Kalyanamitra, Kalyānamitra, Kalyana-mitra: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Kalyanamitra 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Kalyāṇamitra (कल्याणमित्र) refers to a “good friend”, and is mentioned in verse 2.20 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Bhakti (Tibetan: mos-pa) (“devotion”) is a specifically Hinduistic term denoting, like karman (“works”) and jñāna (“spiritual knowledge”), a means of salvation, whereas kalyāṇamitra (Tibetan: dge-bai bśes-gñen) (“good friend”) is a specifically Buddhistic term signifying one (not as a rule a Buddha) who helps in conversion and religious progress. The juxtaposition of both these terms is noteworthy.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Kalyānamitra (कल्यानमित्र, “spiritual friend”).—According to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV), “all beings obtained the mind of equanimity (samacitta) by thinking of one another with the feelings one would feel (for example) for one’s spiritual friend (kalyānamitra)”.
In the course of innumerable generations, all beings have been one’s spiritual friend (kalyānamitra), father, mother, elder brother, younger brother, elder sister, younger sister and relative. Furthermore, according to the true nature (satyalakṣaṇa) of dharmas, there is no father or mother, no elder or younger brother; but people who are submerged in the error of self believe in their existence and thus there is the question of father and mother, elder and younger brother. Therefore it is not a lie when, by virtue of a wholesome mind (kuśalacitta), we consider one another with the feelings we would feel (for example) for one’s spiritual friend (kalyānamitra).
Kalyāṇamitra (कल्याणमित्र) refers to a “spiritual friend”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “When this had been said, the Lord said to the Bodhisattva, the great being Gaganagañja: ‘Excellent! Excellent, son of good family! Son of good family, you have done well to ask the Tathāgata. That is to say, you will attain the light of all teachings of the Buddha because you are a spiritual friend who asks (adhyeṣita-kalyāṇamitra) a questions not being asked by any living being. [...]’”,
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Kalyāṇamitra (कल्याणमित्र) (in Tibetan: Geshe) — Generally speaking, a “virtuous friend” who assists one on the spiritual path. The Tibetan term is used most commonly to refer to great masters of the Kadam tradition and, since the seventeenth century, to Geluk monks with a high level of scholastic achievement
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Kalyāṇamitra (कल्याणमित्र).—nt., f. °ā (= Pali °mitta; there often tho not always epithet of Buddha), good friend, regularly said of one (not as a rule a Buddha) who helps in conversion or religious progress: Mahāvastu i.243.12 °mitrāṇy āgamya; 313.5 asmākaṃ Mālinī °mitrā (f.; she was the cause of their conversion); Mahāvyutpatti 2380 °tra-parigṛhīta; Divyāvadāna 347.17 °tram āgamya; Avadāna-śataka i.240.8 id.; °tra-tā, state of… Avadāna-śataka i.240.2. Very common.
1) Kalyāṇamitra (कल्याणमित्र):—[=kalyāṇa-mitra] [from kalyāṇa > kalya] n. a friend of virtue
2) [v.s. ...] a well-wishing friend, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha lxvii, 1]
3) [v.s. ...] a good counsellor (opposed to pāpa-mitra), [Buddhist literature]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of Buddha
Kalyāṇamitra (कल्याणमित्र):—m. ein wohlwollender Freund. Mit Loc. [Kāraṇḍavyūha 24.67,1.]
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Kalyāṇamitra (ಕಲ್ಯಾಣಮಿತ್ರ):—[noun] a well-wishing friend.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Mitra, The, The, Kalyana, Te.
Starts with (+0): Kalyanamitrasamseva, Kalyanamitraseva, Kalyanamitrasevana, Kalyanamitrata, Kalyanamitravaidhurya.
Full-text (+22): Kalyanamitrata, Shan you, Kalyanamitrasevana, Anadhishtakalyanamitra, Parigrihitakalyanamitra, Shan zhi shi, Mahakalyanamitra, Kalyanamitrasamseva, Kalyanamitraseva, Kalyanamitravaidhurya, Qin jin shan you, Bu qing you, Parimargana, Netrita, Bu qing zhi you, Yi shan zhi shi, Prabhagata, Qin jin shan zhi shi, Akilasin, Que shan you.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Kalyanamitra, Kalyana mitras, Kalyana-mitra, Kalyāna-mitra, Kalyāṇa-mitra, Kalyānamitra, Kalyāṇamitra, Kalyanamitras, The kalyana-mitra; (plurals include: Kalyanamitras, Kalyana mitrases, mitras, Kalyānamitras, Kalyāṇamitras, Kalyanamitrases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 4 - The founding of temples by Lume and his disciples < [Book 2 - Later spread of the Doctrine]
Chapter 8 - Second incarnation series (i): khol po dga' < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
Chapter 11 - The Chapter on the Venerable Master and his Spiritual Lineage. < [Book 5 - The Sovereign Lord (Atiśa)]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
Part 1 - Introduction to Atri (A Khrid) system of Meditation < [Bonpo Studies: The A Khrid system of Meditation (Part 1)]
Part 4 - Biography of Druchen Gyalwa Yungdrung < [Bonpo Studies: The A Khrid system of Meditation (Part 1)]
Part 2.1 - Sa-skya-pa Criticisms < [Tantric Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites in Tibet]
The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 312 < [The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (pages)]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 5 - Story of the bhikṣu Uttara < [Chapter XLII - The Great Loving-kindness and the Great Compassion of the Buddhas]
Appendix 12 - The Dharma is like good medicine (bhaiṣajya) < [Chapter XXXVI - The eight recollections (anusmṛti or anussati)]
Act 5.9: All beings obtained the mind of equanimity < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]
Dhammapada (translated from the Pali) (by F. Max Müller)
Korean Potalaka < [Volume 13, Issue 8 (2022)]
Clearing the Course < [Volume 11, Issue 4 (2020)]
In the Lap of the Buddha: Intimacy in Tibetan Ritual < [Volume 16, Issue 2 (2025)]