Alternative spellings of this word include Avanchana.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Avañcana (अवञ्चन) refers to the “non-deceptive (dharma)”, according to  the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 46.—Accordingly, “Among all the dharmas, it is by far the foremost and the most noble. It helps everyone. It finds the true nature of dharmas and of the non-deceptive Dharma (avañcana-dharma). It has great loving-kindness and great compassion. It holds omniscience, the physical mark of golden color, the supreme miracles of the thirty-two major marks and the eighty minor marks, the immense—morality, concentration, wisdom, liberation, knowledge and vision of liberation—,the three knowledges, the unhindered [knowledges], and the unhindered penetration into all dharmas.”.

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

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

Avañcana, (adj.) (a + vañcana from vañc) not (even) tottering, i.e. unfit for any motion (esp. walking), said of crippled feet J. I, 214 = Cp III, 9¹⁰. (Page 82)

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Vancana, A.

Starts with: Avancanadharma, Avancanata.

Ends with: Atmavancana, Hadayavancana, Idhmapravancana, Kalavancana, Pavamcana, Pravancana, Shilavancana, Supavancana, Upavancana.

Full-text: Vancanata, Vancana.

Relevant text

No search results for Avancana, A-vancana, A-vañcana, Avañcana; (plurals include: Avancanas, vancanas, vañcanas, Avañcanas) in any book or story.