Dharmaraja, Dharma-raja, Dharmarāja: 22 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
2. Tibetan Buddhism
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
See also
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Introduction:

Dharmaraja means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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.

Images (photo gallery)

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In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)

One of the Hands of Famous Emperors.—Dharmarāja: hands waved near the arms.

context information

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).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—A king of Gauḍadeśa. He became King at a time when Jainism was getting more and more hold on the people and the Hindu Vedic rites were getting less and less popular among the people. The King thought it was his duty to revive the interest in the Vedic rites and so became a priest himself and did much propaganda on the superiority of the same, writing several books on the subject for the benefit of the people. (Bhaviṣyapurāṇa, Pratisarga Parva).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज) refers to the “god of death”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.18 (“The conversation between Nārada and Jalandhara”).—Accordingly, as the Gods said to Nārada: “O excellent sage, listen to our misery. O merciful one, after listening to it, destroy it quickly. You are powerful and the favourite of Śiva. [...] The hot-rayed sun and the moon have been ousted from their positions. The fire-god and the god of death (dharmarāja) and guardians of the quarters have been expelled. The gods have been harassed by that powerful Asura. We who have been subjected to great grief now seek refuge in you. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—A name of Yudhiṣṭhira.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 12. 4 ff; Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 38. 90.

1b) Yama with residence in Kurukṣetra;¹ son of Sūrya.²

1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 29. 65; III. 13. 67; 59. 79; Vāyu-purāṇa 108. 5, 106. 44; 111. 38.
2) Vāyu-purāṇa 84. 80; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 7. 19 and 35.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

dharmarāja (नानावस्तु) refers to the “Lord of Dharma” and is used to describe Bauddhadeva—the sixth of the Nine Nāthas, according to the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, [while discussing the Hagiography of Siddha Bauddhadeva]: “[...] The girl said: ‘You are Brahmā, indeed You are Viṣṇu, Rudra and Śiva. You are without beginning and end. You are the Lord of Dharma (dharmarāja), the Destroyer of the City (of the Demons—Purandara), You are Yama, Varuṇa and the path to liberation. You are my way, O lord of the gods, I am frightened by the ocean of transmigratory existence’. [...]”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Lokottaravāda

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज) is the name of a Buddha under whom Śākyamuni (or Gautama, ‘the historical Buddha’) acquired merit along the first through nine bhūmis, according to the Mahāvastu. There are in total ten bhūmis representing the ten stages of the Bodhisattva’s path towards enlightenment.

Dharmarāja is but one among the 500 Buddhas enumerated in the Mahāvastu during a conversation between Mahākātyāyana and Mahākāśyapa, both principle disciples of Gautama Buddha. The Mahāvastu is an important text of the Lokottaravāda school of buddhism, dating from the 2nd century BCE.

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

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज) is the name of a Bodhisattva, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “Then, the Bodhisattva, Dharmarāja by name, addressed himself to the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja: ‘Son of good family, let me listen to the treasury of hearing the dharma from open space’. Gaganagañja said: ‘If you conceive the concept of this open space as your teacher, with respect and reverence, son of good family, then you will listen to the treasury of hearing the dharma’. [...]”.

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.

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, Deities and other Spiritual beings

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज) is another name for Yamarāja—one of the “Forty-two Peaceful Deities” (Tibetan: zhi ba'i lha zhe gnyis) according to various sources such as the Guhyagarbha Tantra and the Tibetan Book of the Dead.—They feature in Tantric teachings and practices which focus on purifying elements of the body and mind. These deities [e.g., Dharmarāja] form part part of the the Hundred Peaceful and Wrathful Deities who manifest to a deceased person following the dissolution of the body and consciousness whilst they are in the intermediate state (bardo) between death and rebirth.

Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज) (Sanskrit; in Tibetan: chos rgyal) — (lit. “Dharma king”) — In general, an honorific term for an individual who has mastery of or is a great supporter of the Buddhist Dharma; it also is an epithet of the lord of death, Yama. In a Tibetan context the term usually refers to a set of three great kings who helped to establish Buddhism in the land: Songtsen Gampo (617–49/50), Trisong Detsen (r. 755/56–97), and Ralpachen (r. 815–38)

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Dharmarāja.—(EI 28), royal title; title of a pious king; cf. Dharma-mahārāja, etc.; also dharmarājikā. Note: dharmarāja is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—m (S) The name of the eldest of the five pāṇḍava princes. Hence applied to an upright or virtuous person gen. 2 A name of Yama, Regent of the dead.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—m The name of the eldest of the five pāṇḍava princes. Hence applied to an upright or virtuous person.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—a. धर्मशील (dharmaśīla) q. v.; धर्मराजेन जनकेन महात्मना (dharmarājena janakena mahātmanā) (videhān rakṣitān) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.325 19.

