Asanga, aka: Āsaṅga, Asaṅga; 10 Definition(s)

Introduction

Asanga means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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

1) Asaṅga (असङ्ग).—The son of Yuyudhāna.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 45. 23.

2) Āsaṅga (आसङ्ग).—The son of Śvaphalka and Gāndini.^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 16.

(Source): Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

context information

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

General definition (in Buddhism)

Brother of Vasubandhu. Originally trained as a Hinayanist, but converted his brother Vasubandha to become Mahayanist. They both established the Yogacara School of Buddhism.(Source): Buddhist Door: Glossary

The Buddhist who established the Yogcara School of Buddhism. He is considered the author of Mahayanasamgraha, Abhidharmasamuccaya and a commentary on the Samdhinirmocana.

(Source): Buddhism Tourism: Glossary of Buddhist Terms

Asaṅga (असङ्ग).—According to Tibetan sources, Asaṅga (965-900 BCE) and Vasubandhu (963-883 BCE) were half-brothers from Puruṣapura of Gāndhāra Janapada and born 900 years after Buddha nirvana. Asaṅga’s father was a Kśatriya whereas Vasubandhu’s father was a Brāhmaṇa. Prasannaśīlā was the mother of Asaṅga and Vasubandhu. Professor J. Takakusu published “The Life of Vasubandhu by Paramārtha” in the year 1904. It is a translation from a Chinese manuscript. It states that a Kauśika Brāhmaṇa family of Puruṣapura (Peshawar) had three sons, Asaṅga, Vasubandhu and Viriñchivatsa. Asaṅga studied Hīnayāna texts from Arhat Pindola and also studied Mahāyāna texts. Hiuen Tsang mentions that Asaṅga initially followed Mahishasaka sect of Buddhism but later he became Mahayanist.

(Source): academia.edu: The Chronological History of Buddhism

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Asanga (असन्ग) is the Prakrit name of a Yakṣa chief, obiedient to Vaiśramaṇa (god of wealth, also known as Kubera), according to the Bhagavatī-sūtra, also known as The Vyākhyāprajñapti (“Exposition of Explanations”). The Bhagavatī-sūtra is the largest of twelve Jain āgamas and was composed by Sudharmāsvāmī in the 6th century.

(Source): Wisdom Library: Jainism

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

asaṅga : (m.) non-attachment.

(Source): BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

Asaṅga, (adj.) (a + saṅga) not sticking to anything, free from attachment, unattached Th. 2, 396 (°mānasa, = anāsattacitta ThA. 259); Miln. 343. Cp. next. (Page 87)

— or —

Āsaṅga, (ā + saṅga fr. sañj to hang on, cp. Sk. āsaṅga & āsakti) — 1. adhering, clinging to, attachment, pursuit J. IV, 11.—2. that which hangs on (the body), clothing, garment, dress; adj. dressed or clothed in (-°); usually in cpd. uttarāsaṅga a loose (hanging) outer robe e.g. Vin. I, 289; S. IV, 290; PvA. 73; VvÁ 33 (suddh°), 51 (id.). (Page 114)

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

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

asaṅga (असंग).—a (S) Lone, solitary, wanting a companion. 2 That is not to be associated with. Pr. asaṅgāsīṃ saṅga prāṇāsīṃ gāṇṭha.

--- OR ---

asaṅga (असंग).—m (S) Absence or nonness of companionship.

(Source): DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

asaṅga (असंग).—a Lone; that is not to be associa- ted with. m Absence of companion- ship.

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

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-English dictionary

Āsaṅga (आसङ्ग).—a. Uninterrupted, perpetual. [-gaḥ]

1) Attachment, devotion (to any object) (to enjoy or protect it); सुख° लुब्धः (sukha° lubdhaḥ) K.173; U.3; चेतः स्वर्गतरङ्गिणीतटभुवामासङ्ग- मङ्गीकुरु (cetaḥ svargataraṅgiṇītaṭabhuvāmāsaṅga- maṅgīkuru) Bh.3.6.

2) Intentness, close application.

3) Contact, adherence, clinging; (paṅkajam) सशैवलासङ्गमपि प्रकाशते (saśaivalāsaṅgamapi prakāśate) Ku.5.9;3.46; व्रततिवलयासङ्गसंजातपाशः (vratativalayāsaṅgasaṃjātapāśaḥ) Ś.1.33; Mu.1.14; अनासङ्गः (anāsaṅgaḥ) absence of consolation; Māl.2.

4) Association, connection, union; त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गम् (tyaktvā karmaphalāsaṅgam) Bg.4.2; so कान्तासङ्ग (kāntāsaṅga) &c.

5) Fixing, fastening to.

6) Pride about the authorship of a thing (kartṛtvābhimāna),

7) That which is fastened; cf. उत्तरासङ्ग (uttarāsaṅga).

8) Waylaying (?).

-ṅgam A kind of fragrant earth (saurāṣṭramṛttikā).

-ṅgam ind. Without interruption, eternally.

(Source): DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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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Search found 21 books and stories containing Asanga, Āsaṅga or Asaṅga. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)

Chapter 2 - Country of ’O-yu-t’o (Ayodhya) < [Book V - Six Countries]

Chapter 5 - Country of Kiao-shang-mi (Kaushambi) < [Book V - Six Countries]

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The gods of northern Buddhism (by Alice Getty)

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Part II - The Teaching < [Introduction]

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Bodhisattvacharyavatara (by Andreas Kretschmar)

Text Section 242 < [Khenpo Chöga’s Oral Explanations]

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Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)

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Buddhist Meditation (by Samdhong Rinpoche)

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