Datta, aka: Dātta, Dattā; 12 Definition(s)

Introduction

Datta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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)

Datta (दत्त).—(dattaka) See under Dattātreya.

1a) Datta (दत्त).—(Atri)—the son of the sage Atri and Anasūyā and an avatār of Viṣṇu according to Paurāṇikas; brother of Durvāsa; by worshipping him, the Yadus, Haihayas, etc., got knowledge of yoga.¹ He knew Hari yoga,² and followed Hari going to Pṛthu's sacrifice.³ A Siddha;⁴ worshipped by Arjuna (Haihaya), to whom he imparted yoga;⁵ in the tenth Tretāyuga the 4th incarnation with Markaṇḍeya as Purohita;⁶ was worshipped by Arjuna who got four boons from him one of which was 1000 hands;⁷ Śyāmas, Mudgalas, Gaviṣṭhias and others belong to this Vaṃśa.⁸

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa II. 7. 4; IV. I. 15 and 33; XI. 4. 17; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 8. 82; IV. 28. 89; Vāyu-purāṇa 70. 76-8.
• 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa II. 7. 45.
• 3) Ib. IV. 19. 6.
• 4) Ib. VI. 8. 16; 15. 14.
• 5) Ib. IX. 15. 17; 23. 24; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 30. 35; 34. 4; 38. 14; 40. 43, 57, 66; 69. 10; Matsya-purāṇa 43. 15.
• 6) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 73. 88; Matsya-purāṇa 47. 242; 99. 14; Vāyu-purāṇa 98. 89.
• 7) Vāyu-purāṇa 94. 10-11; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 11. 12.
• 8) Ib. I. 10. 8.

1b) A sage of the Svārociṣa epoch.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 9. 8.

context information

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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

1. Datta - A chieftain of Dhanapitthi, placed on the throne of Ceylon by Potthakuttha. He reigned for only two years (674-76). Among his works of piety was a vihara at Dhanapitthi. Cv.xlvi.41ff.

2. Datta - A gate keeper, father of King Subha. Mhv.xxxv.51.

3. Datta - See Bhuridatta, Mantidatta, and Gangatiriya. Datta is given as an example of a very common name. (E.g., DA.i.289; AA.i.410, etc.)

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A granddaughter of Visakha, being her sons daughter. She died young, and her mother, full of grief, was comforted by the Buddha. DhA.iii.278.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Datta (दत्त) is the name of the seventh Vāsudeva (“violent heroes”) according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Since they enjoy half the power of a Cakravartin (universal monarch) they are also known as Ardhacakrins. Jain legends describe nine such Vāsudevas usually appearing together with their “gentler” twins known as the Baladevas. The legends of these twin-heroes usually involve their antagonistic counterpart known as the Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes).

The parents of as Datta are known as king Agniśikha and queen Śeṣavatī whose stories are related in texts such as the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.

The nine Vāsudevas (such as Datta) are also known as Nārāyaṇas or Viṣṇus and are further described in various Jain sources, such as the Bhagavatīsūtra and Jambūdvīpaprajñapti in Śvetāmbara, or the Tiloyapaṇṇatti and Ādipurāṇa in the Digambara tradition. The appearance of a Vāsudeva is described as follows: their body is of a dark-blue complexion, they wear a yellow robe made of silk, and they bear the śrīvatsa on their chest.

Dātta (दात्त) is a Prakrit ending for deriving proper personal names, mentioned as an example in the Aṅgavijjā chapter 26. This chapter includes general rules to follow when deriving proper names. The Aṅgavijjā (mentioning dātta) is an ancient treatise from the 3rd century CE dealing with physiognomic readings, bodily gestures and predictions and was written by a Jain ascetic in 9000 Prakrit stanzas.

Datta (दत्त) is the father of Metārya: the tenth of the eleven gaṇadharas (group-leader) of Mahāvīra.—Śramaṇa Lord Mahāvīra’s congregation had 11 gaṇadharas. All these were Brahmin householders from different places. All these gaṇadharas (for example, Metārya) were Brahmins by caste and Vedic scholars. After taking initiation, they all studied the 11 Aṅgas. Hence, all of them had the knowledge of the 14 pūrvas and possessed special attainments (labdhis).

