Ashtamahabodhisattva, Aṣṭamahābodhisattva, Ashta-mahabodhisattva: 1 definition
Introduction:
Ashtamahabodhisattva means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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.
The Sanskrit term Aṣṭamahābodhisattva can be transliterated into English as Astamahabodhisattva or Ashtamahabodhisattva, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, Deities and other Spiritual beingsAṣṭamahābodhisattva (अष्टमहाबोधिसत्त्व) refers to the “eight great Bodhisattvas” representing the “main Bodhisattvas in the retinue of Buddha Śākyamuni” and forms part of the “Forty-two Peaceful Deities” (Tibetan: zhi ba'i lha zhe gnyis) according to various sources such as the Guhyagarbha Tantra and the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
The eight great Bodhisattvas (aṣṭamahābodhisattva) are:
- Mañjuśrī (Tibetan: 'jam dpal dbyang) and consort Gandhā,
- Avalokiteśvara (Tibetan: spyan ras gzigs or spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug) and consort Nṛtyā,
- Vajrapāṇi (Tibetan: phyag na rdo rje) and consort Gītā,
- Maitreya (Tibetan: byams pa'i mgon po) and consort Dhūpā,
- Kṣitigarbha (Tibetan: sa yi snying po or sa'i snying po) and consort Lāsyā,
- Ākāśagarbha (Tibetan: nam mkha'i snying po) and consort Mālā,
- Nivaraṇaviśkambhin or Sarvanivaraṇaviśkambhin (Tibetan: sgrib pa thams cad rnam par sel ba) and consort Puṣpā,
- Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Tibetan: kun tu bzang po) and consort Ālokā.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ashta, Mahabodhisattva.
Full-text: Mahabodhisattva, Ashtabodhisattva, Mahopaputra, Upaputra, Ashtamahopaputra.
Relevant text
No search results for Ashtamahabodhisattva, Ashta-mahabodhisattva, Aṣṭa-mahābodhisattva, Asta-mahabodhisattva, Aṣṭamahābodhisattva, Astamahabodhisattva; (plurals include: Ashtamahabodhisattvas, mahabodhisattvas, mahābodhisattvas, Aṣṭamahābodhisattvas, Astamahabodhisattvas) in any book or story.