Avikara, Avikārā, Avikāra: 16 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Shaktism
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Hindi
3. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Avikara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Avikar.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: The Matsya-purāṇa

Avikārā (अविकारा) is the name of a mind-born ‘divine mother’ (mātṛ), created for the purpose of drinking the blood of the Andhaka demons, according to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.8. The Andhaka demons spawned out of every drop of blood spilled from the original Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon). According to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.35, “Most terrible they (e.g., Avikārā) all drank the blood of those Andhakas and become exceedingly satiated.”

The Matsyapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 20,000 metrical verses, dating from the 1st-millennium BCE. The narrator is Matsya, one of the ten major avatars of Viṣṇu.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Avikāra (अविकार) refers to “one who is unchanging (and without aberration)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.25 (“The seven celestial sages test Pārvatī”).—Accordingly, as Pārvatī said to the seven Sages: “[...] Śiva is Brahman, unchanging and without aberration [i.e., avikāra]. He assumes shapes and forms for the welfare of his devotees. He does not make a show of worldly lordship. Therefore he assumes the attitude and behaviour of great Yogins. Śiva is a supreme bliss personified and an Avadhūta in form. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Avikārā (अविकारा).—A mindborn mother.^*

* Matsya-purāṇa 179. 26.

context information

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Avikara (अविकर) means “whole”, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “Śaṃkara (was made) whole (avikara) by the gaze of the goddess that fell (on him). Satisfied by supreme bliss, Hara also abandoned his own Liṅga and there arose the form of Sadyojāta, that is, the One-faced Bhairava”.

2) Avikāra (अविकार) refers to the “unchanging reality”, according to the Kularatnoddyota verse 10.22-26.—Accordingly, “I will explain the unchanging (reality) [i.e., avikāra], Śākta, Śāmbhava and Āṇava. The purpose of Śāmbhava is liberation. Śākta bestows accomplishments (siddhi). Āṇava is on the paths of worldly benefits (bhoga). The ‘unchanging’ is considered to be (thus) threefold. Once know the unity (of these three), which is like space, (one realises) the unchanging and (ever) equal womb (bhaga)”.

Source: Kamakoti Mandali: Nrisimha matrika-mandala

Avikārā (अविकारा) refers to one of the various Mātṛkā-Śaktis created by Rudra in order to destroy the clones that spawned from Andhaka’s body.—Accordingly, [...] Andhakāsura attempted to abduct Girājanandinī (Pārvatī) and thus ensued a fierce battle between Andhakāsura and the great Rudra, the Lord of Umā. Like raktabīja, every drop of blood that fell from the body of Andhaka created another Asura like him and in no time, the entire world was filled with Andhakas. To destroy the growing number of Andhakas, Rudra created innumerable Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Avikārā]. These Śaktis of immense power at once began to drink every drop of blood that flowed from the body of Andhaka, but they could still not effectively contain the emergence of more and more demons.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Avikāra (अविकार) refers to “(that which is) changeless ”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then, in order to clarify this point further, the Lord went on to speak these verses: ‘(53) This body (kāya) is just as a reflection, grass, tree, and wall, and thought (citta) is formless and invisible like as illusion (māyā). This dharma is like open space, since having no particular basis. Thus body is changeless (avikāra) and mind has no anger (apratighāta)’”.

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

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Avikāra (अविकार).—a. Immutable, unchangeable.

-raḥ Immutability.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Avikāra (अविकार).—m., name of a samādhi: Mahāvyutpatti 575; Śatasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 1413.17; 1421.8.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Avikāra (अविकार).—mfn.

(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Immutable, permanent. E. a neg. vikāra change.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Avikāra (अविकार).—[adjective] not changing; [masculine] no change.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Avikāra (अविकार):—[=a-vikāra] m. non-change of form or nature, non-alteration, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā-prātiśākhya; Gautama-dharma-śāstra; Jaimini]

2) [v.s. ...] a [particular] Samādhi, [Buddhist literature]

3) [v.s. ...] mfn. unchangeable, immutable, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā-prātiśākhya]

4) [v.s. ...] ([gana] cārvādi q.v.)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Avikāra (अविकार):—[a-vikāra] (raḥ-rā-raṃ) a. Immutable.

2) (raṃ) 1. n. Immutability.

[Sanskrit to German]

Avikara in German

context information

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 dictionary

Avikāra (अविकार) [Also spelled avikar]:—(a) immutable, not liable to change/mutation; invariable.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Avikāra (ಅವಿಕಾರ):—[adjective] never changing or varying; unchangeable; immutable.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 14 books and stories containing Avikara, A-vikara, A-vikāra, Avikārā, Avikāra; (plurals include: Avikaras, vikaras, vikāras, Avikārās, Avikāras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 1 - Definition of mahā in mahāprajñāpāramitā < [Chapter XXX - The Characteristics of Prajñā]

Part 2 - The true nature of dharmas < [Chapter XXIX - The Virtue of Wisdom]

3. Characteristics and emptiness of self nature (svabhāvaśūnyatā) < [Part 4 - Understanding identical and multiple natures]

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Verse 2.18.172-174 < [Chapter 18 - Mahāprabhu’s Dancing as a Gopī]

Chapter 87 - Suppression of delusion (muni-moha-śamana) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]

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Part 6 - Topics of Vallabha Vedānta as explained by Vallabha’s followers < [Chapter XXXI - The Philosophy of Vallabha]