In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Giryagrasamāja (गिर्यग्रसमाज) (or Giriyagrasamāja) refers to 1) the “festival in honor of the Nāgas Giri and Agra” or 2) a “festival reunion on the summit of the mountain”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XVI.—Accordingly, “[...] they (i.e., Nāgarāja Giri and Agra) brought the rain at the proper time and the country did not experience the years of famine. The people were grateful to them and regularly, in the [second] month of spring (caitra), they went in a crowd to the Nāgas to hold a great festival (mahāsamāja): they played music (vādya) and palavered the whole day. From early times up until today, this assembly was never missed and to this reunion was given the same name as that of the Nāgas [namely, giryagrasamāja]. On that day, it was customary to set up four high seats (bṛsī), the first for the king, the second for the crown prince (kumāra), the third for the prime minister (mahāmātya) and the fourth for the scholar (vādin). [...]”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Giryagrasamāja (गिर्यग्रसमाज).—see Giriyagra°.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Samaja.

Full-text: Giri, Agra.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Giryagrasamaja, Giryagrasamāja, Giryagra-samaja, Giryagra-samāja; (plurals include: Giryagrasamajas, Giryagrasamājas, samajas, samājas). 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 1 - Śāriputra at the festival of Giryagrasamāja < [Chapter XVI - The Story of Śāriputra]

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