Eight underground abodes: 1 definition

Introduction:

Eight underground abodes 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.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Eight underground abodes in Tibetan Buddhism glossary
Source: Rigpa Shedra: Wiki

The Eight Underground Abodes (in Sanskrit bhūgarbha; Tibetan: sa 'og gi gnas brgyad) form part of the Twenty-four Great Sacred Places (Tibetan: gnas chen nyer bzhi) according to the Cakrasaṃvaratantra (Chakrasamvara Tantra). In the Nyingma tradition, Jigme Lingpa's Yumka Dechen Gyalmo has incorporated this enumeration. Furthermore, Jigme Lingpa says that “as regards these places, they are entirely present internally, within our own body”.

The Eight Underground Abodes are thus defined as follows:

  1. the genitals are Pretapurī (Pretādhivāsinī),
  2. the anus is Gṛhadevatā,
  3. the thumbs and the big toes are Maru,
  4. the thighs are Saurāṣṭra,
  5. the calves are Suvarṇadvīpa,
  6. the sixteen other fingers and toes are Nagara,
  7. the knees are Kulatā (Kulutā), and
  8. the ankles are Sindhu.
Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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.

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