Buddhavamsha, Buddhavaṃśa, Buddha-vamsha: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Buddhavamsha means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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.

The Sanskrit term Buddhavaṃśa can be transliterated into English as Buddhavamsa or Buddhavamsha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

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In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Buddhavamsha in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Buddhavaṃśa (बुद्धवंश) refers to the “lineage of the Buddhas”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXXII-XXXIV).—Accordingly, “... If a single bodhisattva completely saved all beings, the other Bodhisattvas would have no one to save. From then on, there would be no more future Buddhas, the lineage of the Buddhas (buddhavaṃśa) would be interrupted (samucchinna) and other faults of the same kind would ensue. This is why a single Buddha does not save all beings without exception”.

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

Buddhavaṃsa (बुद्धवंस) refers to the “lineage of the Buddhas”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] Then again, the Bodhisattva, the great being Gaganagañja uttered these verses to that Bodhisattva, the great being Guṇarājaprabhāsa: ‘(30) [...] The one who takes pleasure in the dharma which is to keep the lineage of the Buddhas (buddhavaṃsa), who constantly praises the Buddhas, who is highly renowned in the three worlds, I ask the Lord in order to worship the ocean of good (guṇasāgara). [...]’”.

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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.

Discover the meaning of buddhavamsha or buddhavamsa in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

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