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In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व).—A good-natured husband generally quoted in Sanskrit works. The following is the story given about him in Kathāsaritsāgara, Taraṅga 9. (See full article at Story of Bodhisattva from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (Abhidharma)

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) according to the according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VII).—“In the Abhidharma, the disciples of Kātyāyanīputra say: Who is called Bodhisattva? He who has awakened himself and then awakens others is called Bodhisattva; he who necessarily will become Buddha is called Bodhisattva. Bodhi is the wisdom (prajñā) of the saint who has destroyed the impurities (kṣīṇāsrava). The person born from this wisdom, protected by the sages and served by the sages, is called Bodhisattva”.

Source: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms"A being (striving) for Awakening"; the term used to describe the Buddha before he actually become Buddha, from his first aspiration to Buddhahood until the time of his full Awakening. Sanskrit form: Bodhisattva.Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

'Enlightenment Being', is a being destined to Buddha-hood, a future Buddha.

According to the traditional belief a Bodhisatta, before reaching his last birth as a Buddha on this earth, is living in the Tusita-heaven (s. deva), the heaven of bliss. Cf. A. IV, 127; VIII, 70.

In the Pāli Canon and commentaries, the designation 'Bodhisatta' is given only to Prince Siddhattha before his enlightenment and to his former existences.

The Buddha himself uses this term when speaking of his life prior to enlightenment (e.g. M.4, M.26).

Bodhisatta-hood is neither mentioned nor recommended as an ideal higher than or alternative to Arahantship; nor is there any record in the Pāli scriptures of a disciple declaring it as his aspiration.

See bodhi and the Pail Names Dic.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

1) Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) according to the according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VI).—“Bodhi is the path of the Buddhas (buddhamārga); Sattva is either a being or a great mind. The Bodhisattva is the being who is going to obtain the mind, indestructible (aheya) and infrangible (acyuta) like a diamond mountain (vajra-parvata), of the qualities (guṇa) of the Path of the Buddhas. Such is the great mind”.

There are two kinds of Bodhisattvas, with regression (vaivartika) or without regression (avaivartika) as is the case for the Arhats who are susceptible of falling back (parihāṇa-dharman) or not susceptible of falling back (aparihāṇa-dharman). The non-regressing Bodhisattvas are called the true Bodhisattvas for they are it truly; the others, the Bodhisattvas susceptible of falling back, are called Bodhisattva by extension. In the same way, those who have found the fourfold path are called the true assembly (saṃgha) for they are really it; the others, those who have not found the path, are called assembly by extension.

2) Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) or Bodhisattvabhūmi refers to the “(ten) grounds of the Bodhisattva” and represents in itself one of the ten grounds (bhūmi) shared by adepts of the three Vehicles (sādhāraṇabhūmi) according to a note from the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XX). This (bodhisattva-bhūmi) is the shared grounds from Śukladarśanabhūmi to Kṛtāvibhūmi, as has been said above. It is also the shared grounds going from the pramuditā-bhūmi to the dharmamegha-bhūmi: all are called bodhisattva-bhūmi. Some say that all the grounds from the production of the first mind of bodhi to the diamond-like concentration (vajropama-samādhi) are called bodhisattva-bhūmi.

Source: Kunpal: Shantideva's Bodhisattva-charyavatara

Bodhisattvas have realized profound emptiness, the realization that their own personalities as well as all phenomena are actually empty of any self-nature. This realization is called non-dual wisdom [gnyis su med pa’i ye shes] and endows them with greater compassion for all sentient beings. Having no doubts, they do not hesitate to directly enter into any situation that could benefit beings. Such courage and compassion can only spring from absolute bodhicitta. This complete realization of bodhicitta clearly distinguishes followers of the Hīnayāna vehicle from followers of the Mahāyāna.

Bodhisattvas are heroes who pursue the benefit of other beings without the slightest hesitation. The word bodhisattva means ’a courageous being determined to gain enlightenment’.

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.

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

1) Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) refers to one of the “Nine Vehicles” (In Nyingma) which in Tibetan are known as theg pa dgu.

2) Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) (in Tibetan: byang chub sems dpa') — In any Buddhist tradition, a buddha to be. In Hinayana schools, buddhas are rare (though arhats are not), so bodhisattvas are the exception rather than the rule. According to most Mahayana schools, all beings will eventually become buddhas, so each of us must become a bodhisattva, motivated by compassion and the awakening mind to attain enlightenment for the sake of all beings

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

1) Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) refers to the “worshipper” (bodhi-essence) in Vajrayāna or Tantric Buddhism.—In the realisation of the deity, there are thus three elements, the worshipper, the deity and their connection or identity. These are named in the Tantric works as the Bodhicitta, the Mantrapuruṣa (Mantra body) and the Ahaṃkāra (identity). The worshipper is called the Bodhisattva (Bodhi essence), and, his mind is known as the Bodhicitta (Will to Enlightenment). [...]

2) Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) (as a group) connote all the male deities of the Buddhist pantheon (while their female counterparts are known by the generic name of Śaktis), according to Buddhist Iconography.—The term Bodhisattva consists of two words Bodhi (enlightenrrent) and Sattva (essence) and they represent a class of deities who derive their origin from the five Dhyāni Buddhas representing the five primordial elements. The Bodhisattvas thus connote all the male deities of the Buddhist pantheon, while their female counterparts are known by the generic name of Śaktis. These Śaktis should be distinguished from the Buddhaśaktis who are the queens of the five Dhyāni Buddhas. The Bodhisattvas are sometimes represented in the company ot their Śaktis who are seated either beside them or on their laps or in close embrace.

In the Niṣpannayogāvalī, three distinct groups of sixteen Bodhisattvas are mentioned:—

First list: Samantabhadra, Akṣavamati, Kṣitigarbha, Ākāśagarbha, Gaganagañja, Ratnapāṇi, Sāgaramati, Vajragarbha, Avalokiteśvara, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Candraprabha, Jālinīprabha, Amitaprabha, Pratibhāṅkūṭa, Pratibhānakūṭa, Sarvaśokatamonirghātamati, Sarvanivaraṇaviṣkambhin.

Second list: Maitreya, Mañjuśrī, Gandhahasti, Jñānaketu, Bhadrapāla, Sāgaramati, Akṣayamati, Pratibhānakūṭa, Mahāsthāmaprāpta, Sarvāpāyañjaha, Sarvaśokatamonirghātamati, Jālinīprabha, Candraprabha, Amitaprabha, Gaganagañja, Sarvanivaraṇaviṣkambhin.

Third list: Maitreya, Amoghadarśin, Apāyañjaha (Sarvāpāyañjaya), Sarvaśokatamonirghātamati, Gandhahasti, Suraṅgama, Gaganapañja, Jñānaketu, Amitaprabha, Candraprabha, Bhadrapāla, Jālinīprabha, Vajragarbha, Akṣayamati, Pratibhānakūṭa and Samantabhadra.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Buddhism

Bodhisattva:—One who desires to attain the state of Buddhahood and lives in the world of compassion.

Source: Buddhist Door: Glossary

Bodhisattva in Sanskrit, Bodhisatta in Pali. A Future Buddha who is a being destined to Buddhahood. Bodhi means Enlightenment and Sattva means Sentient and Conscious. Therefore Bodhisattva refers to the sentient being of or for the great wisdom and enlightenment. Bodhisattvas vow/aim is the pursuit of Buddhahood and the salvation of others and of all. He seeks enlightenment to enlighten others. He will sacrifice himself to save the others. He is devoid of egoism and devoted to help the others. The way and discipline of Bodhisattva is to benefit the self and the others, leading to Buddhahood.

Source: WikiPedia: Buddhism

1) In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened (bodhi) existence (sattva) or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one (satva) for enlightenment (bodhi)." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and especially in tantric works, this is more commonly reserved for the term jñānasattva ("awareness-being"; Tib. ཡེ་ཤེས་སེམས་དཔའ་་, Wyl. ye shes sems dpa’). Traditionally, a bodhisattva is anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has generated bodhicitta, which is a spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.

etymology: bodhisattva (Sanskrit: बोधिसत्त्व bodhisattva; Pali: बोधिसत्त bodhisatta)

2) In Buddhism, a bodhisattva means either "enlightened (bodhi) existence (sattva)" or "enlightenment being" or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic minded one (satva) for enlightenment (bodhi)". Another translation is "Wisdom Being".

The various divisions of Buddhism understand the word bodhisattva in different ways, but especially in Mahayana Buddhism, it mainly refers to a being that compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others.

Source: Buddhism Tourism: Glossary of Buddhist Terms

An enlightened being who has put aside his own salvation so as to save all sentient beings.

Source: Amaravati: Glossary

(Sanskrit) A term from Mahayana Buddhism, referring to one who delays complete enlightenment for the sake of helping other beings reach enlightenment first.

