In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

1) Brahmādevarāja (ब्रह्मादेवराज) or simply Brahmā refers to the deity that appears seated cross-legged on a lotus which sprang from Viṣṇu’s navel, who appears after the kalpa-fire, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV).—From Viṣṇu’s navel (nābhi) comes a precious lotus, golden in color, with a thousand petals, the light and rays of which are like the combined light of a thousand suns. On this lotus there is seated cross-legged a man who, in turn, possesses an infinite light. He is called Fan t’ien wang (Brahmādevarāja) who mentally gives birth to eight sons who, in their turn, give rise to the heavens, the earth and people.

Brahmādevarāja has eliminated all sexual desire (rāga) and all hatred (dveṣa) without residue; thus, when people cultivate the pure practice of the dhyānas and abandon sexual desire (rāga), they are said to follow Brahmanic conduct (brahmacarya). And the wheel of Dharma which the Buddha put into motion is sometimes called dharmacakra and sometimes brahmacakra. This Brahmādevarāja is seated on a lotus; this is why the Buddha, who conforms to current usage, also sits cross-legged on a precious lotus to teach the six pāramitās, and those who listen to this sermon necessarily reach.

2) Brahmādevarāja (ब्रह्मादेवराज) is the name of an asura of olden times subdued by the Buddha mentioned in order to demonstrate the fearlessness of the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XL.1.4. Accordingly, “He guided the minds of the great asuras such as Fan-t’ien-wang (Brahmādevarāja), etc., and all became his disciples”.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Brahma, Devaraja.

Full-text: Shraddhabala, Brahma, Tribhava, Tribhavatrishna, Vishnu, Akasha.

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Search found 1 books and stories containing Brahmadevaraja, Brahmādevarāja, Brahma-devaraja, Brahmā-devarāja; (plurals include: Brahmadevarajas, Brahmādevarājas, devarajas, devarājas). 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)

Eleventh aṅga (member): Adbhutadharma < [Part 2 - Hearing the twelve-membered speech of the Buddha]

Appendix 1 - The sūtra on the origin of heaven and earth < [Chapter XXII - The Nature of Morality]

Part 4 - Filling all of space < [Chapter XLIX - The Four Conditions]

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