Dharmamukha, Dharma-mukha: 2 definitions

Introduction:

Dharmamukha 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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Dharmamukha in Mahayana glossary
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Dharmamukha (धर्ममुख) refers to “(a hundred thousand) ways into the dharma”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “[...] As long as the Buddhas and Bodhisatvas in ten directions taught a hundred thousand ways into the dharma (dharmamukha) by means of syllables, explanations, and agreed terms, all those voices of the dharma, which never increase or decrease and do not enter into any difference, resonated in the open space endlessly. By the sound of the dharma, all living beings in this world system of three thousandfold worlds obtained this understanding, and thus immeasurable and incalculable living beings became matured in the three vehicles (triyāna). [...]”

Mahayana book cover
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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Dharmamukha in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Dharmamukha (धर्ममुख).—nt., entrance or introduction to the [Page280-b+ 71] doctrine or to religion, way of entering it; so correctly Bur- nouf on Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 53.5, introductions à la loi, confirmed by Tibetan on Lalitavistara 161.14 chos kyi sgo rnam, doors or entrances to the doctrine or to religion. They are usually said to be very numerous: dharmāmukhā (°mā° m.c.) koṭisahasr’ aneke prakāśayiṣyanti anāgate 'dhve Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 53.5 (verse); asaṃkhye- yāni dharmamukha-śatasahasrāṇi niścaranti sma Lalitavistara 128.8 (as the alphabet is recited, religious dicta come forth); a formulaic list, beginning (akṣayavimokṣa)-saṃbhedaṃ nāma dharmamukha(ṃ) Gaṇḍavyūha 195.24; sarvadharmaśubha- vyūhaṃ nāma dharmam° 196.3, and others in 196.5—6, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, etc. (the names are pompous but unilluminat- ing); (sarvaromamukhebhyo) vividhāni dharmamukhāni niścaramāṇāny aśrauṣīt Gaṇḍavyūha 515.5, followed by: yad uta, bo- dhisattvaguṇavarṇa-mukhāni dānapāramitā-mukhāni etc. (the cpds. become longer and more embracing as they proceed); precisely four are listed in Lalitavistara 182.5 ff., (bodhi- sattvaḥ…) catvāri dharmamukhāny āmukhīkaroti sma… (6) yad idaṃ…catuḥsaṃgrahavastu-prayoga-nirhāra- viśuddhiṃ ca nāma dharmamukhaṃ…(and three other even more complicated ones, showing no clear relation to the Gaṇḍavyūha lists; it seems clear that there was no standard or accepted list); (bodhisattvāḥ…) dharmamukhaiḥ saṃcoditavyā bhavanti Lalitavistara 161.14, are to be instigated (to withdraw from the world) by (the utterance of) intro- ductions to religion (such as those which then follow in verses).

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.

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