Dirghanakha, Dīrghanakha: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Dirghanakha 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 Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesDīrghanakha (दीर्घनख) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.99) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Dīrghanakha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraDīrghanakha (दीर्घनख) is the name of brahmacārin living at Rājagṛha, when the Buddha was dwelling there at the beginning of the discourse in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter V.
Dīrghanakha was subdued by the Buddha mentioned in order to demonstrate the fearlessness of the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XL.1.4. Accordingly, “there were formidable people, such as these scholars who were absorbed in the height of pride. Intoxicated by their false wisdom, they presented themselves as unique in the world and unrivalled. Knowing their own books deeply, they refuted others’ books and criticized all the systems with wicked words. They were like mad elephants caring for nothing. Among these madmen, we cite: Tch’ang-tchao (Dīrghanakha), etc.”.
Note: For Dīrghanakha, also called Mahākauṣṭhila, see above, p. 46–51F and notes, 184F, 633F, 639F.
According to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XVI). Accordingly, “Then Kauṣṭḥila left his family, gave himself up to study and went to the south of India; he did not cut his fingernails until he had read the eighteen kinds of holy books and had completely mastered them; this is why the people of that time surnamed him the Brāhmin with Long Nails (Dīrghanakha)’”
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryDīrghanakha (दीर्घनख).—(= Pali Dīgha°), name of a mendicant to whom Buddha preached the Dīrghanakhasya parivrāja- kasya sūtraṃ: Mahāvastu iii.67.7 (to be put in, kartavyam, but not quoted here); in Pali it is Majjhimanikāya (Pali) i.497 ff., and a version [Page265-b+ 71] occurs in Avadāna-śataka 99; according to Malalasekara (Dictionary of Pali Proper Names), D. was a nephew of Sāriputta (but no citation is furnished for this; the Majjhimanikāya (Pali) sutta does not say so); in Avadāna-śataka ii.186.9 ff. and Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya iv.22.1 he is the uncle (mother's brother) of Śāriputra; in this story his given name was (Mahā-)-Koṣṭhila, q.v.; he had the surname Agnivaiśyāyana, q.v.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Dīrghanakha (दीर्घनख):—[=dīrgha-nakha] [from dīrgha] mf(ī)n. having l° nails, [Mahābhārata ix, 2649]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a man, [Buddhist literature]
[Sanskrit to German]
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: Nakha, Dirgha.
Full-text: Dirghanakhi, Kaushthila, Shariputra, Koshthila.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Dirghanakha, Dīrghanakha, Dirgha-nakha, Dīrgha-nakha; (plurals include: Dirghanakhas, Dīrghanakhas, nakhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Part 5 - What is the absolute point of view if the views are all false < [Chapter I - Explanation of Arguments]
Part 4 - Origin of Śāriputra’s name < [Chapter XVI - The Story of Śāriputra]
Appendix 3 - Arhathood of Śāriputra (Upatiṣya) and Maudgalyāyana < [Chapter LI - Seeing all the Buddha Fields]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 17 - The breaking of ego of Rukmi and the servants of God < [Section 4 - Dvārakā-māhātmya]
Chapter 20 - The war between demon Kuśa and Viṣṇu < [Section 4 - Dvārakā-māhātmya]
Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)
Chapter 2 - Country of Mo-kie-t’o (Magadha), part 2 < [Book VIII and IX]