Ashtapurusha, Aṣṭapuruṣa, Ashta-purusha: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Ashtapurusha 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.
The Sanskrit term Aṣṭapuruṣa can be transliterated into English as Astapurusa or Ashtapurusha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraAṣṭapuruṣa (अष्टपुरुष) or Aṣṭapudgala or Puruṣapudgala refers to “eight groups of individuals”, as mentioned in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 36.
The eight groups of individuals are:
- Prathamaphalapratipannaka, (candidate for the first fruit of the religious life).
- Srotaāpanna.
- Dvitīyaphalapratipannaka, (candidate for the second fruit).
- Sakṛdāgamin.
- Tṛtīyaphalapratipannaka, (candidate for the third fruit).
- Anāgamin.
- Arhattvaphalapratipannaka, (candidate for the fruit of Arhat).
- Arhat.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryAṣṭapuruṣa (अष्टपुरुष):—[=aṣṭa-puruṣa] [from aṣṭa > aṣṭan] (aṣṭa-) mfn. consisting of eight persons, [Taittirīya-āraṇyaka]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Purusha, Ashta.
Full-text: Purushapudgala, Ashtapudgala.
Relevant text
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