Krishnatvac, Kṛṣṇatvac, Krishna-tvac: 1 definition

Introduction:

Krishnatvac 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 Kṛṣṇatvac can be transliterated into English as Krsnatvac or Krishnatvac, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Krishnatvach.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Krishnatvac in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Kṛṣṇatvac (कृष्णत्वच्) refers to “one having a black skin”, according Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XLVI).—There are two kinds of Pretas: lecherous Pretas and emaciated Pretas (kṣutkṣāma). The lecherous Pretas enjoy happiness like the gods but they live with the starving Pretas of whom they are the leaders. The starving Pretas have an enormous belly (sthūlodara) like a mountain, a mouth like the eye of a needle (sūcimukha) and consist of three things: a black skin (kṛṣṇatvac), tendons (snāyu) and bones (asthi). For innumerable hundreds of years, they have not even heard the words “food and drink” (annapāna), still less have they seen their shapes.

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.

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