythology, one of the two divisions (see also graiveyaka) of the gods called kalpātīta (q. v.) which are one of the two divisions (see also kalpabhava) of the gods called vaimānika (q. v.); the anuttarāḥ comprise five classes. See vijaya, vaijayanta, jayanta, aparājita and sarvārthasiddhi. See also anuttaropapātika. E. a priv. and uttara.

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

Anuttara (अनुत्तर):—[(raḥ-rā-raṃ) a.] Chief. n. An evasive answer or reply.

[Sanskrit to German] (Deutsch Wörterbuch)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Böhtlingk and Roth Grosses Petersburger Wörterbuch

Anuttara (अनुत्तर):—(3. a + uttara)

1) adj. a) der untere [Amarakoṣa 3, 4, 192.] — b) südlich ibid. — c) niedrig, schlecht ibid. — d) fest (sthira) [DHARAṆĪ im Śabdakalpadruma] — e) ohne Höheres, der vorzüglichste [Amarakoṣa] [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 327.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1438.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 4, 234.] [Medinīkoṣa Rāmāyaṇa 243.] — f) ohne Antwort bleibend, der Antwort nicht werth, = niruttara [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] = pratijalpavivarjita [Medinīkoṣa] = avācya [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa] = yadvada [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 347.] —

2) m. pl. eine Klasse von Göttern, eine Unterabtheilung der Kalpātīta [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 94.] —

3) n. das Nichtantworten: bhavatyavajñā ca bhavatyanuttarāt [Naiṣadhacarita im Śabdakalpadruma]

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Anuttara (अनुत्तर):—

1) f) keine Antwort habend so v. a. wogegen man Nichts erwiedern kann: vākya [Mahābhārata 2, 25.] so v. a. nicht antwortend, Nichts zu erwiedern habend [3, 17241.] kṣaṇamāsīdanuttaraḥ [Kathāsaritsāgara 26, 189.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Sanskrit-Wörterbuch in kürzerer Fassung

Anuttara (अनुत्तर):—1. —

1) *Adj. — a) der untere. — b) südlich. — c) niedrig , schlecht. —

2) n. das Nichtantworten.

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Anuttara (अनुत्तर):—2. —

1) Adj. — a) *ohne Höheres , der vorzüglichste. — b) *fest. — c) keine Antwort gebend. — d) wogegen man Nichts erwiedern kann. —

2) *m. Pl. eine best. Klasse von Göttern bei den Jaina.

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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