Lokadhatu, Loka-dhatu, Lokadhātu: 11 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
Languages
1. Pali
2. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Lokadhatu 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 Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Lokadhātu (लोकधातु) refers to the “universe”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLVII.—Accordingly, “[...] the Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva who wishes that the Buddha universes (buddha-lokadhātu) never be interrupted must practice the perfection of wisdom (prajñāpāramitā)”.

The Bodhisattva wishes mentally that in all the universes (lokadhātu) everyone should become Buddha. This grand wish is vast and extended and has no limit (maryādā), for it is in this intention that the Bodhisattva accumulates the wisdoms (prajñā), immense merit (apramāṇa-puṇya) and the power of the superknowledges (abhijñābala). But it is all the beings who have planted the causes and conditions required to become Buddha that the Bodhisattva wants to lead to this result.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Lokadhātu (लोकधातु) refers to the “worlds (of the ten directions)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly as The Lord said: “O Śāriputra, the Bodhisattva, the great being, Gaganagañja is coming here to see, praise, serve me, and attain this exposition of the dharma (dharma-paryāya), A Chapter of the Great Collection. Also he is coming with the assembly of all Bodhisattvas who have gathered from the worlds of the ten directions (daśadiś-lokadhātu) for the sake of the joy of the dharma (dharma-prītā), happiness (sukha), the source of great joy (prāmodya), the upholding of the great vehicle, and the wings of awakening (bodhi-pakṣika) of all Bodhisattvas”.

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Lokadhātu (लोकधातु) refers to the “universe”, 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 reached the lotus-lake near Aḍakavatī], “[...] He summoned the Nāgas even two and three [times]. snapped his fingers the sound could be heard in the Triple Thousand Great Thousand Universe (lokadhātu). [But] the life of these beings was obstructed because of some previous deed. Therefore the great Nāgas did not hear this sound and did not recollect the Bhagavān”.

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

lokadhātu : (f.) the world system.

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

Lokadhātu refers to: constituent or unit of the Universe, “world-element”; a world, sphere; another name for cakkavāla. Dasa-sahassi-lokadhātu the system of the 10, 000 worlds Vin. I, 12; A. I, 227.—D. III, 114; Pv. II, 9⁶¹; Kvu 476; Vism. 206 sq.; Vbh. 336; Nd¹ 356 (with the stages from one to fifty lokadhātu’s, upon which follow: sahassī cūḷanikā l-dh.; dvisahassī majjhimikā; tisahassī; mahāsahassī); J. I, 63, 212; Miln. 237; VbhA. 430, 436. See also cūḷanikā.

Note: lokadhātu is a Pali compound consisting of the words loka and dhātu.

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

Lokadhātu (लोकधातु).—a particular division of the world (jambu- dvīpa).

Derivable forms: lokadhātuḥ (लोकधातुः).

Lokadhātu is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms loka and dhātu (धातु).

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

Lokadhātu (लोकधातु).—m. and f. (= Pali id., only f. according to Childers; see s.v. dhātu, 5), world-region, world-system, world; extremely common everywhere: three sorts, sāhasracūḍika, dvisāhasra, trisāhasramahāsāhasra (qq.v.; under the last, many examples showing both genders for lokadhātu are cited) Mahāvyutpatti 3041—4; other Mahāvyutpatti cases (all m. when unambiguous), 226, 361, 816, 860, 3046, 3060, 3063, 3070; besides the forms with trisāhasrama- hāsāhasra, both m. and f. forms occur, the mss. frequently varying; in Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 40.16 KN with 3 mss. m., 3 others f., ed. note says f. ‘seems preferable, dhātu being usually of fem. gender in Saddharmapuṇḍarīka’, but this is hardly borne out by the evidence of this edition; e.g. it is clearly m. in 156.7 (prose, no v.l.); 157.1 (one ms. f.); 306.10; in 41.10 and 42.1 (parallel 40.16 above) ed. with all mss. but one masc.; in 121.11 ff. ed. prints fem. forms, but Kashgar recension masc., usually with some Nepalese mss.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Lokadhātu (लोकधातु).—m.

(-tuḥ) A continent.

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

1) Lokadhātu (लोकधातु):—[=loka-dhātu] [from loka > lok] mf. a region or part of the world, [Buddhist literature]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of a [particular] division of the w°, [ib.]

[Sanskrit to German]

Lokadhatu 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.

Relevant text

Search found 13 books and stories containing Lokadhatu, Loka-dhatu, Loka-dhātu, Lokadhātu; (plurals include: Lokadhatus, dhatus, dhātus, Lokadhātus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

IX. The knowledge of death and rebirth (cyutyupapāda-jñānabala) < [Part 2 - The ten powers in particular]

Bhūmi 9: the ground of good wisdom (sādhumatī) < [Chapter XX - (2nd series): Setting out on the Mahāyāna]

Part 4 - Illuminating the darkness of the intermediary worlds < [Chapter LI - Seeing all the Buddha Fields]

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Stage 9: Sadhumati Bhumi < [Chapter 2 - Study: Summary of the Ten Stages]

Stage 1: Pramudita Bhumi < [Chapter 2 - Study: Summary of the Ten Stages]

Part 1 - The First Stage named Pramudita [Introductory Stanza] < [Chapter 4 - Annotated Translation of the Dasabhumika-Sutra]

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Part 3.1 - Buddhist cosmology in Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra < [Chapter 3 - Mythology in Sūtra literature]

Part 2 - Summary of Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra < [Chapter 2 - Content analysis of Saddharma-puṇḍarīka Sūtra]

Observations and Findings

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