Avikalpa: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Avikalpa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Avikalp.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationAvikalpa (अविकल्प) [=avikalpaka?] refers to “one who is free from doubtful alternatives”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.44 (“Menā regains consciousness”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā said to Menā: “O Menā, you shall listen lovingly to my auspicious words whereby your evil inclination shall cease. Śiva is the creator, sustainer and annihilator of the universe. You do not know His real form. Wherefore do you then seek sorrow? The lord has several forms and names. He indulges in many kinds of divine sports. He is the lord of all and independent. He is the master of delusion and free from doubtful alternatives (avikalpaka). Realising this, O Menā, give your daughter to Śiva. Abandon your misplaced stubbornness. Your evil inclination is destructive of all affairs”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch1) Avikalpa (अविकल्प) refers to “one whose mind is free of thoughts”, according to the Vijñānabhairavatantra verse 115.—Accordingly, [while teaching contemplative techniques]: “Having stood above a great hole such as a well, an immediate absorption of the mind clearly and completely arises for [the Yogin] whose mind is free of thoughts (avikalpa-mati) because of gazing [into it]”.
2) Avikalpa (अविकल्प) refers to the “absence of thought”, according to Kṣemarāja’s Pratyabhijñāhṛdaya.—Accordingly, while discussing easy methods of Yoga practice: “[...] By apprehending the absence of thought (avikalpa) because there is no thinking at all, one becomes full of the perception of a knowing subject's own consciousness devoid of defects such as the body and so on, and one soon obtains immersion in the fourth [state] and that beyond the fourth [state], [an immersion] whose expansiveness is [always] opening out”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāAvikalpa (अविकल्प) refers to “false discrimination”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then, the Lord went on to speak these verses: ‘[...] (75) Having trained senses (indriya) and [attained] the tranquility of minds, they become perfected in peaceful meditation (śamatha) without any false discrimination (avikalpa). Having made living being’s minds tranquil, they are always concentrated on the strength of insight (prajñā). [...]’”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishavikalpa (अविकल्प).—a Unchangeable. Absence of option or alternative.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAvikalpa (अविकल्प).—a. Unchangeable.
-lpaḥ 1 Absence of doubt
2) Absence of option or alternative.
3) Positive act or precept.
-lpam ind. Without doubt, unhesitatingly.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAvikalpa (अविकल्प).—m.
(-lpaḥ) Positive act or precept, absence of doubt or alternative. E. a neg. vikalpa alternative.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Avikalpa (अविकल्प):—[=a-vikalpa] m. absence of alternative, positive precept
2) [v.s. ...] mfn. not distinguished or particularized, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] not deliberating long or hesitating, [Kathāsaritsāgara; Pañcatantra]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Avikalpa (अविकल्प):—[a-vikalpa] (lpaḥ) 1. m. Positive precept.
2) [(lpaḥ-lpā-lpaṃ) a.] Unchangeable.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Avikalpa (अविकल्प) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Avayappa.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryAvikalpa (अविकल्प) [Also spelled avikalp]:—(a) without an alternative; certain.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAvikalpa (ಅವಿಕಲ್ಪ):—[adjective] that is never changing or varying; unchangeable; immutable; that cannot be changed.
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Avikalpa (ಅವಿಕಲ್ಪ):—[adjective] he or that which is not liable to change.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Avikalpaka, Avikalpam, Avikalpaparamarsha.
Ends with (+30): Abhavavikalpa, Abhiniveshavikalpa, Adhyaropavikalpa, Akalpavikalpa, Analpavikalpa, Anekavikalpa, Anusmaranavikalpa, Apavadavikalpa, Apraptavikalpa, Arthavikalpa, Ashtavikalpa, Bhavavikalpa, Dandavikalpa, Dashavikalpa, Dravyavikalpa, Dvitvavikalpa, Ekatvavikalpa, Grathanavikalpa, Kalavikalpa, Kalpavikalpa.
Full-text: Avikalpam, Avikalp, Avikalpaka, Avayappa, Avikalpita, Vikalpita, Apprehending, Akalpa, Visabhaga, Kalpa, Vikalpa.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Avikalpa, A-vikalpa; (plurals include: Avikalpas, vikalpas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari (by K. A. Subramania Iyer)
Verse 2.18 < [Book 2 - Vākya-kāṇḍa]
Verse 3.3.54 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (3): Sambandha-samuddeśa (On Relation)]
Nyaya-Vaisheshika categories (Study) (by Diptimani Goswami)
Abhāva as a Separate Category < [Chapter 7 - Abhāva (Non-existence)]
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 19 - The great Siddha Orgyanpa Rinchenpal < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
A comparative study between Buddhism and Nyaya (by Roberta Pamio)
4. Kinds of Perception according to Naiyāyikas < [Chapter 4 - The Nyāya Theory of Perception]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 1 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 2 - The philosophical situation (a review) < [Chapter X - The Śaṅkara School Of Vedānta]
Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya) (by George Thibaut)