Ashtashmashana, Ashtan-shmashana, Aṣṭaśmaśāna: 1 definition

Introduction:

Ashtashmashana 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 Aṣṭaśmaśāna can be transliterated into English as Astasmasana or Ashtashmashana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of Heroes

Aṣṭaśmaśāna (अष्टश्मशान) refers to the “eight charnel grounds”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—

The Eight Charnel Grounds (aṣṭaśmaśāna) are defined while describing the Merit Circle (guṇacakra):

  1. Caṇḍogra,
  2. Gahvara,
  3. Jvālākula, and
  4. Karaṅka,
  5. Aṭṭaṭṭahāsa (northeast),
  6. Lakṣmīvana (southeast),
  7. Ghorāndhakāra (southwest),
  8. Kilikilārava (northwest).
Tibetan Buddhism book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of ashtashmashana or astasmasana in the context of Tibetan Buddhism from relevant books on Exotic India

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