Caturmaharajika, Cātummahārājika, Catummahārājika, Catummaharajika, Catur-maharajika, Catur-maharajika, Caturmahārājika, Cāturmahārājika: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Caturmaharajika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Chaturmaharajika.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Caturmahārājika (चतुर्महाराजिक) is part of the six groups of Gods inhabiting the Kāmadhātu (the first of the three worlds), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 32-34. The six classes of gods of the desire realm (kāmadhātu), attached to the five desirable objects, will fall into the hells (niraya) and be subjected to all the sufferings.
The Caturmahārājika gods represents one of the seven destination of rebirths in kāmadhātu, according to chapter XLIX, “[...] in another, generosity and morality are of somewhat higher purity (viśuddhi); this man feels repugnance for domestic things, loves to hear the Dharma and honors worthy people: he is reborn among the Caturmahārājika gods. Why? Because pleasant things appear there as soon as they are thought of; one constantly gets to see the good worthy people (satpuruṣa) of the place, and by honoring them resolutely, one draws near to practicing the meritorious action that consists of meditation”.
Cāturmahārājika (चातुर्महाराजिक) is the name of a Heaven, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, as Vimalaprabhānantaraśmirāja said to king Puṇyālaṃkāra: “[...] In this way, son of good family, when the rain of all kinds of jewels poured down from open space, the gods of the earth (bhauma), filled with admiration, said that this Bodhisattva is supposed to become the Gaganagañja. When such rain of all kinds of jewels poured down, just as the gods of the earth said, so the gods of the Cāturmahārājika heaven, the Trāyastriṃśa heaven, the Yāma heaven, the Tuṣita heaven, and the Nirmāṇarati heaven, filled with admiration, also said that this Bodhisattva is supposed to become the Gaganagañja. [...]”.
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)
Cāturmahārājika (चातुर्महाराजिक) refers to a group of deities mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including the Cāturmahārājikas).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
cātummahārājika : (adj.) belonging to the retinue of four Deva kings, inhabiting the lowest Deva heaven.
1) Cātummahārājikā (pl.) (sc. devā) the retinue of the Four Kings, inhabiting the lowest of the 6 devalokas Vin. I, 12; III, 18; D. I, 215; Nd2 307 (under devā); J. II, 311 (deva-loka);
2) Catummahārājika: see cātum°;
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Caturmahārājika (चतुर्महाराजिक).—adj. (in Pali also sometimes ca°, oftener cā°, according to [Pali Text Society’s Pali-English Dictionary]), = prec. and (much oftener) cāturmahārājika, q.v.: Mahāvastu i.30.16, 17; 40.15; ii.348.16; Divyāvadāna 568.24; all these are prose.
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Cāturmahārājika (चातुर्महाराजिक).—rarely and doubtfully °jaka, once cāturmāhā°, adj., almost always with deva or deva- putra (the noun rarely omitted), = prec., and catur° (= Pali cātu(m)mah°), belonging to the group of gods of the four ‘World-Guardians’, a class of kāmāvacara gods, see deva, and mahāraja(n): °jaka (but v.l. °jika), with- out noun deva, Mahāvastu i.263.15; in the rest, °jika, Lalitavistara 46.19; 150.2; 266.4 f.; 401.8 f.; Mahāvastu i.31.10; 240.4 (v.l. °ja-kāyika); ii.2.8; 163.10; Divyāvadāna 68.12; 83.6; 127.20; 219.8; 367.9; 554.4; Avadāna-śataka i.5.1; 10.16, etc.; (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 19.12; common. This is the most usual form. Once, at least, cāturmāhārājika, Mahāvastu ii.314.5 (prose, no v.l.). Also mahārājika, q.v.
1) Caturmahārājika (चतुर्महाराजिक):—[=catur-mahārājika] [from catur > catasṛ] m. Name of Viṣṇu, [Viṣṇu-smṛti, viṣṇu-sūtra, vaiṣṇava-dharma-śāstra]
2) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] = ja-kāyika, [Buddhist literature] (cf. cāt.)
3) Cāturmahārājika (चातुर्महाराजिक):—[from cātura] m. (= cat) Viṣṇu, [Mahābhārata xii, 12864]
4) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] = jakāyika, [Buddhist literature]
Caturmahārājika (चतुर्महाराजिक):——
1) Adj. Beiw. Viṣṇu’s [Viṣṇusūtra 98,41.] —
2) m. Pl. = caturmahārājakāyika.
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Cāturmahārājika (चातुर्महाराजिक):—m. —
1) Beiname Śiva’s —
2) Pl. = cāturmahārājakāyika
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: Rajika, Maharajika, Maha, Catur.
Starts with: Caturmaharajikakayika.
Full-text (+51): Catu Maharajika Deva, Caturmaharajakayika, Si tian wang, Kutendu, Cattaro Maharajano, Caturmaharajikakayika, Four Heavenly Kings, Vitendu, Vitu, Sitavalahaka, Unhavalahaka, Si wang tian, Da wang tian, Si da wang tian, Khattiyaparisa, Si tian wang tian, Kamadhatu, Shakra, Saptaratna, Saptaratnamaya.
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Search found 16 books and stories containing Caturmaharajika, Cātu-mahārājikā, Catu-maharajika, Cātum-mahā-rājika, Catum-maha-rajika, Cātummahārājika, Catummahārājika, Catummaharajika, Cātuṃmahārājika, Cātur-mahārājikā, Catur-maharajika, Catur-maharajika, Cātur-mahārājika, Catur-mahārājika, Caturmahārājika, Cāturmahārājika, Caturmaharajikas; (plurals include: Caturmaharajikas, mahārājikās, maharajikas, rājikas, rajikas, Cātummahārājikas, Catummahārājikas, Catummaharajikas, Cātuṃmahārājikas, mahārājikas, Caturmahārājikas, Cāturmahārājikas, Caturmaharajikases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter III-d - Visit to other worlds (4): Four Great Kings (cāturmahārājika) < [Volume I]
Chapter I - The birth of Gotama < [Volume II]
Chapter IV(a) - The story of Abhiya < [Volume I]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
II.a The seven rebirths in kāmadhātu < [Part 8 - Predicting the fruits of ripening of various kinds of gifts]
Act 5.5: Beings that were reborn among humans or the gods of kāmadhātu < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]
II. Canonical definitions of the six Anusmṛti < [Preliminary note on the Eight Recollections]
Catusacca Dipani (by Mahathera Ledi Sayadaw)
Mahayana Dharani and Theravada Paritta (study) (by Biswajit Sankar Bhattacharyya)
Part 2.22 - The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (introduction) < [Chapter 3 - A survey of the Paritta Literature in the Theravāda]
Lord Hayagriva in Sanskrit Literature (by Anindita Adhikari)
History and Temples < [Chapter 6]
Buddhist Sutra literature (study) (by Gopika G)
Part 3.2 - Hells and Heavens in different realms < [Chapter 3 - Mythology in Sūtra literature]