Dharmarāja is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms dharma and rāja (राज).

--- OR ---

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—an epithet of

1) Yama.

2) Jina.

3) युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira).

4) a king.

Derivable forms: dharmarājaḥ (धर्मराजः).

Dharmarāja is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms dharma and rāja (राज).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—(n) , (mgs. 1 and 2 = Pali dhammarāja), (1) king of the doctrine or religious, righteous king, epithet of Buddha: Lalitavistara 214.13; 395.9; 426.19; 437.18; °ja-putra (= jina-putra etc., of disciples or Bodhisattvas) Mahāvyutpatti 1090; (2) lawful (or righteous) king, as standing epithet of a cakravartin (compare Pali Dīghanikāya (Pali) commentary i.249.29, glossed dham- mena rajjaṃ labhitvā rājā jāto ti): Mahāvyutpatti 3618; Lalitavistara 14.3; 101.13; (3) name of a former Buddha: Mahāvastu i.138.2 (°jaḥ).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—m.

(-jaḥ) 1. A Jain or deified saint, according to the Jaina sect. 2. A name of Yama, regent of the dead. 3. A name of Yud'Hish- Thira. 4. Also of Arjuna. 5. A king in general. E. dharma virtue, Justice, and rāja who shines, affix ac; or rāja from rājan a king; lord of justice or dharmeṇa rājate . rāja-kvip .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—m. epithet of Yama and Yudhiṣṭhira, Mahābhārata 13, 3471; [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 842.

Dharmarāja is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms dharma and rāja (राज).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज).—[masculine] king of justice, [Epithet] of Yama & Yudhiṣṭhira.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Dharmarāja (धर्मराज) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Kavijīvana lex. Burnell. 52^a.

2) Dharmarāja (धर्मराज):—Ṣaṭpraśnopaniṣaṭṭīkā. Oppert. Ii, 131.

3) Dharmarāja (धर्मराज):—Sabhāpativilāsa nāṭaka. Burnell. 174^a.

4) Dharmarāja (धर्मराज):—Hariharastotra. Burnell. 203^a.

5) Dharmarāja (धर्मराज):—son of Trivedin Nārāyaṇa Yajvan, of the Kauṇḍinya family, inhabitant of Kaṇḍaramāṇikyagrāma. Acording to Burnell., identical with the author of the Vedāntaparibhāṣā. Tattvacintāmaṇiprakāśadīpti. Oppert. 1956. Tarkacūḍāmaṇi, a
—[commentary] on the Tattvacintāmaṇisāra of Gopīnātha. Tarkacūḍāmaṇi Nyāyaśikhāmaṇiṭīkā. Dharmarājadīkṣitīya [nyāya] Oppert. 3415. Ii, 4306. 5949. 9594.
—[commentary] Ii, 9595.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Dharmarāja (धर्मराज):—[=dharma-rāja] [from dharma > dhara] m. ‘id.’ a just or righteous king, [Harivaṃśa]

2) [v.s. ...] any king or prince, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] a Buddha, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] Name of Yama, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Daśakumāra-carita] etc. (-tā f., [Mahābhārata])

5) [v.s. ...] of Yudhiṣṭhira, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] (-purogama mfn. headed by Y°, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary])

6) [v.s. ...] Law conceived as a king, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha]

7) [v.s. ...] Name of sub voce authors (also -dīkṣita m. [-dīkṣitīya n. his [work]], -putra m., -bhaṭṭa m., jādhvari-vara m. and jādhvarindra m.)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Dharmarāja (धर्मराज):—[dharma-rāja] (jaḥ) 1. m. A Jaina sage: any king; Yama; Yudhishthira; Arjuna.

[Sanskrit to German]

Dharmaraja in German

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.

Relevant text

Search found 107 books and stories containing Dharmaraja, Dharma-raja, Dharma-rāja, Dharmarāja; (plurals include: Dharmarajas, rajas, rājas, Dharmarājas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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Chapter LXXXVII < [Book XII - Śaśāṅkavatī]

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