Dushtayaksha, Duṣṭayakṣa, Dushta-yaksha: 1 definition

Introduction:

Dushtayaksha means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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.

The Sanskrit term Duṣṭayakṣa can be transliterated into English as Dustayaksa or Dushtayaksha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Dushtayaksha in Mahayana glossary
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Duṣṭayakṣa (दुष्टयक्ष) refers to “hostile Yakṣas”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [after Agastya uttered the dhāraṇī]: “Immediately after this spell had been uttered in front of the Bhagavān by Agastya, the Great Ṛṣi, then all the hostile Nāgas, Yakṣas [e.g., duṣṭayakṣa] and Rākṣasas fell with their face downwards. They called the Bhagavān for help in a loud voice, ‘O Bhagavān, we are destroyed, we are cursed by the curse of the Ṛṣi [...]’”.

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.

Discover the meaning of dushtayaksha or dustayaksa in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

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