Asamkhyeya, Asamkhyia, Asaṃkhyeya: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Asamkhyeya 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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraAsaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय) refers to “incalculable (doctrine)”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 2).—Accordingly, [...] In this stanza, the Buddha does not say that it is the generous person who will obtain joy, or the person with knowledge, morality, patience, energy, dhyāna, or wisdom. The Buddha is speaking only of the faithful. His intention is the following: My supreme profound doctrine is subtle, immense, incalculable (asaṃkhyeya), inconceivable, immoveable, without support, without attachment and without perceived object. But it is not true that the omniscient one (sarvajñā) is unable to explain it. That is why, in the Buddha’s doctrine, the power of faith is primordial. It is by faith that one enters into it and not by generosity, discipline, patience, energy, dhyāna or wisdom.
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAsaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय) refers to “innumerable (aeons)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly as The Lord said: “O Śāriputra, from innumerable aeons ago (asaṃkhyeya-kalpa), the Bodhisatvas in the Mahāvyūha universe have been in accordance with the [perfection of] giving as adorned with generosity, have been completely pure in understanding as adorned with morality, have been without hostile thoughts towards any living beings as adorned with tolerance, have accumulated all qualities of the Buddha as adorned with vigour, [...]”.
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: Buddhist Door: GlossaryA Sanskrit words interpreted as innumerable, and countless. See also kalpas.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAsaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय).—a. Innumerable.
-yaḥ 1 An epithet of Śiva.
2) An epithet of Viṣṇu; V. Sahas.
-yam An exceedingly large number. असंख्येयं स्वमस्मिन् निविष्टम् (asaṃkhyeyaṃ svamasmin niviṣṭam) Av.1.8.24.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryAsaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय).—(1) adj. (= Sanskrit id., Pali asaṃkheyya), innumerable. In Pali (see Childers s.v. kappo) as an adj. applied to kappa (see [Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit] kalpa), denotes a world-age of a certain extent; in some definitions at least, of a length intermediate between a mahā- and an antara-k°. Acc. to La Vallée Poussin, AbhidhK iii.188, asaṃkhyeya kalpa means here le temps que durent un nombre asaṃkhyeya (10 à la 59me puissance) de mahākalpas. I have not noted the Pali usage in the texts excerpted by me (but see Przyluski, Açoka, 408). Typical of their use of this adjective with kalpa is Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 17.8 asaṃkhyeyaiḥ kalpair asaṃkhyeyatarair vipulair aprameyair acintyair etc., in which asaṃkhyeya has its normal Sanskrit meaning of innumerable; (2) nt., a very high number: Mahāvyutpatti 7802; 7932 (cited from Gaṇḍavyūha); Gaṇḍavyūha 106.20; 134.5; Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 316.7; Sukhāvatīvyūha 31.2; Divyāvadāna 245.11 tribhir asaṃkhyeyair; 246.2; 254.3.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAsaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय).—mfn.
(-yaḥ-yā-yaṃ) Innumerable. E. a neg. saṃkhyeya to be counted.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAsaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय).—[adjective] innumerable.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Asaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय):—[=a-saṃkhyeya] [from a-saṃkhya] mfn. innumerable, [Mahābhārata; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] m. a Name of Śiva, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] n. an innumerable multitude, [Atharva-veda x, 8, 24]
4) [v.s. ...] m. an exceedingly large number, [Buddhist literature]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Asaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Asaṃkhijja, Asaṃkhejjai.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAsaṃkhyēya (ಅಸಂಖ್ಯೇಯ):—[adjective] = ಅಸಂಖ್ಯ [asamkhya].
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: Sankhyeya, Samkhyeya, A.
Starts with: Asamkhyeyaguna, Asamkhyeyaka, Asamkhyeyakalpa, Asamkhyeyaparivarta, Asamkhyeyata.
Ends with: Samkhyatasamkhyeya, Upasamkhyeya.
Full-text (+38): Asamkhyeyaguna, Asamkhya, Kalpa, Asamkhyeyata, Asankhyeya, Asamkhejjai, Asamkhijja, Asamkhyaya, Gandharvakanya, Mahaneru, Mahasudassana, Mucalinda, Angira, Cetiya, Neru, Panada, Vara, Bharata, Mahapatapa, Mahamucala.
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Search found 13 books and stories containing Asamkhyeya, Asamkhyia, Asaṃkhyeya, A-samkhyeya, A-saṃkhyeya, Asaṃkhyēya, Asankhyeya, Asaṅkhyēya; (plurals include: Asamkhyeyas, Asamkhyias, Asaṃkhyeyas, samkhyeyas, saṃkhyeyas, Asaṃkhyēyas, Asankhyeyas, Asaṅkhyēyas). 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)
2. Actions producing the thirty-two marks (dvātriṃśallakṣaṇa) < [Part 4 - The Bodhisattva in the Abhidharma system]
Part 5 - The Bodhisattva in the Mahāyāna system < [Chapter VIII - The Bodhisattvas]
Act 2: The Buddha smiles a second time with all the pores of his skin < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva fundamental vow sutra (by Johnny Yu)
Chapter 9 - Chanting the Buddhas' Names
Chapter 2 - The Assembly of Innumerable Emanations of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
Chapter 1 - Display of Divine Power in the Palace of the Trayastrimsas Heaven
The Sutra of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva
Chapter IX - The Names of Buddhas
Chapter II - The Division Bodies Gather
Vimalakīrti Sutra (by John R. McRae)
Chapter XIV - Bestowal < [Fascicle Three]
Chapter XIII - Dharma Offering < [Fascicle Three]
Chapter VI - Inconceivable < [Fascicle Two]
Sūtra of the Great Vow of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva
Chapter 9 - In Praise of of the Buddha's Name < [Scroll 2]
Chapter 2 - The Division Bodies Gather < [Scroll 1]
Chapter 4 - Karmic Retribution for Beings in Jambudvīpa < [Scroll 1]
A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms (by Fa-Hien)