Asamkhyeya, Asamkhyia, Asaṅkhyeya, Asaṃkhyeya: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Asamkhyeya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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 Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Asaṅkhyeya (असङ्ख्येय).—Calculated by rāśi and not by enumeration.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 101. 108-9.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Asaṃkhyeya (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.
Asaṃkhyeya (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)
A Sanskrit words interpreted as innumerable, and countless. See also kalpas.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
asaṅkhyēya (असंख्येय).—n Innumerable.
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
Asaṃkhyeya (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.
Asaṃkhyeya (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.
Asaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय).—mfn.
(-yaḥ-yā-yaṃ) Innumerable. E. a neg. saṃkhyeya to be counted.
Asaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय).—[adjective] innumerable.
1) 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]
Asaṅkhyeya (असङ्ख्येय):—[a-saṅkhyeya] (yaḥ-yā-yaṃ) a. Idem.
Asaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय):—(3. a + saṃ)
1) adj. unzählbar, unzählig [Nalopākhyāna 13, 31.] [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 1, 91.] Davon yatā f. Unzählbarkeit [Suśruta 2, 562, 1.] —
2) m. ein Beiname Śiva’s [Śivanāmasahasra] —
3) n. unzählbare Menge [Atharvavedasaṃhitā 10, 8, 24.] bei den Buddhisten eine best. ungeheure Zahl [BURN. Lot. de Lassen’s Anthologie b. l. 852. fgg.] [?Intr. 191. Lassen’s Indische Alterthumskunde I, 478, Nalopākhyāna 1. Kunde des Morgenlandes 4, 502.]
Asaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय):——
1) Adj. unzählbar , unzählig. —
2) n. — a) unzählbare Menge. — b) eine best. hohe Zahl (buddh.).
Asaṃkhyeya (असंख्येय) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Asaṃkhijja, Asaṃkhejjai.
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
Asaṃkhyēya (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, A.
Starts with: Asamkhyeyaguna, Asamkhyeyaka, Asamkhyeyakalpa, Asamkhyeyaparivarta, Asamkhyeyata, Asamkhyeyatara.
Full-text (+142): Asamkhyeyaguna, Asamkhyeyakalpa, Asamkhyeyata, A seng qi, Seng qi, San da a seng qi jie, San a seng qi jie, Asamkhya, Wu yang shu jie, Asamkhyeyaparivarta, A seng, Kalpa, A seng qi ye, San wu shu jie, Wu shu, Asamkhyaya, Asamkhijja, Asamkhejjai, Chu seng zhi, San zhi bai jie.
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Search found 26 books and stories containing Asamkhyeya, A-samkhyeya, A-saṃkhyeya, A-sankhyeya, A-saṅkhyeya, Asaṃkhyeya, Asaṃkhyēya, Asamkhyia, Asaṅkhyeya, Asankhyeya, Asaṅkhyēya; (plurals include: Asamkhyeyas, samkhyeyas, saṃkhyeyas, sankhyeyas, saṅkhyeyas, Asaṃkhyeyas, Asaṃkhyēyas, Asamkhyias, Asaṅkhyeyas, 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]
Part 15 - Leading innumerable Bodhisattvas to the state of avaivartika < [Chapter LI - Seeing all the Buddha Fields]
Taisho: Chinese Buddhist Canon
Chapter 15: Prophecy for a Thousand Youths < [Part 158 - Karunapundarika-sutra (unkown translator)]
Chapter 12: Prophecy for the Princes < [Part 158 - Karunapundarika-sutra (unkown translator)]
Chapter 17: The Miraculous Transformations of Relics in the Vows < [Part 158 - Karunapundarika-sutra (unkown translator)]
Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English) (by Hsuan Hua)
He praises himself as being equal to the Buddhas < [Chapter 3 - The Feeling Skandha]
Ananda gratefully praises the benefit he has received < [Chapter 7 - Ananda Gives Rise to Faith]
The Tathagata answers with five names < [Chapter 3 - The Names of the Sutra]
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
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Sutra of the Great Vow)
Chapter 4 - Karmic Retribution for Beings in Jambudvīpa < [Scroll 1]
Chapter 9 - In Praise of of the Buddha's Name < [Scroll 2]
Chapter 2 - The Division Bodies Gather < [Scroll 1]
Yoga-sutras (with Vyasa and Vachaspati Mishra) (by Rama Prasada)
Sūtra 4.24 < [Book 4 - Absolute Independence (Kaivalya)]