Kritsnayatana, Kṛtsnāyatana, Kritsna-ayatana: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Kritsnayatana 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.
The Sanskrit term Kṛtsnāyatana can be transliterated into English as Krtsnayatana or Kritsnayatana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraKṛtsnāyatana (कृत्स्नायतन) or simply Kṛtsna refers to the “ten spheres of totality”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 32.
According to the Mahāvyutpatti, the ten spheres of totality (kṛtsnāyatana) are:
- totality of earth;
- totality of water;
- totality of fire;
- totality of wind;
- totality of blue;
- totality of yellow;
- totality of red;
- totality of white;
- totality of space;
- totality of consciousness.
This totality of earth, water, fire, wind, blue, yellow, red and white, he recognizes them above, below, on the side, without duality and limitless.
Of the four formless spheres (ārūpyāyatana, only the first two, ākāśānantyāyatana ‘sphere of infinite space’ and vijñānānatyāyatana ‘sphere of infinite consciousness’, are kṛtsnāyatanas. Why are the other two formless spheres, namely, ākiṃcanāyatana ‘sphere of nothing at all’ and naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatana ‘sphere of neither identification nor non-identification’ not kṛtsnāyatanas as well? Answer.—The kṛtsnāyatanas are subjective views and, of the formless spheres, only two, those of infinity of space and infinity of consciousness, lend themselves of subjective extensions.
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 DictionaryKṛtsnāyatana (कृत्स्नायतन).—see kṛtsna.
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: Kritsna, Ayatana.
Full-text: Kritsna, Tenfold-path, Ayatana.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Kritsnayatana, Kṛtsnāyatana, Kritsna-ayatana, Kṛtsna-āyatana, Krtsna-ayatana, Krtsnayatana; (plurals include: Kritsnayatanas, Kṛtsnāyatanas, ayatanas, āyatanas, Krtsnayatanas). 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)
Class 7: The ten spheres of totality (kṛtsnāyatana, kṛtsna-āyatana) < [Class (5) liberations, (6) masteries and (7) totalities]
Introduction to the eight classes of dharmas < [Chapter XXXII-XXXIV - The eight classes of supplementary dharmas]
4. Causes and conditions in the concentrations < [Part 4 - Questions relating to the dhyānas]
Abhidharmakośa (by Vasubandhu)
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 1c - The Zur Geneology (ii): Zur chung shes rab grags pa < [Book 3 - Early translations of Secret Mantra]
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Chapter XLIV - On Bodhisattva Kasyapa (e) < [Section Ten]