Brahmottara, Brahman-uttara: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Brahmottara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India. 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexBrahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर).—A kingdom of the East.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 121. 50; Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 123; 47. 49.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraBrahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर) is the name of a country pertaining to the Oḍramāgadhī local usage (pravṛtti) according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 14. These pravṛttis provide information regarding costumes, languages, and manners in different countries of the world. It is mentioned that this local usage (adopted by these countries) depends on the verbal style (bhāratī) and the graceful style (kaiśikī).
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyamimamsa of RajasekharaBrahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर) is the name a locality mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—A region in the part of eastern India, which northern portion of the Brahma country or the upper Burma. It is also noted that the Brahma region included both the upper and lower Burma.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismBrahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर) refers to a heavenly abode (kalpa) inhabited by Kalpopapanna gods, according to Jain cosmological texts in the Digambara tradition only. The Kalpopapannas (‘those born in the heavens’) represent a sub-species of the Vaimānika gods, which in turn represents the fourth main classification of devas (gods). This kalpa is also known as Brahmottarakalpa.
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraBrahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर) is the name of an ancient kingdom, according to chapter 4.2 [vāsupūjya-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly, as Vasupūjya and Jayā spoke to Vāsupūjya:—“All the existing kings, among men and the Vidyādharas, who are of good family, capable, heroic, wealthy, famous, possessing the fourfold army, known for guarding their subjects, free from blemish, faithful to engagements, always devoted to dharma, in Madhyadeśa, Vatsadeśa, [... the Brahmottaras, ...] these now, son, beg us constantly through messengers, who are sent bearing valuable gifts, to give their daughters to you. [...]”.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 4: The celestial beings (deva)Brahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर) refers to one of the sixteen heavens (kalpa) hosting the sixteen classes of empyrean celestial beings (vaimānika), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.19. The living beings residing in the vimānas are called the empyrean gods (vaimānika) and represents one of the four classes of Devas.
What is the number of layers in Brahma and Brahmottara heaven pairs? There are four layers there. Which thought-colourations are there in Brahma and Brahmottara and Lāntava-Kāpiṣṭha gods? They have pink thought-colouration. What is the maximum lifespan of deities in Brahma and Brahmottara kalpas? It is slightly more than ten ocean-measured-periods (sāgara) for both.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryBrahmottara.—(IE 8-5), Bengali; corrupt form of brahmatrā. (IA 15), explained as ‘the sanctuary of a temple’. Note: brahmottara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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 dictionaryBrahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर).—a.
1) treating principally of Brahman.
2) consisting chiefly of Brāhmaṇas.
Brahmottara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms brahman and uttara (उत्तर).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryBrahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर).—(1) name of a purohita among the gods: Lalitavistara 44.11; (2) (nt.) name of a mythical city: Divyāvadāna 602.4; in Avadāna-śataka i.202.2 and 203.2 called a ‘palace’, prāsāda.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Brahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर):—[from brahma > brahman] mfn. treating principally of Brahmā or consisting chiefly of Brāhmans
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a superhuman being, [Lalita-vistara]
3) [v.s. ...] (with Jainas) of a [particular] Kalpa, [Dharmaśarmābhyudaya]
4) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a people, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] n. Name of a town, [Divyāvadāna]
6) [v.s. ...] n. of [chapter] of [Skanda-purāṇa] (also called -khaṇḍa n. or laghu-śiva-purāṇa n.)
7) [v.s. ...] n. (also, [probably]) the sanctuary of a temple, [Inscriptions]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Brahmottara (ब्रह्मोत्तर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Baṃbhuttara.
[Sanskrit to German]
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 corpusBrahmōttara (ಬ್ರಹ್ಮೋತ್ತರ):—[noun] (jain.) one of the sixteen heavens.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Uttara, Brahman, Brahma.
Starts with: Brahmottarakalpa, Brahmottarakhanda.
Full-text: Brahmottarakhanda, Bambhuttara, Brahmottarakalpa, Mahyuttara, Brahmaka, Brihadbrahmottarakhanda, Brahma, Kalpa, Piramottarakantam, Kapishtha, Lantava, Vaimanika, Padmapurana.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Brahmottara, Brahman-uttara, Brahmōttara, Brahmottaras; (plurals include: Brahmottaras, uttaras, Brahmōttaras, Brahmottarases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Geographical Text of the Puranas: A Further Critical Study < [Purana, Volume 4, Part 1 (1962)]
Some Geographical and Ethnic Data of Matsya Purana < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 2 (1964)]
Kannada Versions of the Puranas < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 1 (1964)]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 4.31 - Lifetimes of Deva from Brahmaloka to Acyuta kalpa < [Chapter 4 - The Celestial Beings]
Verse 4.19 - The sixteen Kalpa, nine Graiveyaka and five Anuttara < [Chapter 4 - The Celestial Beings]
Verse 4.34 - The minimum lifetime of the rest < [Chapter 4 - The Celestial Beings]
Brahma Purana (critical study) (by Surabhi H. Trivedi)
Appendix 9 - Chart of Ethnic Data provided by Various Puranas
Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 227 < [Volume 4, Part 1 (1908)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)