In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Brahmasvara (ब्रह्मस्वर) refers to the “Brahmic voice”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLVII.—Accordingly, “the Bodhisattva who has acquired the six superknowledges (abhijñā) has developed the mark (lakṣaṇa) of the Brahmic voice (brahmasvara) which, going beyond the trisāhasramahāsāhasralokadhātu, reaches the universes of the ten directions as numerous as the sands of the Ganges”.

If that is so, how does his voice differ from that of the Buddha?—The voice of the Bodhisattva is measured by the number of sand grains of the Ganges, whereas the range of the voice of the Buddha is unlimited (maryādā).

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

Brahmasvara (ब्रह्मस्वर) refers to the “voice of Brahmā”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as Bodhisattva Gaganagañja explains to Bodhisattva Ratnaśrī what kind of concentration should be purified: “[...] (43) [when the Bodhisattvas attain] the concentration called ‘Ornaments for body’, the characteristics of a great man and the marks of beauty will be fulfilled; (44) [when the Bodhisattvas attain] the concentration called ‘Ornaments for speech’, by the voice of Brahmā (brahmasvara-ruta), the thoughts of all beings will be pleased; (45) [when the Bodhisattvas attain] the concentration called ‘Ornaments for thought’, they will never give up their concentration; [...]”.

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Brahmasvara (ब्रह्मस्वर) refers to the “Brahma-sound” (according to the Jvalitavajrāśanituṇḍā-dhāraṇī), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Prayer for Rebirth in the Sukhāvatī

Brahmasvara (ब्रह्मस्वर) refers to “a voice like Brahmā’s” and represents the thirteenth of the thirty-two major marks of distinction (lakṣaṇa) mentioned in the Sukhāvatī and following the order, but not always the exact wording, of the Mahāvyutpatti (236-67). In Tibetan, the characteristic called Brahmasvara is known as ‘tshangs pa’i dbyangs’. The Sukhāvatī represents a prayer for rebirth which was composed by Karma chags med, a Karma bka’ brgyud master, who lived in the seventeenth century.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Brahmasvara (ब्रह्मस्वर).—name of a former Buddha: Mahāvastu iii.231.11 f. (v.l. once °śvara; compare Brahmeśvara?).

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: Brahma, Svara.

Starts with: Brahmasvaranadabhinandita.

Full-text: Brahmeshvara, Ruta, Brahmadanda, Bhana, Prabhuta, Svara, Ravita, Iryapatha, Lakshana.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Brahmasvara, Brahma-svara; (plurals include: Brahmasvaras, svaras). 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)

I. Range of voice of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas < [Part 3 - Speaking to innumerable universes by means of a single sound]

VII. Why is the Buddha adorned with non-existent marks? < [Part 3 - Possessing a body endowed with the marks]

I. Recollection of the Buddha (3): Physical marks and superhuman power < [Part 2 - The Eight Recollections according to the Abhidharma]

+ 6 more chapters / show preview

The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)

Chapter XXI - Former Buddhas < [Volume III]

Chapter XXX - The second Avalokita-sūtra < [Volume II]

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