In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Jānumaṇḍala (जानुमण्डल, “knee”) refers to the “two knees”, from which the Buddha emitted numerous rays when he smiled with his whole body after contemplating the entire universe, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV).—Accordingly, having himself arranged the lion-seat, the Bhagavat sat down cross-legged; holding his body upright and fixing his attention, he entered into the samādhirājasamādhi. Then, having tranquilly come out of this samādhi and having contemplated the entire universe with his divine eye (divyacakṣus), the Bhagavat smiled with his whole body. Wheels with a thousand spokes imprinted on the soles of his feet (pādatala) shoot out six hundred prabhedakoṭi of rays. In the same way, beams of six hundred prabhedakoṭi of rays are emitted from his two knees (jānumaṇḍala).

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Jānumaṇḍala (जानुमण्डल) refers to the “knee” [=‘knee-cap’?], 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 the Bhagavān entered the assembly of Nāgas], “Then the great Nāga king Samantākāracchatrākaraparikara arose from his seat, arranged his outer robe on one shoulder, placed his right knee (jānumaṇḍala) on the ground, approached the Bhagavān and, having bowed down at his feet, circumambulated him three times, and worshipped the Bhagavān with different flowers, fragrances, garlands, ointments, ornaments and cloths. Having worshipped him, he sat down in front of him”.

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

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

jāṇumaṇḍala : (nt.) the knee-cap.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Jānumaṇḍala refers to: the knee-cap, the knee A. I, 67; II, 21; III, 241 sq.; PvA. 179. (Page 283)

Note: jānumaṇḍala is a Pali compound consisting of the words jānu and maṇḍala.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Jānumaṇḍala (जानुमण्डल).—the knee-pan.

Derivable forms: jānumaṇḍalam (जानुमण्डलम्).

Jānumaṇḍala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms jānu and maṇḍala (मण्डल). See also (synonyms): jānuphalaka.

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

Jānumaṇḍala (जानुमण्डल).—nt. (= Pali id.; nowhere else), knee-cap; knee; °lābhyāṃ (abl.) niścaritvā Gaṇḍavyūha 85.13; in list of anuvyañjana, q.v., our no. 25, according to Mahāvastu ii.44.5; Lalitavistara 106.20, but the lists in Dharmasaṃgraha 84 and Mahāvyutpatti 293 have a different reading which omits jānu; mostly used in a cliché, dakṣiṇaṃ (dakṣiṇa- Lalitavistara 397.8; Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 64.4; Sukhāvatīvyūha 2.16; ubhau Avadāna-śataka i.2.11) jānumaṇḍalaṃ (°le Avadāna-śataka i.2.11) pṛthivyāṃ pratiṣṭhāpya Mahāvyutpatti 6277; Avadāna-śataka i.2.11 etc.; Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 64.4; Kāraṇḍavvūha 8.14; 17.2; 38.14; Sukhāvatīvyūha 2.16; Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 100.5; Lalitavistara 397.8; 398.13—14.

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

Jānumaṇḍala (जानुमण्डल):—[=jānu-maṇḍala] [from jānu] n. idem, [Buddhist literature; cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

[Sanskrit to German]

Janumandala 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Mandala, Janu.

Full-text: Januphalaka, Mandala, Dakshinajanu.

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Search found 2 books and stories containing Janumandala, Jāṇumaṇḍala, Jānumaṇḍala, Janu-mandala, Jānu-maṇḍala; (plurals include: Janumandalas, Jāṇumaṇḍalas, Jānumaṇḍalas, mandalas, maṇḍalas). 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)

Act 1.4: The Buddha emits light rays from various body parts < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

Part 2.2 - The taking of vows of the upāsaka < [Section II.1 - Morality of the lay person or avadātavasana]

Part 2.1 - The taking of vows by the Upavāsatha < [Section II.1 - Morality of the lay person or avadātavasana]

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The Practice Manual of Noble Tārā Kurukullā (by Dharmachakra Translation Committee)

Chapter 1 < [Appendix - Sanskrit Text]

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