Source: Shambala Publications: General

Bodhisattva Skt., lit., “enlightenment be­ing”; in Mahāyāna Buddhism a bodhisattva is a being who seeks buddhahood through the sys­tematic practice of the perfect virtues (pāramitā) but renounces complete entry into nirvāna until all beings are saved. The determin­ing factor for his action is compassion (karunā), supported by highest insight and wis­dom (prajñā). A bodhisattva provides active help, is ready to take upon himself the suffering of all other beings, and to transfer his own kar­mic merit to other beings. The way of a bodhi­sattva begins with arousing the thought of en­lightenment (bodhichitta) and taking the bodhisattva vow (pranidhāna). The career of a bodhisattva is divided into ten stages (bhūmi). The bodhisattva ideal replaced in Mahāyāna the Hīnayāna ideal of the arhat, whose effort is directed towards the attainment of his own liberation.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Bodhisattva.—(CII 2-1; LL), Buddhist; a would-be Buddha in a previous birth. Cf. Chadmastha. Note: bodhisattva is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व).—

1) a Buddhist saint, one who is on the way to the attainment of perfect knowledge and has only a certain number of births to undergo before attaining to the state of a Supreme Buddha and complete annihilation (this position could be attained by a long series of pious and virtuous deeds); एवंविधैर्विलसितैरतिबोधिसत्त्वैः (evaṃvidhairvilasitairatibodhisattvaiḥ) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.21; उद्योतयन्नुत्त- मबोधिसत्त्वः (udyotayannutta- mabodhisattvaḥ) Bu. Ch.1.16.

2) Name of the principal Buddha of the present era.

Derivable forms: bodhisattvaḥ (बोधिसत्त्वः).

Bodhisattva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bodhi and sattva (सत्त्व).

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

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व).—(= Pali °satta), person destined for enlightenment, Buddha-to-be, passim; Mahāvyutpatti 625, followed by list of standard epithets of such persons incl. jinaputra; other epithets meaning son of Buddha are frequent; there are many lists of names, such as the 92 beginning Mahāvyutpatti 645; each name in such lists as occur in works here included is, generally speaking, recorded in this Dict., but e.g. the list (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 8.21 ff. is omitted because it is very corrupt and obscure, even the word-division being often doubtful; eight special B's listed Dharmasaṃgraha 12, Maitreya, Gagana- gañja, Samantabhadra, Vajrapāṇi, Mañjuśrī, Sarva- nivaraṇaviṣkambhin, Kṣitigarbha, Khagarbha, qq.v.; in Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 64.12—13 (sa tvaṃ) Śāriputra bodhisattva-saṃman- tritena °ttva-rahasyeneha mama pravacana upapannaḥ, sa tvaṃ…bodhisattvādhiṣṭhānena…, refers to Śāriputra's own saṃmantrita (q.v.) etc. as a Bodhisattva, not (with Burnouf and Kern) to the Buddha's (they use the word Bodhisattva in translating, but understand it as referring to the Buddha, which is contrary to usage).

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

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व).—m.

(-ttvaḥ) A Budd'ha, or Baudd'ha saint. E. bodhi intellect, sattva truth.

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

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व).—m. a Bauddha saint. Ati-bodhi-sattva, adj. surpassing a bodhisattva, [Mālatīmādhava, (ed. Calc.)] 171, 9 (corr. dhi).

Bodhisattva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bodhi and sattva (सत्त्व).

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

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व).—[masculine] a Buddha immediately before the attainment of perfect knowledge.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. [Subhāshitāvali by Vallabhadeva]

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

1) Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व):—[=bodhi-sattva] [from bodhi > budh] m. ‘one whose essence is perfect knowledge’, one who is on the way to the attainment of p° k° (id est. a Buddhist saint when he has only one birth to undergo before obtaining the state of a supreme Buddha and then Nirvāṇa), [Śiśupāla-vadha; Kathāsaritsāgara; Rājataraṅgiṇī; Buddhist literature] (the early doctrine had only one Bodhi-sattva, viz. Maitreya; the later reckoned many more, [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 134, 188, 189])

2) [v.s. ...] Name of the principal Buddha of the present era (before he became a Buddha), [Śiśupāla-vadha [Scholiast or Commentator]; cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] of a poet, [Catalogue(s)]

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

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व):—[bodhi-sattva] (ttvaḥ) 1. m. A Buddha.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bodhisattva 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Bōdhisattva (ಬೋಧಿಸತ್ತ್ವ):—

1) [noun] Gautama Buddha (563 - 483 BC) the founder of Buddhism.