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

datta : (pp. of dadāti) given.

1) Datta, ² (adj.-n.) (prob.=thaddha, with popular analogy to datta¹, see also dandha & cp. dattu) stupid; a silly fellow M.I, 383; J.VI, 192 (Com.: dandha lāḷaka). (Page 312)

2) Datta, ¹ (pp. of dadāti) given (-° by; often in Np. as Brahmadatta, Deva-datta=Theo-dor. etc.) Sn.217 (para°) =SnA 272 (v. l. dinna). (Page 312)

— or —

Dātta, (nt.) (Sk. dātra, to dā, Sk. dāti, dyati to cut, divide, deal out; cp. Gr. datέomai, dai/omai & see dāna, dāpeti, dāyati) sickle, scythe Miln.33. (Page 318)

context information

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.

Marathi-English dictionary

daṭṭā (दट्टा) [or दट्या, daṭyā].—m A cork, plug, stopple, bung. 2 fig. A rating or scolding; an overbearing and intimidating. v dē.

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datta (दत्त).—p (S) Given, presented, made over. v kara, hō. 2 (Given to be) received in adoption--a son. 3 Used as s n (For īśvaradatta or dēvadatta in the sense of God-given, God-assigned, God-appointed.) Fortune, fate, luck, lot, allotment. Ex. jyā dattālā bhyāvēṃ tēṃ datta puḍhēñca āhē; mī āpalyā dattālā bhīta asatāṃ majavara avakṛpā jhālī. Also appointed business, occupation, or sphere; as bhīka māgaṇēṃ hēṃ brāhmaṇācēṃ dattaca āhē.

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datta (दत्त).—m (S) See dattātrēya. As this personage daily appeared at Kolapur as a mendicant exactly at the meal-hour, datta karūna yētō or datta mhaṇūna yētō is used of one who, in any work or business, without sharing in the toil of preparation or management, steps in at the completion to enjoy the advantages. 2 A common surname of a man of the vaiśya tribe.

daṭṭā (दट्टा) [-ṭayā, -टया].—m A cork, stopple. Fig. A rat- ing or scolding, and overbearing and intimidating.

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datta (दत्त).—p Given, presented, made over. r Fate, fortune, lot, allotment. Ex. jyā dattālā bhyāvēṃ tēṃ datta puḍhēñca āhēṃ. Appointed business, occupation or sphere; as bhīka māgaṇēṃ hēṃ brāhmaṇācēṃ dattaca āhēṃ.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Datta (दत्त).—See under दा (dā).

See also (synonyms): dataka, datrima.

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Datta (दत्त).—p. p. [dā karmaṇi-kta]

1) Given, given away, presented.

2) Made over, delivered, assigned.

3) Placed, stretched forth.

4) Preserved, guarded; see दा (dā).

-ttaḥ 1 One of the twelve kinds of sons in Hindu law; (also called dattrima); माता पिता वा दद्यातां यमद्भिः पुत्रमापदि । सदृशं प्रीतिसंयुक्तं स ज्ञेयो दत्त्रिमः सुतः (mātā pitā vā dadyātāṃ yamadbhiḥ putramāpadi | sadṛśaṃ prītisaṃyuktaṃ sa jñeyo dattrimaḥ sutaḥ) || Ms.9.168.

2) A title added to the names of Vaiśyas; cf. the quotation under गुप्त (gupta).

3) Name of a son of Atri and Anasūyā; see दत्तात्रेय (dattātreya) below.

-ttam Gift, donation; य इमे ग्राम इष्टापूर्ते दत्तमित्युपासते (ya ime grāma iṣṭāpūrte dattamityupāsate) Ch. Up.5.1.3; स्वदत्तकृतसाक्षी यो द्वितीय इव पावकः (svadattakṛtasākṣī yo dvitīya iva pāvakaḥ) Rām.7.2.29.

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