Alternative spellings of this word include Bhumichala.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Bhūmicala (भूमिचल) or Pṛthivīcala refers to the “six tremblings of the earth”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV).—What are these six tremblings of the earth (bhūmicala)? The trembling of the earth is lesser (avara), medium (madhya) and greater (agra). In the lesser trembling of the earth, there are two movements: the east rises and the west sinks; or else the south rises and the north sinks; or else the edges rise and the center sinks. In the medium trembling, there are four movements: in the east, in the west, in the south and in the north; or again in the east, the west, the edges and the center; or again in the south, the north, the edges and the center. In the greater trembling, all six movements appear.

Thus the Buddha said to Ānanda: “there are eight causes and eight conditions for a great (agra) trembling of the earth (bhūmicala)”.

Moreover, some talk about four kinds of trembling of the earth (bhūmicala):

1. trembling of fire (agnicala),
2. trembling of the dragon (nāgacala),
3. trembling of the golden garuḍa (garuḍacala),
4. trembling of the king of the gods (devendracala).

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

Bhūmicala (भूमिचल).—an earthquake; दशग्रीवः समाधूतो यथा भूमिचलेऽचलः (daśagrīvaḥ samādhūto yathā bhūmicale'calaḥ) Rām.6.59.61.

Derivable forms: bhūmicalaḥ (भूमिचलः).

Bhūmicala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bhūmi and cala (चल). See also (synonyms): bhūmicalana.

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

Bhūmicala (भूमिचल).—[masculine] calana [neuter] earthquake.

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

Bhūmicala (भूमिचल):—[=bhūmi-cala] [from bhūmi > bhū] m. ([Kauśika-sūtra; Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa; Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]) ([Kauśika-sūtra; Pāraskara-gṛhya-sūtra; Manu-smṛti]) an earthquake.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bhumicala 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Bhumi, Cala.

Starts with: Bhumicala Sutta, Bhumicala Vagga, Bhumicalana.

Full-text: Prithivicala, Bhumicala Vagga, Bhumicalana, Agnicala, Devendracala, Nagacala, Garudacala, Bhumicala Sutta, Sujaya, Krittika, Bharni, Purvaphalguni, Ashvini, Purvabhadrapada, Vishakha, Sudinna, Cala, Kapila, Vijja.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Bhumicala, Bhūmicala, Bhumi-cala, Bhūmi-cala; (plurals include: Bhumicalas, Bhūmicalas, calas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

The Viśvantara-jātaka < [I. Puṇyakriyāvastu consisting of generosity]

Act 5.3: Description of the six tremblings of the earth (bhūmicala) < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

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