Atuma, aka: Ātuma, Ātumā; 3 Definition(s)

Introduction

Atuma 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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

1. Atuma Thera: The son of a setthi in Savatthi. When he grew up his mother proposed to find him a wife, but on account of his upanissaya, he left the world and was ordained. His mother tried to entice him back but he declared his great determination and, developing insight, became an arahant (Thag.v.72; ThagA.i.160). In Vipassis time he had been a householder and had made offering to Vipassi of perfumed water and fragrant powder. Thirty one kappas ago he was a king named Sugandha. Atuma is probably identical with Gandhodakiya Thera of the Apadana. Ap.i.157-8.

2. Atuma: A town that lay between Kusinara and Savatthi. Once the Buddha, with a large company of bhikkhus, visited the town. At that time there dwelt in it a monk who had been ordained late in life (a buddhapabbajita, identified by Buddhaghosa (DA.ii.599) with the buddhapabbajita Subhadda) and had formerly been a barber. He had two sons, handsome, elegant and well versed in the barbers art. When the monk heard of the Buddhas coming, he sent his sons from house to house to collect salt and oil and rice and meal. The young men, using all their powers of persuasion, collected a large quantity of each of these things, and when the Buddha arrived in Atuma and went to stay in the Bhusagara, they made ready rice gruel and offered it to him. The Buddha, however, would not accept it as the monk, who had had the food collected, had been guilty of an unlawful act in that one monk had begged for others.

It was on this occasion that it was declared to be a dukkata offence for a monk, who had formerly been a barber, to carry about with him a barbers equipment (Vin.i.249-50).

In the Maha Parinibbana Sutta (D.ii.131-2) the Buddha tells Pukkusa of another occasion on which he was staying in the Bhusagara in Atuma. There was a thunderstorm and two peasants (brothers) and four oxen were struck by lightning. A large number of people having gathered at the place, one of them asked the Buddha if he were aware of the accident. But the Buddha had been in a state of concentration and had neither seen nor heard anything of it. Such was the state of calm of his mind.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Ātumā (आतुमा) in Pali and Ādumā in Sanskrit is the name of an ancient country according to the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra (Pali, Mahāparinibbāna-sutta), as mentioned in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 36.—Accordingly, “it is said in a sūtra that the Buddha was in the land of A-t’eou-mo (Ātumā or Ādumā), seated in meditation under a tree. Suddenly there was a heavy rainstorm with lightning and thunder. Four cowherds (gopālaka) and two workmen (kārṣaka) were so frightened by the noise that they died. A few moments later, calm returned and the Buddha went out to walk”.

context information

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

Pali-English dictionary

ātuma : (m.) see atta.

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.

Relevant definitions

Search found 14 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:

Relevant text