2) [noun] one who is in the stage of becoming a buddha, in the next birth.

context information

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

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Bodhisattva (बोधिसत्त्व):—n. one who essence is perfect knowledge; a Buddhist saint when he has only one birth to undergo before attaining a supreme Buddhahood and complete annihilation;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: The, Bodhi, Sattva, Satta, Te, Bodhisattva, Catta.

Starts with (+5): Bodhisattva Sila, Bodhisattva Yana, Bodhisattvabhumi, Bodhisattvabhumisutra, Bodhisattvabuddhanusmritisamadhi, Bodhisattvacarya, Bodhisattvacaryanirdesha, Bodhisattvacaryavatara, Bodhisattvagana, Bodhisattvajanman, Bodhisattvajnana, Bodhisattvamsha, Bodhisattvaniyama, Bodhisattvapakshanirdesha, Bodhisattvapitaka, Bodhisattvapratimoksha, Bodhisattvaratna, Bodhisattvasamadhi, Bodhisattvasamcodani, Bodhisattvasamcodini.

Full-text (+6122): Bodhisattvacaryavatara, Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya, Samantabhadra, Manjushri, Bhadrapala, Ratnapani, Kshitigarbha, Khagarbha, Gaganaganja, Anikshiptadhura, Amoghadarshin, Nityodyukta, Suryaprabha, Bodhisattvasamuccaya, Bhumi, Ratnamudrahasta, Mahasthamaprapta, Tushita, Bodhisattvabhumi.

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Search found 199 books and stories containing Bodhisattva, Bodhi-satta, Bodhi-sattva, Bodhi-sattvas, Bodhisatta, Bodhisattas, Bōdhisattva, Bothisattva, Bōthisattva, The bodhisatta, The bodhisattva; (plurals include: Bodhisattvas, sattas, sattvas, sattvases, Bodhisattas, Bodhisattases, Bōdhisattvas, Bothisattvas, Bōthisattvas, The bodhisattas, The bodhisattvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Vimalakirti Sutra (by John R. McRae)

Chapter V - Mañjuśrī’s Condolence Visit < [Fascicle Two]

Glossary

Chapter I - Buddha Land < [Fascicle One]

+ 12 more chapters / show preview

Karandavyuha Sutra (by Mithun Howladar)

Part 17 - Boddhisattva Ideal in Pāli Canon < [Appendix 2 - Buddhist Philosophy]

Part 2 - Classification of Mahāyana Sūtras < [Appendix 2 - Buddhist Philosophy]

Part 16 - Brief Analysis of Three Mahāyāna Buddhists < [Appendix 2 - Buddhist Philosophy]

+ 46 more chapters / show preview

Maha Buddhavamsa—The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)

Supplement (c): Fulfilment of the Ten Perfections < [Chapter 9 - The chronicle of twenty-four Buddhas]

Part 6a - Great Aspiration (abhinīhāra) < [Chapter 7 - On Miscellany]

Part 2 - The Five Great Dreams of the Bodhisatta < [Chapter 7 - The Attainment of Buddhahood]

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A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada (by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw)

Chapter 2 - Reflection Of The Bodhisatta < [Part 1]

Chapter 9 - The Story Of Mahadhammika Upasaka < [Part 2]

Chapter 4 - The False View Of Sati < [Part 10]

+ 14 more chapters / show preview

Dasabhumika Sutra (translation and study) (by Hwa Seon Yoon)

Part 1 - The Concept of Bodhisattva < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

Introduction to the Ten Stages (Dasabhumi) < [Chapter 2 - Study: Summary of the Ten Stages]

Part 10 - The Tenth Stage named Dharmamegha < [Chapter 4 - Annotated Translation of the Dasabhumika-Sutra]

+ 40 more chapters / show preview

Buddhist Perspective on the Development of Social Welfare (by Ashin Indacara)

15. Cāga and Five Great Renunciations (Pañca-mahā-pariccāga) < [Chapter 4 - The Accomplishment of Faith and Charity]

13. The Link between Cāga and Dāna < [Chapter 4 - The Accomplishment of Faith and Charity]

5. Four Kinds of Loyal Friends < [Chapter 2 - The Accomplishment of Good Friendship (Kalyāṇa-mittatā)]

+ 3 more chapters / show preview

 

Click here for all 199 books

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